Bosotto Bros banks on festive season to boost sales

The historic entity, which had the patronage of British royals such as Queen Elizabeth II and the late former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, K Kamaraj, says competition has narrowed down the market share of most historic bakers across the city.

G Kartik (pictured), who belongs to the family which owns Bosotto Bros (run by his grandfather, B Muslapa Chowdhry in the past), tells us, “Over the past years, we have noticed customers opting for faster ways to get their cakes and confectioneries delivered. Mass-produced cakes from FMCG majors, which retail out of supermarkets are the first choice. A reputed baker that might have been around for more than half a century, which would need a two day notice before delivery, are not the go-to option. This has affected business, for most traditional bakers here. As most of our outlets are located on arterial roads in the city, parking also creates its own challenges.”

The brand has a historic connection to the city. Queen Elizabeth II, during her visit to erstwhile Madras in 1961, had cut a cake to celebrate the first birthday of her son Prince Andrew at a reception hosted by then CM K Kamaraj. The icing or rather the cake itself was a creation of Bosotto Bros.

With changing times, the bakery’s fortunes also changed. Kartik says, “We had a tumultuous time in the 90s when there were a disagreements concerning the future of the firm. Today, we have four outlets – on MG Road, Anna Salai, Spencer’s Plaza and Pudupet. The Walajah Road outlet has been temporarily shut.” The company wants to expand, with plans for close to 2 outlets to be created each year.