Day 23; Kayani Bakery's shutters still down. Meanwhile, demand for the popular Shrewsbury biscuits goes up at some of the city's other established bakeries
It's past 10 am, and Kayani Bakery, one of Pune's most iconic establishments, lies shrouded by an unfamiliar, eerie silence. Had it been an usual day, by this time, its entrance would have been flanked by a motley mix of swanky cars and old Ambassadors, bikes and scooters; and its counter swarming with people waiting for their orders to be taken. It's day 23, and the bakery continues to stay shut.
Early last month, the bakery was asked to shut shop by the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB), for allegedly operating without a trade license. It was a similar story for Bagban and Kwality, two popular restaurants in the vicinity. Now, save for a few customers who drive by in the hope of seeing the bakery's doors open again, life seems to have slowed down more than before on East Street, devoid of the regular hustle and bustle, and the comforting aroma of fresh bakes.
"Has Kayani reopened?!" Teresa Mascarenhas, a Dastur Meher Road resident asks hopefully, thinking we'd have an answer. Evidently so, this true blue, who has been patronising the bakery for over 40 years, is waiting to make her next trip there. "I don't think anyone can match up to Kayani's quality. Ever since they've shut, I haven't bought Shrewsbury biscuits from anywhere else. I'm making do with the stock at home. I'm waiting for them to reopen," says Teresa, who'd also frequent the place for its mawa cakes, wine biscuits and buns. Lila Cordeiro, a Yerwada resident, agrees. "Kayani's taste and quality hasn't changed one bit in the 35 years that I've bought its products. The prices continue to be reasonable. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that they aren't operating anymore," says Lila.
Meanwhile, other bakeries record a surge in Shrewsbury sales
There are other established bakeries in the cantonment and its surrounding areas, all of which have a loyal clientele. With Kayani Bakery shut now, we took stock of whether it has had any effect on the sales (of
Shrewsbury biscuits alone) at these bakeries, and it seemed to be the case.
Parvez Shaikh, manager of MG Road's Pasteur Bakery, reports an increase of 10-15 per cent in their sales. "We have our dedicated clients, but there has been an increase in sales," says Parvez. Danesh Khodayar, proprietor of Dastur Meher Road's Khodayar Bakery, adds, "Our focus is on quality, so our production is limited, but after Kayani Bakery was shut, we had several non-regulars coming to buy our Shrewsbury biscuits. What we would sell off by 11.30 am was being done so before 10 am." Khodayar Bakery shut its Dastur Meher outlet on October 20 and has reopened at Solapur Bazar now. "Owing to the move, production was stopped since Diwali. So, we still can't tell if Kayani's closing would have had any effect on our sales," Danesh adds.
It isn't only cantonment area's bakeries that have noted a surge in sales of any kind. Fatima Nagar's famed Diamond Bakery had similar statistics to share. Owner Mushtaq Jafferi shares, "We've seen a 15-20 per cent rise in our Shrewsbury biscuit sales since Kayani Bakery shut. This is despite our own strong clientele coming from as far as Karve Nagar and Viman Nagar."
However, there are other bakeries that maintain that Kayani Bakery's closing has had no effect on their sales, whatsoever. Dr Yohan of MG Road's century-old Royal Bakery and Confectionery, says, "We've been around much before Kayani Bakery, and we make a very limited quality of our products, including the Shrewsbury biscuits. Our products are sold off daily and only then replenished. Another bakery's closure wouldn't affect our sales. We have our own set of dedicated customers, from overseas as well."
Can the online petition aid the bakery's return?
Days after Kayani Bakery was shut, patrons took to the online space to file a petition in support of the establishment. Questioning the authority about why the legal notice came now when the license expired 11 years ago, the petition has 7,069 signatures (as of November 2, 12 pm). However, PCB executive officer D N Yadav made his stand clear by stating that the authorities were following the law; and "no mass petition was going to help".
Krishna Kamath, a resident of Malad, Mumbai, who initiated the petition, says, "If you go to any new city or country, you always have a checklist of places to visit. For Pune, while Shaniwarwada is on the list, there's also a Kayani Bakery. It is the pride of Pune, not a run-of-the-mill place that's being asked to shut shop. What the
authorities need to understand is that if there is a problem, a solution needs to be amicably arrived at, which we don't see happening as of now."
NIBM resident Nisha Gorde Monteiro, who also signed the online petition, is hopeful that the response it has garnered might it help effect change. "With all the power and influence social media possesses, there is greater reach and awareness about the issue. The authorities cannot ignore public opinion in this case," says Nisha, adding, "Those Shrewsbury biscuits formed a key part of our lives. It feels so abrupt to be deprived of them all of a sudden. I do hope the bakery reopens soon."
Will the bakery reopen anytime soon?
When we got in touch with DN Yadav, PCB Executive Officer about the matter, he said, "Kayani Bakery has applied for a fresh license, but the Defence Estates Officer (DEO) of Pune hasn't issued the non-objection certificate, without which the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) cannot do anything." Meanwhile, Dara Irani, Kayani Bakery's lawyer, informs us, "The matter is before the court now, so I won't be able to comment on anything regarding the issue at this point of time. As for the PCB, we do not know what they are doing internally. We have received no intimation from them."
Of Shrewsbury tales
The fabled biscuit gets its name from Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, England. Dr Yohan of MG Road's century-old Royal Bakery, shares, "The grass there is said to have a special scent, so the milk and butter from there have that particular scent and flavour. Hence, the biscuits too have a special taste, which is how the Shrewsbury biscuit got it name." While Royal Bakery is said to be one of the first to introduce the biscuits in India, another urban legend around the biscuits is that Kayani Bakery earlier limited its sale to ensure the biscuits weren't resold elsewhere, and the freshness stayed intact.
— With inputs from Zainab.Kantawala@timesgroup.com. Pictures by Shashank Sane
It's past 10 am, and Kayani Bakery, one of Pune's most iconic establishments, lies shrouded by an unfamiliar, eerie silence. Had it been an usual day, by this time, its entrance would have been flanked by a motley mix of swanky cars and old Ambassadors, bikes and scooters; and its counter swarming with people waiting for their orders to be taken. It's day 23, and the bakery continues to stay shut.
Early last month, the bakery was asked to shut shop by the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB), for allegedly operating without a trade license. It was a similar story for Bagban and Kwality, two popular restaurants in the vicinity. Now, save for a few customers who drive by in the hope of seeing the bakery's doors open again, life seems to have slowed down more than before on East Street, devoid of the regular hustle and bustle, and the comforting aroma of fresh bakes.
"Has Kayani reopened?!" Teresa Mascarenhas, a Dastur Meher Road resident asks hopefully, thinking we'd have an answer. Evidently so, this true blue, who has been patronising the bakery for over 40 years, is waiting to make her next trip there. "I don't think anyone can match up to Kayani's quality. Ever since they've shut, I haven't bought Shrewsbury biscuits from anywhere else. I'm making do with the stock at home. I'm waiting for them to reopen," says Teresa, who'd also frequent the place for its mawa cakes, wine biscuits and buns. Lila Cordeiro, a Yerwada resident, agrees. "Kayani's taste and quality hasn't changed one bit in the 35 years that I've bought its products. The prices continue to be reasonable. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that they aren't operating anymore," says Lila.
Meanwhile, other bakeries record a surge in Shrewsbury sales
There are other established bakeries in the cantonment and its surrounding areas, all of which have a loyal clientele. With Kayani Bakery shut now, we took stock of whether it has had any effect on the sales (of
Shrewsbury biscuits alone) at these bakeries, and it seemed to be the case.
Parvez Shaikh, manager of MG Road's Pasteur Bakery, reports an increase of 10-15 per cent in their sales. "We have our dedicated clients, but there has been an increase in sales," says Parvez. Danesh Khodayar, proprietor of Dastur Meher Road's Khodayar Bakery, adds, "Our focus is on quality, so our production is limited, but after Kayani Bakery was shut, we had several non-regulars coming to buy our Shrewsbury biscuits. What we would sell off by 11.30 am was being done so before 10 am." Khodayar Bakery shut its Dastur Meher outlet on October 20 and has reopened at Solapur Bazar now. "Owing to the move, production was stopped since Diwali. So, we still can't tell if Kayani's closing would have had any effect on our sales," Danesh adds.
It isn't only cantonment area's bakeries that have noted a surge in sales of any kind. Fatima Nagar's famed Diamond Bakery had similar statistics to share. Owner Mushtaq Jafferi shares, "We've seen a 15-20 per cent rise in our Shrewsbury biscuit sales since Kayani Bakery shut. This is despite our own strong clientele coming from as far as Karve Nagar and Viman Nagar."
However, there are other bakeries that maintain that Kayani Bakery's closing has had no effect on their sales, whatsoever. Dr Yohan of MG Road's century-old Royal Bakery and Confectionery, says, "We've been around much before Kayani Bakery, and we make a very limited quality of our products, including the Shrewsbury biscuits. Our products are sold off daily and only then replenished. Another bakery's closure wouldn't affect our sales. We have our own set of dedicated customers, from overseas as well."
Can the online petition aid the bakery's return?
Days after Kayani Bakery was shut, patrons took to the online space to file a petition in support of the establishment. Questioning the authority about why the legal notice came now when the license expired 11 years ago, the petition has 7,069 signatures (as of November 2, 12 pm). However, PCB executive officer D N Yadav made his stand clear by stating that the authorities were following the law; and "no mass petition was going to help".
Krishna Kamath, a resident of Malad, Mumbai, who initiated the petition, says, "If you go to any new city or country, you always have a checklist of places to visit. For Pune, while Shaniwarwada is on the list, there's also a Kayani Bakery. It is the pride of Pune, not a run-of-the-mill place that's being asked to shut shop. What the
authorities need to understand is that if there is a problem, a solution needs to be amicably arrived at, which we don't see happening as of now."
NIBM resident Nisha Gorde Monteiro, who also signed the online petition, is hopeful that the response it has garnered might it help effect change. "With all the power and influence social media possesses, there is greater reach and awareness about the issue. The authorities cannot ignore public opinion in this case," says Nisha, adding, "Those Shrewsbury biscuits formed a key part of our lives. It feels so abrupt to be deprived of them all of a sudden. I do hope the bakery reopens soon."
Will the bakery reopen anytime soon?
When we got in touch with DN Yadav, PCB Executive Officer about the matter, he said, "Kayani Bakery has applied for a fresh license, but the Defence Estates Officer (DEO) of Pune hasn't issued the non-objection certificate, without which the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) cannot do anything." Meanwhile, Dara Irani, Kayani Bakery's lawyer, informs us, "The matter is before the court now, so I won't be able to comment on anything regarding the issue at this point of time. As for the PCB, we do not know what they are doing internally. We have received no intimation from them."
Of Shrewsbury tales
The fabled biscuit gets its name from Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, England. Dr Yohan of MG Road's century-old Royal Bakery, shares, "The grass there is said to have a special scent, so the milk and butter from there have that particular scent and flavour. Hence, the biscuits too have a special taste, which is how the Shrewsbury biscuit got it name." While Royal Bakery is said to be one of the first to introduce the biscuits in India, another urban legend around the biscuits is that Kayani Bakery earlier limited its sale to ensure the biscuits weren't resold elsewhere, and the freshness stayed intact.
— With inputs from Zainab.Kantawala@timesgroup.com. Pictures by Shashank Sane
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