Cooking gas shortage disrupts Indian Coffee House operations in Kerala as outlets consider stopping meals
Thiruvananthapuram: Indian Coffee House kitchens across several districts in Kerala are on the verge of shutting down as they face an acute shortage of cooking gas cylinders.
According to the management of the cooperative society that runs the chain, most outlets currently have only one or two days of gas supply left, raising concerns about the continuity of food services.
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The Indian Coffee House network headquartered in Thrissur operates 45 branches across districts from Thrissur to southern Kerala, serving thousands of customers every day.
Firewood cooking planned in some branches
To manage the crisis temporarily, instructions have been issued to use firewood for cooking in around 15 branches where it is possible.
However, officials said that running the kitchens completely on firewood is not practical for most outlets, especially those located inside buildings or commercial complexes.
Branches operating on the ground floors of buildings, including those near the Kerala Legislative Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram, cannot install firewood stoves due to safety restrictions.
Meals may be stopped temporarily
Due to the shortage of cylinders, the management is considering excluding regular meals from the menu until the situation improves.
Instead of full meals, some outlets may serve biryani as a temporary alternative during the crisis period.
Another restriction being planned is suspending tea and coffee service between 12 PM and 3 PM to conserve gas usage during peak cooking hours.
Thousands of cylinders needed each month
Officials said that the 45 Indian Coffee House outlets require around 5,000 LPG cylinders every month to maintain normal operations.
The cooperative society has written to the cooking gas distribution company requesting an urgent increase in cylinder supply.
They have also stressed that uninterrupted gas supply is essential, particularly to ensure that hospital canteens operated by Indian Coffee House continue functioning without disruption.
Until additional cylinders are supplied, outlets are expected to operate under restrictions while trying to maintain essential services.
Published: 13 Mar 2026, 10:22 am IST
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