Chicken Sellers Reopen, Seek Margin Hike to Rs 30

Hyderabad: Retail chicken shops resumed operations after a day-long shutdown, following an assurance from large poultry traders that talks with retailers would be held soon, the Chicken Shop Owners Association said. The protest had led to widespread closure of the nearly 53,000 retail outlets, with the impact most visible in the capital. Shop owners also enforced the shutdown at outlets that had remained open.

Mohammed Saleem, a shop owner, said, “We have had no margins for the past two months. Shop owners’ margins have remained unchanged for a long time, even as costs such as rent, electricity and other expenses have risen.”

Association president Gaddamidi Raju said the decision to reopen followed assurances from large traders. “Following assurances from large traders to initiate talks and address most demands, our key demand is to increase the margin from Rs 26 to Rs 30.”

He added, “We are awaiting a call for talks; if there is no response, we will intensify our protest. For now, all shops remain open.”