-B Swaminathan (cbedit@imaws.org)
Thiruvananthapuram: The busy streets of the Salai area in the city is filled completely with wholesale markets of various sizes and ranges. Stanes Trading is one of the key outlets in the market which is the key distributor for various products in Thiruvananthapuram region.
In Thiruvananthapuram, Stanes Trading Company has been selling baking and cooking products for the last 20 years. Attakulangara-Bypass Road in Chalai, Thiruvananthapuram is chock-a-block with shops selling various commodities & like a hidden gem, you find Stanes Trading Company right in the middle of it.
Stanes – a family business – began their operations in Ernakulam as all Kerala suppliers for baking requisites in 1972. From then on it has spread its wings to cover Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. The Kollam branch started in 1986 and Mr. Davis after completing his studies took over from his brother the van sales division of that branch. Due to the growing demand from customers of Thiruvananthapuram region, a new shop was established in 1999 at Chalai, Thiruvananthapuram. One cannot simply ignore the fragrance that comes from the outlet. The store welcomes everyone with a wider variety of food materials that would be of interest to many fast-buyers. The same is followed by some of the leading sauces, ketchup brands. The key point to be noted in the way the store is fragmented is the way every product is easily visible and just at an arm’s end.
Another key thing to be noticed inside the store is the kind of support which Stanes provides for the young generation of people. The shop in Thiruvananthapuram serves as a one-stop destination catering to the product requisites of bakers, hotels, resorts, etc. This shop offers imported as well as Indian items. Just looking at a few of the products – there are cartoon stencils, garnishing sheets, cake toppers, imported sauces, dry fruits, spices, cake drums, chocolate molds, etc.
The first floor provides a plethora of all baking accessories, raw materials and tools are available at Stanes making it convenient for baking enthusiasts and large-scale baking shops to choose from. This trading shop also provides the customers to purchase requisites for different cuisines – such as Chinese, Continental, Italian, and more.
As Mr. Davis says, Stanes strives to be a trading center where unique products can be sourced from. He says that many of the products sold at Stanes are not available in even major supermarkets. Major institutions such as leading resorts, hotels, caterers, and leading bakers and confectioneries source their baking supplies, raw materials, food packing materials, and tools from Stanes Trading Company. Davis adds that Stanes do offer retail sales too – products are sold at wholesale prices – making it easier for small players in the baking and confectionery industry. The significant market dominance of Stanes has led to its receiving dealership of many major Indian and foreign brands.
This vibrant trading center has remained a dependable leading wholesale distributor for baking goods, raw materials, accessories, and tools with over 7 Thousand products in Thiruvananthapuram.