Thiruvananthapuram: With Supplyco (Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation) planning to set up franchisee stalls, thousands of Keralites settled in various Middle East countries can now look forward to getting their favourite food items.

State Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, C. Divakaran, told the Kerala Assembly Monday that a feasibility study on the issue would be conducted soon.

"We have had several inquiries to this effect to start franchisee stores of Supplyco in the Middle East and now things have reached the feasibility study stage," Divakaran said.

An estimated two million Keralites are settled in various Middle East countries.

Supplyco assures food security to the 30 million people in this state by supplying life's essentials at reasonable prices and reaches out to both the rural poor and the urban rich.

Supplyco was incorporated in 1974 as a fully owned government company with an authorised capital of Rs.150 million to meet the limited objective of ensuring that essential commodities are made available at reasonable prices.

Over, the last three decades, however, the company has shown tremendous and unbelievable growth compared to any other similar organisations in the country, and, today, it offers a vast range of food and other consumer items.

Headquartered in Kochi and operating through 5 regional offices, 14 district depots, 42 taluk depots and around 1,000 retail outlets, the company employs 3,500 people.

The minister also added that the proposed franchisee outlets in the Middle East would have all the items that a Malayalee can expect from Supplyco.