Kudumbashree's Premium Cafe Restaurant chain, which has captivated the hearts of Keralites with its variety of flavors and the warmth of hospitality, has launched Premium Cafe Restaurants in Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam districts as part of its second phase of operations on 8 April 2025.
It is after understanding that the greatest excellence of Kudumbashree entrepreneurs is their craftsmanship, the Government started Janakeeya Hotels during the covid period and now Premium Cafe Restaurants, said M.B Rajesh, Minister for Local Self Governments, Rural Development, Town Planning, Regional Development Authorities, Excise, KILA and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Kerala. The Minister was speaking at the State-Level Inauguration of the Second Phase of the Premium Cafe at Kuravilangad in Kottayam district. The Minister said that like other initiatives of Kudumbashree, the Premium Cafe Restaurant will also be a great success.
Adv. Mons Joseph MLA presided over the function. Jose K Mani MP, Raju John Chitteth, President, Uzhavoor Block Panchayat, Hemalatha Premsagar, President, Kottayam District Panchayat, Nirmala Jimmy, Former District Panchayat President and representatives of the three-tier Panchayat were present at the function.
The Premium Cafe is set up on 4,000 square feet near the Kuravilangad Science City. The fully air conditioned restaurant has a capacity to accommodate 75 people at a time and ample parking as well. The restaurant, which is equipped with a disability-friendly layout, serves Indian, Chinese and Arabic cuisine. The restaurant also has a take-a-break facility and a 24-hour bakery. A meeting hall and dormitory facilities have been set up on the second floor. She Lodge will soon be opened on the third floor. All the activities of the Premium Cafe will be led by forty women from various canteen catering units in Kottayam district.
The Premium Cafe, which was opened on the ground floor of a multi-storey building opposite to the Government Press near the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, was inaugurated by Adv. D. Suresh Kumar, President, Thiruvananthapuram District Panchayath.
Travancore mini-sadya, fish malhar, a king fish dish prepared in a clay pot with local spices, Malabar dishes, Pattom chicken curry, and Chinese dishes are available here. In addition, a take away counter and a coffee shop serving local delicacies and drinks have been set up here. Food can also be ordered through Swiggy and Zomato. Lunch can also be purchased from here as part of the Lunch Bell Project. The operating hours of all Premium Cafes are from 7 AM to 11 PM. The food preparation, distribution, and billing, including the work, will be done by Kudumbashree members themselves.
H. Dineshan, Executive Director, Kudumbashree, Geetha Nazeer, Member, Kudumbashree Governing Body, Sreekanth A.S, Dr. Shanavas, Programme Officers, Ramesh G, District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission and Sreelatha B.V. Assistant District Mission Co-ordinator, Kudumbashree Thiruvananthapuram District Mission participated in the programme.
The Premium Cafe Restaurant chain was launched in January 2024 with the aim of modernizing and sustaining enterprises. The first restaurant was opened in Angamaly in Ernakulam district. Later, Premium Cafes were also opened in Wayanad (Meppadi), Kannur, Thrissur (Guruvayur), and Pathanamthitta (Panthalam). After receiving a good response, the project was extended to other districts. Premium Cafe was launched near the Kasaragod District Panchayat Office on 26 March 2025 and in Kottakkal of Malappuram on 6 April 2025. Currently, Premium Cafe has been launched in nine districts. The project has enabled more than 100 women to secure good employment and income.
Premium Restaurants will soon start operating in the districts of Alappuzha (Chengannur Kallissery), Kollam (Karunagappally Vettumukku Junction), Palakkad (Kannambra), and Kozhikode (Koyilandy), which are included in the second phase of the project.