PANJIM: Maggi
noodles are back on the shelves, and disappearing quickly as Maggi two-minute
noodle lovers are returning to their favourite brand discarding the substitutes
they had purchased in the past few months.
“The response
is great, people prefer buying small packets of Maggi and the product is bought
at a fast pace,” said Olga Braganza, who sells the product at her shop in
Mapusa.
Nestle India
Ltd has commenced manufacturing variants of Maggi instant noodles at its
Maulinguem, Bicholim plant after the product cleared mandated tests at three
government laboratories.
The noodles
had been taken off the shelves after excess lead had been found in the product.
Their return has come as a huge relief to all Maggi lovers.
“It has become
the latest trend since Maggi has turned into a lost-and-found celebrity among
youth. The brand has been in many homes and a part of a lot of people’s
happiness. We all knew that Maggi would eventually come back with a bang,” said
Ojas Raman, a student of Chowgule College.
The company is
also leaving no stone unturned to push its brand back in the market as it has
launched an advertisement with an emotional appeal that proclaims Maggi has
always been safe. This is perhaps working.
“Maggi has
gone viral within two days of its return. The box of Maggi delivered in the
morning gets over by afternoon. This is how much everyone loves Maggi,”
Chhotelal Gupta, a shopkeeper in Panjim, said. On an average three boxes per
shop are distributed at present and the company has retained the price.
Social
networking sites too are abuzz with the latest development terming it as ‘Maggi
returns’ with youth posting selfies with packets of Maggi noodles.
The noodles
continue to be tagged as the fastest, easiest and tastiest food product for
consumption. “When you live at a hostel, far from home, Maggi is your only
solution for hunger. It was bad news when Maggi was banned, but now everything
will be back in place since it has returned. Maggi has saved us. The day it
came in the stores, I bought it immediately,” said Aliston Rodrigues, a
resident of Margao.
