New Delhi | Retailers across Delhi are witnessing a sharp rise in the sale of induction cooktops, with some reporting an increase of 75 to 80 per cent in purchases amid concerns over LPG shortage.
Shopkeepers said the surge has been there for the past two days, with customers increasingly turning to electric cooktops, infrared stoves and compatible utensils as a backup to an LPG stove.
Amit Gupta, who owns Effects Kitchens and Hardware at Connaught Place, spoke about a spike in online and offline demand.
"Since yesterday, we have recorded more than 200 walk-in customers, while another 250 to 300 existing and new clients reached out through phone calls. Earlier, electric cooktops were largely purchased by hospitality outlets, but now even households are coming in a panic, fearing stoppage of LPG supply," he said.
Gupta said the demand has exceeded the shop's existing stock, forcing the store to source additional inventory. He said at present they have more pending orders than the stock and are trying to procure bulk lots of different brands every day to fulfil the growing demand.
The government has revised the priority order for allocating domestically-produced natural gas, placing LPG production, CNG, and piped cooking gas at the top.
Another retailer, Praveen Kumar, who runs NG Kitchenware in Green Park, said his shop has seen a sharp rise in customers purchasing induction cooktops and electric appliances.
"There has been a huge footfall since yesterday. Nearly 80 per cent of customers visiting the shop are specifically coming to purchase induction cooktops or electric appliances like rice cookers," he said.
Kumar added that along with appliances, the demand for compatible utensils has also increased as customers are looking to shift temporarily to electric cooking.
An employee at Chhabra Bartan Store in Lajpat Nagar spoke about a sudden rush.
"The sale of induction cooktops has increased by around 75 per cent, while utensils such as cast iron pans and stainless steel cookware used on induction stoves have seen a rise of nearly 70 per cent," he said.
Industry representatives said the LPG situation is also affecting restaurants, which rely heavily on cylinder supplies.
Manpreet Singh, treasurer of the National Restaurant Association of India and owner of Zen restaurant, said only a few establishments have begun switching to electric cooking methods.
"Some restaurants have started moving to induction and electricity-based cooking, but even if they reopen with that, their menus will have to be curtailed because not all dishes can be prepared using these methods," he said.
Nearly 70 to 80 per cent of restaurants run on LPG cylinders. Many establishments are struggling to obtain supplies, and some have even shut down temporarily.
In some cases, cylinders are being sold in the black market, which smaller restaurants cannot afford, he said.
Some smaller eateries are exploring alternatives such as coal or wood-based cooking, while restaurants connected to piped gas networks are currently not facing supply issues, Manpreet Singh said.
