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Everybody’s mother!
Even after 35 years, this Delhi institution remains 'cool', echo youngsters.
For most Dilliwallahs, Mother Dairy is not just about milk — it has also become a landmark of sorts. The first plant of this government-owned company was established in Patparganj in 1974. Thirty five years and 845 booths later, the youth of Delhi still has a connect with this homegrown brand.
Sumit Sethi, an IT professional, says, “I remember going to Mother Dairy, getting the token and then the milk from the machine in the most unique way ever. It was good fun.” Pearl, a 22-year-old student, says, “In summers, I have their cold flavoured milk on my way back from college. I think it’s still the healthiest way to kill Delhi heat.”
With products ranging from milk and butter to ice creams, fruits and vegetables, Mother Dairy has come to represent the city in many ways — whether it’s trips to the quintessential milk booths or the midnight ice cream jaunts at India Gate.
Anju Kapoor, a housewife who stays in Lajpat Nagar, says, “It is a one-stop shop for all my milk requirements. And because it is just ten steps away from home, it comes handy. Also, a doodh-wallah’s milk usually carries the risk of being diluted in water; but that’s not the case with Mother Dairy’s milk.”
Abhinav Saxena, a Delhi University student, recalls competing with friends in a milk-drinking competition. The condition: having it straight from the milk packets and whoever gulped it down first, won! And of course, while kids may not like milk, the company’s ice creams certainly fill the void! However, not everyone has sweet ‘Mother Dairy’ memories. A few people we spoke to associated the dairy with standing in long queues. But they are just the exceptions.