“There is no stock left in the market,” tweeted an alarmed RoohAfza aficionado. “Ramzan without RoohAfza at iftaar is unimaginable,” added another.
The shortage of RoohAfza – one of the most widely found summer drinks in Indian households, and especially during Ramzan – has created a flutter on social media.
According to the manufacturer, the rose-flavoured syrup has been out of stock, both online and offline stores, for the past few months because of the unavailability of a key ingredient.
Now, in an unexpected development, the Pakistani counterpart of the maker of RoohAfza has offered to aid India during this crisis “if permitted by Indian government”.
Reports had earlier indicated that a family dispute has brought the production to a complete halt. However, Hamdard Laboratories has now called those reports baseless, and indicated that a shortage of a “key herbal ingredient” led to supply constraints.
“Shortage of a Herbal Ingredient”
Speaking to The Economic Times, Mansoor Ali, chief sales and marketing officer at Hamdard, said that the company is facing a shortage of a "certain herbal ingredient" which has resulted in fall in supply.
"This was an unforeseen shortage. The herbal ingredients we use are not commonly available,” Ali said.
Ali also added that the company hopes to fix the demand supply gap within a week.
The Print, citing sources, had earlier reported that the shortage was due to a legal dispute between Hamdard Laboratories CEO Abdul Majeed and his cousin, Hammad Ahmed, over the rightful inheritance to the company.
However, Ali categorically denied the rumours saying, “The speculation about any rift is completely baseless.”
Sherbet Shortage Ain’t Cool...
The shortage of RoohAfza in the market caused an uproar among many Indian Muslim who view the sherbet as synonymous with the holy month of Ramzan.
The Rs 400-crore brand normally sees a 25 percent spurt in sales during this time of the year, Ali told ET.
“Ramzan without Rooh Afza at iftaar (evening meal during Ramzan) is unimaginable,” a user pointed out.
Pakistan Offers Help During Shortage
Meanwhile, the sister company of Hamdard Lab in Pakistan, Hamdard Laboratories Waqf Pakistan, offered to supply the sherbet to India in the view of shortage in supply.
Hamdard Laboratories Waqf Pakistan was founded by Hakeem Mohammed Said in 1948. Said is the son of the Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed, who founded Hamdard Laboratories in Delhi in 1906.
"We can supply RoohAfza to India during this Ramzan. We can easily send trucks through Wahga border if permitted by Indian Government,"said MD and CEO of Pakistani Hamdard, Usama Qureshi in a tweet.
(With inputs from The Economic Times and The Print)
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