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{{Short description|Indian restaurant and catering company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{COI|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (MTR)
| logo = Mavalli Tiffin Room Logo.png
| logo_caption = Official logo of MTR
| logo_alt =
| former_name = Brahmin Coffee Club
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| industry = [[Food]]
| services = Food
| subsid = {{bulleted list|[[MTR Foods]]}}
| founded = 1924
| founder = Parampalli Yagnanarayana Maiya and Brothers
| fate = Managed by members of the founding family
| successor = 
| hq_location_city = [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]]
| hq_location_country = India
| area_served = Statewide, Singapore, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, London, Seattle
| key_people = {{ubl|{{nowrap|Parameshwara Maiya}}|Ganappayya Maiya|Parampalli Yagnanarayana Maiya|[[Sadanand Maiya|Parampalli Sadananda Maiya]] |Harishchandra Maiya}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.mavallitiffinrooms.com/about |access-date=2021-09-17 |website=Mavalli Tiffin Rooms (MTR) |language=en-US}}</ref>
| products = Food
| num_locations = 17
| owner =
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year = 
| website = {{URL|https://www.mavallitiffinrooms.com/}}
}}
{{OSM Location map |coord = {{coord|12.955167|77.58555}} |zoom=15|width=255|height=200|caption=Map showing Mavalli Tiffin Room, [[Lal Bagh|Lalbagh]] Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka|label=Mavalli Tiffin Room|mark-coord={{coord|12.955167|77.58555}} |label-pos=left|mark-title=Mavalli Tiffin Room|mark-description= Mavalli Tiffin Room|minimap=yes}}
The '''Mavalli Tiffin Rooms''' ('''MTR''') is the brand name of a food-related enterprise in India. Having its origin as a mess located on [[Lal Bagh]] Road in Bangalore, it has ten other branches in Bangalore, as well as in other Indian cities and overseas locations. MTR is also known to popularize South Indian breakfast item, [[rava idli]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/break-up-wala-butter-chicken-to-sourdough-rotis-the-pandemic-is-changing-our-most-popular-dishes/articleshow/78208927.cms|title = Break-up wala butter chicken to sourdough rotis, the pandemic is changing our most popular dishes - Times of India}}</ref>

==History==
The restaurant started as '''Brahmin Coffee Club''' in [[Lal Bagh|Lalbagh]] Road area of [[Bangalore]], [[India]] by Parampalli Yagnanarayana Maiya and his brothers in the year 1924.<ref name="mtr">A very brief history of MTR is provided by {{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/us-spice-giant-may-buy-bangalores-mtr/articleshow/808749.cms|title=US spice giant may buy Bangalore's MTR|work=Online Edition of the Times of India, 2006-12-14|publisher=© 2007, Times Internet Limited|access-date=2007-04-19|date=2006-12-14}}</ref> The restaurent moved to a new location in 1960 and was renamed as '''Mavalli Tiffin Rooms'''.

This restaurant was closed in the [[Emergency in India|1975 Indian emergency]] when the Food Control Act made it unprofitable to serve food items; It reopened in 1981.<ref name="reopen">A detailed article on MTR is provided by {{cite web |author=Ranjin Rao |date=2002-08-01 |title=You aren't a Bangalorean till you've done MTR |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/01/stories/2002080100200200.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021110204552/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/01/stories/2002080100200200.htm |archive-date=10 November 2002 |access-date=2007-04-19 |work=the Hindu}}</ref>

{{See|MTR Foods}}

To save the jobs during the time it was closed, MTR started selling spices and roasted flour mixes. That was the beginning of its entry into the convenience and instant food business that became MTR Foods.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-31 |title=A look at Bangalore's iconic Mavalli Tiffin Room (MTR) and its perfect plates |url=https://www.lifestyleasia.com/ind/dining/food/mavalli-tiffin-room-mtr-bangalore/ |access-date=2023-12-24 |website=Lifestyle Asia India |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Cuisine and Innovation==
MTR serves [[Karnataka]] [[Hindu]] food.<ref name="Riti">A history of MTR is provided by {{cite web |author=M. D. Riti |title=Vaangibaath steeped in spice and tradition ... Lunch at Mavalli Tiffin Room |url=http://www.rediff.com/travel/1999/aug/12mtr.htm |access-date=2007-04-19 |work=Online webpage of Rediff.com, dated 1999-08-12 |publisher=Rediff.com}}</ref> For many years, customers entered the restaurant through the kitchen.<ref name="dosa">MTR's history and its success in creating a frozen [[Dosa (food)|dosa]] is mentioned by {{cite web |author=M D Riti |date=2003-07-18 |title=The world's first frozen dosa |url=http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2003/jul/18mtr.htm |access-date=2007-04-19 |work=Rediff.com}}</ref> During [[World War II]], MTR found it difficult to make [[idli]]s since rice was in short supply. According to MTR, they experimented with [[semolina]] instead of rice and thus invented the breakfast item of [[Rava idli|Rava Idli]].

== Management and Expansion ==
Maiya family continues to own and manage restaurant with 3rd generation of Maiya family, Hemamalini Maiya, Vikram Maiya, and Arvind Maiya, the grandchildren of Yagnanarayana Maiya.<ref name="mtr" />

MTR restaurant outside bangalore can be found in Udupi, Mysore, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, London, Bellevue, Mississauga and Dubai.

It has been shown on television in the global travel-related series ''[[Globe Trekker]]''. The restaurant building comprises two floors.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

{{Gallery
|title=MTR, Bengaluru
|width=160 | height=170
|align=center
|File:Parampalli Yajnanarayana Maiya (cropped).jpg
|Founder of the restaurant, Parampalli Yagnanarayana Maiya
|File:Idli at MTR.jpg
|Idli served with pure ghee and sambar
|File:MTR Coffee.jpg
|The MTR coffee served hot in silver coffee cups
|
|An art on the staircase of the restaurant
}}

== MTR Foods ==
In the 1970s, when India was under [[The Emergency (India)|emergency]], a Food Control Act was introduced in 1975 which mandated that food was to be sold at very low prices. This move made it difficult for MTR to maintain high standards in its restaurant business and forced it to diversify into the instant food business, selling ready-to-eat snacks such as [[chutney]]s and [[Rasam (dish)|rasam]]s.<ref name="Riti" /> Since then, MTR has expanded and diversified, with MTR Department Stores opened next to the restaurant.<ref name="diver">Opening of the MTR outlet in [[Chennai]] is mentioned by {{cite news |date=2003-11-14 |title=MTR comes to Chennai |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/food/foodmalls/11mtr.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040113072526/http://www.chennaionline.com/food/Foodmalls/11mtr.asp |archive-date=13 January 2004 |publisher=Chennai Online}}</ref> Currently the MTR brand represents two separate entities; the ''MTR'' restaurant business and ''MTR Foods'', the pre-packaged food business.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

[[MTR Foods]] was headed by [[Sadananda Maiya]] (son of Yagnanarayana Maiya) until it was sold to [[Orkla Group|Orkla]], a Norwegian company for [[US$]]80 Million in March 2007.<ref name="sale">Sale of MTR Foods to Orkla is mentioned by {{cite web |author=Bureau |title=Norway's Orkla acquires MTR Foods in $80-m deal |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/14/stories/2007021403530500.htm |access-date=2007-04-19 |work=Online Edition of The Hindu Business Line, dated 2007-02-14 |publisher=2007, The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kulkarni |first=Mahesh |title=Orkla group buys MTR Foods for $80mn |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/orkla-group-buys-mtr-foods-for-80mn-107021401033_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624013330/https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/orkla-group-buys-mtr-foods-for-80mn-107021401033_1.html |archive-date=2021-06-24 |access-date=2025-01-25 |language=en}}</ref> It produces packaged foods in different ranges - spices, instant mixes, ready-to-eat foods, vermicelli, beverages, ready-to-cook gravies, a range of frozen products, papads, pickles, chips, snacks and ice creams.<ref name="range">An article on the changes in the MTR Foods division is provided by {{cite web |author=Boby Kurian |title=Has MTR got its recipe right? |url=http://www.blonnet.com/catalyst/2003/06/26/stories/2003062600040100.htm |access-date=2007-04-19 |work=Online Edition of The Hindu Business Line, dated 2003-06-36 |publisher=2003, The Hindu}}</ref> After the [[Kargil War]], a lot of changes happened in the packaged ready-to-eat food segment due to [[Defence Food Research Laboratory]] (DFRL).<ref>{{cite news |date=11 April 2011 |title=Indian defence scientists develop hi-tech foods |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/food/indian-defence-scientists-develop-hi-tech-foods/articleshow/7939397.cms |access-date=22 June 2020 |newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref> It bought the packaging technology from the same DFRL in [[Mysore]] and there are no preservatives added to the food while packaging.<ref name="dosa" /> MTR is the first Indian processed foods company to be [[Hazard analysis and critical control points]] (HACCP)-certified, a standard of food safety and hygiene.<ref name="range" /> It has also sponsored magic shows and theatre performances and given free samples to the audience, as a means of demonstrating their products.<ref name="demo">Marketing strategy of MTR Foods is mentioned by {{cite web |author=Swetha Kannan, V. K. Varadarajan |title=MTR Foods works the magic |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-brandline/MTR-Foods-works-the-magic/article20234270.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323183341/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-brandline/MTR-Foods-works-the-magic/article20234270.ece |archive-date=23 March 2021 |access-date=2007-04-19 |work=Online Edition of The Hindu Business Line, dated 2006-10-05 |publisher=2007, The Hindu}}</ref> MTR Foods created a frozen [[Dosa (food)|dosa]], which can be heated and eaten right away.<ref name="dosa" /> MTR Food products are sold online and exported to the countries in the Persian Gulf, the United States, and the United Kingdom.<ref name="dosa" />

== See also ==
* [[Cuisine of Karnataka]]
* [[Udupi cuisine]]
* [[Tiffin]]
* [[Rava idli]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite news|date=February 2002|title=Bangalore: Temples of Food|author=Achal Prabhala|work=Outlook Traveller magazine|url=http://www.outlooktraveller.com/aspscripts/mag_art.asp?magid=23&page=2}}
* {{cite news|date=2006-10-05|title=MTR Foods works the magic|author=Swetha Kannan and V. K. Varadarajan|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/catalyst/2006/10/05/stories/2006100500190300.htm|work=[[The Hindu]] BusinessLine}}
* {{cite news|date=2014-03-11|title=Now in Singapore|author=Shilpa Pai Mizar|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Food/now-in-singapore/article5774054.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]}}
* [http://www.bangalorecaterers.com/mtr-opens-dubai-singapore/ MTR Opens in Dubai After Singapore]

==External links==
* [http://mavallitiffinrooms.com Webpage of MTR Restaurants]
* [http://www.mtrfoods.com Webpage of MTR Foods Ltd.]
* [http://www.asklaila.com/search/Bangalore/-/Mavalli%20Tiffin%20Rooms/?searchNearby=false MTR restaurants in Bangalore]

[[Category:Restaurants in Bengaluru]]
[[Category:South Indian cuisine]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1924]]
[[Category:Catering and food service companies of India]]
[[Category:Orkla ASA]]
[[Category:Restaurant chains in India]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1924]]

Mavalli Tiffin Rooms - Revision history

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