Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world’s biggest retailer, will accelerate its rollout of wholesale stores in India, a crucial growth market that has long frustrated overseas operators with restrictive rules. Raj Jain, chief of Indian operations for Arkansas-based Wal-Mart, said the firm now expects to open 10-12 wholesale centres in India over two-to-three years, from an [...]
Wal-Mart ready for multi-branded retailing if rules eased
April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart, on Tuesday said it is ready to enter multi-branded retail segment in India within a year of any government decision to open up the sector to foreign direct investment. “In case the government decides to allow FDI into multi-branded retailing we will be happy to participate in it. We can [...]
Bharti Walmart to foray into south, west India within 2 yrs
April 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Bharti Walmart, the 50:50 joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and US-based Walmart Inc, on Tuesday said it will enter the southern and western parts of India within the next 18-24 months as it looks to expand presence in the country. The wholesale firm had earlier announced plans to have 10-15 outlets within the next three [...]
New President of FICCI – Rajan Mittal – to push for FDI in Indian Retail
March 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The country’s apex industry lobby, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has a new man in charge. The vice chairman and managing director of Bharti Enterprises has taken over as the president of FICCI and one of the top agenda for Rajan Mittal, younger brother of Sunil Mittal, during his term [...]
Bharti Retail enters Jaipur, lines up $2 bn for expansion of retail in India
February 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Sunil Mittal-promoted Bharti Retail entered Rajasthan by launching the state’s first compact-hyper store ‘Easyday Market’ in Jaipur. The company currently has 63 stores in cities across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi. These stores are of two formats Supermarkets, which are known as “easyday”, and Compact Hyper, which are known as “Easyday Market”. [...]
Retail giant Carrefour ties up with apple farmers in HP
October 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment
SHIMLA: After Bharti Walmart started
working with farmers in Punjab and Haryana, it is now French retail giant
Carrefour which is extending technical support to apple farmers in Himachal
Pradesh. The company is working along with farmers in Matiana region of Shimla
district.
working with farmers in Punjab and Haryana, it is now French retail giant
Carrefour which is extending technical support to apple farmers in Himachal
Pradesh. The company is working along with farmers in Matiana region of Shimla
district.
The company so far has been selecting progressive farmers
willing to go ahead with modern retail. To an e-mail query, Carrefour WC&C
India Private limited, Fresh Commercial Director, Yannick Douville said the
company will help farmers to improve their farming techniques and then deliver
better quality apple. âOur technical advises will focus mainly on limited
chemicals usage, natural fertilizing, harvest handling and post harvest storage
conditions,â he said.
According to him as soon as the first
Carrefour store is open in India, the company will start a regular supply from
Matiana to New Delhi for Himachal apples. Delhi based Dev Bhumi Cold Chain is
one of the selected suppliers of the company which will ensure storage and
logistic from Himachal to New Delhi for selected farmers. âSo far, we’re
working on 2 varieties Golden and Red Delicious apples. Our basic requirements
are sugar contents (sugar % called briks), limited chemicals treatments, natural
fertilizing, and then storage conditions to make sure quality and taste will be
preserved,âsaid Mr Douville.
He added, âapples in India
seem to be grown in more remote areas than other big production countries ( e.g
France, Chile, China) so care and maintenance for trees are probably more
complicated . The way ahead is definitely to work on the best adapted varieties
for India climate, maintenance for trees, pruning and regular and alternate
replacement of old trees with new ones.â
Carrefour has been
exchanging views on their production practices, and company requirements for
produces with the farmers in the region. Currently more than 30 farmers with
minimum land holding of 10-15 bighas were part of the program.
With
Carrefour stating that it plans to open its first cash-and-carry outlet in India
in early 2010 the company has already selected some suppliers and is
continuously exploring all sourcing possibilities for coming opening on a more
long term approach in the fresh fruits and vegetables sector. âCarrefour
has been so far exploring many areas in India, Uttar Pradesh green belt,
Maharastra, Haryana (some examples potatoes in Agra area, onion in Nashik etc).
Carrefour is mainly focusing in finding progressive farmers willing to
understand modern retail requirements in term of farming practices with respect
of environment, sustainable quality and good taste,âsaid Mr
Douville.
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