IndiaRetailBiz

Indian consumers, who are already combating high rate of inflation, are now faced with the specter of goods disappearing from retail shelves unless the truckers strike, which began yesterday, is not brought to a swift end by the concerned authorities. Truckers, across the country, went on strike to press their long pending demands, many of which relate to levy of toll and service taxes.

Retail chains, particularly those dealing mainly with goods of daily consumption have already taken steps to minimise the impact of this strike. Among others, these chains include players like Future group’s Food Bazaar and Subhiksha.

Food Bazaar, which normally stocks inventories equivalent to 10 to 20 days of sales, according to a TV18 report, has decided to carry extra inventory of goods equivalent to five days sales. Subhiksha, another food and grocery chain, as a precautionary measure, has also decided to increase the stocks of branded and in-house products equivalent to eight days of sales.

These measures, however, are limited only to products that have long shelf life. Retailers will have to stop selling ’fresh’ products like fruits and vegetables once their stocks are exhausted.

Most retailers, while hoping the strike to end soon, are trying to prevent as much as possible of stock-outs as they are uncomfortable with the idea of turning away their customers. Unfortunately, however, situation under such circumstances, aggravates further as most customers, who can afford, tend to buy more than their normal requirement.