IndiaRetailBiz

Walmart Bharti India Limited, a 50:50 retail joint venture of the world’s largest US-based retailer Walmart with India’s telecom giant Bharti group, has been forced to defer the launch of its first ‘Cash & Carry’ Centre in India.

The ‘Cash & Carry’ chain of the joint venture, which has been named as ”Best Price Modern Wholesale” The first store, was scheduled to open its first store at Amritsar in Punjab on Tuesday, the 26th May, 2009.

The deferment of the launch has been done in view of widespread breakout of violence resulting in imposition of curfew in several cities of Punjab. The violence in the state broke out after an attack on Sant Rama Anand, 57, a Sikh Guru in Vienna– the capital city of Austria. The Sikh Guru was attacked in the midst of a sermon on Sunday in a local Gurudwara. The Sikh Guru later succumbed to his wounds on Monday.

Punjab, where the launch of the first ’Cash & Carry’ centres was scheduled for Tuesday, is a predominantly sikh state.

“Due to the suspension of commercial activity in Amritsar, the Bharti Wal-Mart store opening has been deferred. We will open the store as soon as business activity resumes,” said Arti Singh, vice-president for corporate affairs, Bharti Wal-Mart.

When opened, “Best Price Modern Wholesale” offer a wide range of food, grocery, and household products at wholesale rates in bulk to registered customers like small traders, street vendors, caterers, hospitals, hostels, among others.