Bharti Wal-Mart Pvt Ltd, the 50:50 joint venture between Wal-Mart Stores –the world’s largest retailer– and Bharti Enterprises– India’s largest mobile service provider– is looking at either the West or the South zone for expansion of its ‘Cash and Carry’ wholesale centres.
The JV has already launched its first C&C store under the brand name of “Best Price Modern Wholesale” a few months ago. The store was launched at Amritsar in Punjab state on the 30th May, 2009. The company is also ready to launch its second store in December (perhaps at Ludhiana– the home town of Mittals, Bharti group owners).
Walmart, though known for its big-box format stores, has been forced to begin its operations in India with ‘cash and carry’ format as the current government policy guidelines do not allow setting up of front-end, multi-brand, retail stores by MNC retailers in India.
“After north, the discussion is really south or west. We believe southern markets are much more growth oriented”, said Rajan Bharti Mittal, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Enterprises, while speaking to reporters in Bangalore.
“Ecosystem (in the south) is far better than the north when the company started operations there,” said Rajan Mittal, adding, “Hopefully, south will see some action from us. We have to be a pan-India company.”
The prevailing real estate costs will, however, be an important consideration in deciding on the South or the West. “… we are already looking at real estate pieces here in southern and western parts (of the country). It (opening stores) depends on how real estate plays its game,” said Mittal.
Bharti- Walmart is planning to set up 10 to 15 cash and carry centres across India by 2015.
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1 response so far ↓
manju // Oct 14, 2009 at 8:59 am
Can anyone provide the more details on walmart?
—- Please visit- http://walmartstores.com/
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