Bharti Walmart to concentrate in Southern states too

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 years in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.


"Within 12-18 months we should be able to be in the southern markets. We are focusing on all four southern states. And probably after that, within two years, we will be in west India," Bharti Walmart Managing Director and CEO Raj Jain told.

He said the company has started scouting for locations in the southern and western states but is yet to take a decision on the total number of outlets likely to be set up in those regions.

"The cash-and-carry outlets in south and west would follow our existing format of 50,000-80,000 sq ft size," he said.

The firm today opened its second outlet in Chandigarh. Its first store in Amritsar was inaugurated in May last year.

"This year we will open five more outlets in North India, taking our total retail space to over 3 lakh sq ft from one lakh sq ft now," Jain said.

Regarding today's Walmart Asia President Scott Price's announcement that the American retail giant will increase sourcing from India, Jain said, "We are looking to start exporting mangoes soon and also put more emphasis on basmati."

Bharti Walmart will open a new technical training centre in Delhi later this year in collaboration with the state government on lines with the existing centre in Punjab.

"The centre in Amritsar has already trained 2,000 students in courses like retail, wholesale and supply chain management, of whom 700 have secured placements in various places. We now want to replicate it in Delhi," Jain said.