SPAR International may launch large kirana stores in India

admin — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:11:25 +0000

BANGALORE: The $37-billion Dutch retail giant SPAR International, which has tied up with the Landmark Group for its hypermarket foray in India, may bring in large format ‘kirana store’ under its fold. This could happen in SPAR’s second phase of expansion beginning 2009.

Along with its India master licensee, Max Hypermarkets, the Dutch behemoth plans to have sub-licencee arrangements with larger kirana stores to kickstart the neighbourhood supermarket format in the country.

Globally, the neighbourhood store or the local supermarket is the most widespread format of SPAR International. With focus on fresh food, these supermarkets aim at meeting local needs. “As modern retail progresses in India, people who run the small stores will expand into large neighbourhood stores. We will work with these people who run their own local supermarkets. These independent retailers can be part of the Spar umbrella in India,” SPAR International MD Gordon R Cambell told ET. Under the sub-licencee arrangement, SPAR will provide retail expertise on the store layout, technology knowhow and merchandising to these local supermarkets. Besides local supermarket, the other three formats operated by the retail major are hypermarket, large supermarket and SPAR Express. SPAR International operates 13,700 stores in over 34 countries.

It works with 82 local partners in these countries. Globally, the retail major does not take equity in the local company. In an effort to further expand its presence in India, the company also plans to unveil SPAR Express format in the long term.

SPAR Express is the format for the areas of high consumer footfall such as railway stations and airports. “SPAR Express will come much later in the country; we need to get the volume first,” Dr Cambell said.

Meanwhile, Max Hypermarket is opening the second SPAR Hypermarket in Bangalore in two weeks. By 2009, Max Hypermarket will unveil six Spar hypermarkets and one supermarket in India. Max Hypermarket aims to clock revenues in excess of Rs 500 crore on an annualised basis from these seven stores.

In the second phase, Max Hypermarket plans to open 30 SPAR Hypermarkets across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, NCR and Punjab. For expanding into other regions, SPAR could look at partnering with other retailers, but only in consultation with Max Hypermarket India, which has the first right of refusal.

SPAR International also plans to introduce private labels in the stores. The company has a portfolio of 400 private labels and some of these will be introduced at hypermarkets in India by the year end.

SPAR Supermarket opens store in India

admin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:29:24 +0000

The global food retail chain SPAR has started its India operation opening the chains first store ‘SPAR Supermarket’ at Hyderabad. For this project, SPAR International has entered into a strategic partnership with Max Hypermarket India Pvt Ltd, which will carry forward the Supermarket project across India.

Spread over 20,000 square feet of retail space, the store retails a wide range of products across segments that include FMCG, fish, meat, home textiles, personal care, kitchenwares, travel and IT accessories.

Speaking to media on the launch, Viney Singh, managing director, Max Hypermarkets, said, “We want to take retailing to a new level in India and give the customer something that he or she has never experienced before – the finest, freshest quality, widest choice, great value for money and personal and friendly service – all packaged together for a truly enjoyable shopping experience.”

“This is a customer-focused store which understands the pressures and pleasures of modern consumers and aims to improve the quality of the shopping experience by bringing tried and tested solutions in lighting and retail merchandising,” added Singh.

SPAR currently carry operations in 35 countries and operates on the principle of a ‘co-operative of independent retailers and wholesalers’, said a company press release.

Retail News Update » Max Hypermarkets

SPAR International may launch large kirana stores in India

SPAR Supermarket opens store in India