Reliance Retail has entered the state of Gujarat with a big bang. It has launched nine Fresh stores in Ahmedabad. The company plans to open 69 more stores in the city. These stores are the first stores in Western India. Reliance has plans to roll out 180 Fresh stores across Gujarat in six months time. Out of the 180 Fresh stores, 45 stores will be rolled out by next month. These 180 stores will be spread over 16 cities and towns of the state.
The implementation of the procurement law, which allows players like Reliance to set up private mandis and buy farm produce directly from farmers, is not yet in force in Gujarat. Till the time these procurement laws are in place, Reliance will have to acquire farm products from Agriculture Produce Marketing and Cooperatives (APMC).