After making its debut in satellite TV, Bharti is all set to stretch its arms in its already existing retail business. According to sources in the company, Bharti Retail is now planning to roll out its supermarket format in Punjab by the end of the year.
Bharti had entered the state with its retail venture earlier in the year through its convenience store format; several of which were opened in different parts of the state.
Further, the company will open supermarkets of about 40,000 square feet in Punjab. However, the company is not planning to open any more formats outside Punjab and Haryana this year and larger-format hypermarkets will open only next year, add sources.
Bharti, best known for being India’s largest mobile phone company, started its retail business in April in its founders home-town of Ludhiana, with three convenience stores called Easy Day. The number of these stores has since grown to nine. The company has also partnered a 50:50 joint venture with Wal-Mart Stores to open 15 cash-and-carry stores in India.
