Direct2U Supermarket, an independent premium good & grocery retailer in Nerul, Navi Mumbai, is well on its way to launch an online retail platform, though its initial offer will include only non-perishable food and FMCG items.
The 2,100 sq. ft. store, which opened in 2012, had a soft launch of a Food & grocery eCommerce model on pilot basis in Navi Mumbai, in September, with the objective of gaining market insights and streamlining backend operations.
“In April, 2015 we are planning a formal launch in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai,” Manoj Satia, managing director, Direct2U Retail told indiaretailing. “In the current fiscal, our priority was setting up the eCommerce bandwidth, which included putting together the website and mobile apps designed to run on Android and iOS platforms,” he added.
In the immediate future, however, Direct2U will not be including fresh produce, frozen foods and ice creams in its online offer. “Retailing these categories would require refrigerated vans, which are expensive and need food and safety licenses,” Satia explained. “We will study these categories for another six months before taking a decision. But we have gone ahead with other food & grocery categories that do not need refrigeration.”
