Bharti Retail opens Easy Day in Ludhiana

Bharti Retail, owned by Sunil Mittal's Bharti Enterprises, on Wednesday started retail operations in the country with neighbourhood store format, Easy Day, from Ludhiana in Punjab. Bharti has set up three stores in Ludhiana.

Though the company has not announced the total number of stores under Easy Day, it is looking to set up these food and grocery stores in all the major cities and towns across the country, company officials said.

Though the company has not announced the total number of stores under Easy Day, it is looking to set up these food and grocery stores in all the major cities and towns across the country, company officials said.

Neighbourhood stores will be the first phase of its roll-out plans, as the company is opening supermarkets and hypermarkets across the country, officials added.

Bharti has announced plans to invest Rs 10,000 crore to set up stores across the country by 2012. The company said that it is looking at a retail space of 10 million square feet and employ 60,000 people.

Bharti has also entered into a joint venture with world's largest retailer Wal-Mart for supply chain, logistics and cash and carry ventures. The JV is expected to launch the first store by the end of 2008 and aims to open 10 to 15 centres over seven years.

With the roll-out of its retail stores, Bharti will compete with Kishore Biyani's Future Group, Reliance Retail, RPG group's Spencers, Aditya Birla Group among others in a fast growing organised retail market in the country which is expected to touch Rs 4,00,000 crore in the next five years.

Easy Day shops, measuring 2,500 to 4,500 sq ft, will sell stationery, household articles, hosiery items, daily-need groceries including staples, processed foods, bakery and dairy products, meat and poultry and fresh produce among others, the company said in a release.

''Easy Day stores would be a one-stop shop to cater to every family's day-to-day needs,'' the release said.

The company has also set up Bharti Academy of Retail to train its staff. The academy based in Ludhiana has trained 1600 people so far.

The company has also hired local meat sellers, fruits and vegetable vendors,housewives,retired staff, rural population, physically-challenged in its operations, the firm said.