Birla Retail aims to open 100 supermarkets every year

Has around 500 supermarkets, 14 hypermarkets now

Aditya Birla Retail, retailing arm of Aditya Birla group, is looking at opening 100 supermarkets under 'more' brand every year in the next three years, including this year, to bolster its retail presence.

Birla Retail is also planning to open half dozen hypermarkets next financial year.

Birla's plans come after the retailer closed 40 supermarkets in cities such as Mumbai and others which were not making profits, last year.

Birla Retail has around 500 supermarkets and 14 hypermarkets now.

"The market for supermarkets exits provided you put them at right location and have right properties," said Vishak Kumar, CEO, supermarkets, Aditya Birla Retail.

"We closed stores which were not making money and real estate was expensive", Kumar said.

The chain has supermarkets from 1,000 square ft to 6,000 square ft but the chain's sweespot is 2,500 square ft, he said.

The retailer has opened 3 hypermarkets in FY2013 so far and looking to open two more stores by March 2013.

"It is difficult to open stores here due to delays," said Russell Berman, CEO, hypermarkets, Aditya Birla Retail.

Even Trent hypermarkets which was planning to open 3 stores in 2012 could not open stores due to delays from mall developers.