If it works, Big Bazaar Direct will be bigger than BB: Biyani

Future Group chief executive Kishore Biyani today said his new venture, Big Bazaar Direct, may become a larger success than his present flagship Big Bazaar stores as it aims to partner kirana stores and offer more opportunities to help them grow their business.

"Big Bazaar Direct is a model on a tablet and if it works well, it will be bigger than Big Bazaar," Biyani told reporters at the India Retail Forum 2013 here.

Big Bazaar Direct is a franchisee-based model where the franchisees will personally visit consumers and take orders for products. The products will be delivered in 3-7 days.

"Our country does not have good Internet or credit card penetration, so human intervention is a must," Biyani said.

He further said the new format has already been launched in some parts of Vidarbha district in Maharashtra and will be expanded to the north-eastern parts of the state and Gujarat in the coming months.

"Through this partnership, franchisees will be able to offer an additional 2,000 SKUs (stock keeping units), without having to build the inventory....They should get business worth Rs 40-50 lakh easily," he said.

About the demand scenario, Biyani said the retail industry was faring well despite the current difficult macro-economic situation.

"Despite headwinds, small ticket items continue to do well," Biyani said.

On RBI asking banks to stop offering interest-free EMI schemes, Biyani said the move is anti-consumer.

"Consumption is dependent on festive and wedding season and people save up to buy things. The zero per cent interest EMI schemes definitely help sales...It is an anti-consumption move," he added.