Present focus on wholesale, retail still on radar: Walmart

World's biggest retailer Walmart Stores Inc today said it has not called off the option of entering India's retail sector as it continues to study the regulatory environment but insisted that its present focus is on growing the existing cash and carry business.
The company's India unit, Walmart India announced the opening of its 21st cash and carry store in the country here and said it is in the process of building pipeline of 40 properties at 40 sites by next year as part of its programme to open 50 more stores by 2020.
"As far as B2C (business to consumer, retail) is concerned, we continue to study the regulatory environment and the developments which are taking place and then we would take the decision," Walmart India President & CEO Krish Iyer told PTI here.

Elaborating on the company's plans, he said: "There have been no developments but I think that at an appropriate time they (government) would take their decision on that. I would not call it off the table but would not call on the table either."
Under the current FDI policy for retail sector, up to 51 per cent foreign investment is allowed in India's multi-brand segment and 100 per cent in B2B e-commerce but prohibited in B2C online retail.
Though, the ruling BJP is against FDI in multi-brand retail, it has not reversed the previous UPA government's policy.

Reiterating that Walmart India's focus at present is to grow its cash and carry venture, Iyer said: "We have not talked about B2C. I am not even thinking of B2C at this point of time as far as India team is concerned. India team is completely focused on delivering B2B (business to business, wholesasle) experience to the consumers."

Walmart India owns and operates 21 Best Price Modern wholesale stores in nine states across India. The company plans to open 50 more stores by 2020.
Stressing that "focus is very important", he said "do what you are allowed to do B2B. Do a good job of it and make a great business out of it."
In 2013, Walmart broke up its seven year old joint venture partnership with Bharti Enterprises which ran the cash and carry stores. Since then it has focused on expanding the wholesale business after a period of pause as it restructured the Indian operations after probing allegations of corruption.

Commenting on how the company is progressing to meet its 2020 target, Iyer said: "Between this year and next year we would build a pipeline of 40 properties at 40 sites which would continue to open."
He further said: "We are in the process of signing sites in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. We would be soon looking at Rajsthan.