Vodafone's store distribution network hits 9,800

The country's second-biggest mobile operator, Vodafone today said it has increased its distribution network to 9,800 branded stores.
It added 200 large stores of nearly 750 sq ft and 1,000 of smaller mini-stores across the country since April last year, a senior official said, claiming it to be one of the largest among telecom companies.
At present, the company's overall footprint includes 700 large stores, 3,300 mini stores in bigger towns and cities, and 5,800 rural mini stores, its national head for retail and digital Kavita Nair told reporters here.
She, however, did not spell out details when asked about how the company plans to leverage its presence by arrangements like selling other companies' products as some other players in the telecom and payments ecosystem do.

Nair also declined to share details on its strategy on the number of stores it plans to open.
When asked about the in-principle nod to start a payments bank received by it and how it will influence strategies, Nair remained tight-lipped, saying it's still early days.

Without sharing a break-up of the physical and digital transactions, she said the company is investing in both the channels and feels that it is necessary to have a presence at both the ends to serve its 185 million consumers.
Over 80 per cent of the large format stores are company-owned ones and a store breaks even in less than two years, she added.

In its network, the company helps 15,000 people either directly or indirectly gain employment and nearly a third of them are women, Nair said, adding that 34 of the large format stores are run by women.