Pick up money transfers from Godrej Aadhar

Godrej Aadhaar, the agri services and rural retail initiative of Godrej Agrovet, has tied up with Western Union Money Transfer to provide money transfer facilities at the rural hubs.

Agrovet will also be piloting an educational programme with IL&FS in December which would provide training in a variety of subjects to the locals. CK Vaidya, managing director, Godrej Agrovet said that the programme would include both vocational training as well as basic English language skills.

Apart from this, the company is in talks with other corporates to set up fuel pumps at its outlets apart from shop in shops for other product categories as well.

Vaidya said that the company is also considering about introducing products like tractors and two wheelers at a later date.

The company has just opened its first greenfield outlet in Barnala, Punjab which is spread over 15,000 square feet on a single level. This is the company's 30th outlet, with all the others being put up on leased properties.

Vaidya said that the company was keen on increasing the number of such greenfield ventures, but land acquisition was an issue.

The company is following a hub and spoke model to set up stores, and this outlet is the first hub that the company has set up.

The hubs would typically be between 10,000- 15,000 square feet and would provide a wider offering in terms of both products and services.

The spokes, about 3,000- 5,000 square feet large would provide basic agricultural inputs apart from products of daily use. Vaidya declined to share the financial performance of these centres saying that the performance has been in line with the company's expectation.

"It is growing a little slow as it is taking people. He added that it will take time for the rurals to get comfortable with a new shopping environment."

Agrovet will be setting up another 20 outlets by the end of this financial year, with a target of 1000 Aadhaar's over the next five to seven years.