Subhiksha draws up Nagpur plan

Chennai-based Subhiksha Group is understood to be planning over two-dozen outlets in the city.

Owners of commercial properties said Subhiksha's plans were in an advanced stage and they expect to open 11 outlets by the end of March.

This will be the fourth big retail chain to enter the city after Westside, Big Bazaar and Piramyd. The size of the outlets will vary from 700-800 square feet to a maximum of 2,000 square feet.

"The company has already finalised a few places here and is looking to open outlets mostly in commercial areas. Outlets have been opened at Dharampeth, Medical Square and two in Sadar," sources said.

They said interiors of the outlets would be as per the company's standard design with space being the only variant.

Subhiksha stores will stock vegetables, fruits, foodgrains, medicines and telecom products besides those that come under the FMCG segment. All these will be available at a discount on the printed maximum retail price. The chain would also provide free home delivery besides introducing the concept of 'loyalty cards' in the city.

A company official said, Subhiksha's inventory management allows it to rotate products and ensure that the customer gets the lowest price throughout the year.

Subhiksha is known to be planning a major expansion intiative to touch the 1,000-store mark by the end of 2007. It plans to open 180 stores in Maharashtra. The chain has 500 outlets spread across five states, occupying a retail space of more than one million square feet.

It is targeting a turnover of Rs 3,500 crore by the end of 2007. After completion of the expansion in Maharashtra, Subhiksha will launch Phase II of its drive to open stores in the north and eastern parts of the country including Chandigarh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh Haryana and West Bengal.