This scorching summer, India's fast-growing retail sector is set to experience further heat as another India's top business conglomerate makes a concerted entry. That the cement to textiles, Information Technology (IT) to financial services giant was serious about its retailing foray was not even vaguely known when it made a low-profile debut with the acquisition of Madura Garments in 2003 and subsequent launch of Planet retail and Trouser Town retail outlets. With the acquisition of Trinethra, a South India-based retail chain in January 2007, it became evident that the Kumar Mangalam Birla-led Group was aiming for a bigger pie . In a move that even surprised industry experts, The AV Birla Group acquired lock-stock-barrel Trinethra Super Retail Limited (TSRL), a Rs. 170 cr chain of more than 100 stores across Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore (in the name of Fabmall). The acquisition also gives it access to about more than half a million square feet of selling area across these three cities, where TSRL is the leading retail chain.
It is planning to roll out various retailing formats which include opening of about 1,000 retail supermarkets as well as a number of hypermarkets across the country. To get the sourcing right, the retail venture will emphasize on promoting private labels wherein food products will be sourced in bulk from primary producers like farmers and sold under store's own brand (e.g., Food Bazaar, promoted by Kishore Biyani of Big Bazaar fame, Food World) . In another move, the Trinethra brand has been renamed as `More.' The More stores will be spread over an area ranging 2,500-3,000 sq. ft. whereas the hypermarket's size will be around 75,000 sq.ft., each. In May, AV Birla Group opened a More store in Pune and aims to roll out fourteen more such stores in the city soon, besides rolling out various formats nationwide.
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