Bharti Wal-Mart, a joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and Wal-Mart Stores Inc, on Friday opened a wholesale cash-and-carry store at Raipur, in Chhattisgarh, taking the total number of outlets it operates in India to seven.

The Best Price Modern Wholesale store is spread over 53,000 sq. ft and stocks over 5,500 items including a wide range of fresh, frozen and chilled foods, fruits and vegetables, dry groceries, personal and home care articles, hotel and restaurant supplies and apparel.

Employment

Mr Rajan Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Wal-Mart, said, “Bharti Wal-Mart will also source products locally and provide direct and indirect employment opportunities to people, in particular the youth.”

Mr Raj Jain, Managing Director and CEO, Bharti WalMart said, “We have invested $7 million in Chhattisgarh and created over 200 inclusive jobs, of which about 40 are from the tribal community, thereby providing a sustainable means of income. We have already received very good response to this store with over 25,000 registered members.”

The joint venture is expected to open 12 new wholesale cash-and-carry facilities and employ approximately 4,000 people by December 2011.

Bharti's other stores are located in Zirakpur, Jalandhar, Kota, Bhopal and Ludhiana.

The Best Price Modern Wholesale store is spread over 53,000 sq. ft and stocks over 5,500 items.