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Wholesale retailer Bharti Walmart plans to invest Rs 104 crore this year in expanding its outlets across the country.
The US retail chain Walmart and New Delhi-based Bharti Enterprises joint-venture company have raised these funds last year, they said in a filing to the Registrar of Companies.
Having doubled its store count to ten outlets in 2011, the cash-and-carry major has added two stores in the last six months. In all, Bharti Walmart has about 17 stores in the country. Simultaneously, the company has been investing in logistics and improving its back-end supply chain system.
The company also mentioned that it has incurred a loss of Rs 765 crore in calendar year 2011, even as sales doubled during the period to Rs 1,876-crore.
However, the company seems to be optimistic and upbeat about the business outlook in the future given the fact that the wholesale business – or trade between two businesses - has considerable scope for growth going ahead. The fresh equity infusion could also be a signal that the retail segment is set to witness reforms in foreign direct investment norms, observe industry-watchers.
“Indian retailers are making steady strides in rationalising their retail network and learning the nuances of organised retail,” says Mr Mohit Bahl, Partner, KPMG India.
“In cash-and-carry segment, where FDI is already permitted, international players making investments in establishing their network though these are still very muted. However, with expectation of FDI in retail opening up – should that happen, the flood gates should open,’’ he added.
Bharti Walmart has also raised about Rs 500 crore in short-term loans from banks including Citibank, BNP Paribas, HSBC. The fresh capital infusion by Bharti Walmart also indicates the company’s massive expansion drive that is in line with the huge competition in the cash and carry segment. The world’s second largest retailer Carrefour has also opened its first cash-and-carry store in India in December last, while Germany’s Metro AG entered its tenth year of operation in India with eleven stores this year.
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