Walmart To Open Cash-and-carry Store In Agra

As the US retail major Walmart returns focus on India after a gap of two years, it is now eyeing the cash-and-carry business in the country in order to strengthen its base.

The biggest foreign retailer is planning to come up with a new cash-and-carry store in Agra. Earlier in 2012, the company had opened its last store in Bhopal.

“Walmart is committed to India and we are focused on our growth plans… We have recently received all internal approvals for opening a new store in Agra, our second one in the city. Our team is currently working towards procuring all relevant licences and permits to have it up and running in due course in the coming year,” Walmart spokesperson told PTI.

Across nine Indian states, Walmart runs 20 cash-and-carry stores under brand Best Price. The company had earlier made an announcement to come up with 50 wholesale stores in the next 4-5 years.

Walmart, which operates B2B e-commerce platform in four cities in India — Lucknow, Hyderabad, Guntur and Vijayawada, will also extend its online platform in all its stores in 2015. “We plan to extend our B2B eCommerce initiative in all our stores in a phased manner in the year 2015,” Walmart said.

In October last year, the company had pulled down the curtains on 6-year partnership with Bharti Enterprises, and decided to operate stores independently in India.
(Image: Walmart Media Relations)