As a part of its omnichannel venture, Reliance Retail has begun setting up a new network of grocery stores that will also function as points for last-mile delivery of grocery and food.
According to officials closely associated with the development, Reliance plans on opening thousands of small outlets called Reliance Smart Points in neighbourhoods of various cities, in conjunction with its omnichannel play.
These Smart Points will measure between 500 sq feet and 1,500 sq ft each. Real estate agents have shared that Reliance is on the lookout for thousands of locations in various cities.
One agent said that Reliance has commissioned a number of property dealers to search for 500 such small stores in north India in the coming three to four months. A third person conveyed that Reliance is looking at opening more than 100 such stores each in Delhi and Mumbai in the coming months.
“They are looking for not-so-prime properties with lower rentals,” said the first person quoted above. “It is a grocery concept that will be used for hyper-local delivery and consumers can also order online and pick up from those stores.”
Reliance has shared that they have already rolled out 18 such outlets in Navi Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan selling grocery and pharmacy.
“Smart Point is a smaller avatar of a (supermarket chain) Smart store with presence in residential neighbourhoods with smart price promise,” a Reliance spokesperson said.
Reliance said the format comes with a quick turnaround time from conceptualisation to launch in 45 days.
With an expansive network of more than 11,000 physical outlets across the country, Reliance has grabbed Amazon and Flipkart by the horns with its major omnichannel venture that is expected to start later this year.
Source: ET
