Ambanis plan an Indian Wal-Mart

Reliance Industries is all set to leaping into the Rs 22,500 crore retailing industry. If all goes well, the group's retail venture could one day wind up being India's equivalent of Wal-Mart.

The Ambanis are looking at a huge retailing push, which will cover the entire retailing ambit, including perhaps setting up shopping malls and hyper malls all over the country, though no final decision has been taken on this.

The malls are likely to hawk everything, catering not just to mid to high-end customers but also to the mass market. In short, Reliance Industries will try to give the consumers a complete shopping experience.

The retailing foray is expected to start in the next financial year. Reliance Industries is already said to be talking to producers of consumer non-durables and looking at the imported goods market.

It is working on a complex model where it will draw on its expertise in logistics, transportation, warehousing and its ability to offer a large basket of products to consumers from which they can pick and choose.

Photograph: STR/AFP/Getty Images

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