Metro to target traditional retailers with Kolkata outlet

Targeting more traditional retailers around the festive season this year in Kolkata, Metro Cash & Carry has planned to open its first outlet in the city at EM Bypass. The 100,000 square feet centre, will be the company’s fifth outlet in the country and will be set up with an investment of around Rs 120 crore. Announcing plans, Erik Schmit, the director (development and expansion) of Metro Cash & Carry India, said: “Our homework shows Kolkata has over 250,000 kirana stores and that gives us the confidence to roll out a few more outlets in this city. Besides hotels, restaurants and caterers, Kirana stores constitute our core clientele.” The centre will stock more than 18,000 items including fish, meat, fruits and vegetable, groceries, cosmetics and detergents, beverages, office stationery and kitchen accessories.“Ours is a B2B model and anyone with a valid trade licence can be a customer. Just like anywhere else, we will source nearly 95 per cent of our stocks in Kolkata, providing handholding support to hinterland farmers and small manufacturers,” informed Schmit.The group further hopes to cut down transit wastage of foodstuff from 30 per cent to less than five per cent through “efficient” supply chain management. “While lower wastage and the ability to directly market their produce to us will ensure fairer price for local farmers, we will also help them improve their crop yield as well,” said Schmit.Metro will train the owners of the city’s neighbourhood stores to improve their visual merchandising, promotions and product-mix and accounting skills.