The CPI(M) has decided to rope in the food processing department to promote retail in the fruit and vegetables (F&V) segment in a bid to foil some Left Front partners’ attempts to brand the chief minister pro-capitalist. The department is launching three outlets in Kolkata on August 18.
The food processing department is run by CPI(M)’s Mohanta Chatterjee, who recently gave the go-ahead to Reliance’s food processing business.
The department’s premium store will be located at City Centre in Salt Lake. The other two will be at AJC Bose Road and Mallik Ghat flower market.
Shops on wheels will also be rolled out in the city soon. “We will have shops on wheels selling fruit and vegetables in different areas in Kolkata,” said Mohanta Chatterjee, food-processing minister.
After Kolkata, Bengal Blossoms, the name given to the retail chain, will be launched in major towns of the state. It will source fruit and vegetables mainly from farmers engaged in organic farming.
“We might think of entering the F&V sector in a big way after the stores start running successfully,” Chatterjee said.
With private players coming into the farm-to- table segment of the retail business, the state government is trying to place itself as a regulator.
“We don’t have any such plans right now mainly because of infrastructure constraints. But we look forward to becoming a competitor in future,” Chatterjee said.
While Bengal Blossoms plans to promote organic farming, it will sell fruit and vegetables procured directly from farmers. “We also plan to sell flowers and processed food from the shops,” he said.