Subhiksha, the country’s largest supermarket and pharmacy chain, will begin recruiting in West Bengal next month, ahead of the launch of its neighbourhood convenience stores in mid-2008.
The Chennai-based retailer’s plans are now behind schedule by nearly a year, but it is going ahead with a full-scale launch despite the political opposition faced by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Retail, which has put off plans for a Fresh chain.
Shashi Kanth SS, president (manpower) of Subhiksha Trading Services, said: “The recruitment process for the West Bengal operation is likely to start early next year.”
The decade-old retailer, which has more than 800 stores across the country, plans to set up more than 1,000 stores nationally this fiscal.
The company had earlier said it would follow its `carpet-bombing’ strategy of putting in place scores of outlets within a few days. However, it is not talking of the initial rollout plan now.
At Rs 40-50 lakh each, the Kolkata plan was to have required an investment of Rs 50 crore in the first phase, according to the initial plan of beginning with a 100 stores.
Each Subhiksha store covers around 1,500sqft and employs around 20 people.
Food and grocery are the biggest revenue earners, while pharmaceutical products fetch 10-15%.
