Sahara to expand retail chain ‘Q Shop’ in southern India

The Sahara India Pariwar said on Thursday said it will expand the Sahara Q Shop chain of consumer merchandise and retail outlets in southern India, with 1,900 'Q Shops' planned in Tamil Nadu by 2016.

After establishing its presence across 425 cities in 14 States in the north and west, Sahara Q Shop is now focusing on expanding its footprint in the South. ''Our plan is to add at least another 400 outlets in the next three months to take the total number of shops to 1,500,'' said Romie Dutt, executive director of Sahara Q Shop.

The retailer, which claims to focus on providing unadulterated products, entered the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) business late last year, and sells a range of 895 products through its Q Shops.

The company will launch its products in Tamil Nadu through retail outlets, kirana stores, home shops and through mobile vans, which will stock all products, Dutt said. About 70 per cent of the sales will come through the Q Stores and the rest through kirana stores and other retail outlets, he added.

The company currently has about 130 distributors in Tamil Nadu, and will take this up to 200 in the next three months.

It hopes to close the current financial year with a turnover of Rs3,000-4,000 crore. ''In the south, we will set up 100 shops in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh before the end of the current financial year,'' Dutt said.

The company currently owns and runs 30 per cent of the outlets, while the rest are franchises.