Tata-Tesco launch ‘Star Daily’ outlet in Pune

Undeterred by the pull-out of Wal-Mart from the Indian retail sector, its British rival Tesco has moved a step closer to fructifying its partnership with the Tata Group to enter the Indian retail market, estimated to be worth $450-billion a year.

The Tatas on Wednesday launched their neighbourhood convenience stores modelled on Tesco Express in Pune.

Tesco Plc, the world's third largest retailer, has a partnership with the Tata's retail arm Trent, under which it provides back-end support and retail expertise to the Indian conglomerate's Star Bazaar hypermarkets.

Tesco Hindustan Wholesaling, the Indian unit of the British retailer, supplies merchandise including some of its own labels, to 15-odd Star Bazaar outlets, sized between 40,000 sq ft and 80,000 sq ft and selling a range from food and grocery to apparel to consumer durables.

The new format, Star Daily, is completely different. The first Star Daily outlet, opened in Pune last week, is just about1,800 sq ft in size and stocks mainly fresh foods, groceries and essential items, a person aware of the store launch said. "Similar to a kirana store, Star Daily is kept open almost 15 hours starting at seven in the morning," the person added.

Tata opens 'Star Daily' outlet in Pune, makes use of UK firm Tesco's retail expertise and back-end support

Globally, corner shops - such as 7-Eleven in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore, Lawson in Japan and Oxxo in Mexico - are among the largest retailers in their respective markets, reflecting the growing business of small outlets in several countries despite the presence of international supermarket and hypermarket chains. Even Tesco runs more than 1,500 convenience stores averaging 2,200 sq ft in small shopping precincts in residential areas and countryside in the UK.

In India, ubiquitous kirana outlets generate more than 90 per cent sales of consumer products industry.

Analysts say high sales volume will be the key to Trent's success in the convenience store space. "The newer format can help them (Tatas) penetrate better catchment areas, but volume needs to be maintained to compensate for the higher overhead costs including real estate," Devangshu Dutta, chief executive at retail consultancy Third Eyesight, said.