Walmart India opens online platform for wholesale purchases

Walmart India today launched its online wholesale e-commerce platform in the country, with services in Hyderabad and Lucknow for starters.

The e-commerce platform will provide the same range of products as its physical wholesale stores as well as special items for members, the company said in a statement.

"This initiative is aimed at enhancing our members' shopping experience by integrating physical and digital store presence," Walmart India president and chief executive Krish Iyer said in the statement from New Delhi.

Walmart wants to roll out its physical retail stores but does not consider the current FDI rules favourable.

Moreover, with the current Bharatiya Janata Party government also in principle opposed to FDI in multi-brand retail, Walmart considers its e-commerce entry and a cash-and-carry format ideal for now.

Last month Iyer ad said the retailer would launch its business-to-business e-commerce platform in Lucknow and Hyderabad in the first week of July (See: Walmart set to launch B2B platform in India in July).

Prior to the launch, Walmart India organised workshops with members in the two cities to generate awareness about the initiative and to create a better understanding about website navigation, benefits and registration processes, the company said.

The platform, www.Bestpricewholesale.Co.In, is for registered members of Best Price Modern Wholesale stores.

At present, Walmart is engaged in cash-and-carry business in India. It called off a six-year partnership with Bharti Enterprises in October last year and decided to operate stores independently in India.

The US retail giant operates 20 wholesale stores under the brand 'Best Price' in India.