Arambagh Foodmart: Pioneer of Modern Retail in East India

The story of how a chain of stores selling processed and ready-to-eat chicken items has evolved into becoming one of the top Food & Grocery retail chains in Eastern India with a footprint across all major cities of Bengal…

- Charu Lamba

IMAGES Retail speaks to Biyas Roy, Executive Director, Arambagh Foodmart Pvt. Ltd. on how a chain of stores selling processed and ready-to-eat chicken items has evolved into becoming one of the top Food & Grocery retail chains in Eastern India with a footprint across all major cities of Bengal. Arambagh stores occupy a format that is positioned between the neighbourhood kirana store and the larger supermarket, with average store size of 700 sq.ft. approximately.

Excerpts from the interview…

Please share the growth journey of Arambagh Foodmart chain of stores.

Arambagh Foodmart, a chain of convenience retail stores, was started in the year 2000, following the concept of the international ‘711’ chain. The first Foodmart was converted from the existing Arambagh’s chicken chain of stores selling processed and ready-to-eat chicken items, with the idea to add more value for the existing customers. We operate as small-format self-service retail outlets of an average size of 600-1,000 sq.ft. area. The chain has now expanded to 56 stores, out of which 33 are in Kolkata and 23 in other cities of West Bengal.

How do you look at your retail format as strengthening your business model?

Arambagh Foodmart is a neighborhood supermarket - a unique format that positions itself between the neighborhood kirana store and the supermarket that offers modern ambience and attractive promotions. Our USPs SPs are developed more in the line of convenience or ‘value for time’ along with value for money.

Apart from attractive promotions, good quality grocery and competitive pricing, a bunch of convenience factors are offered such as quick checkout, free home delivery for any order amount and order over telephone. We offer five categories - food, grocery, toiletries, frozen and RTE - to our consumers.