Hyderabad-based retailer Q-Mart has changed the retail landscape of the city by being the first to introduce gourmet, organic, imported and specialty food categories, way back in 2001. Its promoters have also brought in new concepts in merchandising and technology, in-store display and consumer engagement, all of which have helped the store build a large and loyal base of customers. Nibedita Roy of Progressive Grocer spoke to promoters B.V.K. Raju and B.H. Rao about the store’s retailing philosophy and its plans for the future.
How would you describe the journey of your store over the years and its growth until now?
B.V.K. Raju: The store commenced operations in 1997 when organized retailing was in a very nascent stage in India. The current promoters bought out the store in 2001 and turned it around into a modern trade outlet with innovation in technology, better merchandise display, enhanced in store experience. Since we took over, Q-Mart has been consistently flourishing and has emerged as one of the leading supermarkets of Hyderabad. This is the 16th year and we continue to be the leader in gourmet, imported and specialty food retail in this region.
The business has grown very substantially from a humble turnover of Rs. 30 million in 2001-02 to its current levels of about Rs. 360 million annually. The year-on-year growth has been in double digits since 2001 and profits have been stable all through.
The store services a premium niche in food & home needs retailing. Q-Mart has been one of the first stores in the country to introduce gourmet, organic, imported and specialty food categories, way back in 2001. Q-Mart was also one of the first to have introduced retail sale of bulk cheese in its delicatessen. Gourmet & imported food and health and organic food are significant contributors to the sales of Q-Mart.
What is the product portfolio at your store?
B.H. Rao: Q-Mart’s food product profile extends to gourmet & world foods, health & organic, delicatessen, frozen & chilled, fresh, ready to eat, confectionery & bakery, groceries, juices & beverages, etc. The non-food category includes specialty cookware, bake ware, crockery, cutlery, child care, personal care, plastics and other home needs.
What is the sales contribution from your major product categories?
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Gurgaon's First and Most Successful Independent F&G Retailer
SINCE LAUNCHING ITS FIRST OUTLET IN THE YEAR 2000 IN DLF GURGAON AT A TIME WHEN MODERN TRADE FOOD AND GROCERY STORES WERE NOWHERE ON THE RETAIL HORIZONS OF THE MILLENNIUM CITY, NEEDS SUPERMARKET HAS GROWN TO ADD 26 LARGE, MEDIUM AND SMALL STORES TO ITS KITTY, CLOCKING AN ADMIRABLE RUN RATE ON VARIOUS PARAMETERS OF RETAILING EXCELLENCE ALONG THE WAY. PROGRESSIVE GROCER SPOKE TO NEEDS SUPERMARKET’S MD AJAY DHAR, AND CEO, ARUN KHATTAR, ABOUT HOW THE GROCERY CHAIN HAS BEEN ABLE TO HOLD ITS OWN AND CLOCK STEADY GROWTH IN A HYPER-COMPETITIVE MARKET DOTTED WITH BIG-BOX NATIONAL RETAILERS AND THE SECRET SAUCE BEHIND ITS SUCCESS RECIPE.
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