Retail veteran Damodar Mall has earned the moniker SupermarketWala for his hugely successful book with the same title as well as his contribution to shaping the course of modern grocery retail in India working closely with pillars of Indian retail like Radhakrishna Damani, Kishore Biyani and now Mukesh Ambani.
However, for Mall, who is now the Chief Executive Officer of the grocery business of Reliance Retail Ltd. (RRL), becoming a grocery retailer was never part of his career plan."Selling 'daal-chawal' as a chosen vocation for the educated son was not my parent's idea of smart choices," he wrote in a blog on Forbes.
Finding His Calling
It happened as a result of his visit to Sao Paulo, Brazil during his stint at Hindustan Unilever, which he joined after completing his postgraduate diploma in management from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore after a Bachelor of Technology degree from the coveted Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.
In Brazil, Mall saw successful modern retail in a developing market. Driven by the realisation that if it can happen in Brazil, it can happen in India, he returned with a project plan to start a modern supermarket in India. His project was for 'Annapurna Supermarkets' by HUL. When he did not get the required support from Unilever as it was not aligning with the FMCG behemoth's global business model, Mall decided to take the entrepreneurial plunge.
He found a backer in the legendary stock market investor Radhakrishna Damani, who shared his vision. Together, they roamed the streets studying the supermarkets of the time Apna Bazaar, Sahakari Bhandar and Raigad Bazaar-all run by cooperative societies.
Bu hikaye Images Retail dergisinin November 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Images Retail dergisinin November 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Leading The AI Revolution In Retail
As a leader in AI-driven retail intelligence, Sadique Ahmed, CEO, Pathfinder, understands the power of technology when it comes to improving and personalising the shopping experience for all.
Flipkart Deployed Over 10,000 Electric Vehicles in the Delivery Fleet
E-commerce major Flipkart on Monday said it has deployed over 10,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in its delivery fleet as part of a phased integration of EVs in the last mile delivery over the past few years.
Trent Q2 Profit Grows 47% to 335 Cr
Tata Group retail firm Trent Ltd. reported a 46.9% growth in its consolidated net profit to ₹335.06 crore for the second quarter ended September 2024.
Zomato, Swiggy Hike Platform Fee in Certain Cities Amid Festive Season
Online food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy hiked platform fees in certain cities amid the festive season. The two rivals are now charging ₹10 as a platform fee in the national capital.
The Evolution of Retail in North India
Emerging Hotspots, the Rise of Malls, and the Impact of the Residential Property Boom on the Region’s Retail Landscape
Madan Retail: Fashion for Today's Man
With a rich legacy and a keen eye on future trends, the brand continues to innovate and expand, meeting the evolving needs of its customers
Special Events in Malls
Giant Peacock, Lotus, and Swan: Orion Malls' Festive Spectacle
Building a Retail Legacy on Efficiency
Founded by Hemant Agarwal and Rahul Jhunjhunwala, V-Bazaar began operations in May 2016, opening its first store in Lakhisarai, Bihar.
From Urban Trends to Rural Aisles
V-Mart, a pioneer in the value retail segment, was founded by Lalit Agarwal in 2003—well before value retail became a widely recognized term.
Defining Elegance
Dennison has carved a niche in the menswear market with a diverse range of formal and semi-formal pieces priced between ₹999 and ₹3,999.