Flipkart To Open Online 'Kirana' Store To Take On Rivals


BANGALORE: Online giant flipkart is rumored to set in motion the sale of groceries which will commence from the second half of the year.

The grocery retail is emerging as the fastest growing line of business that is flourishing amongst online retailers. There is a possibility that the service will be set as an in-house offering rather than an acquisition, this will put the Bangalore firm in competition with high-quality portals like Big-Basket, ZopNow and Local Baniya, reports The Economic Times.

"We already have the technology, warehousing and the brand, so most likely we will do this in-house in the second half of this year," said a person who has knowledge of the firm's plan. Flipkart however is unwilling to make a comment on this report.

With Flipkarts supposed launching of a grocery retail service, it will directly place them in battle against rivals like Amazon and Snapdeal, who have a head start in this sector. Amazon India had recently affirmed platform a joint venture with mom-and-pop stores and will be launching an express delivery platform that will be called ‘Kirana Now’. At present the company is operating a pilot program in Bangalore. Nonetheless, several items like packaged foods and beverages has been made available available on the Amazon India portal from October 2014.

Snapdeal had recently teamed up with gourmet food retailer, Godrej Nature's Basket to market (sell) around 400 of its products online with a delivery service the following day. The Delhi Company is yet to offer the on-demand grocery.

 Experts foresee the online grocery will soon emerge as one of the top three most blooming segments for online retailers, following electronics and apparel.

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