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What keeps the kirana store alive?: An essay by Ambi Parameswaran

Updated on: Jan 27, 2024, 16:27:50 IST
By Ambi Parameswaran
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PREMIUMToday’s kirana store is bigger, cleaner, better-laid-out, more selective about what to offer. It is at par with modern-trade outlets in terms of tech. What it retains: proximity, trust. (HT Illustration: Jayanto)
Today’s kirana store is bigger, cleaner, better-laid-out, more selective about what to offer. It is at par with modern-trade outlets in terms of tech. What it retains: proximity, trust. (HT Illustration: Jayanto)
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The answer lies in the way this business has pivoted, at each turn. Amid the rise of instant-delivery apps, it’s time to ask:What will the next twist look like?

A friend who was national sales director at a large FMCG / consumer goods multi-national company narrated this story to me almost 15 years ago. Their global CEO was making one of his visits to the provinces. As was the norm, he was taken to a local market, where he walked into a few modern-trade outlets (minimarts, hypermarts, etc) and a smattering of kirana stores.

The next day, in the boardroom, the global CEO posed a question to his India

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Explore the latest Lifestyle News on health, fashion, travel, relationships, food and festivals. Find useful tips, expert advice, trends and inspiring stories for everyday living.
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