Last updated : March 27, 2025 1:39 pm
The company says this marks a significant milestone in its mission to revolutionize the retail landscape across India's Tier III and IV towns, bridging the gap between traditional Kirana stores and modern supermarkets.
One of the most significant players across India’s retail landscape are traditional retailers, who are fast redefining how aspirational consumers across India’s tier 2, 3 and 4 markets can experience retail and the shopping environment.
Ghodawat Retail Pvt Ltd, the retail arm of the Sanjay Ghodawat Group (SGG), has announced the inauguration of Star Localmart’s 100th store in Hubballi, Karnataka. The company says this marks a significant milestone in the company's mission to revolutionize the retail landscape across India's Tier III and IV towns and provide modern retail experiences to underserved regions, enhancing consumer convenience.
Star Localmart has redefined neighborhood grocery shopping by bridging the gap between traditional Kirana stores and modern supermarkets. The journey began with the launch of the first store in Kolhapur. Over the years, the brand has expanded its footprint across Maharashtra and Karnataka in cities such as Kolhapur, Sangli, Ichalkaranji, Ratnagiri, Miraj, Belagavi, Bagalkot, and Pune.
“This strategic move to focus on tier III and IV towns has been pivotal, allowing the brand to tap into markets with immense potential and limited access to organized retail. Star Localmart's expansion strategy is built on a robust and scalable model—COCO (Company-Owned, Company-Operated) and FOCO (Franchise-Owned, Company-Operated),” says the company statement.
Reflecting on this accomplishment, Shrenik Ghodawat, Managing Director, Sanjay Ghodawat Group, stated: "Reaching our 100th store is a milestone that reflects our unwavering commitment to transforming India's retail ecosystem. Our vision has always been to make modern retail accessible to tier III and IV towns, ensuring that rural consumers receive the same quality, value for money, and variety as their urban counterparts. We aim to scale to 3,000 stores by 2030, creating over 25,000 employment opportunities, strengthening local supply chains, and empowering micro-entrepreneurs through franchise opportunities.”
He added, “As we expand our footprint in modern retail, we are also accelerating our presence in the automated retail segment. With a vision to establish 10,000 vending machines over the next five years, we are leveraging technology to enhance consumer convenience and accessibility. This strategic expansion aligns with our mission to innovate retail experiences while catering to the evolving shopping habits of Indian consumers.”
Srinivas Kolluru, Business Head, Ghodawat Retail Pvt. Ltd., further shared insights on the expansion strategy: "Our approach has been to create digitally integrated, consumer-friendly retail spaces that offer convenience and affordability. We have over 3,000 SKUs per store, to cater everyday needs of our consumers, ensuring a balance between national and regional brands. Operational efficiency is at our core, with advanced technology like SAP B1, WMS, and 6Dx POS solutions driving our supply chain and in-store operations. As we scale further, our focus remains on optimizing store formats, enhancing customer engagement, and expanding strategically in high-demand markets with limited organized retail presence. We are also deeply grateful to our local brand partners who have placed their trust in us, growing alongside Star Localmart and strengthening the retail ecosystem together."