JioMart Will Open 300-500 Small Grocery Stores: Order Products Online, Pick Them Up From These Small Stores!

As per the reports, Reliance Retail is aggressively ramping up a new network of grocery stores that will also be used for last-mile delivery of food and grocery as part of the Mumbai conglomerate’s ambitious omnichannel venture. 

How Did This Happen? 

Mukesh Ambani-backed Reliance Jio’s dream to enter into E-commerce came true with the launch of a grocery delivery platform called JioMart.

So now to expand the business the company is aggressively adding a new network of grocery stores.

According to sources, they plan to open thousands of small outlets called Reliance Smart Points in various cities in neighborhoods as part of its omnichannel play, according to two people familiar with the development.

What Is The Plan?

These Smart Points are expected to measure between 500 sq feet and 1,500 sq ft each. 

Real estate agents informed that Reliance is scouting for thousands of locations in various cities. 

According to one real estate agent, Reliance has mandated various property dealers to search 500 such small stores in north India in the next three to four months. 

Reliance is looking at opening more than 100 such stores each in Delhi and Mumbai in the coming months, as per the report.

He said “They are looking for not-so-prime properties with lower rentals. It is a grocery concept that will be used for hyper-local delivery and consumers can also order online and pick up from those stores,”. 

What Does Reliance Say About This Development?

While talking about this topic, Reliance said it has already rolled out 18 such outlets in Navi Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan selling grocery and pharmacy. 

So far the company has launched JioMart on a pilot basis at three locations in Maharashtra — Navi Mumbai, Kalyan and Thane, Reliance has reportedly commissioned real estate agents to scout for around 500 locations in North India as well.

A Reliance spokesperson said in a WhatsApp response “Smart Point is a smaller avatar of a (supermarket chain) Smart store with presence in residential neighborhoods with smart price promise,”.

What To Expect In The Future?

The company added that the format comes with a quick turnaround time from conceptualization to launch in 45 days.

Reliance is taking Amazon and Flipkart head-on with its network of more than 11,000 physical outlets dotting the country and it is expected to grow further with its major omnichannel venture that is expected to start later this year.

Apart from this, Reliance also seeks to partner with millions of mom-and-pop stores as part of its “new commerce” multi-channel retail plans.