Reliance Fresh to open 75 agro-retail outlets in MP

BHOPAL: Reliance Fresh, the neighbourhood vegetable and fruits store brand of Reliance Retail, will open as many as 75 outlets in Madhya Pradesh starting April this year, state Industries Minister Babulal Gaur said on Tuesday.

The stores, which represent the front-end of Reliance's farm-to-fork project, would be opened in cities like Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur under the first phase, he told reporters, giving details of an interaction with company official Farhan Ansari during his recent Gujarat visit.

The retail initiative will help farmers, as they would be able to sell their produce directly to Reliance thus saving on transportation expenses, Gaur said, adding that Reliance would also provide ryots valuable tips on new farming techniques.

Reliance Retail had launched the first Reliance Fresh outlet in Hyderabad in November last year and plans to roll out other format stores this year as part of its Rs 25,000 crore retail initiative.

Claiming to have invited major industrialists of Gujarat for investors meet planned at Khajuraho by mid-January, the Minister said the state has received investment proposals to the tune of Rs 1,00,513 crore, of which projects worth Rs 44,480 crore are at various stages of implementation.

Promising progressive atmosphere for industries, Gaur said condition of roads and power has improved. The state will become power surplus by 2008.