RIL to have 1,600 rural hubs

AHMEDABAD: Reliance Retail has chalked out plans to set up 1,600 business hubs to cater to rural areas across the country.

“These business hubs will act as shop-stops for villagers and will act as procurement centres, besides facilitation retail and technical and health assistance to farmers,” said Sanjeev Asthana, president, agri & food supply chain, Reliance Retail.

The hubs will come up in large complexes and the exact number to be set up in Gujarat is still being worked out. The execution of Rural Business Hubs (RBHs) will start by the end of 2007, he said.

Reliance has chalked out plans to set up over 180 Reliance Fresh stores in the next six months, covering various cities — including Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Surat and Jamnagar. The company will pump in Rs 25,000 crore for its overall retail plans across country.

So far, Reliance has set up 100 of its Fresh outlets across the country. Each store is set to target 3000 households in a 2 km catchment area. The Ahmedabad Fresh stores will be spread in a carpet area of 25,000 ft offering about 150-180 items in fruits and vegetables. The company will initially procure vegetables and fruits from APMC. The stores will also offer dairy and bakery products.

Reliance Retail juggernaut will also roll out speciality stores, hypermarkets and convenience stores.