IndianOil thinks big with convenience store chain
New Delhi   17-Feb-2010
The country's largest fuel retailer IndianOil is planning to open 24-hour C-stores (convenience stores) at its petrol pumps. With the largest network of 18,700 petrol pumps across the country, IndianOil says it wants to expand its foot prints into organised retail. The oil company has entered into a pact with Mr. K. K. Modi's Godfrey Phillips, for opening such C-stores in northern India. "This is our beginning in organised retail," said Mr. Sarthak Behuria, IndianOil's Chairman and Managing Director. "So far we had a loose structure with individual tie-ups with banks or mobile operators and restaurants," he added. "We are now beginning to look at tie-ups with companies that already have a presence in the retail side. Godfrey Philips is already operating an extensive retail format in Delhi under the brand Twenty Four Seven." In the first phase, 100 such C-stores will be opened in major cities of North India. "We will enter into similar tie-ups with other retail chains for other regions of the country." On how different will these stores be from the existing ones, Mr. Behuria said, "There aren't many stores offering round-the-clock service. We have undertaken studies that have shown that there exists a large clientele who wants such service beyond 10 pm."