Management of Supply Chain Drivers in Kirana Stores (A Case Study of Bangalore City)

Retail is an old phenomenon in India. Despite the emergence of organised food retail, the traditional kirana stores accounts for about 90% of the trade. At the same time, it is the fact that organised retail is gaining momentum in India and is being increasingly accepted and adopted by the people, especially younger generation. Meanwhile, the Government of India (GoI) is taking steps to open up the food retail for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) which would turn the gate to organised retail and many have expressed their apprehension about its probable impact on the traditional trade.

Organised Retail owes its success to the effective management of the supply chain. The goal of supply chain is to enhance end customer value. Hence a study to look into the aspects of supply chain at the traditional kirana stores however frugal it may, become important and was undertaken in Bangalore. The study brings about the information on how the kirana stores manage the modern supply chain drivers such as inventory, location, transportation, sourcing, pricing and information. The study also suggests the ways by which the kirana stores can improve their trade.