Retail veteran Damodar Mall has earned the moniker SupermarketWala for his hugely successful book with the same title as well as his contribution to shaping the course of modern grocery retail in India working closely with pillars of Indian retail like Radhakrishna Damani, Kishore Biyani and now Mukesh Ambani.
However, for Mall, who is now the Chief Executive Officer of the grocery business of Reliance Retail Ltd. (RRL), becoming a grocery retailer was never part of his career plan."Selling 'daal-chawal' as a chosen vocation for the educated son was not my parent's idea of smart choices," he wrote in a blog on Forbes.
Finding His Calling
It happened as a result of his visit to Sao Paulo, Brazil during his stint at Hindustan Unilever, which he joined after completing his postgraduate diploma in management from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore after a Bachelor of Technology degree from the coveted Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.
In Brazil, Mall saw successful modern retail in a developing market. Driven by the realisation that if it can happen in Brazil, it can happen in India, he returned with a project plan to start a modern supermarket in India. His project was for 'Annapurna Supermarkets' by HUL. When he did not get the required support from Unilever as it was not aligning with the FMCG behemoth's global business model, Mall decided to take the entrepreneurial plunge.
He found a backer in the legendary stock market investor Radhakrishna Damani, who shared his vision. Together, they roamed the streets studying the supermarkets of the time Apna Bazaar, Sahakari Bhandar and Raigad Bazaar-all run by cooperative societies.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 2023 من Images Retail.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 2023 من Images Retail.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Special Events in Malls
Nexus Select Citywalk and Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) organised the collaborative exhibition, ‘The Art Maze; from March 24 to March 31, 2024. Inspired by the works of prominent Indian artists - Lakshman Pai, Raja Ravi Verma, Jamini Roy, SH Raza, and Vivan Sundram; The Art Maze aimed to portray an immersive journey into the world of artistic expression for the participants anve d visitors.
Tier 2 Cities Lead with 64% of March Store Launches
About 48 of all the new stores opened in March 2024 were in non-metros
5 Top Indian Jewellery Brands with the Strongest Retail Footprint
These homegrown jewellery retail gems have been instrumental in shaping the country’s jewellery sector and continue to shine bright amidst stiff competition on the global stage
The Golden Journey of Kalyan Jewellers
How Kerala-based Kalyan Jewellers is transforming itself from a regional brand to a national player that is in sync with the changing time and consumer tastes
Malabar Gold & Diamonds Glittering Success
The story of Kerala-based jewellery retailer's rise to become the world's sixth-largest group in the segment
Here's How India Shops Online
Over 60% of people prefer shopping via apps over websites with a clear preference for marketplace apps
Mini Mall, Mega Experiences
Lulu Group’s first mini mall brings the best of retail to the aspiring consumers of the tier 3 town of Palakkad in Kerala
How Daalchini is Spicing up Micro Retail in India
Through its smart vending machines, the Noida-based company is offering 24/7 convenience to customers, reach to over 200 brands and new business opportunities to entrepreneurs
AI, Cloud and SaaS Play a Pivotal Role for Banjaaran Studio
Banjaaran Studio’s founder Meera Dureja on the brand story, business model and adding a modern touch to traditional shoemaking
How Myntra, Amazon, Shoppers Stop, Peesafe & Indiamart are Using AI for CX
From improving product recommendations and personalised fit suggestions to delivery, here’s how retail biggies are using artificial intelligence to offer delightful customer experiences