Rel retail shuts shop in UP, expands in smaller cities

Mumbai: And here’s to the spirit of never say die or shall we say, close! Shutters may be down for Reliance Retail in some cities but the chain is aggressively expanding in small towns.

It may not be business as usual in UP and Orissa, but that hasn't stopped reliance retail's land acquisitions. Reliance retail is expanding in small towns at 25 million square feet a year and it has already acquired 50 percent of its land requirements. it has bought land in small towns like Ludhiana, Indore and Shivkasi.

Company officials say their move into small towns will not be limited to retail outlets. The company is in talks to buy old or out-of-business cinema halls and convert them into education centres by day and movie-halls by night. Officials say, this will help bring in crowds to retail outlets in the complex, as well.

Reliance retail plans to enter towns with a population of over 50,000 people. The company will expand into 784 cities and expects to launch in 119 cities by December 2008.

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