From Reliance Retail to Future Group, why retailers are wooing 'kiranas'

Reliance Retail has already added over 2.5 million kiranas to its network in the past few months and is looking at another 50,000 stores as launch of the new commerce venture nears

Reliance Retail, the country’s largest retail company, is quietly tying up with corner shops or kiranas as it prepares to launch its ‘new commerce’ venture in the coming months. Future Group, led by its founder and Chief Executive Officer Kishore Biyani, is eyeing a larger footprint of small stores as it pushes food and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), manufactured by Future Consumer, beyond its own outlets. Industry sources say Future group’s engagement with kiranas is expected to grow on the back of its launch plans for convenience store chain 7-Eleven in the country.

While Future, which had recently signed a franchise