"The country has a large retail market and is growing at a healthy rate. We believe everybody can co-exist and do not see much impact of organised retail chains on neighbourhood stores," said Mohit Khattar, president, Subhiksha, a food and grocery retail chain.
Khattar says farmers are one of the biggest beneficiaries as retail chains go to them directly and make upfront payment, which is not the case with wholesalers. "Since we buy directly and eliminate middlemen, we can price our products lower," Khattar added.
Venugopal Dhoot, president of industry body Assocham, said big retail could benefit youths as it offered better jobs and salaries. "Ultimately, somebody has to take a hit in the larger interest of the nation," said Dhoot, whose Videocon group plans to set up cash-and-carry stores across the country in the next couple of months.
Local trade bodies and industry associations say kiranawalas have been hit by big retail chains. "You forget about the long run. Small traders will be finished within the next few years if big chains are allowed to expand. In Western countries, retailers can depend on external capital and government support.
But in our country, they have to depend on their own capital and family members," said Mohan Gurnani, president of the Federation of Associations of Maharashtra.
For Sharadkumar D Maru, president of the Grain, Rice and Oil Seeds Merchants' Association, big retail chains kill fair competition. "We are not afraid of competition. But it should be fair. Look at mall rentals, power charges, salaries. How can they sell at cheaper rates? It is all false," Maru said.
