Amazon’s Real, Big Indian retail stores dreams

India could represent another big market for Amazon in physical retail, according to a recent report by The Economic Times, sourced from NYT News Service. The company, which has vowed to spend billions of dollars on its efforts in the country, recently sought approval from the Indian government to open online and physical food stores in the country, the report says.

A person familiar with Amazon’s India grocery efforts told NYT News Service, the company hopes to open its first Indian grocery store in Bengaluru. In a statement, Amazon said that the company was excited by the Indian government’s efforts to encourage foreign investment in a “stronger food supply chain.” “We have sought an approval to invest and partner with the government in achieving this vision,” Amazon said.

The company is quietly targeting India for new brick-and-mortar grocery stores. Amazon’s internal code name for its India grocery ambitions: Project Everest. Last week, Amazon opened its fifth physical book store in Chicago, and it has five more announced locations under construction.

While it is possible that some of the store ideas will never see the light of day, groups within Amazon are often encouraged to come up with zany initiatives (this is the company that popularized the idea of drone deliveries). Many ideas are chucked after deeper scrutiny by executives. Amazon declined to talk about any stores it has not announced publicly.

Source: http://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/e-commerce/e-tailing/amazon-set-to-unbox-plan-to-scale-retail-everest-in-india/57866469