For now, the demonstrations, violent protests, ransacking of existing stores in certain states, has made certain that Ambani’s ambition to usher in retail revolution in India, ahead of global biggies like Wal-Mart, has hit a road block of sorts.
With this, time has turned a full circle. Big Indian retail aspirants, who had lobbied hard with policymakers to not allow Wal-Mart entry into India till home-grown companies build their respective capacities; are being haunted by the same Frankenstein monster. Only now, it’s no longer FDI versus desi players; instead it’s simply big versus small. “They behaved like the Bombay Club in retail; lobbied to build their own capacities in the face of foreign competition and suddenly the ball has turned against them,” avers an industry insider.
How and when Ambani senior will realise his pursuit and passion for being India’s retail king is still in the realm of speculation. Yet, it is beyond doubt that he is indeed the country’s retail crown prince. Whether or not, 14 years down the road, he will thump his chest with pride (like Sameer Jain?) for having fought and won the various intermediaries in India’s food & grocery supply chain, we do not know. But for sure, Wal-Mart or no Wal-Mart, if Ambani is around till then, he’ll make sure he’s the reigning king in the inimitable Ambani ishtyle. Are you listening carefully, Mr. Walton and Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal?
With this, time has turned a full circle. Big Indian retail aspirants, who had lobbied hard with policymakers to not allow Wal-Mart entry into India till home-grown companies build their respective capacities; are being haunted by the same Frankenstein monster. Only now, it’s no longer FDI versus desi players; instead it’s simply big versus small. “They behaved like the Bombay Club in retail; lobbied to build their own capacities in the face of foreign competition and suddenly the ball has turned against them,” avers an industry insider.
How and when Ambani senior will realise his pursuit and passion for being India’s retail king is still in the realm of speculation. Yet, it is beyond doubt that he is indeed the country’s retail crown prince. Whether or not, 14 years down the road, he will thump his chest with pride (like Sameer Jain?) for having fought and won the various intermediaries in India’s food & grocery supply chain, we do not know. But for sure, Wal-Mart or no Wal-Mart, if Ambani is around till then, he’ll make sure he’s the reigning king in the inimitable Ambani ishtyle. Are you listening carefully, Mr. Walton and Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal?
