Bharti WalMart

The retail joint venture between Indian retailer Bharti and US supermarket behemoth Wal-Mart, Bharti Walmart, has announced plans to more than double its number of stores in India by December, according to Franchise India.

The company, which already operates 40 outlets in India, reportedly plans to open 40 more by the year end. It also hopes to open three cash-and-carry wholesale stores, preferably in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Franchise India said.

Bharti Walmart will invest US$2bn over the next 10 years on retail expansion, the report said.

The firm, which has two distribution centres in Haryana and Punjab, has contracted 150 farmers in Punjab to buy vegetables directly from them on a trial basis.