Small businesses protest Wal-Mart's India entry

BS reports

Wal-Mart’s high-powered delegation’s visit to India sparked a stormy protest by a state-wide federation of small businesses. They were protesting against the entry of the retail giant into the country.

The Federation of Associations of Maharashtra said the entry of the retail giant would have a negative impact on the local retailers and their livelihood.

Addressing a news conference, Mohan Gurnani, president of FAM said, “Wal-Mart is forcing its entry into the retail market through the backdoor. This company has driven out thousands of local businesses in the US and other countries”.

India is in the midst of a retail revolution that could replace many of the small kirana stores with a multi-billion dollar industry of air-conditioned supermarkets offering booming middle classes convenience buying.