Bharti WalMart

Bharti Wal-Mart has opened a new 63,000ft2 cash-and-carry store in the Indian state of Punjab, the firm's third such outlet in the state, to put total investment there at around US$25m.

The partnership between Indian retailer Bharti Enterprises and US giant Wal-Mart opened its first cash-and-carry store in Amritsar in May 2009, and this year opened a second outlet near Chandigarh.

The company plans to open 10-15 wholesale stores employing around 6,000-7,000 people in the next three years, DNA India reported.

"We are committed to provide a wide range of quality products to kirana stores, retail chains and other institutions at the lowest prices, as well as creating sourcing linkages with farmers and small manufacturers," Bharti Wal-Mart chairman Rajan Bharti Mittal said.