Indian retailer Bharti is planning to expand across the country this year, adding small and medium sized stores before opening hypermarket formats next year, according to local media reports.

RPG-owned Spencer’s Retail is also set to invest in expanding its hypermarket chain from 27 to 60 stores by March 2009, according to the group’s Atanu Batabyal.

Meanwhile, Subhiksha is reportedly planning to raise US$9.6m-US$12m from an IPO in the next 6-8 months for investment in new stores.