Walmart pushes for 30% stocking of non-food items

NEW DELHI: Walmart Stores will look at entering food retailing in India if the government allows such ventures to stock 25-30% of non-food items, a senior company executive said on Tuesday.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi, Walmart India chief executive Krish Iyer said allowing retailers to also sell non-food stuff would make the business model viable and allow the company to consider investing in it.

India allows 100% FDI in retailers selling locally sourced food items through brick-and-mortar or online stores. But, such foreign-backed ventures cannot sell non-food items. Non-food items like toiletries, detergent and general household items generally offer fatter margins to the sellers than foodstuff.