Flipkart Group announces the launch of

Flipkart Group announces the launch of Flipkart Wholesale

aimed at transforming the kirana retail ecosystem

Acquires a 100% interest in Walmart India, which operates the Best Price cash-and-carry business to strengthen capabilities and business-to-business service offering;

Will leverage talent, strong technology backbone, deep merchandising expertise and logistics infrastructure to accelerate growth and prosperity for kiranas and MSMEs

The Flipkart Group, India’s homegrown e-commerce group, today announced the launch of Flipkart Wholesale, a new digital marketplace that will help transform the kirana retail ecosystem in India by leveraging cutting-edge and locally developed technology. As part of this launch, the Group also announced the acquisition of 100% interest in Wal-Mart India Private Limited, which operates the Best Price cash-and-carry business, to leverage the strong wholesale capabilities of the company and enable growth and prosperity for kiranas and MSMEs.

Kiranas and MSMEs are central to India’s retail ecosystem and Flipkart Wholesale will focus on meeting their needs by providing small businesses a wide selection at significant value, powered by technology to make their lives easier. Whether in grocery, general merchandise or fashion, these businesses will have one-stop access to an extensive selection of products with attractive schemes and incentives, supplemented with data-driven recommendations for stock selection, delivered through a fast and reliable network to drive greater efficiencies and better margins.

In addition, kiranas and MSMEs will benefit from access to easy credit options and opportunities for new income generation through various Flipkart initiatives, creating new ways to catalyse growth. These opportunities are especially relevant at this time as kiranas and MSMEs work towards achieving scale and profitability following the impact on business due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flipkart Wholesale will leverage Flipkart’s strong homegrown technology capabilities, extensive leadership in the consumer e-commerce segment, and a unique understanding of the industry in India. The business will also utilise the Flipkart Group’s vast supply chain infrastructure to reach kiranas and MSMEs across the country. Flipkart Wholesale will draw on the merchandising experience of the Walmart India team, its strong relationships with brands, deep DNA of servicing kiranas and 12+ years of operating Best Price stores. One of India’s largest cash-and-carry businesses, Best Price currently supports more than 1.5 million members, including kiranas, horecas and other MSMEs, and has long-standing supplier diversity and development programs. Flipkart Wholesale will continue to develop technology tools, and ecosystem partnerships to help Indian commerce unlock its potential.

Top Indian brands, local manufacturers and sellers have partnered with Flipkart Wholesale to ensure the availability of an exhaustive range of products and merchandise for kiranas and MSMEs. At the same time, partners will benefit from broader reach across the country, micro-market insights to enable effective inventory planning and new product development, and cost-effective distribution.  

Kalyan Krishnamurthy, Chief Executive Officer, Flipkart Group, said, “As the e-commerce pioneer in India, the Flipkart Group has transformed the shopping experience for millions of Indian consumers. With the launch of Flipkart Wholesale, we will now extend our capabilities across technology, logistics and finance to small businesses across the country. The acquisition of Walmart India adds a strong talent pool with deep expertise in the wholesale business that will strengthen our position to address the needs of kiranas and MSMEs uniquely. With this development, the Flipkart Group will further build upon the synergies across its businesses to drive greater value and choice for end-consumers and businesses alike.”

Judith McKenna, President and Chief Executive Officer, Walmart International, said, “For over a decade, we’ve been committed to India’s prosperity by serving kiranas and MSMEs, supporting smallholder farmers and building global sourcing and technology hubs throughout the country. Today marks the next big step as Walmart India’s pioneering cash-and-carry legacy meets Flipkart’s culture of innovation in the launch of Flipkart Wholesale. By leveraging each other’s strengths and unique expertise, this combined team will break new ground in their shared mission to help Indian businesses grow and succeed. We look forward to a bright future for Flipkart Wholesale.”

Flipkart Wholesale will launch its operations in August 2020 and will pilot services for the grocery and fashion categories. It will be headed by Adarsh Menon, a veteran at Flipkart. Sameer Aggarwal, Chief Executive Officer at Walmart India, will remain with the company to ensure a smooth transition, after which time he will move to another role within Walmart.

Adarsh Menon, Senior Vice President and Head - Flipkart Wholesale, said, “Flipkart Wholesale will further deepen and build on Walmart India and the Flipkart Group’s commitment to kiranas and MSMEs over the last several years. Thousands of kiranas have already partnered with Flipkart to enhance their business and income streams. I am excited to be part of this new initiative that allows us to expand opportunities for growth for them and bring further prosperity to their lives. We will leverage the synergies between Flipkart and Walmart India as we stay focused on transforming the wholesale experience for kiranas and MSMEs.”

Sameer Aggarwal, Chief Executive Officer, Walmart India, said, “This move recognises the critical role that kiranas and MSMEs play towards India’s economic prosperity and growth, and the coming together of Walmart India with Flipkart Wholesale will provide an opportunity to build upon the 12+ year legacy of the Best Price brand serving kiranas across India.”

With the acquisition of the Walmart India business, its employees will join the Flipkart Group and the home office teams will integrate over the next year. The Best Price brand will continue to serve its 1.5 million+ members via its omnichannel network of 28 stores and e-commerce operations.

Flipkart launches ‘MarQ TurboStream’ streaming stick designed to turn regular TVs into Smart TVs

       Enables consumers to convert a regular TV into a smart TV

  Android OS ensures familiarity, ease of use, and full access to Google Play apps

 The streaming stick is available on Flipkart, starting at INR 3,499

 Flipkart, India’s leading e-commerce marketplace, has launched a streaming stick under its private brand ‘MarQ by Flipkart’, foraying into a segment that is rapidly gaining traction with Indian consumers. The ‘MarQ TurboStream’ device is equipped with the latest Android 9.0 OS and  leverages the familiarity, ease, and functionality of Google’s widely popular operating system. It is available on the Flipkart platform starting at INR 3,499.

‘MarQ TurboStream’ is equipped with industry-leading features. The device is designed specifically for value shoppers who are looking to buy more affordable non-smart TVs and turn them into smart TVs. It comes with Full HD resolution of 1920*1080 at 60 frames per second; 1 GB DDR3 RAM; 8GB ROM; and streaming support for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi. It sports Dolby Digital Audio and a voice-controlled remote with Google Assistant. Moreover, unlike other products in the market, MarQ TurboStream leverages the power of the latest Android 9.0 and offers several advantages to consumers. With built-in Chromecast, it allows users to cast their mobile phone screens onto the TV and supports all apps available on the Google Play Store.

Resolution	1920*1080 at 60 frames per second
RAM	DDR3 1GB
ROM	8GB
Operating System	Android 9.0
Built-in Chromecast	Yes
Dual Streaming Wi-Fi	2.4Ghz and 5Ghz.
Sound system	Dolby Digital Audio

Adarsh Menon, Senior Vice President – Private Brands, Electronics and Furniture, Flipkart, said, “Flipkart’s Private Brands strategy has always focused on helping our consumers realise their aspirations, without having to compromise on design or their budget. Appetite for streaming devices and Smart TVs has been growing in India, particularly outside the top metros. The MarQ TurboStream is designed for these customers, to help them turn their regular TVs into Smart TVs. With the Android operating system being so popular in the country, the user interface of our streaming device will be familiar and will help customers adapt to the new technology quickly. Through this latest offering, we are once again bringing to the Indian market a product of unmatched quality, crafted to meet the needs of our consumers.”

According to  a joint study by ASSOCHAM and PricewaterhouseCoopers in Dec 2018, the over the top (OTT) video market in India, primarily comprising of content streaming services, is expected to be among the top ten markets in the world, with a size of $823 million by the year 2022.

Flipkart expands Private Brands selection 2x under Flipkart SmartBuy

Flipkart expands Private Brands selection 2x under ‘Flipkart SmartBuy’ ahead of The Big Billion Days

• Number of categories has increased to 120 with close to 200,000 products
• Flipkart SmartBuy is the one-stop destination this festive season with the philosophy "Every Need, One Brand”

 Flipkart, India’s leading e-commerce marketplace, has expanded its flagship private brand, Flipkart SmartBuy, to 120 categories ahead of the festive season, almost doubling its selection. This year, the number of products has increased to over 200,000 as the brand prepares to be the one-stop destination for customers’ small needs this festive period. The ramp up is across key categories in Home essentials like Home Furnishings, Home Decor, Tools, and Festive items, which has seen a 20-fold jump in selection since last year’s festive season.

Increasingly, consumers in Tier II and III cities are adopting e-commerce for their small and daily needs -- the philosophy underlying the Flipkart SmartBuy brand, which has seen almost 60% adoption in Tier II and beyond cities over the last six months. As India’s demographics undergo a shift, consumer needs and preferences are evolving too, leading to this expansion of the Flipkart SmartBuy portfolio. The brand has recently launched products in categories as diverse as Women’s Grooming, Bluetooth Audio, Wallpapers, USB gadgets & Auto accessories.

The brand has seen massive selection build-up across these verticals including products as niche as pet & aquatic accessories. Flipkart used customer insights and feedback from the platform’s reviews to create products that serve the specific needs of Indian consumers, for instance, launching a credit-card-sized pocket power bank that is around 40% smaller than the usual offerings in this category. Musical Instruments & accessories also is an upcoming category online & Flipkart Smartbuy, true to its ethos, is democratizing this segment with quality offerings at affordable prices, with new product launches under mics, karaoke mics, guitar & guitar accessories.

Commenting on this Adarsh Menon, Vice President and Head - Private Labels, Electronics, Furniture at Flipkart said, “Flipkart’s vision is to serve our customers’ needs in ways that positively impacts their lives and that closes the gaps between what they want and what is available to them. Through constant engagement with our 150 million+ customer base, brands like ‘Flipkart SmartBuy’ allow us to give our consumers products tailor made for them, satisfying their needs when it comes to selection, quality, specifications and affordability. By expanding SmartBuy’s range ahead of the festive season, we are preparing our portfolio to match customer expectations at a crucial time for the retail industry in the country.”

As a homegrown company, Flipkart is also invested in scaling small businesses in India, enabling MSMEs and sellers in these categories through its private brands business and its marketplace model. With quality being a key yardstick, Flipkart has been very meticulous in quality assessment processes for Flipkart SmartBuy. A dedicated in-house quality team monitors this huge selection of products right from sourcing to selling on Flipkart Marketplace.