Coronavirus Lockdown: Half Of DMart Stores Closed, Footfalls ‘Significantly Lower Than Usual’
The company is retailing only daily-use essential items from the is stores.
Avenue Supermarts Ltd., which owns and operates retail chain DMart said operations of half of its stores are closed, following the directions issued by authorities amid the lockdown.
The company is retailing only essential items from the operating stores and average footfall is “significantly lower than usual” due to several restrictions imposed by the authorities, Avenue Supermarts said in an update on its business operation to bourses. “Nearly 50 percent of our stores remain closed for operations based on a directive by the local authorities,” it said.
Besides, in the operating stores, footfall depends on the movement and timing restrictions enforced by the local authorities. “Overall, they are significantly lower than usual,” it added.
We continue to sell daily-use essential items such as grocery and FMCG products from all our stores and have stopped the sale of non-essential items (general merchandise and apparel).Avenue Supermarts Statement
DMart has also commenced e-commerce home delivery and bulk deliveries to large housing complexes across the majority of its stores during the first week of April.
“Customers who have used the service have deeply appreciated these initiatives, however, the sales from these channels are inconsequential,” said Avenue Supermarts, adding that this is to “only manage the current lockdown situation”.
The Mumbai-based company, has presence in 206 locations through DMart stores. India is presently going through an unprecedented complete lockdown of three weeks, ending on April 14, to prevent the spread of the virus.