Sad reality of failing Kirana Stores in India due to Conglomerate Marts

TLDR: Big Marts are causing local Kirana stores to close at an alarming rate. People are flocking Big Marts for discounts. They are designed to wipeout local kirana competition. Once, the competition (local kirana stores) closes, there won't be any discount and prices will reach MRP. Customers will loose their power to bargain and local shop keepers will loose their livelihood.

My family has a wholesale shop. We have been providing grocery items to retail/kirana shops in our small city since my grandfather's time.

Our customers who owned small kirana shops usually are in between late 30 and 60 years of age. Most have kids who are in school and are living on everyday profit which they make from their shops.

Few years back a big supermarket (I don't want to name it, everyone knows it. Green logo with 5 letters) was opened in our small city. Every since that day the sales of the small kirana stores have gone down. It has become very bad now.

The big supermarket is providing goods at a discounted price which even wholesalers like us can't get. I know everyone loves the discounts and sales. The offers are very good and we can see corwds of people buying things left and right.

But, it's bad for the people who make their livelihood selling grocery items in their small shops. Many people are closing their kirana shops and to search for other work. Most of these people have poor education background and lack of knowledge in other fields which make it very hard to get a job. They are getting older day by day and they have a family to support and feed.

I'm not asking people to spend more money and buy groceries at their local kirana shop. Instead, I'm requesting people to support their local shops if they are able to do so.

If the current trend continues, most small scale shops will close. And it won't take long time for these supermarkets to sell products at MRP. Because, there is no competition and people don't have anywhere else to go for groceries.

Please support your local Kirana Store if you can.