By the time New Delhi hosts the 2010 Commonwealth Games, a retail consultancy estimates, there will be one supermarket every kilometer (half-mile) in the sprawling city of 14 million compared to about five in 2004.

Kriti Pallav, a married working woman, said she switched from her local grocer to the new Big Apple supermarket chain because the outlets were air-conditioned and open until late. “This shopping experience is new and welcome. I don’t have to haggle for prices here as I have to with the local vendor. The quality is good and overall there is great hygiene in the store,” she said as she waited to pay through a computerized system.

Big Apple, owned by Express Retail Services, has opened 22 outlets in New Delhi in the past two years and says it plans a five-fold increase by the end of 2007, offering everything from groceries to cosmetics.

“We have 22 operational stores in Delhi at the moment but plan to open 100 outlets this year for which we have earmarked an investment of around one billion rupees (US$25 million),” said Express Retail managing director Munish Hemrajani.

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