Pantaloon signs MoUs to sources Amul, Rasna, Jindal other brands

Ahmedabad, Apr 14 (UNI) Rs 1084-cr Pantaloon Retail (India) Limited today signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with a number of mid-size companies, besides scores of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to source wide range of products on a long-term basis.

This was part of Pantaloon's first-ever vendor fair, christened 'Saathi', being organised all over the country, to help particularly SMEs sell directly to consumers, company's managing director Kishore Biyani told news persons here.

Among the bigger companies with which Mr Biyani signed MoUs on the first day of Saathi included Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) managing director B M Vyas (for Amul products), Pioma Industries managing director P Khambatta (for Rasna beverages) and Ankur Salts managing director Ashok Parekh.

Similar MoUs hcve also been signed with Kalol-based Bharat Vijay Mills (manufacturers of Sintex plastic containers) to source 3.5 million metres of fabric and with Jindal Worldwide Limited for home linen and other products.

Mr Biyani said that 500 vendors were selected out of over 3,000 responses received by Pantaloon from Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan in response to invitation extended on April 6-7. A 60-strong management development team is camping here for the last few days to forge long-term relationship with the prosepctive vendors.

The range of products vary from fabrics and ready-made garments to spices, processed foods, ethnic handicraft to gift articles for Pantaloon Stores, Big Bazaars, Food Bazaars and Fashion Stations.

UNI VKC PP SKB1947