Partner with Unlock Franchise: Start your very own Supermarket Franchise!
We are in the 21st century and have recently celebrated the New Year 2025. We are 25 years ahead of the year 2000 leaving behind the old forms of living and just 25 years behind of reaching the year 2050, which by the time will be a year, when the way by which the world is running right now, will be a complete history.
From 2000 to 2025, 2025 many things have changed which goes from living style, to technology, transport, communication etc. But one thing that has remained constant is the need for everyday Groceries by the people.
Now, no matter how much you develop, you need basic amenities, present at your home that could be from fresh fruits or vegetables to packed food or household items. And where do you get all of these? Yes you’re absolutely right!
At the Supermarket franchise. Its your one stop shop to run and get your basic needs. And this has made Supermarket a very profitable and growth promising business venture.
It’s funny but I always say “ As an adult I might be thinking of Wedding aisles but nothing beats the craze I used to have as a kid, running at a Supermarket Aisle”!
If someone is interested in starting a business, the best way to start one, at low risk and high profit with growth stability, is to invest In a franchise. It makes it worth not spending directly from the scratch.
As an analogy you can think that you don’t have to invest your efforts in drawing a square and then a cube out of that but just directly draw a cube from the square that’s provided to you.
We at Unlock Franchise are your trusted partner and will help you with the adequate tools and help that you need to find your perfect Supermarket Franchise and for you to make an exclusive name in the retail industry.
Overview of services
We are absolutely aware of how hard planning and researching and everything can be when starting a business especially if you are a newbie. But that’s what we are here for. We provide you the best services you need to establish a perfect name in the industry .
i. Plan, Research and Strategize:
They say ‘One Can Never Go Wrong With Proper Planning ‘ and when we are here what’s there to be even worried about? No matter how difficult or strenuous it may sound to do all the research on your own, we are to help you.
You definitely want to build something that resonates with the crowd around you and that will, my friend, get you more and more recognition. Now when you visit a supermarket, the only reason you will ever return to that place is if you get that convenient feeling you are looking for in a convenience store.
There’s such a famous saying that “The best things in life are purchased” and you definitely want to provide your customers an experience of buying the best products. So for that we help you find the right franchise according to your needs, market trends etc and then the help you need to make the best of it.
ii. Suitability as per needs:
Our brand Unlock Franchise is known for providing you with the list of all different kinds of franchise in different arenas. And that goes for supermarkets too. We have a list of all the available franchises and then we help you choose as per your investment costs, budgets etc. We want you to make a great name. The range of Franchises could be from Globally famous stores to Locally established ones as well.
iii. The Procedure:
Now no matter what business you are looking for to start, there’s a process to enter and exit that business. Legal documentations, contracts, selecting a location as per one’s needs, choosing the items etc. And that’s where we will help you. In the process of entering the industry we will make sure you find no hassle.
They say “Hustle is not a hassle, when you are pursuing your dreams” and I find that perfectly apt.
But we will be there so you have no hassle and hustle and can smoothly enter the retail world.
Just like entry is a task, if you want to leave the business or sell your franchise, even then it requires complying with certain procedures. You can either send it back to the franchisor or sell it to the next party.
Also read: List of Franchise Under 5 Lakhs: Top Affordable Business Opportunities in 2025
Franchise models
A Franchise Is when you get a license from a market brand to run the business under their brand name. It’s like running a business which has already been established in the industry.
There are 4 types of Franchise models
i. Company Owned – Company Operated
Now as the name suggests, this model is run and operated by the company itself. Here franchising doesn’t exist. The employees of the brand itself run the store. So this is basically a setup where the brand that a company owns is operated by them only
This provides them with an advantage that any profits thus made will be directly going to the company. Also there won’t be any third party to be dealt with. No hassle, nothing. Also this gives them an opportunity to expand.
But at the same time, they have to deal with minute issues like managing the store, setup etc which can be done by another party through franchising and they can focus on expansions and other important aspects of the company.
Also know an the flagship model, it is also used as a learning experience for many Entrepreneurs in the industry especially new. Examples are Big Bazaar, Jio, Starbucks, Apple etc.
ii. Company Owned – Franchise Operated
In this type of model, the actual owner is the brand who through franchising gives someone else the authority to run the franchise but purely by following the rules and regulations of the company and breach of these rules can lead to cancellation of the franchise.
The advantage is that the productivity is really high and all the small tasks like managing customers etc are to be done by the franchise workers and the company do not have to invest time in this but at the same time if the management by the franchise is not done it could lead to company’s losses. This kind of model usually exists very less in the market.
iii. Franchise Owned – Franchise Operated
This is the typical franchise setup where the franchise is to make all the investment to run a supermarket business while the company is to provide with the brand name, some kind of training and ongoing support.
So technically the ownership lies with the franchise itself and it is responsible for all the operations and the business just runs under the name of the company.
The risk also is to be borne by the franchise itself. Here the franchise buys the stock while the franchisors are responsible for stocking the franchise. Some examples as to this type of models are
iv. Franchise Owned – Company Operated
In this supermarket franchise model, the franchise makes the initial investments while the company manages the operation.
The running or the operating costs are managed by the company. Some share of profits and revenue goes to the franchise, who is the actually owner and the company is responsible for managing the operations. Famous examples to this are Bistro, Barista etc.
v. Franchise Invested – Company Operated
This kind of franchise is very similar to the FOCO model but here the franchisee bas complete control over the financing over the franchise units. While the franchise just invests, daily operations are managed by the company.
This model can be adapted by those who want to invest in a business but do not have the time to operate it.
Benefits of Partnering with us
We at Unlock Franchise would love to have you partner with us. Now if you’re asking yourself, why you should be partnering with us?
Then just know we have made a reputation for years of providing our customers a smooth and spiffing experience in finding the best Franchise to invest in or to list your franchise and get the leads. We Unlock Franchise was founded with a vision to become a go-to resource for anyone who is looking to explore the dynamic world of franchising.
We have a vision for the future where franchising opportunities are preferred as a route to business ownership in India. Unlock franchise will work for all entrepreneurs in any background by giving them a forefront to achieve success in this thriving franchise industry.
Ongoing Training and Operational Support
Beautifully said by Roy H. Williams, who is a Best Selling Author and Marketing Consultant that, “Training is not an expense, but an investment in Human Capital”
The franchisor is responsible for providing training and support to the Franchisee. Following are some kind of help that the franchisor provides.
i. Inventory and Staff Management:
Just as if the shelves at the house kitchen are stocked, the dish is cooked perfect, the shelves at the supermarkets are to be stocked as well. Customer demands keeps on changing and while it can be a to manage the customer demands and supply chain logistics everyday, it is the duty of the franchise to do so.
Neither anything should be below requirement nor anything should be overstocked. This can be only done if the staff is hired by proper training and this task is to be done by the franchise.
ii. Marketing Help
Another important aspect of the training provided by the franchisors is the marketing strategy. They run the advertisements at regional or national level and the franchises are to engage at a local level. They say ‘ Nothing is better than Local Engagements’. If the brand is already a well established one, then customers will automatically start flowing in the store due to franchise’s brand reputation.
iii. Financial Management
Franchisees must closely monitor daily sales and carefully control expenses in order to run a successful grocery franchise. To determine the profit, it is essential to closely monitor all costs, including power bills, employee salaries, and the cost of goods supplied. Typically the franchisees report their financial performance to the franchisor on a regular basis to create transparency.
Investment Details
Robert Arnott said – “In investing, what is comfortable is rarely profitable.” So investing in the right thing is very important.
Now when you’re starting a supermarket franchise in India, the investment cost is going to vary on various factors that could be location, size of the store etc. In general you might be spending from somewhere around 10 lakhs to 2 crore rupees. Below mentioned is the breakdown of the investment details.
i. Location costs
For you to start a supermarket in India, you need to set it up on some location. That location has to be according to your plan and vision. If you invest in a small area then the price will be low and if you want a larger space, the price of the rent will be high. It could in general range in thousands.
ii. The inventory costs
If you are running a grocery store, are you going to run it without the inventories? No, yeah, of course. It’s like a railway station without the trains or a school without students. I mean in general, it will be missing it’s most basic component. The inventory will cost you around ₹50-₹80 lakhs on an average. Could be less or more. The breakdown further will be in terms of packed foods, fresh foods, dry food etc. Each item will carry a different cost of investment.
iii. Equipment and Technology
For running a supermarket franchise in India, different kinds of equipment are needed like the machines at counters, refrigerator units, storage units, Air conditioners, heaters, e-ink displays etc. and for you to run these equipments you need technology. Could be POS systems, electronic management systems, electronic price labels etc. The cost could vary from lakhs to at times crores.
iv. Staff costs
“In the world of hiring, the key to success is not in finding the perfect candidate, but in finding the one who will grow with your company.”
You can’t run a store without staff and workers, can you? And thus you will have to pay them the salaries, at times – bonus, sometimes insurance and other securities as well. These costs will also be included in the investment costs itself. Hiring a staff is one thing, then there will be costs for training of the staff. This could vary upon the number of employees hired.
v. Marketing costs
Well marketing and advertisements are the best way to popularise your store. For more and more years people to reach out to your store and an increase in the foot traffic at later stages, somewhat around few thousands could be used while marketing and at times a few lakhs.
Though usually when you are associating with a brand, the popularity is to reach to you automatically but to make it more famous in your locality, advertisements could play a major role.
vi. Insurance and Security
The insurance section includes Property insurance, liability insurance, and the insurance of workers’ compensation. The insurance costs generally range from thousands to lakhs per year and also for your store to be safe and sound, you need to establish alarms and other security items . These all will cost around a few lakhs per year.
Top 10 Supermarket Franchise in India
There’s no need to make a trip to the grocery shop only to have to return because the things you want aren’t readily available.
Many supermarket franchise have flourished in India, and the below-mentioned 10 have made a name in the industry, have a strong brand reputation, and have a wide customer range. So with these franchises in existence, you are never going to return unsatisfied.
i. D-Mart
One very famous franchise is D-Mart or you can say your “Destination Mart”. This supermarket franchise has made a name for itself in a very short time. Started for the very first time in Mumbai in 2002, now it has established itself throughout the country.
Providing low-cost, high-quality goods to customers, it has formed itself a strong customer base. If you are someone who wants to invest in a low-investment venture, then the D-mart supermarket franchise is the perfect choice for you.
Total investment: ₹1 crore to ₹2 crores.
The total floor area required: 4000 sq.
ii. Big Bazaar
Another ideal supermarket franchise is Big Bazaar or you can call it the “Biggest bazaar of your dreams”. It has a well-known name in India and has more than 250 stores across India. One must invest in Big Bazaar, as it is established in both urban and semi-urban areas, has strong brand recognition, and also a wide range of products.
Unit/Shop Area: 2000-5000 sq. ft.
Infrastructure Investment: Rs. 20 Lakhs – Rs. 50 Lakhs
Franchise Fee: Rs. 3 Lakhs
iii. More store
Another great name in this industry is the More supermarket franchise. Well I’m sure “More provides More”. More is an Aditya Birla Group franchise that started in the year 2007, and just like Big Bazaar, it has a well-established name. One investing in this branch will also have a chance to grow in semi-urban and urban areas and have backing by a strong brand and a loyal customer base.
Unit/Shop Area: 1000-2000 sq. ft.
Infrastructure Investment: Rs. 15 Lakhs – Rs. 40 Lakhs.
iv. Reliance Fresh
Part of the very famous Reliance group by the Ambani’s is the Reliance Fresh and just like its name it is famous for providing excellent and fresh quality of ingredients. One investing in this supermarket franchise has a chance to excel in the Tier 2 and 3 cities and also will benefit, as the fresh ingredients being provided have gained Reliance a strong customer base due to high customer satisfaction.
Unit size: approximately 1000–1300 sq. ft.
Investment costs: Rs. 15 lakhs to Rs. 30 lakhs; costs are generally higher in metropolitan cities compared to smaller towns.
v. Vishal Mega Mart
Started in the year 1986 by Ram Chandra Aggarwal, unlike many other stores, V-mart is known for offering a wide variety of products, be it an electrical appliance, a clothing item, or a food item. It also has a flexible store setup and high profit margins, which makes it an ideal supermarket franchise for investment.
Investment Costs: 30 lakhs and Rs. 50 lakhs.
Franchise Fee: Rs. 5 Lakhs–Rs. 10 Lakhs.
Unit/Shop Area: 1000-3000 sq. ft.
vi. Easyday
Owned by the Bharti group and started in 2008, Easyday has been in the industry for quite a time now “to make your Day Easy”. It deals with goods like fresh foods, packed goods, household items, etc. It’s a great option to invest in if you are looking to invest in a brand with low operational costs. It is designed on a simple principle, of being a “Pados ki Dukaan,” that understands shoppers and their needs.
Unit/Shop Area: 2000-3000 sq. ft.
Infrastructure Investment: Rs. 15 Lakhs–Rs. 20 Lakhs.
vii. Gfresh Mart
Started in the year 2017, this supermarket franchise has definitely made a good name in quite a short time. This company’s strategy assures the opening of the supermarket franchise store in just 45 days, and you can earn up to ₹5 lakhs monthly. This commitment reflects the company’s dedication to providing a quick and efficient setup for its franchise. Gfresh Mart is dedicated to providing the best products at great prices.
Unit requirement: 500–10,000 sq. ft.
Investment Size: ₹10 lakhs- ₹20 lakhs.
viii. Star Bazaar
Started in the year 1998 by Trent Ltd, a Tata Group company in collaboration with Tesco, Star Bazaar has made a name for providing products ranging from fresh foods to packed foods and poultry to even some Tata products. It’s thereby said that most of the vegetables and fruits of this supermarket franchise in India are directly supplied by the farmers across the country.
Unit/Shop Area: 1000–3000 sq. ft.
Infrastructure Investment: Rs. 50 Lakhs–Rs. 80 Lakhs
ix. Spencer’s Retail
Started in the year 1990, just like Gfresh, it offers the best quality products to the customer at the most reasonable prices. A well-known quality about this supermarket franchise is that it follows an eco-friendly policy. Along with being tech-savvy, it offers excellent products to the customers to their satisfaction.
Investment Cost: 30-60 lakhs.
x. Hypermarkets
The hypermarket started in India in the year 2014 and started franchising in the year 2016. Hyper Supermarket offers two franchise models: supermarket Franchise Owned and Company Operated (FOCO) and Franchise Owned and Franchise Operated (FOFO). Along with providing the best products, customer satisfaction is the utmost priority of this company, and thus for that it provides special training to its recruits.
Unit Area: 200–3000 sq ft.
Investment costs: Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 10 lakhs.
Check out this: List of Franchise Under 10 Lakhs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
1. What are the most important steps required to start a supermarket business?
To start with a supermarket franchise, the very first step would be to plan and research about the business, and your competition and obtain the required investment for the business. After that certain other steps like choosing the right location, hiring the right staff, and managing inventory also hold the utmost importance.
2. How much capital is required to start a supermarket franchise?
The answer to this question depends on various factors. While some might cost hundreds, others might cost you millions. This is determined by the brand and supermarket franchise type.
3. What are the key factors that could play an important role in the success of a supermarket business?
To open a successful supermarket franchise are a few factors that play a major role, including choosing the right location, product quality, marketing strategy, and the right customer service. Training your staff properly will also play an important role.
4. Can I exit or sell my grocery franchise in India?
Generally, yes. However, the franchise firm may need to give their permission for the same. Some procedures are to be followed.
Final Words
So if like me, you have grown up, running in the Supermarket Aisles and ever dreamt of starting your own Supermarket franchise one day, then what are waiting for? Contact us now and turn your dreams into a reality.
