Initially, the wholesale giant is targetting large number of hotels, restaurants, caterers and grocery stores. The company will market the 18,000 stock keeping units (SKUs ) from an area of one lakh square feet. Of the 18,000 articles only 8,000 are food products. The company plans to begin its operations in the next six to eight weeks.

“Many people have registered with us for doing business, even before the licence was issued. It is a continuous process and more people will be joining us, as now the licence has been awarded to the company,” said a spokesperson of the German firm.

“Our business model does not involve selling to household customers. It is a business-to-business model which will primarily cater to a wide range of clientele. Metro Cash & Carry clients will be provided with a registration card,” said a representative of the firm.

Inspite of the delay caused by the political opposition, hotels and restaurants in the city have welcomed the decision to award the licence to the company. “It will be a great advantage to the hotel industry. Earlier, we used to buy our stocks from different vendors. Now we can procure about 80 to 90 percent of our stock from under one roof. Since a company like Metro Cash & Carry will be supplying the products’ quality will be also assured,” said R S Singh, vice-president, Operations, Kellinworth Hotels.

“This wholesale facility will help the farmers to market their produce in other states and even outside the country,” said Sunderban Development Minister Kanti Ganguly, who had been actively supporting the venture.

The Metro Cash & Carry operations will generate employment for about 1,800 people directly. Other than the company, a large number of people will be involved in transport and preservation of the produce, said the minister.

Though the Forward Bloc-controlled State Agriculture and Marketing Board retracted from its earlier stand by withdrawing the minimum purchase limit of Rs 5,000, they said the party’s cadres will be monitoring the activities of the German firm to keep a check on whether they are getting into the retail domain.