Star Localmart, the retail arm of Sanjay Ghodawat Group (SGG), has acquired Bengaluru-based DusMinute, a gated-community retail chain. The deal is for undisclosed amount and takes Star Localmart’s network to 170 stores and makes it India’s leading regional retailer.
A Game Changer in Indian Retail
With DusMinutes acquisition, Star Localmart consolidates its presence in tier-II to tier-VI towns where it has been present since 2020. The company currently has over 130 outlets across 50 towns in Western Maharashtra and Northern Karnataka with a modern supermarket format for rural and semi-urban consumers.
By adding DusMinute’s 40 community-based stores—inside residential complexes and app-enabled doorstep delivery—Star Localmart is integrating a hyperlocal retail model into its overall regional expansion strategy.
“This acquisition opens up a new avenue of growth, we will be able to bring everyday essentials closer to millions of households with more convenience and value,” said Shrenik Ghodawat, MD of SGG.
Expansion Plans: 170 to 3,000 by 2030
Star Localmart has a bold plan:
- 3,000 stores by 2030 across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- INR 5,000 crore revenue in next 5 years.
DusMinutes acquisition makes Star Localmart Karnataka’s largest regional player, strengthening its presence in India’s fast changing consumer market. Each Localmart store has 3,000+ SKUs, national, regional and local brands.
Beyond retail, the company is focused on job creation and workforce training in smaller towns, aligning business growth with community development.
DusMinute: A Hyperlocal Challenger
Founded by Apoorva Mishra, Nikhil Gupta and Ankita Asai, DusMinute has carved a niche by offering daily essentials—groceries, dairy, fruits, vegetables and household items—through convenience stores inside residential complexes. Its app-enabled delivery service ensures hyperlocal engagement and customer loyalty. In July 2023, the company raised INR 11.5 crore in a bridge funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures, with participation from banker Bandana Kankani, Indian Angel Network and other angel investors.
The merger with Star Localmart gives DusMinute access to bigger scale and regional supply chain muscle and Localmart gets DusMinute’s digital-first, community focused delivery model.
Market Impact
Star Localmart-DusMinutes acquisition comes at a time when M&A deals are under regulatory scrutiny under the Competition Amendment Act 2023 which requires disclosure for deals above INR 2,000 crore. Though the DusMinute deal value is undisclosed, the transaction is a part of the consolidation wave in Indian retail, especially in grocery and essentials delivery.
By combining regional reach with hyperlocal agility, Star Localmart is creating a hybrid model suited for India’s diverse retail landscape. Analysts see this as a long-term play to capture both rural markets and urban gated communities, a segment which is critical for consumer brands.
Looking Ahead
The company’s challenge now is to scale sustainably—manage supply chain across 5 states, balance national and local brands, integrate DusMinute’s technology driven retail experience.
If successful, the company could set a template for regional retail expansion in India, blending brick-and-mortar presence with app-driven convenience.
With a stated vision of reaching 3,000 outlets by the end of the decade, Star Localmart is positioning itself not just as a regional champion, but potentially a national retail disruptor.
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