Spencer’s hypermarket at Kolkata

After invading the retail turf in many of the cities in India, Kolkata-based RPG Group has finally opened an outlet in its hometown in February 2008. RPG Spencer’s Hypermarket at the happening South City Mall on Prince Anwar Shah Road is a 72,000 sq ft behemoth that takes up most of the mall’s basement and seduces Kolkata’s public with a whole new shopping experience.

Spencer’s hypermarket, with its “bada choice, chhota price” slogan, stocks over 20,000 items. At Spencer’s you’d get:

• food and beverages, that include fresh, frozen and processed food;
• garments, cosmetics and accessories;
• electronic goods and home appliances, including kitchen ware; and
• furniture and furnishings.

The shopping zones
The shopping area at Spencer’s is split into various sections. Large colour-coded boards with the name of section (home, electronics, et al) hang from the ceiling to help customers navigate. The fashion section has a wide range of clothes for both sexes and all age groups. The pricing of the garments is the biggest draw. Styling and design is not quite along the lines of Levi’s or Lee, though.

Check out Spencer’s for a range of electronic goods and appliances like microwave ovens, cooking ranges and gas stoves. All kinds of kitchenware are also available. The USP of this section is the bargain prices it offers.

Fast-moving consumer goods, both food and non-food items, are stacked up in closely-packed racks and placed right in the middle of the floor, lending the place a busy and well-stocked look. There’s also a specialised food zone in a corner where shelves are earmarked and labelled for Thai, Chinese, Italian, South Indian and North Indian items.

Fish-loving Bengalis can now buy their fresh catch, including crabs and lobsters, from the separate fish section here. The grocery section is pretty impressive with a wide variety of local produce as well as imported vegetables, herbs and condiments.

The best part about RPG Spencer’s is the eighteen billing counters that help clear the rush, once the shopping’s done. Spencer’s also has the option of home delivery within a 5 km radius for purchases above Rs 750.

If all that shopping spree has made you tired and hungry, you’d do well to drop in at the mini food-court here. Sink into one of the few chairs strewn around and order a quick bite of chaat, roll, pastry or patties.

Here’s to a new shopping experience in Kolkata, only at Spencer’s.