JOIN USIn a bid to improve sales and help the Hopcoms outlets, its management has decided to bring in private players to revamp the stores.
There has been no change in the Hopcoms (Horticultural Producers' Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society) outlets' design for the last 10 years. "It has been over 10 years since Hopcoms was changed or new staff was recruited. There are no youth employment opportunities in Hopcoms. But now we have decided to change it," said Hopcoms managing director, M Vishwanath.
There are 325 Hopcoms outlets in Bengaluru urban, rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Ramanagara. Of these, Bengaluru urban and rural have 270 outlets. In Bengaluru city alone, there are 100 outlets that are suffering losses.
"Of the 100 loss-making outlets, the management has decided to redo 40 in the first phase. This decision has been taken after holding a detailed meeting with farmers associations and their representatives," he said.
The management has also decided to help youth to open outlets. Applications have been invited from interested individuals and organisations. The management has received 50 applications so far.
According to the management, those who are keen to open an outlet will have to deposit Rs 1 lakh with Hopcoms. The applicant will also have to ensure that items worth Rs 1 lakh are purchased on monthly basis. Only those items can be sold in the outlet which are listed by Hopcoms and 80% of the items on sale must be fruits and vegetables.
Contracts of those who will show promising financial returns will be signed for a duration of three years and of others, it will be limited to one year. Weights and billing machines worth up to Rs 80,000 will be provided by Hopcoms, Vishwanath said.