U.S. retail major Wal-Mart and Bhrati Group are planning to use three brand names and store formats for the Indian market including a cash and carry, front-end retail outlets, and franchisee-owned stores. However, there is considerable confusion on whether the Wal-Mart name will be used since the deregulation of retail foreign direct investment is not complete yet.

Bharati Group is obviously restructuring its cell phone business Bharati Airtel to re-deploy a "couple of hundred" middle and senior management personnel to work in the new retail business. The new retail initiative is being planned for early 2008 opening.