Tesco has pushed back plans to open its first wholesale cash-and-carry outlet in India.

The UK retailer said in January that the outlet would open within 11 months.

However, a spokesperson for Tesco told just-food today (18 November) that it will now open the doors to its first outlet in India by March 2011.

A spokesperson for Tesco said: “We are developing a cash-and-carry business and plan to open our first outlet next year. We will bring world class supply chain capability to the Indian market, using skills, processes and technologies developed over decades of supporting our business around the world.”

Asked what plans Tesco has for further store openings, the spokesperson said: “We are always looking for opportunities to grow and as and when the possibility arises then we will grow.”

The retailer also confirmed that it is looking to increase sourcing from India from the current level of around GBP230m (US$368m) worth of goods a year.

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It is understood that clothing makes up around 70% of the goods Tesco sources from India, while “some progress” has been made in sourcing food items including grapes and corn, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

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