Swine flu scare has hit the sales of Big Bazaar, the hyper-market chain of

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Future Group, especially during its five-day monthly offer period in August.

The swine flu scare affected the business mostly in the western region after the Maharashtra government asked hyper-markets and malls to call off discount offers that attract large number of customers.

In the western region, Big Bazaar saw around 25 per cent dip in expected sales during the Mahabachat monthly discount period between August 12 and 16.

The offer was totally withdrawn in four Pune stores. “The swine flu impact was mainly felt in Pune and Mumbai stores because there was a directive from the government. The footfalls also were 20 to 25 per cent lower in the western region during the five-day period,” said Venketeshwar Kumar, business head, south zone for Big Bazaar.

Big Bazaar has 25 stores in the western region that contributes to 30 per cent of the company’s turnover.

“Nationally too, the swine flu scare brought down expected sales in our stores by around 10 per cent,” he said. As far as footfalls are concerned, Big Bazaar stores saw a 7 per cent dip, compared with earlier offer periods.

However, the company is now gearing up for the festival season with another offer named ‘Suswagatham’ starting this weekend. Under the offer, Big Bazaar will bring in new merchandise in almost all the categories.

Future Group will add 10 more stores to its existing 28 hyper-markets in the South. It will add 400,000 sq ft retail space in the South at a cost of Rs 2,000 to 3,000 pr sq ft.

The southern stores registered Rs 1,000 crore turnover last financial

year and contributed 28 per cent to the company’s total revenue.