Amazon (AMZN) Receives Permission For Food Retail In India

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is currently firing on all cylinders to beef up its grocery segment and outshine rivals.

Just three weeks after snapping up natural and organic foods supermarket, Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ:WFM) for $13.7 billion, the retail juggernaut received the Indian government’s nod to invest $500 million in food retail in the country.

With this India becomes the second country after the U.S. where Amazon is going the brick-and-mortar way.

Taking Advantage of the FDI Rule

Amazon is the first global player to take advantage of the Indian government’s push to channelize FDI toward improving the nation’s food supply chain. A June legislation allows 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) for companies that sell locally produced or sourced food items.

Amazon first placed the proposal in Feb 2017, which also highlighted its plans to open a wholly-owned subsidiary to conduct food retail. The proposed investment is over and above the previously committed $5 billion.

Details Few but Intentions Clear

Amazon has confirmed receiving the approval but declined to reveal business plans in details. The company is now in a position to open food outlets integrated with an online platform to sell locally produced food items.

Amazon.com, Inc. Revenue (TTM)

The news has put grocery retailers across India in a spot of bother, particularly homegrown e-commerce company Flipkart, which is planning to re-enter the grocery space.

Taking the Contest to Potential Market & Rivals

Amazon’s attention has shifted to India owing to intensifying competition from Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) and slowing e-commerce growth in China. The company is currently working on its plan to invest $5 billion in India and the increasing involvement reflects Amazon’s intent to expand its brand visibility there.

Just like in the U.S., if it integrates offline and online features in food retail in India, it could reap the benefits from the ongoing e-commerce boom and growing adoption of smartphones in the nation.

We believe that if Amazon can successfully go the brick-and-mortar way in India, it will gain a huge competitive advantage against local players as well as bigwigs like Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) and Alibaba.

Investors are the Big Winners

Over the last one year, Amazon’s share price has grown roughly 33%, thanks to its solid loyalty program in Prime, Fulfillment By Amazon, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and initiatives around Internet of Things (IoT).

It has accelerated push into the offline market to counter competition from the likes of Alibaba, Wal-Mart and eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) and slow growth of online retail.

Though its grocery initiatives are relatively new, investors will see far more growth if Amazon could repeat its past success in this space. Everything that Amazon touches has been transformed to gold and its grocery venture could well add another feather in its cap.

Currently, Amazon has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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