Belgian food and grocery retailer Colruyt Group is eyeing opportunities available to expand IT operations, directly source products (mostly food items), and to introduce some of its private labels in India.

Colruyt had established an IT office in 2007 in Hyderabad and later the facility shaped into a global capability centre (GCC). IT engineering, project development, Data Analytics are done from India in collaboration with the team in Belgium. Plans are being finalised to expand operations to one more city, including a tier II city with the appropriate ecosystem exists. A decision is likely to be made by July. The move is intended to secure future talent and the model involves continuing growth in Hyderabad and in the other city as well. The GCC’s headcount has increased 10-15 percent every year over the last eight to 10 years.

The Group operates in food, non-food, health and energy segments. Colruyt, for whom food retail contributes to 80 percent of its business has around 700 super markets in Belgium, France and Luxembourg and 33,000 employees globally. Colruyt is also keen on having a team in India for sourcing products directly for its private label Boni. In 2022, Korys, investment company of the Colruyt family had invested in Nashik-based Sahyadri Farms, which is a fruit and vegetable integrator in India, and rice, spices, seafood, fresh fruits are now being sourced from India.

To expand into multiple food categories in India, Colruyt has been exploring opportunities to bring some of its private labels in India and had commissioned a project study to assess the market potential. The focus of Korys’ investment, is on conscious consumer, healthy living, energy and mobility segments and it has committed and deployed euro 40-50 million, including on a 40-MW wind energy asset in north Karnataka.