The Hindu Business Line : BPCL plans to set up 100 `In & Out' stores

TO build customer loyalty , Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has sewn up a series of initiatives, including the rollout of about 100 `In & Out' stores in petrol bunks by March 2006.

The Director of Marketing, Mr S. Radhakrishnan, told Business Line that In & Out stores have been innovatively designed to offer a single-stop service facility for people who visit petrol pumps.

Typically, young, working couples are the targets of such stores. During the fiscal, BPCL plans to increase the number of such outlets to 500 across the country from 400.

"In all, the company has about 6,600 outlets (including In & Out stores, outlets on the Golden Quadrilateral and general outlets) and expects to grow this number to about 7,000 by the year-end," he said.

Mr Radhakrishnan, who was in Hyderabad recently, said that these retail outlets have been designed to enhance the shopping experience. As part of the expansion of fuel outlets along the Golden Quadrilateral, BPCL has so far set up about 70 centres. The idea is to locate one such centre every 200 km where a traveller gets to relax during a long journey. Truck operators can also swipe cards at these bunks. This provides an effective tracking mechanism for fleet owners, he said.

Mr Radhakrishnan said that there is no problem of domestic gas supply as of now. What was witnessed during the last few months was panic stocking. Due to fear of shortage, consumers started to store cylinders. This put additional pressure on the system. The illegal usage of domestic LPG by vehicle owners has added to the supply problem.

However, by November 15, once the Reliance refinery gets into commercial production, the situation would improve. As opposed to 19 kg cylinder supplied for Rs 700 by fuel stations, a 14.2-kg cylinder of domestic gas is available for Rs 280. The regional transport officials need to crack down, Mr Radhakrishnan said.

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