More options for liquor home delivery in Kolkata – Times of India

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Kolkata: E-commerce major Amazon India and grocery giant BigBasket are all set to join the alcohol delivery bandwagon along with two local players — Golden Goenka and Senrysa Technologies — in what could be termed as the second phase of induction of companies for doorstep dispatch of liquor in Kolkata.
In a notice issued on June 19, the West Bengal State Beverages Corp (Bevco), the government’s wholesale distributor of liquor in the state, invited Amazon and three others to sign agreements for empanelment in liquor delivery as they were found eligible for registration.
Although Amazon India has not issued any comment, this would mark the e-commerce giant’s maiden foray in the alcohol distribution business in India. Grocery major Bigbasket, which is also a first-timer in the sector, has, however, confirmed the development.
Hari Menon, co-founder and CEO, Bigbasket, told TOI: “We have been invited by the Bengal government against an Expression of Interest (EOI) for online delivery of liquor. We are happy to add a new category to our range. We are now working on creating a supply chain.”
Besides Amazon and Bigbasket, city-based Golden Goenka and Senrysa Technologies will reportedly sign the MoU with Bevco. Rajeev Goenka of Golden Goenka group, whose company Golden Goenka Commerce has got a nod for delivery of liquor, told TOI that it was heavily into alcohol trade through its distribution company N C Shaw before the state had taken over the distribution. “Online liquor is an upcoming business and we want to explore the opportunity,” he added.
Authorities of Senrysa Technologies could not be contacted for comments. Another eight firms who have expressed interest have been asked by Bevco to demonstrate the capabilities of their platforms in executing online orders.
Last month, Bevco had invited companies to express interest in “handling orders of electronics, purchase, sale and home delivery of alcoholic liquor from licensed retail outlets” to eligible legal-age consumers in the state.