Latest news with #Srinivasan
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Inside the store: PCC's 1st small-format store is an urban lunch stop
This story was originally published on Grocery Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Grocery Dive newsletter. Pardon the Disruption is a column that looks at the forces shaping food retail. PCC Community Market's first foray into downtown Seattle did not go according to plan. The store it opened at the base of the Rainier Tower office complex in 2022 lasted just two years before closing — a casualty of the pandemic and the remote work trend that rattled so many urban retailers. But a lot has changed in the city center recently. Office workers and tourists have returned to downtown Seattle, boosting foot traffic closer to pre-pandemic levels. And PCC says it's learned a thing or two from its first venture about how to connect with urban shoppers. So the cooperative grocer is giving it another go with a reimagined store that opened earlier this month at the same site as its former downtown location. At 6,500 square feet, PCC Corner Market is less than a third the size of the previous store, but still able to meet the quick-shop needs of locals, office workers and tourists who don't have many other grocery options in the area, according to CEO Krish Srinivasan. 'It's a smaller version of your neighborhood co-op, serving a big need in downtown Seattle,' Srinivasan said in an April announcement. Half of PCC Corner Market is devoted to fresh meals, including a hot bar, salad bar and grab-and-go items, while the other half is dedicated to a curated selection of groceries. In the middle sits a bank of self-checkout machines overseen by one or two staffers. To save space, the store doesn't have any manned checkouts. Small-format retailing has proven challenging for grocers, with concepts from Kroger, Stop & Shop and Publix closing down in recent years. However, companies like Whole Foods Market and Target still see considerable promise in scaled-down locations. Whole Foods recently opened its third Daily Shop in New York City. Will PCC Corner Market succeed where its former location failed? It's only been a week in, but so far the reception has been encouraging, store manager Eli Dorr-Fay said earlier this month when Grocery Dive visited the location. 'People are really excited we're back,' he said. Here's a look inside PCC Corner Market. A strategic design PCC is hoping its new scaled-down store will prove more appealing to customers than its earlier, much larger iteration. PCC Corner Market includes a curated selection across the same core departments its full-size stores offer, Dorr-Fay said, including produce, dairy, frozen meals and beer and wine. That should help facilitate the sort of quick, low-frills shopping that apartment dwellers and harried office workers value. The store features two entrances: A street-facing one that's mainly used by residents and tourists and another that opens directly into the foodservice department via the Rainier Square office complex. The grocer is also hoping to solve another problem with its revamp of the space at the base of the 58-story Rainier Tower. In the coming months, PCC plans to relocate its headquarters to sit adjacent to PCC Corner Market, according to a company spokesperson. The move maximizes the space it's using on a 10-year lease and also addresses local criticism that the company's current headquarters is too large and pricey, according to The Seattle Times. Focusing on lunch PCC Corner Market's operating hours reflect a focus on local office workers. The store is open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is closed on weekends. To maximize sales during those daytime hours, it offers a wide range of meal options, with a particular focus on the lunch crowd. Selections include fresh-made sushi, grab-and-go sandwiches, pizza and a full hot bar and salad bar. Customers who visit in the morning hours can fill up on self-service coffee, baked goods and breakfast sandwiches. To help move customers through the self-checkouts during busy periods, Dorr-Fay said workers will direct customers to a special queuing section near the payment terminals. An innovation hub Retailers like to test out their latest innovations close to headquarters. That's certainly the case with PCC Corner Market, which serves as a testing ground for the latest technology and meal innovations for the company, said Dorr-Fay. The small-format store is currently piloting digital shelf tags to see if they could work across the chain. It's also sizing up a new focaccia pizza in the foodservice department. Catering to tourists and residents alike With numerous hotels located nearby and a surge of cruise ship passengers flooding Seattle during the spring and summer months, PCC is hoping its new market will be a hit with tourists. In addition to its many grab-and-go items, the new store offers travel-size products like toothpaste, floss and lotion, as well as small collectibles like mugs and water bottles. For those looking for something a bit edgier, there's $45 vodka in a bottle shaped like the iconic Space Needle. PCC Corner Market is trying to offer an assortment that appeals to both consumers who are passing through the city and those who live there. Dorr-Fay said one of the store's most popular products so far is milk, indicating the new format has struck a chord with local residents. Recommended Reading PCC plans to debut first small-format store in July Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Panchayat president held on bribery charges for DTCP approval
A 45-year-old president of Mel Sandakuppam village panchayat, falling under Madhanur panchayat union near Ambur town in Tirupattur, was arrested by sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹2 lakh for Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) land approval. DVAC sources said that the complainant K. Srinivasan (48), a real estate agent, and his family had been living in Vaniyambadi town for many years. He owns seven acres of his ancestral land in Mel Sandakuppam village. Being a real estate agent, he decided to convert the unapproved open land into a DTCP-approved residential plots for sale. Accordingly, Srinivasan met panchayat president B. Sivakumar at the panchayat office a few weeks ago and requested him to grant the panchayat council nod for securing DTCP approval for the land. Srinivasan told DVAC officials that Sivakumar allegedly demanded a sum of ₹12 lakh for the purpose. Initially, he was reluctant to give a bribe. However, he managed to mobilise ₹10 lakh and gave it to Sivakumar recently. Subsequently, Srinivasan secured DTCP approval for the seven acres of land from the civic body. A few days ago, Sivakumar insisted that Srinivasan pay the remaining amount as promised. Srinivasan pleaded that he was not left with any money Sivakumar was unrelenting in his demand. So, Srinivasan filed a complaint with the DVAC.. A seven-member team led by K. Raji, Deputy SP, DVAC (Tirupattur), laid a trap and caught panchayat president Sivakumar. A case has been registered against the panchayat president. Later, he was arrested and lodged at a sub-jail in Tirupattur town. Further investigation is under way.
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- The Hindu
Three Tasmac outlets near Ambur shut after court orders
A prolonged struggle by residents of Ambur town in Tirupattur against three Tasmac outlets on Ambur - Pernambut Highway Road led to the closure of these outlets on Tuesday after court intervention. Residents said that the stretch had three Tasmac outlets for many years that resulted in public nuisance every day, especially during weekends, when daily wage labourers and agricultural workers get their weekly salary in the village. 'All three Tasmac outlets are located near each other and less than 500 metres from the Government Higher Secondary School. Students, especially girls, are scared to use the stretch to go to school due to the outlets,' said M. Ram Srinivasan, a resident. Many times, drunk people were found lying on the carriageway of the village road, affecting traffic movement. . Drunk people also engaged in petty fights. After several agitations and protests, residents led by Mr. Srinivasan filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at Madras High Court demanding the permanent relocation of these outlets. Subsequently, the Court directed the regional head of Tasmac in Vellore to relocate the outlets in one month, which ends on July 24. Based on Court's directions, all three outlets on the stretch were sealed. Tasmac officials said that at present, around 90 Tasmac outlets are being run in the district. Most of the big towns like Jolarpet, Tirupattur, Natrampalli, Ambur and Vaniyambadi have at least 10 outlets each.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BRO chief reviews Frontier Highway Project in Arunachal, Infra News, ETInfra
Advt Advt Director General, Border Roads Organisation (DG-BRO), Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan , on Monday, visited Arunachal Pradesh 's Lower Subansiri district to review progress on the Frontier Highway Project, officials Arunachal Pradesh government official said that the flagship Frontier Highway Project initiative is designed to significantly improve all-weather connectivity along the international border, catalyse regional development, and enhance national security through improved logistical capabilities and troop northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,080-km border with China, 520 km with Myanmar and 217 km with official said that Lt Gen Srinivasan, before visiting the frontier areas, held a meeting with Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Pema Khandu , and the meeting assessed the progress of infrastructure initiatives being undertaken by BRO across the DGBR provided a comprehensive overview of BRO's ongoing and upcoming infrastructure development efforts, with a focus on enhancing road connectivity in remote and strategically significant areas of Arunachal highlighted BRO's dual commitment to socio-economic advancement and national security by improving operational mobility for the armed forces. Discussions covered the execution of critical road networks, bridges, and associated support infrastructure aimed at meeting both civilian and defence Chief Minister commended BRO's relentless dedication and reiterated the State Government's full support for ensuring the timely and efficient implementation of these vital Gen Srinivasan reaffirmed BRO's guiding principle - "Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam " and expressed appreciation for the consistent support from the people and administration of Arunachal emphasised that such collaboration remains pivotal to the successful delivery of these transformative infrastructure projects. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta and other officials were present at the in a post on the X, the Chief Minister said: "We discussed how to further strengthen road infrastructure across Arunachal, with a special focus on our remote and border regions. Together, we reviewed ongoing BRO projects aimed at enhancing last-mile connectivity, securing our borders, and uplifting the rural economy. The Border Roads Organisation has been doing commendable work in some of the most challenging terrains of our state, connecting communities, boosting local livelihoods, and reinforcing national security."--IANSsc/dan
India Today
16-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Housing sales slide 14% as affordability pressures mount across cities: Report
India's residential housing market witnessed a sharp year-on-year dip in sales during the April–June quarter of 2025, as affordability concerns and cautious sentiment prompted many prospective buyers to hold back. According to the latest 'Real Insight Residential' report by home sales across the top eight urban markets fell 14% compared to the same period last PropTiger report, which tracks sales and launches across major cities, found that the biggest annual drop was recorded in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune, where sales fell by 32% and 27% respectively. Ahmedabad, Delhi NCR, and Hyderabad also reported declines, while Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata were the only cities to see growth in year-on-year the overall sales numbers remained flat, with the eight cities collectively selling 97,674 units in Q2 2025 compared to 98,095 units in Q1. However, a closer look shows that MMR (27%), Pune (16%), and Bengaluru (16%) were responsible for the bulk of activity, accounting for nearly 60% of all quarterly WOES Sridhar Srinivasan, Head of Sales at described the slowdown as a 'recalibration, not a retreat.' He pointed to affordability pressures in the budget and mid-income segments as the main reason for hesitation among buyers.'The short-term dip in home sales and new launches is more of a recalibration than a sign of waning demand. Affordability pressures, particularly in the budget and mid-income segments, have led to some cautious buyer sentiment. However, underlying demand remains intact, as evidenced by strong sequential growth in several cities and the continued dominance of key markets like MMR, Pune, and Bengaluru,' Srinivasan the slowdown, he noted developers are showing intent to stay invested, especially in premium offerings. Strategic land acquisitions in the first half of 2025 indicate long-term confidence in the market, backed by sound macroeconomic the dip in sales, the report highlights a 17% decline in new housing launches compared to Q2 2024. Launches also fell 10% on a sequential basis, with developers holding back amid softer demand and broader geopolitical new launches in MMR, Pune, and Bengaluru dropped sharply quarter-on-quarter, while cities like Chennai and Delhi NCR saw a significant uptick. Chennai posted an 87% sequential rise in launches, and Delhi NCR grew 31%. In contrast, Bengaluru witnessed a 32% fall in new supply during the same developments also played a role. The report notes that a brief but intense escalation in border conflict between India and Pakistan during the quarter added a layer of uncertainty that may have dampened market activity report highlights that this dip is not necessarily due to a weakening in housing demand but is largely a function of affordability stress caused by relentless price increases.'Supported by sectoral performance and improving consumption trends, macroeconomic indicators point to India's resilience in a turbulent global environment. So, this is not a demand-specific issue per se. The dip in both sales and launches have to do with the fact that housing affordability has worsened after a prolonged period of dramatic growth in average costs, severely affecting the affordable housing segment,' the company affordability stretched and developers becoming more selective about launching new projects, the coming months could be a period of consolidation for India's housing market. However, the underlying fundamentals remain strong—population growth, urbanisation, and aspirational demand continue to provide a solid the market sees a bounce-back in the next quarter will depend on how pricing trends evolve and whether developers pivot toward more affordable offerings. For now, the data points to a pause in the momentum that defined much of the past two years.- EndsMust Watch
