Indian society has changed a great deal over the past few years: a growing number of people are profiting from the economic upswing, and this is shaping the way Indians live. This development is also reflected in retailers’ product ranges and in restaurant menus. For example, the demand for convenience products like prepared dishes and snack foods is increasing. METRO Cash & Carry has adapted the ranges in its stores accordingly. "Our customers give us a lot of suggestions for new products," explains Ashok Deenadayalu, METRO Cash & Carry’s Regional Manager South India. "Close dialogue with them is important to us in offering a made-to-measure product range." cbi:///cms/77603

Indian METRO Cash & Carry wholesale outlets carry about 18,000 different products – more than any other store on the subcontinent. These include many snack foods like papadams, crispy wafers of unleavened bread made with lentil or chick pea flour, served as an appetiser or accompaniment to meals. They are offered with Indian pickles – fruit or vegetables cooked in a spicy sauce. "Ready-to-eat samosas are a popular snack between meals. These are stuffed pastries with vegetable, potato or fruit fillings," adds Ashok Deenadayalu. cbi:///cms/77606

Aromatic spices are essential in Indian cuisine. From anis and coriander to cardamom and cinnamon: the wholesale stores have between 70 and 80 different sorts in their ranges. Staple ingredients like dried pulses, rice and preserved vegetables are also always in demand – they are purchased in big sacks and containers. "Indians love to cook and they spend a lot on food," says Ashok Deenadayalu. But for many commercial customers METRO Cash & Carry is also the place to go for beverages: carbonated drinks in particular are enjoying growing popularity. cbi:///cms/77609

The most popular nonfood products include household items, electrical products and clothing. METRO Cash & Carry sells jeans and T-shirts as well as traditional garments: women can find saris as well as salwar kameez sets – a combination of a long shirt, pants and a wide scarf. The stores’ best-selling range: shoes to match work uniforms. Hospitals, service stations and hotels, all buy them for their staff. In Bangalore, thousands of pairs of shoes are sold each month. The wholesaler is one of the largest shoe suppliers in the region. cbi:///cms/77613