Tech-enabled grocery retail chain SuperK raises $6M in a Series A round led by Blume Ventures, others

SuperK, a tech-enabled grocery retail chain, has raised $6 million in a Series A funding round led by Blume Ventures.

Silver Needle Ventures, Veltis Capital, Atrium Angels, and other angel investors also participated in the round. The startup aims to transform the grocery shopping experience in India's small towns. 

Founded in 2020 by BITS Pilani alumni Anil Thontepu and Neeraj Menta, SuperK is on a mission to offer a modern, organized retail experience to areas traditionally dominated by unorganized kirana stores.

Enhanced grocery shopping 

“At SuperK, our vision is to bring a better grocery shopping experience for small-town customers who are currently stuck with a subpar experience provided by their neighbourhood Kirana store. Our customers have upgraded their lives since a SuperK store came up in their neighbourhood; their grocery shopping has moved from a chore to a family shopping experience," said Neeraj Menta, Co-founder of SuperK.

"These customers have discovered new products and upgraded to a more healthy choice of staples at SuperK,” Neeraj added.

Leveraging technology for growth

The startup plans to use the raised capital for technological development, hiring, and scaling the platform to connect native digital brands with its growing customer base. 

By collecting detailed customer behaviour data, SuperK aims to offer personalized shopping experiences and use gamification to motivate store partners. 

Expansion amidst changing market dynamics

SuperK's expansion comes at a time when the allure of online grocery shopping is waning, with a recent market study revealing a strong preference for offline shopping among consumers.

Despite the trend, SuperK has managed to carve out a niche in over 80 small towns across Andhra Pradesh, serving over 5 lakh families. The startup believes that its approach of setting up a store for every 25,000 people ensures a high density of stores in each district, making grocery shopping more accessible and convenient.

The startup claims to have 125 stores in Andhra Pradesh, which typically range from 500 to 1,000 square feet, stocking approximately 2,500 SKUs (stock-keeping units).