Canteen Stores Department set for online debut

India’s largest retail network, the Canteen Stores Department (CSD) which supplies FMCG items to armed forces personnel at a discounted rate, is putting in place systems that will allow customers to purchase the latest goods with no time lag, according to a Times of India report.

Aside from expanding its depots, the retailer is looking to set up online systems that will allow customers to buy Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) on the same day that they are stocked on the canteen’s retail shelves. This means customers will be able to pick items online and make payments for the same.

Also, the documents needed for purchases will soon be an online procedure. This will reduce the time lag in acquiring products from the retailer, which can sometimes go up to a year.

According to the report, Air Vice-Marshal M Baladitya, Chairman of the board of administration and general manager of CSD, said that the board in charge of approvals for the canteen orders will meet more than six times in a year as opposed to just twice a year.