We visited Walmart in India — and it’s shockingly different from what you’ll see in America

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The first Walmart in India opened in 2009.

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Locally known as Best Price, the stores may look similar to their counterparts in the US, but they operate quite differently.

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Walmart in India has adapted to the demands of its customers by providing items based on their needs.

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The store offers special Indian food products including tea, flour, recipe mixes and pickles.

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Best Price takes their membership very seriously. Shoppers need to apply for a membership for both online and offline shopping before they can purchase anything.

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Members then need to show their membership card before they can enter the store…

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… and when they check out at the billing counter.

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Customer service is superb. The stores have multiple employees in every aisle to help customers understand offers and locate the products they’re looking for.

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Special offers and discounts are routinely announced on loudspeakers across the store.

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Walmart India makes it a point to provide competitively priced regional products that are sourced based on local demand.

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Indian spices and food products that cater to the average Indian consumer are readily available.

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The company also takes great care to ensure fresh fruits and vegetables are sourced directly from farmers across the country, thereby providing a popular inter-regional supply chain.

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Chicken and other raw meat and dairy products are stored in separate freezing rooms to maintain freshness and quality.

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Best Price stores offer products in different sized packs, from small purchases to big packages, to fulfill the needs of a variety of customers.

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The store also has multiple “Try, Buy and Save” stands throughout stores where customers can try a food product before buying it.

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Once customers leave the store, they are given cartons, ropes and sacks to pack and carry their purchases home.

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Walmart had a rocky start in India. Protests erupted in 2007 when Walmart made a deal with Beharti Group to build 15 stores. Many feared the proposed wholesale outlets would negatively affect local business.

Source: New York Times

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Thanks to local sourcing and Walmart's many initiatives focused on enhancing skills training, environment sustainability, female empowerment and community development, company disapproval has lessened.

Source: Walmart, Business Line

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Walmart has also incorporated Indian culture into their stores. Best Price locations are decorated for Indian holidays and offer additional seasonal discounts.