Gulshan Kriplani is a veteran retail entrepreneur and the Founder of Namaste Ventures Pvt. Ltd., the company behind GBAZAR, a supermarket chain based in Akola, Maharashtra. With around 28 years of experience in retail, Kriplani has built GBAZAR into a growing regional supermarket business, with the chain’s third store – a 28,000 sq. ft. outlet – opening in Akola in October 2025.
Beyond operating GBAZAR, Kriplani has developed extensive expertise in helping traditional retailers transition to modern supermarket formats. He says he has worked with 2,000+ retailers across India and guided more than 500 supermarket launches, sharing practical insights on store operations, SOPs, merchandising, inventory, pricing and customer behaviour.
His retail philosophy is built around the belief that successful supermarkets are driven not simply by location, but by systems, disciplined execution, data-led decision-making and customer-focused merchandising. This approach has also led him to establish Namaste Business Advisory, through which he works with retailers on improving store performance and scaling their businesses.
Kriplani is also associated with industry and community initiatives, including the Akolawala Food Processing Association and other organisations. His experience at the ground level gives him a distinctive perspective on the evolution of India’s regional grocery sector and the challenges local retailers face amid the rise of modern trade, e-commerce and quick commerce.