Footfalls aren't falling ; Soaring inflation hasn't quite transformed mall rats into house mice not yet.

Last fortnight, Noel Tata, Managing Director, Trent Ltd, flaggedoff its 4th hypermarket format, a Star Bazaar flagship store, insuburban Mumbai. This is the second such store in Mumbai.

Spread over 75,000 sq. ft, the store will stock everything fromessentials to niche items like exotic cuisines at an internationalfood section, a live bakery and a deli section. The Tata company'sStar Bazaar is, doubtless, yet another gleaming temple of modern-day India. Yet, at a time when inflation is raging and consumersentiment isn't at its zenith, the timing of the launch could bequestioned. Tata, for his part, doesn't see any cause for shilly-shallying. It is not risky to open a store …