After telecom, IT, insurance and banking sectors, now it’s the turn of fast-expanding retail firms to poach the best talent from the FMCG space. Firms feeling the heat include Britannia, McDonald’s, Pepsi, ITC Foods, Cargill, Nestle and Godrej Agrovet.

‘‘Some churning has already happened. More will follow, as these firms are desperately trying to retain people by increasing salaries and giving out-of-turn bonuses,’’ industry sources said.

Interestingly, the desi retail chains are poaching manpower from multinationals. Kevin Parker of Pepsi’s Agri Division is now the COO of Bharti Agritech. Sanjeev Asthana, business head (grain & oilseed) of Cargill has joined Reliance’s agri venture as the grain head. D. Saravanan of McDonald’s has moved to the Reliance supply chain.

Trade circles are abuzz with news that the CFO of a leading biscuit company would join Pantaloon’s financial arm Future Capital Holdings. Among others, Rajeev Karwal, CEO, Kelvinator has moved to Reliance. Damodar Mall, head, Food Bazar, a Pantaloon wing, came from Godrej.

Hewitt Salary Increase Survey has reiterated the growing attrition rate in FMCG sector. In 2004, it was 9.8 per cent, in 2005, it went up to 10.8 per cent. This year, according to industry sources, the attrition rate in the FMCG sector is 16-18 per cent.

The early entrants like Pantaloon, Shoppers’ Stop and RPG Spencer’s have already recruited the available talent in the retail segment. With Reliance’s mega retail foray, Bharti’s Rs 6,000-crore food retail venture, the demand for trained and experienced people in the organised retail sector is increasing.

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