Kolkata: Lack of warehousing and concerns over the attitude of blue-collared workers delayed the arrival of India's largest online grocery store in Kolkata.Speaking to TOI during the launch of BigBasket on Thursday, co-founder Hari Menon said they were unable to locate a decent warehouse in Kolkata and had to move across the river to Sankrail in Howrah for a 70,000 sq ft facility to stock the 15,000 products it sells online. Apart from perishables like vegetables, fish and meat that will be stocked in 5,000 sq ft facilities in Kolkata, all else will be stocked in the Howrah warehouse."We wanted to come to Kolkata around Durga Puja last year but were unable to find a warehouse whose location is absolutely critical to our business. We finally decided to commence operations from a temporary 35,000 sq ft facility in Taratala and will move to Sankrail by May-June. We went through a lot of pain to get Sankrail but it's not the ideal location. Elsewhere, our warehouses are located in the city proper," said Memon. BigBasket is present in all other Metros and eight tier-II cities.Memon is also keeping his fingers crossed on staff, hoping he won't encounter the problems that many businesses have faced in the past. Around 70% of its employees comprise drivers, delivery men, pickers and stackers. He hopes to find the right recruits who will be put through a 10-day soft-skill training. "There is a worry over the overall work culture and attitude. Since delivery men are the face of the company, they need to be punctual and polite with customers. It is vital that they 'make a great impression on customers'. They also need to be discreet as it is the only delivery in which a person steps into a house. It is a big responsibility for us. We will keep a close watch on the people," the official said.BigBasket's launch in Ernakulum, Kerala, was delayed as all drivers went on strike following the launch of app cabs. With workers in Bengal sharing Kerala's work culture, Memon's conerns aren't unfounded but he couldn't do without Kolkata given that 74% of the population uses cellphone, 18% use desktop and 33% mobile web. The company has received 11,000 registrations from Kolkata even before launch, the highest in the country.BigBasket will deliver groceries from Sonarpur in south to Dum Dum in north and Liluah in the west. "We should penetrate south Kolkata, particularly Ballygunge-Jodhpur Park-Anwar Shah zones, as well as Lake Town-Salt Lake-Rajarhat quickly. But once orders start coming from central Avenue and Howrah, we will know we have arrived," said business head east Ashish Tibrewal. The online supermarket guarantees ontime delivery, failing which it will refund 10% of the bill.