Kathmandu, August 18
Nepal’s largest retail chain, Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket, has begun round-the-clock operations at its Radhe Radhe outlet in Bhaktapur from Monday.
The company says the move is aimed at making shopping more convenient for consumers who may not have time during regular business hours.
Speaking to Onlinekhabar at the Radhe Radhe outlet, Bhat-Bhateni Chief Operating Officer (COO) Panu Paudel said the 24-hour service was introduced to provide greater flexibility to customers.
“This concept is new in Nepal, but it is already common internationally,” Paudel said.
According to Paudel, Bhat-Bhateni plans to operate one 24-hour outlet in each of the three districts of Kathmandu Valley.
The service began at the Bhaktapur outlet on Tuesday. The company plans to introduce the same service at its Krishna Galli outlet in Patan, Lalitpur, and its Tangal outlet in Kathmandu.
The Tangal outlet is scheduled to begin 24-hour operations from September 9, Paudel said, adding that the company is preparing to start the service from that day if possible.
He said the experience from the first day would help the company determine how much the 24-hour model should be expanded.
As the outlets will also operate through the night, the company has informed local governments and security authorities about the new arrangement.
“We have informed the concerned authorities as well,” Paudel said. “There are no security concerns from that perspective.”
Government spokesperson welcomes move
During reporting at the Radhe Radhe outlet, Onlinekhabar met government spokesperson and Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokhrel, who also praised the initiative.
“This was necessary for nightlife in Kathmandu Valley. It is also good from an economic perspective,” Pokhrel said.
He said the government would provide support wherever necessary, describing Bhat-Bhateni’s decision as a positive development.
‘We don’t have time during the day’
Consumers also appeared pleased with the new service.
Several customers interviewed at the Radhe Radhe outlet said they often struggled to find time for shopping because of their daytime work schedules.
The 24-hour service, they said, gives them the option of shopping after dinner or later in the evening.
One customer who had travelled from Bouddha to shop at Bhat-Bhateni said the new arrangement had made things easier.
“I couldn’t manage it during the day because of work. Now it’s much easier,” he said.
He added that he would be even more comfortable with the service if security and other arrangements were further improved.
According to Bhat-Bhateni management, only the first floor of the stores operating around the clock will remain open overnight. Only grocery items will be available on that floor.
Paudel said the company plans to introduce 24-hour operations at one of its Pokhara outlets after the three Kathmandu Valley stores begin operating around the clock.
“We believe this will further improve customer convenience,” he said.
27 stores across the country
Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket was started by businessman Min Bahadur Gurung in Tangall, Kathmandu, 42 years ago. The company now operates 27 stores across Nepal.
The retail chain generates annual revenue of around Rs 32 billion and provides direct employment to more than 22,000 people across its stores.
Most Bhat-Bhateni outlets were set on fire, looted and vandalised during the Gen Z protests on September 8 and 9, 2025, causing billions of rupees in losses to the company.
Despite the scale of the damage, Bhat-Bhateni says it did not lay off a single employee. The company reinvested and has already brought almost all of its outlets back into operation.
