Mumbai

THE head of Future Group, one of India's largest and most established retailers, admits that he cannot keep up with websites such as Snapdeal and Flipkart when it comes to spending money to entice shoppers to buy online.

Private investors have poured US$2.3 billion into India's e-commerce companies so far this year, according to consulting firm Technopak, giving them financial firepower to overwhelm shoppers with bargains and deals that brick-and-mortar retailers such as Future Group, which runs a host of chains including Future Retail Ltd and Future Lifestyle Fashions, cannot match.