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 CESC to sell 20 % stake in Spencer’s (Spencer's has closed 140 loss-making outlets)
August 30
CESC Ltd intends to sell a stake of 20 percent in Spencer's Retail to private equity funds. The company holds a stake of 95 percent in the retail chain. Spencer's has closed down 140 loss- making outlets. The retail chain operates 246 stores and intends to expand its operations in Bangalore, Tiruchi and Chennai.
Source: Business Line
Ebony Gautier to invest Rs. 1 billion (plans to set up 20 large format speciality outlets across India)
August 27
Ebony Gautier plans to invest Rs. 1 billion over the next three years. The funds are likely to be used to expand the company's retail business and to set up 20 large format speciality outlets across India.
Source: Business Standard.
UAE retail group plans India Ops (is setting up a shopping mall at Kochi)
August 27
Emke Group of the UAE is foraying into the Indian market by setting up a shopping mall at Kochi. The mall is expected to be open by Jul 2011. The group operates a major hypermarket chain in West Asia under the LuLu and Al Falah brands.
Source: Business Standard
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Branded jewellery biggies bet on loyalty (as a large percentage of high-value jewellery retail is driven by  repeat sales)
August 25
Branded jewellery manufacturers in India such as the Gitanjali group are planning to focus on launching customer loyalty programmes to retain key customers. A large percentage of high- value jewellery retail is driven by repeat sales. Repeat customers account for 70-75 percent of sales of the Gitanjali group, which has customer loyalty programmes at the store level for its 45 exclusive stores and 350 distribution points. Other jewellery chains including Orra, Tanishq and branded pearly jeweller Chandrani Pearls of Kolkata are also looking at restructuring or expanding their loyalty schemes.
Source: Economic Times
Fabindia to retail Women’s Western Wear with UK Chain East (the company has acquired a stake of 25.1 percent in East)
August 22
Fabindia is planning to retail women's western wear in India in association with the retail chain, East, of the UK. The company has acquired a stake of 25.1 percent in East. Fabindia had announced turnover of Rs. 3 billion for 2008-2009. The company intends to reduce the prices of East products by 40-50 percent in India.
Source: Business Line
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Landmark plans Rs. 2 billion boost for India (by adding another 20-25 stores by mid-2010 to its existing 60 odd stores)
August 22
The $3.2 billion Landmark Group of Dubai has decided to invest Rs. 2 billion for expanding its operations in India. The group is looking at adding another 20-25 stores across the country by mid- 2010 to its existing 60 odd stores. Post expansion, the group is expected to end up having 30 Max stores, 23 lifestyle stores, 11 Home Centres and seven Splash or high-street fashion stores. The group's turnover from India was Rs. 8 billion in 2008-2009, accounting for eight-nine percent of the group's global turnover.
Source: Economic Times
Tesco team to help trent restructure Star Bazar (as Trent intends to expand its network of Star Bazar)
August 21
Tesco of UK will help Trent to restructure its loss-making Star Bazar. Trent intends to expand its network of Star Bazar. It is planning to double its network of four hypermarkets by opening another four or five stores in 2009-2010.
Source: Financial Chronicle
Pantaloons sales take off despite downturn (in Aug  2009)
August 21
Pantaloons, the apparel retail format of Pantaloon Retail Ltd, recorded unprecedented sales in Aug 2009 despite the economic downturn. In spite of August being the lean season, Pantaloons that sells full price apparel brands for men and women, has achieved highest sales last week itself matching last season's peak sales in Diwali
Source: Financial Chronicle
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Madura Garments turns cash positive after 15 month retail slump  (Planet Fashion, the menswear retail chain from Madura Garments to eye family segments)
August 19 and August 21
Madura Garments, India's largest apparel manufacturer, has announced that it has turned cash positive in Jul 2009 after facing losses for 15 months in a row on account of low consumer spends. The company has attributed the turnaround to better productivity, improved gross margins and tighter control over costs. Madura Garments expects 10 percent increase in sales during 2009-2010.
Planet Fashion, which is now positioned as a destination store for men, is looking to include apparel for women and children. The first Planet Fashion Family store is to come up in Lucknow in the next three months with likely launches in Dehra Dun, Bareilly, Ghaziabad and Delhi. There are a total of 85 Planet Fashion outlets across India at present
Source: Economic Times and Business Line
Supplyco opens 5 new outlets (in Thiruvananthapuram, Thalassery, Kottayam and Ernkulam in Kerala)
August 21
The Kerala State Civil Supplies (Supplyco) has announced its plans of opening five new hypermarkets in Kerala. According to the company, the new outlets would provide a new shopping experience to the consumers. Supplyco's new hypermarkets would come up in Thiruvananthapuram, Thalassery, Kottayam and Ernkulam.
Source: Economic Times
Luxor to offer designer wear for women soon (as it  diversifies its business by starting LCC)
August 20
The writing instruments manufacturer Luxor has diversified its business by starting Luxor Luxury Collection (LCC). LCC is likely to offer designer wear for women, accessories and home furnishing products. LCC is a new business division of the company that seeks to extend its retail presence.
Source: Financial Chronicle Top
Videocon launches digihome concept store (the company intends to open 150 stores across India)
August 20
Videocon Industries Ltd has launched its concept store, DigiHome, with a new look and logo. The company intends to open 150 stores across India. Videocon intends to market products of two to three brands in the DigiHome outlets. The company also has retail stores under Digiworld and Videocon Plaza.
Source: Business Line
Artd’inox to scale supply to private labels (the company intends to make steel a lifestyle brand)
August 20
Artd'inox is planning to increase its supply to private labels. The company is the lifestyle brand of Jindal Stainless and intends to make steel a lifestyle brand. Artd'inox has launched steel yarn to produce table mats, runners and coasters. The company supplies its products to retail chains like IKEA and Whirlpool. Artd'inox derives nearly 50 percent of its turnover from exports.
Source: Business Line
Punjab Govt scraps deal with Reliance Retail (the State Government had signed an MoU with Reliance Retail in Aug 2006)
August 25
The Government of Punjab has terminated its agreement with Reliance Retail Ltd to set up agricultural mega projects. The Government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Reliance Retail in Aug 2006. The Government had planned to set up 52 rural hubs and 250 sub-hubs in Punjab to cultivate and retail fresh vegetables. The Government had agreed to allot over 1,000 acres of land to Reliance Retail at a concessional rate.
Source: Business Line
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Coming soon, brand TJ from Tihar Jail (to market products through major retain chains)
August 16
Tihar Jail (TJ) is likely to finalise tie-ups with major retail chains to sell its TJ brand products, which are produced by its inmates. It also plans to set up stalls at Delhi Haat. The products under the TJ brand will include cotton dresses, woollen carpets, furniture, soaps, oils, stationery items, biscuits and namkeens.
Source: Financial Express
Roseby’s to open 125 stores
August 11
Rosebys Interiors India Ltd, the premium home retail division of Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd (GHCL), plans to open about 125 stores in 2009-2010 at an investment of about Rs. 600 million. The expansion will be mostly through foray into newer markets such as Jharkhand, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Source: Business Standard
Witco plans to shed old baggae with new plans (plans to launch  Witco-branded soft luggage by end of 2009)
August 11
Premium luggage, accessories and apparel retail chain Witco (India) Pvt Ltd is looking to shed some old baggage as part of its transformation. The company, which used to manufacture its own luggage brand years ago, has decided to resuscitate the brand and re-launch Witco-branded soft luggage by end of 2009. The luggage would be sourced mainly from China and made to its own specifications. Witco has recently tied up with Italian fashion brand Luxottica to retail five of its sunglasses brands.
Source: Business Line
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Karnataka fisheries plans 50 retail outlets (outlets currently open in Bangalore and Madikeri)
August 8
Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation is looking to establish 50 retail fish outlets across the state in the next three years. Such outlets are currently open in Bangalore and Madikeri and another outlet will be inaugurated at Mangalore on 9th August 2009. The retail outlets will provide dressed and condiments- incorporated fishes along with aquarium fish, fish feed and accessories.
Source: Business Line
Mafatlal to set up 50 showrooms (at an investment of Rs. 60 million)
August 6
Mafatlal Industries Ltd (MIL) plans to open 50 showrooms in 2009 across India at an investment of Rs. 60 million. MIL is in the process setting up 10 showrooms in Maharashtra, five in Gujarat, 20 in Kerala, five in Tamil Nadu, five in Bihar and another five in Kolkata. The company at present has 200 retail showrooms and 6,000 retail outlets.
Source: Business Standard
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Ad Watch
Asian Paints
The TVC opens with Saif Ali Khan welcoming guests at his place where he's throwing a party. As he greets them, one of the guests puts a scratch on the wall, as she tussles with her umbrella. Saif looks tensed. Another guest engrossed in dancing hits a glass of drink and it spills on the wall.
 
His friends gather to open a bottle of Champagne and Saif struggles hard to direct the lid away from his wall. Yet another of his guests in conversation with somebody digs her heels into the wall, while Saif looks deeply tensed. VO: "Relax, your Royal paint now comes with Teflon service protector."
 
The TVC ends with a VO: "Because what's beautiful should stay beautiful."
Source: Afaqs |
