India Retail News Thread [Archive] - Page 2

cncity

May 18th, 2007, 07:15 PM

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian metals-to-insurance conglomerate Aditya Birla unveiled a $2-billion investment plan for a nationwide retail chain on Friday to compete with Reliance Industries and Wal-Mart ally Bharti.

India's highly-fragmented $300-billion retail industry, which is dominated by small family-run stores, is forecast to more than double in size by 2015.

Organised retail accounts for just 3 percent of the market but large players like Bharti Enterprises, which is teaming up with Wal-Mart Stores Inc for back-end and cash-and-carry operations, and Reliance are moving in to set up retail chains.

The Aditya Birla group bought regional supermarket chain Trinetra earlier this year and group chairman, Kumar Mangalam Birla, told a news conference the company wanted a pan-Indian presence and would go it alone rather than with a partner.

"Retail is mostly a local business and we believe that to grow the business we have the skill sets in house," Birla, a dollar billionaire, said.

Bharti, which plans to spend $2.5 billion by 2015 on setting up hypermarkets, supermarkets and other stores, is firming up its venture with Wal-Mart.

Firms like British giant Tesco Plc and France's Carrefour, the world's second-largest retailer, have been scouting for partners in India but Carrefour is reported to have postponed its plans until foreign investment regulations are clearer.

Foreign multiple-brand retailers are limited to cash-and-carry and franchise or licence operations in India.

Reliance Retail, part of refining and petrochemical company Reliance Industries, is investing $5.6 billion in some 700 stores, while ITC Ltd. and Pantaloon Retail Ltd. - India's largest listed retailer - are all ramping up.

Birla said the group planned to invest 80-90 billion rupees in retailing over the next few years. He first said three years and later clarified the horizon as four to five.

Aditya Birla Retail Ltd., an unlisted firm of the group, planned to launch its first store in Pune this month, he said. The retail chain will be named "more".

Indian incomes have been on the rise as economic growth has averaged more than 8 percent over the past four years, and a boom in back-office processing and software exports has put more money in the pockets of younger English-speaking Indians.

"What we believe we are doing here ... is to bring some benefits of that modern retail to the consumer of India whose income is rising and whose aspirations of a better lifestyle are also on the upside," Birla said.

Sumant Sinha, chief executive of Aditya Birla Retail, said it would hire 5,000-10,000 people in the first year of operation.
Media reports have said the group is eyeing a stake in Mumbai-based Piramyd Retail Ltd., but Birla denied it.

"We are open to acquisitions in principle if the acquisition will add value to the retail proposition," he said. "So nothing specific on the table at the moment."

http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=businessNews&storyID=2007-05-18T213331Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-298873-2.xml

cncity

May 25th, 2007, 12:07 AM

New Delhi: Future Group, the parent company of India’s largest listed retailer Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd, and a local real-estate firm will invest around Rs850 crore to build an entertainment-cum-commercial enclave in Pune to tap the growth in the country’s booming commercial space and retail sectors.

The 2.8 million sq. ft project called Market City will have malls, a 300 to 350-room business hotel, entertainment space and offices and is expected to be completed in phases by mid 2010.
Future’s real-estate private equity fund, Kshitij Investment Advisory Co., and Pune-based developer City Group will invest Rs180 crore each with the remaining Rs490 crore being funded through long-term debt from banks and financial institutions, said Shishir Baijal, chief executive of Kshitij Investment.
The project will be designed by Walker Architects of New Zealand and will be funded through a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.5:1, he added.

Baijal said the company has so far committed around $230 million (Rs943 crore) to various real-estate projects in India out of its corpus (spanning two private equity funds) of $430 million.
This will be the seventh Market City project from Kshitij after six others in Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad with each project costing between Rs500 crore and Rs1,200 crore including the cost of the land. The Chennai project will cost only Rs500 crore as it is smaller compared to the Pune Market City and land prices were cheaper in the southern city when the company purchased it.
In India, the organized retail business is taking off at a time when real-estate prices are at historical highs. The fight for space is forcing retailers to build their own banks of commercial space.
The 30-acre Market City is coming up within the 350-acre residential project City Group is building in the Pune suburb of Hadapsar.
Separately, Kshitij is still in talks with Wall Street titan, Lehman Brothers, for a fund to develop a chain of budget hotels in India, Baijal said.

http://www.livemint.com/2007/05/25013042/Future-Group-realestate-firm.html

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/6017/48416187wy2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

ferrari_fan

May 27th, 2007, 11:12 AM

cool!!

cncity

May 30th, 2007, 10:16 PM

New Delhi: After Choupal Sagar and Choupal Fresh, we may soon see Choupal Carts.

ITC is all set to change the rules of the door to door sales game. Your traditional vegetable vendor may soon sport a brand new branded push cart and will follow uniform standards set by ITC on customer service and pricing.

ITC's will also offer these vendors their brand and management support.

Says CEO, ITC's Agri-business division, S Sivakumar, "The carts and the support system are all set to roll out in mid-August."

ITC intends to start this initiative with a pilot of hundred carts between Hyderabad and Pune.

The company has aggressive plans for their retail chain, Choupal Fresh as well.

After Hyderabad, Pune and Chandigarh, ITC is ready to roll out 50 more stores this year. However, Delhi will have to wait till 2008 to get its first Choupal Fresh.

ITC plans to open 140 choupal fresh stores in the next three years and Kolkata is next on the radar.

Choupal Fresh is currently based on a two-way model, taking care of back end as well as front end retail, however it may look at a stand alone retail format by 2015.

On the back end, ITC along with its logistics partners will invest about Rs 800 crore in cold chain and logistcal supply, which remains the key challenge.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/itc-to-introduce-branded-vegemobiles/41742-7.html

superdesi2100

May 31st, 2007, 04:43 PM

CPM proposes licence raj in retail trade

New Delhi, May 30 Big corporate houses foraying into the retail sector could find their entry curtailed if the Left has its way. After prescribing parameters for SEZs, the CPI (M), which extends critical outside support to the UPA, has proposed stringent criteria for allowing even big domestic players in retail trade.

The objective, it says, is to prevent monopolisation and protect the local “general stores”. The proposal unveiled by party general secretary Prakash Karat on Wednesday has proposed that a system of licencing should be introduced for organised retail.

Targeting the big players, it says any retail outlet with a floor area exceeding a certain specification should require prior licence from local authories.

“Licences should be given on the basis of a population criterion, i.e. not more than X number of large format retail stores per Y population,” it says, adding that the parameters may vary between states and cities depending on the nature of the retail sector and the needs of consumers.

“Some people were complaining that by opposing FDI in retail we were supporting big industries like Reliance.

We want to make it clear that we stand for the millions of petty retailers who are at the receiving end due to the entry of Indian corporates in retail trade,” Karat told reporters here on Wednesday after releasing the note.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=165732

india

June 19th, 2007, 03:13 PM

Pepe Jeans unveils world’s largest exclusive store in Hyderabad
June 19, 2007

It seems as if the world’s fashion capital has shifted to Hyderabad! :lol: Pepe Jeans London formally unveiled its ‘World’s Largest’ exclusive store in Hyderabad. With a sprawling space of 8500 sq. ft and located in the upmarket and fashionable Banjara Hills, this flagship store will be the ultimate one-stop destination for the latest fashion trends in jeans and casual wear for the young and fashion conscious.

This is Pepe’s 100th stand-alone store in India. On entering the store one gets transferred to the city of London with Victorian style structure and its high ceilings. The store is fitted with ultra modern lighting & fixtures with vintage wardrobes and chandeliers. Separate wall units and display systems dedicated for various collections add to the grandeur of the store. The smart and unique use of wall paper around the store adds to the home away from home experience.

This first of its kind store has been set up to provide its customers a great ambience and a unique shopping experience. Given the vast retail area and plethora of exciting merchandise, the consumer will be sure to be spoilt. The store displays more than 500 styles of jeans and casual wear covering shirts, t-shirts, shorts, skirts, knits and accessories for both men and women.

The highlight of the store includes two expansive floors replete with merchandise from various product categories right from a uniquely designed Denim Wall to separate floors for men’s and women’s wear. The floor exclusively dedicated to the women’s section is worth mentioning, recognizing the Pepe Jeans brand as “the biggest women’s jeans and casual wear brand in the country.” All these contribute to an aura of exciting and enjoyable shopping experience leaving the consumer to touch, see and feel in a warm, spacious environment.

Expressing his delight at the opening of the world’s largest exclusive store, Mr. Chetan Shah – Country Head, Pepe Jeans said, “Pepe is setting a new benchmark of the ultimate international retail shopping experience. This is not only in terms of the store size and unmatched service standards but also showcasing the most comprehensive and trendiest collection of jeans and casual wear in India.”

Pepe Jeans London was established in the chic Portobello Road area of London in 1973. From its origins as a tiny market stall to more than a half a US $ billion denim and casual wear brand, Pepe has transformed itself to one of the fastest growing jeanswear labels in Europe. The brand today has presence in more than 70 countries across the world.

Pepe Jeans was launched in India in 1989. The brand is currently the leading player in the premium jeans and casual wear segment, enjoying a market share of more than 25%. Pepe Jeans merchandise is available through 100 stand-alone stores across the country, 98 plus large format store locations and 1500 multi-brand premium outlets.

Pepe Jeans emerged as an award winner for the “Best Women’s Wear Jeans Brand” at the First inside Fashion Brands Awards. Pepe Jeans won the “Lycra Most Innovative Brand of the Year” award at Images Fashion Awards 2005 and most recently “The Brand of the Year – Men’s Casual Wear (Large)” award at the CMAI Apex Awards 04-05.

Source: Fibre2Fashion (http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/company-news/pepe-jeans/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=36665&page=1)

robin_a_p

June 19th, 2007, 09:23 PM

Credit: Nadarji

Elbit Medical Imaging announced Tuesday that its subsidiary Plaza Centers, together with an Indian entrepreneur, has purchased 43,600 square meters (469,300 square feet) of land in Trivandrum, the capital city of the southern Indian state of Kerala, for $26.5 million.

Plaza Centers and its Indian partner intend to build a project with a built-up area of approximately 195,000 (over 2 million square feet). The complex will include an entertainment and commercial center (97,000 square meters/1,044,000 square feet), an office complex (90,500 square meters/974,100 square feet) and an apartment hotel (37,500 square meters/403,600 square feet).

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3415028,00.html

Herez the forbes magazine link about the same news

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2007/06/19/afx3834381.html

IndiansUnite

June 21st, 2007, 03:07 PM

Starbucks to open 1st store by October

nOx7Suwv6VY

Bombay Boy

June 21st, 2007, 03:23 PM

back to the future boys and girls, we are the congress after all. from ET

LICENCE RAJ

Shops Of Over 10,000 Sq Ft Selling Food & Grocery May Need Retail Licences From Local Authority

Mayur Shekhar Jha & Rajat Guha NEW DELHI

THE government is planning a licensing regime to regulate grocery, fruits and vegetable retail in the country. As per the model being considered by policy makers, any shop dealing in retail of food and grocery items such as atta, edible oil, fruits and vegetable and spanning over 10,000 sq ft will mandatorily have to seek licence from the local urban body administering that area. The objective is to check unfettered growth of grocery retail and protect small kiranastores by restricting the mushrooming of organised retail outlets in a particular catchment area.
When implemented, the licensing policy will have a direct impact on all such hypermarkets where selling of food and grocery items is proposed. Both Reliance and Bharti plan to operate huge hypermarkets, ranging from 50,000 sq ft to even 1.5 lakh sq ft in certain cases.
The retailers would only be allowed to operate in a specified catchment area, minimising the scope of competition between them and local kirana shops. For instance, in the case of Delhi, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) which is the administering authority in most areas, will be empowered to give these licences. Large mega outlets and hypermarkets would be asked to operate from outside the city. The policy is being worked out by the commerce, urban development and labour ministry. Sources say the move has come on the back of Left parties’ demand to the government on regularisation of retail.
“The ministry of urban development is already finalising zonal plans. The zonal plans for Delhi would be ready by January next year. Subsequently, the same model would be followed in other states. The move is aimed to protect the interest of local kirana stores from the competition thrown up by unfair competition from large corporate retailers,” a senior government official said.

Licensing move could hit Bharti, Reliance future plans

ZONAL plans divide a city or town into different zones, specifying areas for mixed land use. These plans are then incorporated in the city master plan. However, when implemented, the mandatory licensing will not impact the basic food and grocery format of retailers like Reliance and Future group and the proposed Bharti Retail. The legislation may impede their future expansion plans. Reliance Fresh stores, the company’s food and grocery business is spread over 4,000-6,000 sq ft. Similarly, Future Group’s Food Bazaar’s average size is 5,000 sq ft. Bharti’s proposed food and grocery format will come over 2,000-5,000 sq ft.
The traders’ association, however, feels this licensing move is not sufficient to protect the interest of small traders. “The bigger competition is on the issue of pricing. The big retailers inevitably are in a position to sustain larger gestation period and can sell at a much cheaper price unless the issue of pricing is resolved, we do not see any significant protection being extended o traders,” India FDI Watch convenor Dharmendra Kumar said.
Organised retailing has witnessed considerable growth in India in the last few years and is currently growing at a very fast pace. A recent KPMG survey report states that organised retail, estimated as a $6.4 billion industry in 2006, is projected to reach $23 billion by 2010. The share of organised retail in overall retail sales is projected to jump from around 3% currently to around 9-10% in the next three years.
Currently, retail of alcoholic beverage is the only regulated area in the sector, and usual kirana stores only need a routine permission.

Suncity

June 21st, 2007, 03:29 PM

back to the future boys and girls, we are the congress after all. from ET

The question is will the NDA oppose these stupid steps or will they swim with the tide as well?

sgups

June 21st, 2007, 05:38 PM

Shops Of Over 10,000 Sq Ft Selling Food & Grocery May Need Retail Licences From Local Authority

Mayur Shekhar Jha & Rajat Guha NEW DELHI

THE government is planning a licensing regime to regulate grocery, fruits and vegetable retail in the country. As per the model being considered by policy makers, any shop dealing in retail of food and grocery items such as atta, edible oil, fruits and vegetable and spanning over 10,000 sq ft will mandatorily have to seek licence from the local urban body administering that area. The objective is to check unfettered growth of grocery retail and protect small kiranastores by restricting the mushrooming of organised retail outlets in a particular catchment area.

Not much different than the regulations here (in Canada or US). But not targetted at any sector. Any big box store needs permission from local planning committee to set up shop. And several regions do reject such applications to protect smaller businesses. Lots of places dont want Wal-Marts coming up in their communities.

IndiaRocks

June 24th, 2007, 01:22 AM

Vadodara gets Furniture Bazaar

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Vadodara_gets_Furniture_Bazaar/articleshow/2144484.cms

VADODARA: After Vadodara Central that recently started its operations in Vadodara, Future Group rolls out their ‘value for money’ furniture retailing store — Furniture Bazaar.

It also plans to have another six such outlets in the coming year for Gujarat and over 60 outlets in India. The store was launched in M Cube Mall at Jetalpur Road on Saturday.

Spread over 7,000 square feet of area, the specially designed store will offer a variety of furniture at affordable price range. While the outlet has 40 per cent Indian furniture on display, the rest has been sourced from Sri Lanka, Malaysia and European countries.

With the one launched in Vadodara, the group now has 54 furniture stores across India. Vadodara’s outlet is the seventh standalone store and the rest are formats within Big Bazaar.

If you think the glitzy retail outlet is targeting the society’s upper and trendy class, senior category manager of Furniture Bazaar Venugopal B says, “The target customers for the outlet are middle and lower middle class.”

“All Big Bazaar, have one ‘Furniture Bazaar’ within,” added Venugopal. Vadodara’s Big Bazaar is already under construction near Sarabhai Circle and hence there is all possibility of another Furniture Bazaar coming up.

“It is not sure whether the furniture outlet will be set up at Big Bazaar. Work of lay out and designing is still on and if there is adequate space the outlet could be set up in it,” added Venugopal. A new format of life style store — Collection i — is also in the pipeline, which will be set up in Surat soon.

cncity

June 24th, 2007, 04:25 PM

Mumbai, June 24: Arvind Murjani brands, which sells Tommy Hilfiger products in the country, plans to open 11 more exclusive outlets within the next six months to meet the rising demand for branded garments.

"We have nine exclusive outlets in seven cities now. We plan to open 11 more this year, making our presence in nine cities by the end of December," Shailesh Chaturvedi, CEO, Tommy Hilfiger apparel India said.

Although he declined to give the total investment the company plans to make in India, Chaturvedi said it usually takes Rs 1-2 crore to put up an exclusive store.
He said the company would open an exclusive store in Ahmedabad this month, while an outlet in Pune would be launched within two months.

Chaturvedi said the company had no plan to go to tier-ii and tier-iii cities since it would not make much business sense at the moment. "We will concentrate on top ten cities Like, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai."

"We have two stores now in Mumbai. We plan to have six stores by the end of the year," he said.

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=378882&ssid=53&sid=BUS

Suncity

June 24th, 2007, 10:53 PM

Reliance: changing tack

India's largest conglomerate, has unashamedly touted its ambition to become India's leading retailer. The group intends to invest over $5 billion in a multi-format expansion plan to create a nationwide chain of stores - ranging from c-stores to hypermarkets - occupying 100 million square feet by 2010. This is a highly ambitious goal - but with retail sales in India forecast to grow by 72% to reach $517.6 billion by 2010 - the lure of the opportunities mean Reliance's considerable investment is sure to pay off handsomely. Since opening its first cluster of stores in Hyderabad, Reliance now has more than 170 stores across 18 states.

But all is not going to plan. Reliance has recently come across an increasing number of hurdles hampering its progress. Examples include delays in being granted a license in West Bengal, opposition in Kerala to setting up contract farming co-operatives and protest marches organized by traders loyal to anti-big business in Tamilnadu. Protests reached new levels recently when vegetable traders vandalized three stores in Jharkhand state. Reliance is hoping to open in Mumbai in a matter of weeks and the traders are bracing themselves for a battle with the chain.

Sensing the scale of opposition, Reliance has announced a new format - Reliance Super. These stores, which range from 4,000-10,000 square feet, will offer grocery, health & beauty, clothing and stationery, but no fruit or vegetables, in a bid to appease the protestors.

Compleete article here

http://www.food-business-review.com/article_feature.asp?guid=569AA5C0-C13E-4EA5-99C7-5183B915FEB4

VaastuShastra

June 25th, 2007, 01:29 AM

Tron

June 26th, 2007, 01:56 AM

One of the problems I have when reading these articles is that I dont know how it happened in other countries - i.e. reading about opposition to retail makes me wonder how other markets overcame this.
FYI, the US Retail supermarket chains are protesting the entry of the UK company Tesco to open supermarkets in the US. Guess who is leading the protest - Walmart, the world's biggest.

Paddington

June 27th, 2007, 05:57 PM

FYI, the US Retail supermarket chains are protesting the entry of the UK company Tesco to open supermarkets in the US. Guess who is leading the protest - Walmart, the world's biggest.

Bullshit. They've done nothing of the sort. The market here is free for whoever wants to open up or buy retail chains. Until recently, one of the top grocery store chains was owned by the Germans.

In America, I see Walmarts and K-Marts across the street from eachother. At a nearby intersection, an Aldi is across the street from a Giant Eagle, and Meijer is right down the road.

In India, they're now passing license raj regulations to limit only one large retailer from a catchement area. They're just going to entrench anti-competetive policies. :bash:

scorpiogenius

June 27th, 2007, 10:07 PM

Bullshit. They've done nothing of the sort. The market here is free for whoever wants to open up or buy retail chains. Until recently, one of the top grocery store chains was owned by the Germans.

In America, I see Walmarts and K-Marts across the street from eachother. At a nearby intersection, an Aldi is across the street from a Giant Eagle, and Meijer is right down the road.

In India, they're now passing license raj regulations to limit only one large retailer from a catchement area. They're just going to entrench anti-competetive policies. :bash:

ok Paddington..

The US market may be free for whoever wants to open, but why wasnt walmart able to open a store in New York for the past 45 yrs? Its not only because of the stiff resistance from the traders and communities of NY, but even the local city council were against it. Stores like Walmart, Tesco and all will have a HUGE negative effect on community living and has even liquidised many aspects of social life..

just go through this link.
http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/bizfinance/12399/

As social interaction gets less, small local shops which are lifelines of any community disappears and neighbourhoods shrink itself to one or two marts, it is seriously disintegrating many virtues of a community. Cant predict how Supergiant Stores will affect Indian society, but it will not be a pleasant one in the long run, for sure.

Paddington

June 27th, 2007, 10:42 PM

ok Paddington..

The US market may be free for whoever wants to open, but why wasnt walmart able to open a store in New York for the past 45 yrs? Its not only because of the stiff resistance from the traders and communities of NY, but even the local city council were against it. Stores like Walmart, Tesco and all will have a HUGE negative effect on community living and has even liquidised many aspects of social life..

It's the difference between local rule and national rule. In New York, the Walmart concept (which started out in the rural areas) of big box stores doesn't work well, and the local liberals keep it out. But that still leaves plenty of other places for Walmart to do business. That and the federal government is not passing legislation against Walmart.

If they want to ban retail in West Bengal and Kerala, I wouldn't care. But gadha Kangress is bringing back the license raj nationally. :bash:

just go through this link.
http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/bizfinance/12399/

As social interaction gets less, small local shops which are lifelines of any community disappears and neighbourhoods shrink itself to one or two marts, it is seriously disintegrating many virtues of a community. Cant predict how Supergiant Stores will affect Indian society, but it will not be a pleasant one in the long run, for sure.

You've got a really pathetic society if it revolves entirely around retail. It's probably not even worth saving. But if you do want to keep it that way, such ordinances should be entirely local, and should not apply to the rest of the country where folks don't necessarily agree with you.

purapagal

June 28th, 2007, 07:10 PM

It's the difference between local rule and national rule. In New York, the Walmart concept (which started out in the rural areas) of big box stores doesn't work well, and the local liberals keep it out. But that still leaves plenty of other places for Walmart to do business. That and the federal government is not passing legislation against Walmart.

If they want to ban retail in West Bengal and Kerala, I wouldn't care. But gadha Kangress is bringing back the license raj nationally. :bash:

You've got a really pathetic society if it revolves entirely around retail. It's probably not even worth saving. But if you do want to keep it that way, such ordinances should be entirely local, and should not apply to the rest of the country where folks don't necessarily agree with you.

What they have in US is that local bodies and even local citizen groups have a say in what business they want in their community.
The Indian gov may also be doing the same. Any retails business wanting to setup shop has to get a go ahead from the local community, someone sitting in Delhi should not decide what business should go where.

superdesi2100

June 28th, 2007, 08:47 PM

Bharti, Wal-Mart set to sign deal next month

BHARTI and Wal-Mart seem to be inching closer to finally sealing their partnership. “The formal agreement is likely to be signed as early as next month,” Bharti Enterprises chairman and managing director Sunil Mittal said in London. “There has been a delay, as there are multiple agreements and legal issues we have to deal with, but I don’t see it taking longer than that,” he said. “This also has had no impact on the work in progress. We are hiring people, locations are being identified and work is on through Bharti. We are also working on finalising the formal agreements at the same time,” Mr Mittal said.
Sunil Mittal, who as president of CII is currently leading a CEO delegation to the UK for talks with the industry and the government, is being labelled by the local media here as the ‘other’ Mittal — the man who’s brought Wal-Mart into India. Wal-Mart and Bharti are expected to enter into a joint venture for the cash and carry segment, which will involve selling to wholesale consumers, mostly small shop owners. For selling to retail consumers, Wal-Mart is expected to enter into a technology transfer agreement with the Bharti Group. The two are also expected to collaborate in terms of sharing processes and best practices as well.
Close on the heels of Tesco’s recent statement about a “frenzy” being whipped up in India against foreign retailers, and reports of the Indian government re-examining franchisee arrangements, Mr Mittal and his team were often in the firing line about the whole FDI in retail question. Talking to UK newspersons, Mr Mittal came out strongly in favour of allowing FDI in large organised retail. “In this case, I would tend to bat on your side,” he said.

Source: Economic Times 06/28/07

superdesi2100

June 28th, 2007, 08:49 PM

Govt may not go back on FDI norms: Mittal

“THE issue is not about foreign and Indian, the debate is about big versus small. If large Indian retailers like us, and Reliance, and the Birlas are allowed, then we would say that more competition is better, and large foreign retailers should also be allowed,” he added. The team had to repeatedly clarify that Indian regulations bar FDI only in multi-brand retail.

“This debate (of organised retail versus mom-and-pop shops) is going on even in developed countries, and India will have to go through this debate, but we will not take as long as many other countries,” he said. In the UK, Tesco’s rising `size’ and `domination’ of the market squeezing out competitors, and gaining an `unhealthy’ influence is a theme for public discussion; Wal-Mart in the US has also had to deal with the same accusations.

Mr Mittal clarified that a lot of the public opinion is against large organised retail, and Indian organised players are having to face the same debate – and it’s not necessarily directed against any foreign entrant. Mr Mittal dismissed fears that the Indian government would backtrack on the franchisee regulations. Pheroze Vandrevala of TCS, who is co-chair of the Indo-British Partnership initiative , pointed out India does not have a track record of rolling back policy changes.

Source: Economic Times 06/28/07

superdesi2100

July 2nd, 2007, 01:31 AM

Left Front govt in Kerala works on new law: Blanket ban on retail:bash:

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala is all set to bring in a law to ban corporate retailers, both Indian and MNCs, in the state.

CPI leader and Food minister C Divakaran, the prime mover behind the new legislation, told The Indian Express that the Law department is doing the final vetting of the Bill, The Kerala State Essential Commodities Act —2007. The LDF is expected to clear it on Tuesday.

This would be the first attempt of its kind in the country. Divakaran said the Left in Kerala doesn’t intend to draw the line for big retailers at peddling food grains, as Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee did for Bengal a few days ago. It will be a blanket ban and, according to the minister, the new legislation

will more than make up for “the lack of teeth” in the Central Essential Commodities Act.

“We don’t want to tell MNCs from Indian corporates, both are bad for the state. We don’t want to go for a conditional or limited ban because we really don’t want them here at all,” Divakaran said.

While LDF sources claim the legislation is not aimed at any big corporate in particular, Divakaran is clear that the immediate provocation is Reliance Retail. In Kochi, Reliance has already opened six of its proposed 70 supermarkets and hypermarkets in the state.

“We don’t want to invite complications by revoking licences that are already issued. But all local bodies will now be directed not to licence any more outlets. We will stop Reliance in its tracks,” Divakaran said.

Government sources pointed out that Reliance aims to have most of its outlets concentrated in the cities, not rural areas, and the Left rules all the five city corporations in the state. “So we don’t expect a problem getting them to deny licences to the retail group,” the sources said.

Not that there is any guarantee. The licence for Reliance’s six functional outlets in the state was issued by the Kochi city corporation, which is in firm CPM control. Reliance had even got a senior member of the CPM state committee and the CPM deputy mayor of the city to inaugurate two of these outlets in Kochi.

After this led to a din, the same duo inaugurated the CPM-led Kochi rally against big corporate retailers as well, a couple of days later. The embarrassed party had to finally step in and make both offer a public apology. “That is the CPM’s problem. We have no ambiguities about the issue in the CPI, or in the LDF,” Divakaran said.

The legislation has the backing of the state’s powerful traders lobby, the Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithy. And while the CPI is putting everything behind this idea, no one expects the ban Bill to fall foul of big brother CPM either. Two days ago, CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan had announced that the Left government’s policy was not to have monopoly retailers in the state, not long after his party rival and CM, VS Achuthanandan slammed corporate retailers. Even the Opposition may find it hard to oppose the Bill, after Opposition leader Oommen Chandy’s public posturing against retail groups.

Divakaran claims the government is putting things in place to make up for the absence of big retail corporates in the state. “We are going to have some 35,000 PDS shops use that space. We are going to add 17,000 more large outlets to the 3,000 that the State Civil Supplies Corporation now runs. Corporates can’t hope to tap the state’s huge rural market, the government can”.

The government has also decided to take on the corporate’s brand pull by setting up the state’s largest hypermarkets on its own, at Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Kochi, Divakaran said. That is besides some 14 huge ‘People’s Bazars’ to come up in each district, selling provisions, vegetables and everything else for day-to-day living, “with appropriate price support” from the government, he said.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/203538.html

Mahratta

July 2nd, 2007, 02:45 AM

Left Front govt in Kerala works on new law: Blanket ban on retail:bash:

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/203538.html

Hell, the commies will do anything to slow us down...why?

Cant they be pseudo-Communists like the CCP or West Bengal govt? It will work way better than this stupid plan

Paddington

July 3rd, 2007, 12:03 AM

I have no problem with state governments banning retail, or for that matter passing any host of other economic laws. In fact, I think that's better than these anti-competetive laws being hoisted on the entire country at the national level, by communists who have disproportionately large influence on the government.

cncity

July 4th, 2007, 03:12 PM

MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) - Euronext-listed Yatra Capital Ltd said it will pay 17.24 mln eur to acquire a 24 pct stake in an Indian joint venture to develop a mall in the western Indian city of Pune, near Mumbai.

Yatra Capital, a Jersey-based company which has been set up to invest in Indian real estate, said its joint venture partner will be Ashok Ruia Enterprises Private Ltd, a part of Phoenix Mills Ltd, a listed retail and leisure infrastructure developer in India.

The company said it bought 126,756 shares for 29.27 eur each in Phoenix on June 25 and now holds a 0.88 pct stake in the company, enabling it to participate in the Indian retail sector.

'With this investment, Yatra will have committed 72.57 mln eur of the initial 100 mln eur raised in December 2006,' said Nigel Broomfield, chairman, Yatra Capital.

Yatra said the mall, called 'Market City', would be spread over 1.5 mln sq ft and has been designed by the architect of Bluewater, Europe's largest shopping centre.

http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2007/07/04/afx3883703.html

cncity

July 5th, 2007, 03:32 PM

Oakwood Asia Pacific, a division of the Los Angeles headquartered Oakwood Worldwide which has the largest chain of service apartments globally, today in Pune launched its first service apartment in India. The company also announced plans to expand its portfolio to include atleast eight more properties across the country over the next two years.

Its first property in Pune, Oakwood Residence Naylor Road, is targetted at international business travellers. Later this year - Oakwood Premiere Mumbai and Oakwood Premiere Prestige Bangalore will be launched. Followed by the launch Oakwood Residence Hyderabad in 2008. In 2009 the company will add four more properties, whereby both Pune and Bangalore will their second Oakwood service apartment and the company will also expand to Chennai and New Delhi.

"We are also looking at Kolkata and Goa for further expansion," Veronique Sirault, general manager, Oakwood Residence, said.

Currently, Oakwood Asia Pacific has 12 properties in Asia Pacific spread across China, Thailand, Korea and Japan. "We plan to open 19 more in the region in the next 2 years," Sirault said. With over 20,000 apartments globally, Sirault is optimistic about a minimum 55 per cent occupancy after 9 months of operations in Pune. "We are already experiencing a lot of cross sales, especially within the Asia Pacific region," she said.

Oakwood operates properties under four brands - Oakwood Premier, which provides five-star service, Oakwood Residence - four-star properties with full service, Oakwood Apartments - four-star properties with limited service and Oakwood Corporate - no service properties. It also recently launched Oakwood Resorts and Oakwood Premier Resorts which are furnished residences and villas in resort destinations. "In India the company is bringing in its top two brands and would also consider the Resorts brand for popular tourist places like Goa," Sirault said.

In Pune, Oakwood has partnered with Panchshil Realty for both its projects and will take the partnership route for expansion throughout India. It has 84 apartments of 1 and 2 bedroom hall kitchen (BHK), priced at Rs 10,000 and Rs 14,000 for single night occupancy of single and double BHK respectively. There are different rates for corporates and long stay bookings.

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=25133

Anniyan

July 6th, 2007, 11:53 PM

Retail invasion

Cover story - Frontline magazine

http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20070713005300400.htm

vibs89

July 12th, 2007, 10:25 AM

New Delhi: Japan's Sony Corporation is targeting two billion dollar revenue from India operations in next two years, half of which would come from its consumer electronics business.

"Sony group is aiming to be a two billion dollar company by 2009 and the consumer electronics business will contribute one billion dollar to the total target," Sony India Managing Director Masaru Tamagawa said without divulging the present revenue details of the group.

The Japanese firm operates in India through four companies -- Sony BMG, Sony Entertainment, Sony-Ericsson and Sony India. The consumer electronics business, Sony India, today reported a 26 per cent rise in sales at Rs 596 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, as against Rs 472 crore in the same period last fiscal.

Tamagawa said growth in the consumer electronics segment would be mainly driven by the company's LCD television Bravia, digital camera Cyber-shot, Handycam digital products and Vaio notebooks.

This year alone, Sony is eyeing to sell around one lakh LCD sets in the 32 inches category, to corner about 25 per cent market share, he added.

He said Sony India would invest Rs 150 crore for brand and channel enhancement, besides consolidating operations and focus on penetrating more in the rural market.

Currently, Sony India has 250 exclusive company Sony World outlets, which would be increased to 280 by this year end.

The company today unveiled 11-inch organic light emitting diode (OLED) television, to be launched in Japan by this year end. Tamagawa, however, did not give details of the time and price at which the product would be available in India.
http://www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content_id=169773

vibs89

July 12th, 2007, 10:29 AM

New Delhi: India is emerging as a major alternative export hub for Samsung Electronics, South Korea’s largest electronics manufacturer, for colour TVs, home appliances and mobile handsets, as a result of possible export restrictions on China by Europe and the US. China is currently Samsung’s largest export hub with six manufacturing units.

A new 80-acre plant is being set up near the company’s present plant in Chennai, 30 acres of which will be in a special economic zone (SEZ), at an investment of $100 million. Initial annual capacities include 1.5 million colour TV sets, 2,00,000 LCD TVs, and 3,00,000 LCD monitors and an undisclosed home appliances capacity. Samsung has also set up a new plant at Manesar near Delhi to initially manufacture 1.5 million phones annually.

The hubs will feed Europe, US and the Gulf. “Countries like the US and Europe could have quotas for exports from China, so India is surely an attractive country that can provide products to these markets,” said Hyun Bong Lee, president and CEO of Samsung Electronics, South West Asia.

Lee said the main issue currently is to get international quality material supplies – and the company is already working with Indian vendors in this connection.

“For instance, we need international quality steel, and our policy is to develop local vendors rather than getting them from Korea.”

Six Indian vendors that manufacture products like plastics and moulds for Samsung’s existing plant at Noida are also setting up manufacturing bases in Chennai. The existing plant has an annual capacity of over 1.5 million TV sets, 0.8 million refrigerators and over half a million home appliances.

For Samsung, creating export hubs is a part of its global strategy. For instance, it has set up small hubs in Mexico that supply products to the US market or a plant in Thailand that caters to the South-East Asian market. Its plant in Hungary exports to western Europe

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=10&autono=290757

dreadathecontrols

July 12th, 2007, 04:02 PM

One of the problems I have when reading these articles is that I dont know how it happened in other countries - i.e. reading about opposition to retail makes me wonder how other markets overcame this.

My line on this is well known to U & 2 all,Vastu but
Ok lets take SE Asia & c***a.
The opening of retail came hand in hand with the wholesale (sorry bad pun) emabrace of market economics, as 'a good thing', an 'improvement'.
This has meant that as far as policy goes SEZ'z, retail parks , super markets factories almost anything that is een as part of the industrialisation process has got the go ahead.Local bribes have been paid & boom boom another factory, hospital , hypermarket, motorway.

It has , & still does in China, mean that small landowners or land occupiers have been overlooked.Differant countries have dealt with that prob in differant ways.But overall if a country embraces change as policy then things can be worked out.
Local industrial houses, often the Gov were encouraged to compete with FDI projects.
Often local brands would be sold much cheaper than foreign so they would be capturing differnet markets.This seems not to be grasped in Indias oppostion to reatial moderisation.

India as a whole has still not embraced the change from industrialisation.Its a country still very much in love with the villiage.
In SE Asia & C***a people are in love with - their own version of - modernity.
Thats why, in India, its so easy for anything that slows down the pace of change to be approved of.Even if its nonsensical supermarket licences...
the process has taken almost 2 generations in SE Asia & one in C***a.
India?If we take 1991 as the start then 2 full generations IE by2031 2 b were say malaysia is now.

vibs89

July 13th, 2007, 08:37 AM

Mumbai: Dr Oetkar, the 116-year-old German foods brand, is eyeing an entry into the world’s biggest consumer markets, India and China. The Euro 1.5 billion giant is a significant player in desserts and foods.

“We will be testing consumer response for our products over the next six months,” says Adetti Gaurr, marketing manager, Dr Oetker India.

The German food company is present in 35 countries. The company is planning a slew of product launches that include introduction of its baking range this month, followed by the muesli range, desserts and frozen pizzas, later in the year. “Currently, we are only testing the markets here. We are undertaking a number of sampling activities because as a company we believe in letting the consumers taste our products,” explained Gaurr. Depending on the results of these test runs, the company will decide upon an Indian portfolio and launch the products accordingly.

The Indian portfolio will be launched keeping the price range, quantity, quality and the Indian tastes in mind. The company is looking at Asian markets and has a team in China conducting similar exercises.

The products would be launched in Mumbai, followed by three other major metros, indicated company executives. According to them, the market research conducted in the four metros has thrown up encouraging results for the company. The company is looking to gain a foothold in the Indian sub-continent and in the future will look at expanding their operations to Pakistan, Myanmar and other neighbouring countries.

However, company executives added that the market would have its fair share of challenges. “India is a very challenging market for us because of various factors like traditional tastes and so on. We have kept all the factors in mind before deciding to enter the market, and I am sure our product range is so vast that there is something for everyone in it,” said Gaurr. The company is giving almost a year to establish itself in the market. “It takes time to establish ourselves, especially in the food segment. A year should be a healthy period to know the direction our company is taking,” said Gaurr.

The company rather than looking at institutional sales will focus on extensive sampling to spread awareness about their products. While Dr Oetker’s products will be available in all the leading malls like Hypercity, Big Bazaar, Nature Spa, Foodland, Shoprite, the company is not looking at mom-and-pop grocery outlets as of now. Currently, the company is importing their products but in due course of time, the entire manufacturing unit will be set up here. It is looking at either setting up an independent establishment or acquiring an already established unit in the country. “We have just entered the country. We are keeping all our options open,” said Gaurr.
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=10&autono=290978

July 13th, 2007, 02:26 PM

German food and desserts with Indian taste? Things are really going down in India, aren't they...

Suncity

July 13th, 2007, 08:37 PM

Three interesting articles

Will Reliance Fresh starve Goa?

http://oheraldo.in/node/25772

Goa’s reliance on vegetables and fruits from Belgaum could be under threat and competition has come in from an economic giant.

The setting up of a vegetable procuring unit at Belgaum by ‘Reliance Fresh’, a division of Reliance Industries Ltd, to provide vegetables to its growing chain of outlets in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra may adversely affect the supply of vegetables to Goa in the near future.

Farmers in Belgaum are only too happy to offer their produce to Reliance at better rates and with the vegetable supply from Belgaum — predominantly meant for Goa — now likely to be diverted elsewhere, Goans would have to pay much more for the few vegetables that enter the Goan market.

Incidentally, though Reliance Fresh intends to set up seven outlets in Goa at ‘cheaper rates’, the supply of vegetables would be too meagre to cater to the entire state.

Reliance has recently set up a procuring unit at Halga, about 10 km from here, where vegetables are being purchased directly from farmers.

“Vegetables purchased are being sent to Hyderabad and other places,” Suresh D, the unit manager at Halga said.
At present, about 10 tonnes of vegetables are being procured by Reliance everyday and sources speculate that the demand would rise sharply with the growing number of retail outlets to be opened in the region.

The unit at Halga is strategically based at the hub of the vegetable growing hinterland of Belgaum district, where more than 60% of the farmers in the district are engaged in growing vegetables.

Sudhatai Hiremath, Secretary of the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), the apex body controlling the procurement and sale of vegetables and other farm produce, said Reliance has been issued licences to procure vegetables from farmers and the company has been promptly paying the cess to APMC.

Officials disclosed that Reliance plans to open seven outlets in Goa and attempts are being made to supply farm-fresh vegetables from Belgaum at rates cheaper than that offered by the Belgaum vegetable traders.

This is because Reliance will buy vegetables directly from farmers, eliminating middlemen in the process. “Our intention is to give justice to the farmers by offering them better rates for their produce,” said Aniruddin of Reliance.
According to Umesh Patil — a vegetable wholesaler and member of the Cantonment Wholesale Vegetable Merchants Association — over 100 brokers supply vegetables to Goa and other coastal areas including Karwar, Kumta (Karnataka) and Sindhudurg (Maharashtra).

“About 30 tempo loads of vegetables are supplied to Goa everyday and more than 70% of the vegetables from Belgaum are sent to the coastal areas,” said Patil.
To a query on the impact of ‘Reliance Fresh’ on the prevailing supply of vegetables to Goa, Patil admitted that while the prices may not increase in the immediate future, the increase of Reliance outlets in the region could spark off a shortage of vegetables en route to Goa.

Meanwhile, the farmers in the district are pleased with the new development, as they are being paid a better rate as compared to the brokers.

“We do not have to bother about the brokerage and other costs that we earlier used to pay,” said a farmer.

Reliance Fresh to move in town
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070708/0807021.htm

Reliance Fresh would soon commence its operations in the State Capital. The new venture of the company will provide fresh vegetables to residents and that too at a cheaper rate. Kavita Dutta, Corporate Communication Chief informed that the company is going to establish a direct producer-consumer network, eliminating the long chain of middlemen who are largely behind the high pricing of edibles to the consumer. Most of the time, delays in fresh vegetables reaching market renders them stale and the consumer is forced to purchase them.
Reliance Fresh is also going to provide hawkers and small vegetable vendors selling on push carts with uniforms and push carts and unsold vegetable will be on a buy-back basis. First among the chain of Fresh Vegetable Stores (Wholesale Distribution) is planned at Nehru Nagar. Vendors will have a round-the-clock purchase facility. The vendors will be insured and will have a Rs 50000 accidental cover.

It needs mention here that currently the entire vegetable sale market is under clutches of Adatiyas (middlemen). These agents run a pseudo economy at Sabji Mandi and command vegetable prices. Truck loads of vegetables and fruits are purchased on cash terms by these middlemen and then they decide upon day-to-day rates. Government efforts to ensure fair prices to the farmers turn out to be a futile exercise as the farmer has to sell his produce on the prevailing purchase rates largely commanded by the middlemen.

Although the authorities put in efforts to secure interests of the farmer, but these perishable products turn into a liability for the farmers if remain unsold, thus most of them succumb to pressures of the middlemen and sell their produce before the vegetable sellers make their purchases and shift goods to their establishments.

Reliance Fresh proposes to guarantee fair prices to the farmers and at the same time offer fresh vegetables to the consumers at a reasonably cheaper price. The company would also stop holding of vegetables as potatoes, onion and other like vegetables are stored in cold storages and released in the market during scarcity. This is an artificially created scarcity and largely meant to hike prices in order to sell at premium rates.

Reliance Fresh could definitely curtail the above 10 per cent middlemen cut and also ensure that the wastage (damage) of vegetables during transportation and handling. The damage portion of vegetables is around 7 per cent of the total cost burden and the farmer is forced to bear the same. With the Whole Sale Distribution network most of worries of the farmer are likely to come to an end.

Local vendors throw the gauntlet to Reliance Fresh, Subhiksha
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=169026

Fruit and vegetable vendors belonging to the unorganised sector in the Capital have taken the fight to organised fresh-produce retailers like Reliance Fresh and Subhiksha.
Vendors in the unorganised sector are offering free home delivery and a one-week credit, which they get from traders in the wholesale vegetable market, to the customer.

According to traders, the size of the unorganised fruit and vegetable market had fallen down to Rs 16 crore per day in February after the launch of Reliance Fresh stores and Subhiksha outlets in Delhi. Vegetable and fruit vendors were having trouble selling their wares on any given day. However, the new strategy has helped them to revive flagging sales and sell the entire procurement made for the day.

On an average, 6,000 tonne of fruits and 7,000 tonne of vegetables is traded everyday in Delhi. The estimated size of the credit market in the unorganised fruit and vegetable market is Rs 22 crore per day.

“The strategy was the need of the hour for small vendors. This has helped them in increasing their sale volumes. Moreover, passing on the credit has meant that the customer is retained for the next time,” said MR Kriplani, pesident, camber of Azadpur vegetable and fruits traders.

Joginder Singh, a vegetable vendor in South Delhi’s Kotla Mabarakpur vegetable market, has been able to sell off all his vegetables everyday for the past one month since he adopted this system. Home delivery is offered for a minimum of order for 5 kg vegetables.

The logistics have been worked out so that every scooter carries around 60 kg of vegetables within a radius of 4 km, delivering multiple orders placed with the vendor. The credit period of one week has helped in getting re-orders from customers. Moreover, the transportation cost is met through the increase in the volumes of sale of fruits and vegetables.

Organised fresh-produce retailers are, however, unperturbed by the development. “It is a bit premature to comment on the impact of this development on the organised retailing of vegetables and fruits. It all depends on how fast these vendors can organise themselves,” Anil Chopra, AVP, agri and food supply chain, Reliance Retail Ltd, said.

These vendors have associates spread over Delhi and the National Capital Region. When a trader, sitting in the Azadpur Mandi, gets an order for delivery in Dwarka or even as far as Harola in Noida, he simply passes on the order to the vendor closest to the point of delivery.

india

July 19th, 2007, 01:06 AM

Indians world's most confident consumers
July 18, 2007

Despite a marginal fall in the level of optimism, Indians remain the world's most confident consumers with a vast majority of them seeing bright prospects ahead on the jobs, personal finance and economy fronts, a new survey says.

According to the survey carried out by international marketing research firm The Nielsen Company, India has topped the bi-annual Global Consumer Confidence Index for the fifth time in a row.

However, the Consumer Confidence Index in India dropped marginally to 135 points in the latest survey for the first half of 2007, compared to 137 points in the 2H-06 survey.

India's score was significantly higher than the global average of 97 points, while consumers in the countries like Korea, Portugal, Hungary, Japan and Taiwan emerged as pessimists.

According to the survey, 93 per cent of consumers surveyed in India felt that their job prospects in the next 12 months were excellent to good.

"Indian consumer confidence is in line with the release of the country's latest GDP figure of 9.4 per cent, the highest growth India has posted in eighteen years," ACNielsen executive director (customised research south east Asia) Sarang Panchal said.

"It is no surprise, therefore, to see 45 per cent of Indian consumers surveyed rating their job prospects in the next 12 months as 'excellent'," he added.

The high confidence is also reflected in the way consumers view the state of their personal finances in the next 12 months, with nine of ten Indians feeling excellent or good about it.

Indians are also quite confident about the future of their economy with 61 per cent feeling that it is an excellent or good time to buy things that they want or need.

As per the survey, Indians are becoming increasingly investment oriented as 53 per cent of those surveyed said they would park their savings in shares or mutual funds. The country ranks third after Hong Kong and China.

A large number of Indians love travelling with 39 per cent voting for it as a means of spending their extra money.

Some of the other things in which they would like to invest include paying off debts or credit card loans (37 per cent), buying new clothes (32 per cent), new technology (29 per cent) and home improvement and decorative items (32 per cent).

Twenty one per cent of Indians surveyed believe they should invest in retirement funds.

However, notwithstanding the high confidence level, 46 per cent Indians were worried about the country's economy despite the boom. Job security (19 per cent), political instability (16 per cent), terrorism (16 per cent) and crime (12 per cent) were other issues of concern.

The Nielsen Online Consumer Confidence and Opinion Survey polled 26,486 Internet users in 47 markets from Europe, Asia Pacific, North America and the Middle East about their job prospects, the state of their finances, and what they do with their spare cash.

Source: Rediff (http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2007/jul/18con.htm)

india

July 19th, 2007, 01:52 AM

Foot Locker keen to set foot in India
19 July, 2007

NEW DELHI: New York-based $5.75-billion Foot Locker, the world’s leading retailer of athletic footwear and apparel, is firming up its India entry plans.

According to sources, the US major has started due diligence for the Indian market and is looking at setting up its first store through a franchisee arrangement early next year.

The company is learnt to be in talks for a franchisee arrangement with Shoppers’ Stop. A senior company executive confirmed that prospective models for partnership are being explored.

But an e-mail query from ET elicited the following response from the company PR representative: “Currently, we have no such plans.”

As per existing FDI regulations, the only entry route available to Foot Locker is to tie up with an Indian retailer in a master franchisee arrangement, where it pays a certain licence fee to the American company for using its brand name.

Though 51% FDI is allowed in single-brand retailing, Foot Locker retails multiple brands and is therefore disqualified from making use of this route. While the government had earlier said it might consider allowing up to 51% FDI in multi-brand retailing of sports goods, no concrete policy development has taken place on this front.

“The first few stores may be in the form of a shop-in-shop arrangement in existing Shoppers’ Stop stores. At a later stage, Shopper’s Stop may look at standalone Foot Locker stores,” the source said. Foot Locker operates over 2,000 retail stores in 20 countries.

Source: Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Foot_Locker_keen_to_set_foot_in_India/articleshow/2216144.cms)

india

July 19th, 2007, 09:09 PM

The Indian Retail Industry Projected To Become A US$175-200 Billion Business By 2016 According To Report Analyzing The Indian Retail Industry

DUBLIN - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c63195) has announced the addition of Analyzing The Indian Retail Industry 2007 to their offering.

The report – Analyzing the Indian Retail Industry 2007 - on the Indian Retail Industry is an in-depth and comprehensive cross industry review on the Indian Retail Industry which explores the macroeconomic scenario of Indian economy which coupled with growth of GDP led to the shift of consumer purchase patterns and the build up confidence in the retail sector thereby giving shape to the government allowance for FDI in the Indian retail sector.

The report provides an overview of the industry along with the investment inflow in the industry which has also been channelized into the rural sector in India by some of the players. The report also attempts to place an estimate on the volume of the unorganized retail sector of India in comparison to the overall industry size.

This report follows the changing consumer preferences of the Indian buyer along with the gender driven increase of purchasing power which has taken a different hue among the marketers which are now forced to look at them as an important purchase group and drawing marketing promotions budgets accordingly. The report also envisages to explain the role of the media in influencing the Indian retail market as well as the emergence of luxury brands in the consumer psyche.

The report applies the PEST & Porter’s Five Forces Strategy Analysis to this dynamic industry which helps to bring out the characteristics of this industry and the forces driving investment infusion or competitor activity in this industry.

An in-depth explanation of the industry retail formats segregation is also provided in this report which also comprises of the study of the important regional retail contributors in this sector which are known for either their long standing in the market or any kind of specialty product retail developed over the years, which has differentiated them for the overall market. The report also compares this with the early development of organized retail by the Indian players and the coupled emergence of the multi-format retail in India.

The recent trends of jumbo sized retailers establishing themselves as super saver locations in the consumer psyche and consumer acceptance of these stores as discount destinations are also explained in this report. The role of e-commerce-based retail though small in volumes but important in terms of growth is also elaborated in this report along with a profiling of the major players in this market.

Rural Retailing is elaborated in this report in detail wherein the doubled up sourcing to selling cycles are explained in this report wherein the report also takes up the example of some of the successful rural retail ventures of the Indian market most financed by traditional business houses in India and some of the ventures which also did not succeed in the Indian rural market.

A contrasting view of the growth of luxury brands in the Indian market is also explained in this research report wherein the increased consumerism is apparent in the stupendous increase in sales of apparels, lifestyle products etc which have started to carve a profit making niche for themselves as also the trends apparent in these products are elaborated in this report.

The factors powering growth and the contesting issues are explained in this report in a macroeconomic scenario wherein the growth opportunities are compared with the issues which are process either legal or union or even logistics oriented. The report also examines the potential development areas in the retail market in India.

The process or entry options for FDI into Indian retail industry are examined in comparison to the challenges faced by the entrants in the sector to drive investment into the India market. The report presents some case studies on this crucial issue as well as the further options which are available and the possible role that can be played by private equity contributors.

Further, the report draws a profile of the Global Retail Industry and some of the major global players across the world. India’s position in the global retail scenario is also explained in this report.

Retail not being limited to only consumer goods is further explored in this report in the books music and gift retail industry which have picked up pace in transforming from being isolated businesses to being integrated retail locations for all these products which have received good consumer response as explained in this report by way of analysis of the leading participants in this Industry.

Food being a major driver of retail consumption globally has also seen growth and entry of various global fast food chains into India backed by slowly building weekend spending patterns in the metros as well as acceptance of these food habits in the Indian palette. The major industry contributors in this sector are analyzed by this report.

The report further analyses the retail push in areas like Fashion Apparel, Consumer Electronics, Entertainment Retail, Eyewear Retail, Fitness & Personal Care, Food & Grocery Retail, Footwear Retail, Fuel & Forecourt Retail, Health & Pharmaceutical Processes, Home & Office Furniture Furnishings Retail, Jewelry Retail, Telecom Retail, and Timewear Retail.

The report further provides the future perspective of the Indian retail industry which is set to boom and present huge opportunity or renewed growth cycles to the world majors of retail who now look at India as a future destination which will sustain and lead new revenue opportunities.

Source: Businesswire (http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070719005417&newsLang=en)

vibs89

July 20th, 2007, 04:52 AM

http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/45180/.html

The Luxuary Brand Zegna opens first store in Mumbai. Can anyone embed the video I forgot how to do.

dreadathecontrols

July 20th, 2007, 12:13 PM

that thing about Goa.
Goas economy is a 'dollar' economy in that 90% of buisness there is tourism or related to it.
if it means that prices go up & that is passed on to the consumer - eg me & my mates - then so be it.
whitey should pay more so whats the problem?

"And yet more luxury brands.Yippee
oh brilliant, i cant wait til I can go & display how rich i am,in my versache & Zegna along with the new india rich.Fabbydo!! "

Progress is a bizarre phonomena as it was here when we industrialised.The rich always benefit first...

irutavias

July 20th, 2007, 08:02 PM

Starbucks Delays India Entry, Withdraws Application

July 20 (Bloomberg) -- Starbucks Corp., the world's biggest coffee-shop chain, has postponed its plan to enter India, the world's second-most populous nation.

Starbucks has withdrawn its application to operate single- brand retail stores in India, T. May Kulthol, a spokeswoman of the Seattle-based company, said in an e-mailed release. It didn't give a reason for the withdrawal.

The government asked the coffee chain to file a revised proposal clarifying the investment pattern of the company that plans to open stores in India, Ajay Dua, secretary at the department of industrial policy and promotion, said June 25. The government said the proposed local unit didn't comply with foreign direct investment rules, which allow as much as 51 percent foreign ownership in single-brand retail chains.

``Starbucks is reviewing all our options and evaluating how we will proceed related to our entry into one of the fastest growing economies in the world,'' Kulthol said in the release.

India may increase foreign ownership in single-brand retail companies in the nation to 100 percent, the Financial Express reported on July 9, citing a strategy paper prepared by the government.

Starbucks planned to enter India in partnership with Kishore Biyani, founder of the country's biggest publicly traded retailer, and V.P. Sharma, head of the U.S. company's Indonesian franchise.

In January, India's investment board questioned the shareholding of Sharma in the proposed venture with Biyani.

Biyani

Biyani declined to comment on Starbucks plan to withdraw its application. Sharma didn't pick up calls made to his office after hours.

Starbucks said in August last year it was looking for a venture partner or a licensee to enter India by the end of 2007.

The government limits overseas investment in the nation's retail industry to single-brand merchants, preventing global chains from buying stakes in local companies or setting up their own stores.

The delay in Starbuck's entry will help existing coffee chains in the nation such as Barista Coffee Co. and Cafe Coffee Day to gain market share. Barista and Cafe Coffee Day are expanding outlets as coffee gains popularity in a market where tea is still the most popular beverage.

India wants to increase coffee consumption to 120,000 tons annually by 2012 from the current 80,000 tons a year, according to the state-run Coffee Board. It is aiming to raise consumption by as much as 10 percent a year from 5 percent growth now.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=asQWaXye9LOk&refer=india

...surprising when everyone is trying to get into the market as fast as they can...red tape most likely?

vibs89

July 26th, 2007, 05:49 AM

New Delhi: Leading global retailers like Wal Mart, Carrefour, Meto and Tesco are likely to import fruit and vegetables to sell in India despite the country being the largest producer of these products. A majority of these companies, who have strict standards for these products with prescribed limits of pesticide contents and other physical parameters, are of the view that fruit and vegetable produces in India do not meet global standards.

According to a source in one such company, the retailers are known for their stringent procurement norms on parameters varying from pesticide content to physical appearance of fruit and vegetables.

“Lack of good agriculture practices by the Indian farmers is one of their major weaknesses. One cannot expect Indian fresh produce to match global standards until farmers are educated on these. This presents a peculiar scenario. Once the global big players enter Indian market, they would procure only from those markets that meet their standards. With no quality standard in place, the Indian administration would not be able to stop this,” the source added.

But wouldn’t procuring from other countries become an expensive proposition for the global biggies? While Indian food retailers also have stringent quality standards, they restrict their buying to India due to logistical constraints. Global firms, however, procure from global distribution chains equipped to deliver across the globe without major increase in operation costs, thus minimising the cost of transportation and logistics.

According to Silpa Sagheer, a research scholar in IIT-Delhi, “This would not be new for them. Carrefour has done the same in Latin America and so has Royal Ahold in Thailand. It does not add a lot to their operating costs as they procure from global distribution chains such as Hortifruti which specialise in food products distribution across the globe. And with facilities already established in Asia, supplying to India will not much of a burden.”
Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Global-retailers-may-import-fruit-veggies-for-India-ops/206638/

vibs89

July 26th, 2007, 05:52 AM

New Delhi: Good old milk certainly seems to be the flavour of the season, and in fact, many seasons to come. The dairy sector in India with billion-dollar GCMMF’s Amul and NDDB’s Mother Dairy, besides a spate of milk co-operatives, is set to witness a dramatic change in market dynamics.

Some big names in India Inc, such as Reliance, Bharti, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, are silently working on a big gulp of the country’s Rs 227,340-crore milk industry. That’s hardly surprising for a country that happens to be the world’s largest producer of milk. India’s milk production touched 100 million tonnes last year.

According to estimates released by Dairy India 2007, total production of milk in the country will touch 120 million tonnes in 2011, with the organised sector accounting for as much as 30%. Compare that with 2005 figures — when the total production of milk was estimated at 94.5 million tonnes with the share of the organised sector at just 18%.

Further, by 2011 the share of private players will escalate to 24 million tonnes against 8.5 million tonnes in 2005. The share of government-managed milk co-operatives, meanwhile, will witness slower growth — from 8.5 million tonnes in 2005 to 12 million tonnes in 2011. All that growth will be driven largely by liquid milk.

While ET has learnt that Bharti Retail is exploring options to foray in the dairy sector, Reliance Industries has already ventured into this market. Earlier this month, RIL entered the high-volume, low-margin liquid milk market with its brand, Dairy Pure, in Hyderabad.

For its foray in the dairy business, Reliance is looking at interesting acquisition models. The company plans to float a pan-India dairy co-operatives across the country. “The company’s plans are clearly based on the Amul model. It could be like a co-operative of co-operatives, similar to a one-stop shop for dairy farmers in various parts of the country,” a source close to the developments told ET. Like the company has done in sourcing of other farm products, RIL may also look at buying out some big dairies and retain the owners and milkmen on the company’s payrolls.

For sourcing of milk, RIL may set up direct collection centres at over 1,000 locations in the country. RIL has already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Punjab government for sourcing close to 7 lakh litres of milk every day. The company is likely to soon start sourcing from UP and Bihar — two other states having large-scale milk production.

“There are many companies, in sectors such as retail and food-processing, which want to get into the milk business in India. The list includes some MNCs as well. The sector will see a lot of action in the coming times and the government is also considering necessary incentives,” said union food processing minister Subodh Kant Sahay.

Cola majors, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, are keenly eyeing the dairy business in India, especially with the increasing shift away from carbonated soft drinks to healthier beverages. However, existing policy regulations will allow these companies only to source milk and prevent them from setting up dairies. Sources say the soft drink firms are exploring options in the tetrapack milk format.

Existing players in the dairy sector are, meanwhile, gearing up to meet the challenge. Amul, which has emerged as a billion-dollar entity with a turnover of close to Rs 4,300 crore during fiscal 2006-07, has projected a target of Rs 10,000 crore within the next three years. Says Amul’s GM R S Sondhi: ”Any new entrant in the diary sector will have to invest in procurement, processing, and production for at least 20-30 years before reaping the benefits. Dairy business is not like selling, say soaps, which required only manufacturing and branding.’’

Nestle India, meanwhile, has planned a spate of new product launches, capacity expansion and acquisitions. Said Mayank Trivedi, general manager, Nestle’s dairy division, “The dairy division has been growing at a healthy 20%, and we are bullish on this sector.” For the record, the company has been growing at 10-11%. The value of the dairy sector will more than double to Rs 520,780 crore by 2011. While the organised industry’s share of total milk will go up, smaller players will see their
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/RIL_Bharti_Coke__Pepsi_eye_big_bite_of_dairy_cake/articleshow/2225644.cms

irutavias

July 26th, 2007, 03:48 PM

vibs89

July 27th, 2007, 06:34 AM

Chennai/Hyderabad: Supermarket chain Spencer’s Retail Limited has lined up a capital expenditure of Rs 400 crore for south during the current financial year.

The Rs 11,500-crore RPG Group firm would infuse the investments into enhancing its retail presence in the region, besides creating additional supply chain infrastructure and backend operations.

Speaking to Business Standard, Samar Singh Sheikhawat, vice-president (marketing) of Spencer's Retail, said the company would open at least 200 stores in the four southern states this year. Nationally, it plans to add 500 stores this year besides creating employability to around 10,000. “Of this, 4,000 people would be recruited in the south,” he added.

In the next 10 days, the company would open 50 stores, of which 20 would be down south. These would come up in cities like Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Bangalore, Mysore, Dharwad, Chennai, Puducherry, Coimbatore, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, on 1,000 sft to 25,000 sft each. The first store, a 15,000-sft ‘Superstore’, being set up on the Mosque Road in Bangalore, would be inaugurated on July 31.

Spencer’s has five different formats – Spencer’s Fresh, Daily, Express, Superstore and Hypermarket. The company currently operates around 200 stores across these formats including a Hypermarket each in Hyderabad, Mumbai and the National Capital Region.

“Our emphasis on the south is primarily driven by low property rentals and consumer demographies that are in favour of the organised retail sector here,” Sheikhawat said.

Stating that south accounted for 50 per cent of the company's turnover last year, he said the contribution would come down to 40 per cent by this fiscal end as other territories were growing. “Absolute sales, however, would increase substantially this year,” he added.

Spencer’s Retail is targeting a 20 per cent pie of the Rs 5,000-crore organised food and grocery market and expects its turnover to touch the Rs 1,000-crore mark this fiscal.

Source:http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=10&autono=292296

purapagal

July 27th, 2007, 09:05 PM

I guess Coke and Pepsi have come to realize that Soft Drinks can't really be an integral part of the Indian way of life. It's like a once-in-a-while treat type of thing. So they have no choice but to diversify their business.

Coke & Pepsi have realized that people are moving away from carbonated+caffeinated+sugar+water a long time a go. A major portion of their revenue now comes from fruit drinks and bottled water and even snacks in the case of Pepsi. This applies to all of their major markets.

IndiansUnite

July 28th, 2007, 07:42 AM

SEIL plans $1-bn township in India

Sheth estate International Ltd (SEIL), the international arm of India- based property developer Sheth Group, is planning to tie up with a Dubai-based developer to construct an integrated township at the cost of $1 billion in India, a top company executive said.

"We are in talks with two Dubai-based developers with whom we plan to launch a township project," Ashwin Sheth, Director of SEIL, said in Dubai.

The township project will spread across 300 to 500 acres, with Pune, Bangalore and Chennai being the possible destinations.

"The project will require huge investment and a joint venture will help us bring more capital," he added.

Currently, the company is focusing on strengthening its brand name Dubai, and is expected to invest Dirham 5-6 billion in the next three years.

SEIL has already launched a Dirham 800-million Iris Bay, a 40-storey half-moon shaped commercial tower in Business Bay and Iris Blue, a 27-storey Dirham 300 million residential building in Dubai Marina. It will soon launch two more residential projects at the cost of Dirham 500 million.

"We wanted to build something iconic that will stand out in Dubai and Iris Bay is certainly one of them," he said. Iris is the brand name that the company is using for its Dubai projects.

Sheth also ruled out correetion in property prices in Dubai as well as Mumbai. "The current economic scenarlo is very strong in UAE and India. I don't see any correction in property prices in the near future. Investors and end users have tremendous faith in both the countries," he said. Meanwhile, family-owned Sheth Group also plans to launch an initial public offering in the next 18 months. "We are planning to list on the Bombay Stock Exchange in the next 18 months. We are expanding and we need capital," Sheth said.

[HT]

Whiteeclipse

August 8th, 2007, 03:49 AM

India: Wal-Mart to jointly build wholesale outlets

BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and India's Bharti Enterprises signed an agreement Monday to jointly build wholesale outlets that will purchase goods from farmers and small manufacturers and sell to retailers through a nationwide supply chain.

The deal may help the U.S. company eventually gain a foothold in India's booming, but much protected, retail business, which is currently dominated by an estimated 12 million mom and pop shops.

Indian laws do not allow multi-brand foreign retailers to sell directly to consumers, but they can run wholesale operations and provide back-end support to Indian retailers. Indian companies are also allowed to operate stores selling foreign brands under franchise from their producers.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart and Bharti Enterprises appeared to have worked around these rules, hoping to get the U.S. retail giant an entry into the massive Indian market.

The companies signed two separate agreements, which Bharti's Managing Director Rajan B Mittal said conform to existing rules and regulations.

Under the first agreement, the two companies will set up "a 50-50 venture for wholesale cash-and-carry and back-end supply chain management operation in India," a joint statement said.

The joint venture "will help drive efficiencies across the supply chain and work toward the betterment of India's farmers, manufacturers and retailers," the statement quoted Wal-Mart Vice Chairman Mike Duke as saying.

Wal-Mart currently imports about 600 million U.S. dollars worth of goods from India, a fraction of what its buys from China for its stores worldwide.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-08/07/content_6489845.htm

Whiteeclipse

August 8th, 2007, 03:56 AM

I have a question, if a foreign company wanted to enter the Indian market and there business model was to import parts and assemble the main product in India. So would the foreign company need a partnership with a Indian company if they wanted to provide the product wholesale to supply the retailers or would the foreign company need a partnership with a Indian company if they wanted to sale that product in their own retail stores while they still assemble that product in India with imported parts?

Luckystreak

August 8th, 2007, 08:56 AM

Which sector are you taking about?. Because regulations vary form sector to sector.

If you meant the automotive sector. Yes, foreign companies can directly import parts and assemble in India. That's how, for example, BMW is making cars in Chennai. Even established companies like Hyundai source certain components outside the country. Finished car's are not imported directly due to high customs tariif's.

However to sell the finished product, the foreign company has to find the local dealer for retail sale.

Whiteeclipse

August 8th, 2007, 09:22 AM

irutavias

August 9th, 2007, 05:38 PM

I don't think that'll be a problem. Most of the foreign car companies in India are doing the exact same thing. They are importing parts, but manufacturing the finished product there. That way, the company saves on duties instead of importing the finished product directly.

Euromast

August 14th, 2007, 03:10 PM

Reliance Mart, the hypermarket arm of Reliance Retail, is teeing off its plans to set up mega retail stores by sewing up real estate deals at a furious pace.

Market sources said the company, over the last six months, had inked acquisition deals for over 50 million sq ft via franchise as well as direct routes. Reliance Mart has set a target of a 100 million sq ft by 2011 to develop its hypermarket business.

Reliance Mart’s first hypermarket will open in Ahmedabad on Wednesday and the second and third hypermarkets will open in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and Gurgaon, Haryana, next month

http://www.business-standard.com/general/storypage_test.php?&autono=294411

superdesi2100

August 14th, 2007, 11:12 PM

RelianceMart launched in Ahmedabad

Reliance Retail today launched the country's largest hypermarket under the brand name RelianceMart.

The hypermarket is the third retail format to be launched by Reliance Retail after Reliance Fresh and Reliance Digital.

Spread across an area of 1.65 lakh sq ft, RelianceMart will feature a range of over 95,000 products in categories ranging from fresh produce, food and grocery, home care products, apparel and accessories, non-food FMCG products, consumer durables and IT, automotive accessories, lifestyle products and footwear.

"Though hypermarket is a popular format in the country, RelianceMart goes beyond that by being huge in size as well as by offering some unique services to shoppers like tailoring, shoe repair, watch repair, a photo shop, gifting services and laundry services within the store," said Raghu Pillai, president and chief executive (operartions & strategy), Reliance Retail.

Pillai added that automotive accessories have been added in the merchandise in a retail format for the first time.

Reliance Retail is expecting a topline of Rs 1,000 per sq ft per month from RelianceMart. The hypermarket also launched a host of Reliance's in-house brands in apparels, luggage and sports categories.

With RelianceMart, the company intends to re-position its Vimal brand of textile and apparel, said Parimal Nathwani, executive, corporate affairs, Reliance.

Reliance Retail would be selling the products on EDLP (every day low price) basis at prices 15-20% lower than market prices.

The company also plans to have a pan-India presence by opening over 30 RelianceMarts by the end of the year, and over 500 by the end of 2010.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=26551

Photo: Ravi Dixit at flickr
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9291/92945238905a11c4350ozh1.jpg

irutavias

August 15th, 2007, 04:37 AM

Is RelianceMart going to open in all the Metros first and then trickle down to Tier 2 cities?

cncity

August 15th, 2007, 06:05 AM

Is RelianceMart going to open in all the Metros first and then trickle down to Tier 2 cities?

The second hypermarket will come up in Jamnagar followed by Jaipur, New Delhi and Pune.
Reliance Retail plans to have a pan-India presence by opening 30'RelianceMart' hypermarkets this year and over 500 by the end of 2010

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=251025

superdesi2100

August 15th, 2007, 08:05 PM

RelianceMart - Ahmedabad.

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/6696/reliancemartke4.jpg

Photo Source: Divya Bhaskar Ahmedabad 08/15/07

August 15th, 2007, 10:25 PM

Quick question: are these "marts" cheaper than local kirana stores? Also this mart really needs to learn the difference between a mall and a mart.

Suncity

August 15th, 2007, 10:49 PM

Also this mart really needs to learn the difference between a mall and a mart.

You mean the exterior looks? That is it looks more colourful than Walmart?

August 16th, 2007, 12:06 AM

You mean the exterior looks? That is it looks more colourful than Walmart?

little too colorful. Also, how are these "marts" better than small shops? I am talking about India.

Suncity

August 16th, 2007, 12:50 AM

little too colorful. Also, how are these "marts" better than small shops? I am talking about India.

That depends on an individual and on whether you have shopped in a kirana store and say a big store like Big Bazaar. The shopping experience is different and each one has its pluses and minuses.

IndiansUnite

August 16th, 2007, 12:58 AM

Reliance mart was opened in Iscon mall and is not a stand alone store. Westside and other stores are located on the other side. Despite that, IMO its a little too colorful for being a hypermarket. Reliance probably thought that embellishing it with colors would make it more attractive and "mall like"

http://www.iscongroup.com/projects/isc_mm_ahd.htm

And whats with everyone saying 'Kirana' stores? Its 'Kinara'

Euromast

August 16th, 2007, 01:10 AM

IndiansUnite

August 16th, 2007, 02:06 AM

never used it before..I am oblivious of many Hindi words :tongue3:

I always called them dukaan

vamsireddy

August 16th, 2007, 02:08 AM

Retailers’ home runs (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/catalyst/2007/08/16/stories/2007081650010100.htm)

Home delivery not homerun in baseball context :)
Organised retailers find it difficult to compete with kiranas in home delivery formats.
Are organised retailers finding it difficult to emulate the local kirana stores with their home delivery models? Considering the largest retailer, Pantaloons (through Food Bazaar), does not think it a bright idea to compete with th em, discount retailer Subhisksha still fine-tuning its format and even the largest FMCG player, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), selling off its home delivery brand Sangam Direct, is door delivery not an attractive business proposition for retailers and manufacturers in India?...

August 16th, 2007, 03:52 AM

That depends on an individual and on whether you have shopped in a kirana store and say a big store like Big Bazaar. The shopping experience is different and each one has its pluses and minuses.

I am talking about buying grocery, produce...

I am not sure why these "retail" giants are going to be better...It looks like that these stores are going to cater only a portion of total population. It clearly isn't Walmart.

Suncity

August 16th, 2007, 04:38 AM

I am talking about buying grocery, produce...

I am not sure why these "retail" giants are going to be better...It looks like that these stores are going to cater only a portion of total population. It clearly isn't Walmart.

You mean they won't cater to the lowest common denominator? The looks and location may deter low income groups initially.

Don't know about Reliance Mart but the prices of these retail chains has to be competitive because Indian consumers are price conscious.

And these chains obviously have plans to come up with all kinds of stores to cater to the maximum population possible.

Suncity

August 16th, 2007, 05:18 AM

Organized retail is making inroads into more towns and cities

A Vishal Megamart in Patna, Bihar

photo copyright Sunny

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1932/vishalmegamartpatanasunpq5.jpg

In case you haven't heard about Vishal Mega Mart

http://www.vishalmegamart.net/shroom-add.htm

Big Bazaar, Sangli, Maharashtra

photo copyright agentmanderplex

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/5281/bigbazaarsangliarp4.jpg

Big Bazaar, Mangalore, Karnataka

photo copyright Rama Rao

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9681/pantaloonsmangaloreramatg1.jpg

Big Bazaar, Vadodara, Gujarat

photo copyright deepxp

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/6196/bigbazaarvadodaraanandvhj7.jpg

Spencers' Hypermart, Durgapur, West Bengal

photo copyright Mr Amit

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/9553/spencersdurgapurmramitsrc0.jpg

Big Bazaar, Indore, Madhya Pradesh

photo copyright Amit

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/6749/indoremallamityy0.jpg

Euromast

August 16th, 2007, 02:33 PM

New Delhi, Aug 16: Reliance stores across formats like food, consumer electronics and hypermarket, will by December unveil exclusive outlets to retail products ranging from apparel to health and wellness and books to footwear.

Beginning with the festive season, the company expects to open at least one store for each of these products by the year-end.

"The pilot health and wellness stores would be up and running in next three months and we are looking at establishing pan-India presence shortly after the first one." Reliance retail president and chief executive (operations and strategy) Raghu Pillai told a news agency.

http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=389172&ssid=53&ssname=Companies%20and%20Commodities&sid=BUS&sname=LATEST-BUSINESS-NEWS

August 16th, 2007, 03:51 PM

You mean they won't cater to the lowest common denominator? The looks and location may deter low income groups initially.

Don't know about Reliance Mart but the prices of these retail chains has to be competitive because Indian consumers are price conscious.

And these chains obviously have plans to come up with all kinds of stores to cater to the maximum population possible.

Most items in a grocery store come up with a fix price tag so a Kirana store or a Reliance mart will sell them at the same price. What they can compete on is produce and other items with no fix price. As my personal experience goes and what I have seen on this forum, these marts aren't selling good quality vegetables on cheap prices. Which brings us to the my old question: Why are we so focussed on creating a organized retail sector when they hardly have anything to offer as for as price is concerned. No revolution is really coming. Just few glitzy shopping marts are coming so that slightly well off people can enjoy the "experience" even though they might be paying more for something they used to pay less!

We clearly aren't creating Wal-Mart here. So pardon me for dampening everyone's spirit here but unless these marts are meant to bring down the price of daily commodities, whats the point?

Suncity

August 16th, 2007, 05:09 PM

Most items in a grocery store come up with a fix price tag so a Kirana store or a Reliance mart will sell them at the same price. What they can compete on is produce and other items with no fix price. As my personal experience goes and what I have seen on this forum, these marts aren't selling good quality vegetables on cheap prices. Which brings us to the my old question: Why are we so focussed on creating a organized retail sector when they hardly have anything to offer as for as price is concerned. No revolution is really coming. Just few glitzy shopping marts are coming so that slightly well off people can enjoy the "experience" even though they might be paying more for something they used to pay less!

We clearly aren't creating Wal-Mart here. So pardon me for dampening everyone's spirit here but unless these marts are meant to bring down the price of daily commodities, whats the point?

The big chains can buy in bulk and direct from the manufacturers. So they can sell at lower prices than the MRP. The kirana store cannot often do that because by the time the product reaches its shelves it has gone through two or three middlemen.

Also big format stores can sell a much wider range of stuff and several brands that a kirana shop cannot. Some of them are even starting their own brands which will be priced lower than the well known brands and often of equal quality.

So it is incorrect to say that the big format retail stores have nothing to offer as far as prices are concerned. Their pricing on food products is very competitive and often cheaper.

Big retail chains will create employment for the low skilled or entry level people. Their salaries may be low but they too will pay income taxes. Small shops are mostly family run and they hire (or rather enslave and mistreat) workers from impoverished states. No income taxes here. Big retail chains will have to maintain accounts and they will pay taxes on whatever they sell. Kirana store owners are always running on 'losses' if you believe their owners. I read a few months back that in one big Punjab city the authorities discovered that one Mcdonalds (yes just one) pays 90% of the taxes although its sales was estimated to be about 10% of the total sales being made by all restaurants in the city.

But it will have to be the consumer's choice. If someone likes going to the bazaar through the muck and the smells and the cows and buy fresh fruits and vegetables and someone else prefers airconditioned comfort while buying fruits and vegetables - it is a personal choice. No one is forcing anyone to shop at any particular place.

Illusionist

August 16th, 2007, 09:23 PM

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/60210c3a-d80f-4975-b3f8-25fae7f0cd04/reliance_getty_081507.jpg
^^ cool

Tron

August 16th, 2007, 09:40 PM

RelianceMart - Ahmedabad.

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/6696/reliancemartke4.jpg

Photo Source: Divya Bhaskar Ahmedabad 08/15/07
Gah! It looks ugly. Why do they put a hundred banners in front of the shop? It looks like someone swallowed many different colours of paint and then vomited on the store.

Paddington

August 17th, 2007, 12:12 AM

Tron

August 17th, 2007, 12:36 AM

August 17th, 2007, 02:23 PM

Suncity

August 17th, 2007, 02:28 PM

Overpriced? India has such a thing called MRP. Question we should ask is, are these "mega" marts selling below MRP? Does anyone know?

Yes, they do. Sometimes in ways like buy one bag get second bag half off or maybe free.

irutavias

August 17th, 2007, 03:07 PM

MRP will become obsolete if people keep undercutting the retail price.

Suncity

August 17th, 2007, 05:09 PM

MRP will become obsolete if people keep undercutting the retail price.

MRP is just a suggested price.

purapagal

August 17th, 2007, 05:38 PM

Euromast

August 17th, 2007, 07:03 PM

Charting out a new growth strategy for India, soft drinks major Coca Cola today said it would turn to the country for its global services in different areas, including engineering and technical R&D, while announcing plans to enter new product segments.

The company, which also unveiled a new corporate logo keeping in tune with its new strategy, is also planning to set up retail university in India, besides setting up an equipment testing centre in Hyderabad to test coolers for Asia-Pacific.

"In the past four consecutive quarters, we have delivered good growth, with the last quarter clocking 12%. To enhance it further, our new initiative will follow a five-point strategy involving people, planet, portfolio, partners and performance," Coca Cola India President and CEO Atul Singh said

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=26642

Tron

August 17th, 2007, 07:39 PM

Overpriced? India has such a thing called MRP. Question we should ask is, are these "mega" marts selling below MRP? Does anyone know?

MRP is just the Maximum price they can sell it for. There's no set minimum price. It depends on the retailer - larger retailers can even afford to sell specific products below cost for a short time to capture market share. They more than make up for the loss through other products they sell, and in the market share they gain. Besides, the more they sell, the cheaper the price they get from the manufacturer.

Btw, as a comparison, there's no price printed on the product itself in the US and many other developed countries. All you have on the product is a barcode that uniquely identifies the product and the packaging. The price is only displayed on the shelf, and you see it when you check out on the billing machine's display and your receipt. So, individual retailers vary the prices often, and they vary it as often as weekly for some products. You will see special prices for some products every week. They also print coupons on newspapers or send coupons in junk mail. They also have "regular shopper cards" which give special discounts on some products, which they keep changing frequently.

Once big retailers capture the market and have a good competition between them, I expect this kind of tactics to become common in India too.

Euromast

August 19th, 2007, 12:34 PM

NEW DELHI: On the heels of Bharti Enterprises and Wal-Mart announcing their joint venture for wholesale cash and carry business, Mukesh Ambani-promoted Reliance Retail is entering the same business segment with plans of supplying to kirana stores and institutional buyers.

The business-to-business initiative from Reliance Retail will see it supplying to other retailers and even small neighbourhood stores.

"We will ensure supply materials to small kirana stores and institutional buyers like hotels, restaurants and other contractors," Reliance Retail President and Chief Executive Raghu Pillai said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2292077.cms

Cov Boy

August 19th, 2007, 04:27 PM

There will be no love lost from my end when the shopkeeps of India go bust. The Mom & Pop retailers there are terrible, selling overpriced goods in horrible condition. They name different prices for different people based on their perceived ability to pay. YOU ALL KNOW IT'S TRUE! They will not be missed when the Reliance Mart's and Vishal Mega Mart's eat them alive.

And the latter won't be missed when Walmart eats them alive.

Reliance Mart looks cool and perhaps better inside. :)

Yeah i agree the "mom & pop" stores rip people off eps. tourists! :ohno:

If they know you are from outside the country like USA, Europe etc the price is inflated! I know this as I have experienced this myself. Every customer pays different prices to what they can afford. Shop keepers know by looking at how people are dressed, speak and by their mannerisms on how to price items. Also you must know the art of haggling them in return so you pay a fair price i.e. win-win solution. If you can't haggle you have had it!

So I think these stores are welcome in a country where the organised sector is fairly primative.

There will be many people in India who would still buy their groceries, etc from "Mom and Pop" stores so they wont be killed off so quickly. With a billion people their is enough shoppers to go round!

Suncity

August 19th, 2007, 06:20 PM

Big Bazaar in Darjeeling, WB

Photo copyright lobsangyadartsang

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/4756/bigbazaaardarjeelinglobgy8.jpg

pding

August 19th, 2007, 06:43 PM

The biggest benefit of organized retail if an effective supply-chain providing logistics to the store. Currently with the totally dis-organized APMC yards we have 25% of fresh produce (fruits&veggies) gets spoiled due to non-refrigerated storage, bad transportation and too many middle-men handling the stuff. Going forward as each of the retailers build their logistics this loss should come down and they should also provide a direct supply from farmer-to-plate.

good point. this is prolly the biggest advantage of having organised retail.

IndiansUnite

August 20th, 2007, 02:43 AM

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/969/20082007702015bw5.jpg

kannan infratech

August 20th, 2007, 04:48 PM

MRP is just a suggested price.

The Finance Ministry has a law saying that the MRP will be the base price for fixing Excise Duty on the products (ED = say 16% on 65% of the MRP). This was to check the retailers (especially Kirana Stores) to keep a higher MRP and give a discount. (I have seen Kirana Stores owners forcing the sales force of suppliers to keep a higher MRP).

After the advent of Retail revolution, the market forces decide the price and MRP has almost lost its purpose (though it still gives an indication to the unwary consumers). The groceries and vegetables are priced as per the market forces now. Big companies like Reliance may even sell at cost for some time to make inroads into a market and hike later.

Another change in our attitude which is significant : How may of us remember the previous purchase prices or prices at different malls. Most of us go by friends / peers' advice or check it out ourselves in a few malls - only at first time. After that, we go by what the price tag says and the discounts offered in that particular mall.

Marketing has overtaken Sales.

Zailsingh

August 20th, 2007, 06:21 PM

I found trinetra chain of stores(called Fabmall in certain cities and since aditya birla has taken over this and merged with his existing chain of storesthey may have a different name in pune and other cities) beat the other stores in terms of price in many items consistently.Not like the introductory offer and then hike the prices.
1.Kissan Jam (MRP Rs 68) . They always sell at Rs58.50
2. Onions and potatoes
3.sugar and sugar based items (Rs15-16/kg of sugar)etc to quote a few.
The stores in comparison here are Food bazaar/spencers/Reliance.

superdesi2100

August 22nd, 2007, 02:26 PM

Rich steal the show at RIL mart
Just 5 Days Into Launch, Co Catches 100 Affluent Shop-Lifters

THESE days, Reliance is battling a new bane of sorts — shoplifting. The rich and affluent shop-lifters in the city are giving a tough time to the retailer who has just opened its hypermart in the city. Just five days into the high-profile launch, RelianceMart has already caught around 100 shop-lifters.

A few trying to walk out in new pair of shoes, some trying their hand on garments and a few running away with shaving razors. But interestingly, it were the alert securitymen and staffers and not the 125 CCTVs installed in the 1.65 lakh square feet store, who caught the shoplifters red-handed.

“Internationally, the pilferage ratio is around 2%. But it is increasing mainly as around 60% of pilferage happens because of employees,” said Piyush Sinha, professor of marketing at IIM-A. In India. the average pilferage is around 1.5-2%. The overcrowding in retail spaces is proving to be a boon for the shoplifters who sneak in the outlets as genuine shoppers. However, shop-lifting is no more a rage in India and retailers are already trying to address the issue by having advanced security and closed monitoring systems. According to Reliance, it caught around 36 people on August 16, 22 on August 17, 18 on August 18 and 23 on August 19.

While Reliance which has recently forayed into retail is facing issues only now, Future group, Piramyd retail, Tatas and more registered high cases of pilferage soon after their launch. Even during riots, a group of rich and affluent was busy shop-lifting after the stone pelting at the Pantaloons and Westside stores on CG Road in Ahmedabad.

Economic Times August 22, 2007

Euromast

August 22nd, 2007, 05:06 PM

Donot the products have bar codes?? and when somebody leaves the store without paying, the alarm goes.

purapagal

August 22nd, 2007, 07:34 PM

Donot the products have bar codes?? and when somebody leaves the store without paying, the alarm goes.

Bar codes are just printed lines on a product packaging, mainly used to identify the product's UPC code. It cannot trigger any alarms since it needs to be scanned by a reader. Alarms are triggered by RIFD chips (basically chips that transmit radio waves) attached to the product. These are normally de-activated or removed by the check-out cashier. If not then when passing through the shop exits the detectors installed there detects the the radio waves and an alarm goes off.

Luckystreak

August 23rd, 2007, 04:13 PM

Mayawati's googly stuns Mukesh Ambani (http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/aug/23up.htm)

Relience chief executive officer Mukesh Ambani was in for a shock on Thursday morning when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati ordered the closure of all Reliance Fresh stores in Lucknow.

The decision coincides with a roll back of the new farm policy that was announced barely 20 days ago on August 3.

Announcing the government's decision at a hurriedly convened press conference in Lucknow on Thursday, Mayawati said, "The opening of Reliance Fresh stores in Lucknow yesterday sparked off trouble at various places, so we have taken a decision to shut these in the larger interest of law and order."

Ten stores of Reliance Fresh were launched in the state capital on Wednesday and had registered record sales as compared to any other part of the country on a single day.

The stores were opened as a consequence of the government's new farm policy that was proudly proclaimed by Mayawati herself as one that would do away with middle-men in the agriculture sector.

While no violence took place at any of the stores, only mild protests by a Samajwadi Party led trader organisation were witnessed outside some of the stores. Neither was any damage caused to any of the stores nor was any one injured in the attempted storming of one of the stores.

Things in certain states continue to be the same.:bash:

See the video from Lucknow. People setting fire to a Reliance fresh store. :bash:

http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/47327/maya-raises-red-flag-on-rel-fresh-retail-chains.html

Zailsingh

August 24th, 2007, 11:03 AM

It is not only Reliance Fresh, but the retail chain "Spencers" is also at the receiving end.

Bad precedent.Now there will be some copycat elements who will try this in their states.
Just few weeks back we celebrated india's 60th independence day... Independence from what and for what.....

ajay_ijn

August 24th, 2007, 01:18 PM

I want to how much giants like reliance or the walmart can help the farmer. especially about the setting the correct price. The one big storage problem should be solved as these retail firms enter.
But what other advantages for farmers will be there?

pding

August 24th, 2007, 08:20 PM

aldgate

August 24th, 2007, 10:59 PM

harsh1802

August 25th, 2007, 02:00 AM

Mayawati's googly stuns Mukesh Ambani (http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/aug/23up.htm)

Things in certain states continue to be the same.:bash:

See the video from Lucknow. People setting fire to a Reliance fresh store. :bash:

http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/47327/maya-raises-red-flag-on-rel-fresh-retail-chains.html

:wtf: :wallbash:

kannan infratech

August 28th, 2007, 11:52 AM

For the person above who has said what are the advantages

For the Farmer
1>Better Price(No Middlemen, Mandis etc)...2 or more bigger chains ensure competition.
2>Access to Better technology and knowhow(Its in the Best Interest of the Chain to have a higher yield per acre).
3>Better Cold Chain/Storage Facilities would mean less wastage
4>Would be given a choice of crops to grow (if he is smart then he can select the most profitable one)

For the Consumer
1>Access to more Products with better quality.
Do you prefer to buy the produce on the Dirty Street or in a Cleaner Mart?
What about Milk which is adulterated like hell in India..you will get good quality stuff here at ...
2>Cheaper Products(Products would be hedged in Forward Mkts to ensure a minimum Price)
3>Cheaper deals as the produce near expiration...

For the Nation
1>These Big corporates pay Tax and all the transactions are done using a Bank...

We dont need Small Shop Keepers
1>These guys dont pay Income Tax
2>Adulterate Stuff
3>Bring No Quality..Sell Above MRP ...Hoard things during times of Calamity

We dont need MiddleMen
1>No Value Add
2>These guys dont pay Income Tax

well said aldgate. I just want to add this caution as we should also understand the other side..

You can not wish away the street vendors and street corner shops since they also cater to the lower strata of the society, who generally do not / can not visit the malls / chain shops for all practical purposes.

Indian economy thrives on the great entrepreneurship of its ordinary citizens. The govt is not able to give education or jobs to its poorer citizens. But we have been seeing great salesmen / women and technicians on the streets, markets and pavements. Millions of these people support the economy in their own way.

I have been watching Nadars from Tamil Nadu who can not speak proper English or Hindi doing big business in North India (Match boxes, Pulses, Crackers, Edible Oils), Gounders doing Textile and Turmeric business, Gujus from Surat selling textiles in South, Bengalis doing Jute business in West and South, Atrtisans from UP selling locks, brasswares in West & South, Punjabis selling lathes & engg goods, Marwadis doing plywood business etc.

Workers from Rajasthan doing Marble work, UP doing wood work, Assam & orissa doing Painting work, Bihar doing Steel Bar bending, AP doing earth moving, dam building, Kerala doing skilled works like welding, TN laying roads, drilling for water, lorry transport all over India without any corporate help.

The organised retail is good but only for a section of the society. This should be encouraged to a point, beyond which it may be harmful to the traditional business, which has been evolving over thousands of years.

Since the Govt and the political parties do not care for both poor and the well to do, they formulate policies without much forethought which affect all our lives.

Recently the price of the pulses went up in Madurai market due to the newly evolving Commodity trading over the net and farmers did not benefit and only the traders benefitted. The price of Coconut is very costly in Kerala because all the Coconuts are sent outside.

The western systems are well organised and documented but we should adapt the same to our system and should not blindly follow what they did. We may learn a few tricks from China and they seem to handle the western systems in much better way than we do.

Paddington

August 29th, 2007, 08:16 AM

well said aldgate. I just want to add this caution as we should also understand the other side..

You can not wish away the street vendors and street corner shops since they also cater to the lower strata of the society, who generally do not / can not visit the malls / chain shops for all practical purposes.

Indian economy thrives on the great entrepreneurship of its ordinary citizens. The govt is not able to give education or jobs to its poorer citizens. But we have been seeing great salesmen / women and technicians on the streets, markets and pavements. Millions of these people support the economy in their own way.

I have been watching Nadars from Tamil Nadu who can not speak proper English or Hindi doing big business in North India (Match boxes, Pulses, Crackers, Edible Oils), Gounders doing Textile and Turmeric business, Gujus from Surat selling textiles in South, Bengalis doing Jute business in West and South, Atrtisans from UP selling locks, brasswares in West & South, Punjabis selling lathes & engg goods, Marwadis doing plywood business etc.

Workers from Rajasthan doing Marble work, UP doing wood work, Assam & orissa doing Painting work, Bihar doing Steel Bar bending, AP doing earth moving, dam building, Kerala doing skilled works like welding, TN laying roads, drilling for water, lorry transport all over India without any corporate help.

The organised retail is good but only for a section of the society. This should be encouraged to a point, beyond which it may be harmful to the traditional business, which has been evolving over thousands of years.

Since the Govt and the political parties do not care for both poor and the well to do, they formulate policies without much forethought which affect all our lives.

Recently the price of the pulses went up in Madurai market due to the newly evolving Commodity trading over the net and farmers did not benefit and only the traders benefitted. The price of Coconut is very costly in Kerala because all the Coconuts are sent outside.

The western systems are well organised and documented but we should adapt the same to our system and should not blindly follow what they did. We may learn a few tricks from China and they seem to handle the western systems in much better way than we do.

It doesn't matter if they've been doing it for 10 years or 10,000 years. It's not the responsiblity of the rest of society to prop up a small number of craftsmen or small time retailers. I thought this idiotic debate had already been settled? :bash: In Europe, they were able to move past this hundreds of years ago. The Japanese did the same 100 years ago. And the Chinese have been doing so since the 1970's. Only in India are people still stuck on the idea of holding back the rest of society to prop up the primitive ways of a select few. :ohno:

If you don't like the Reliance stores then don't go shop in them. It's as simple as that.

kannan infratech

August 29th, 2007, 01:22 PM

It doesn't matter if they've been doing it for 10 years or 10,000 years. It's not the responsiblity of the rest of society to prop up a small number of craftsmen or small time retailers. I thought this idiotic debate had already been settled? :bash: In Europe, they were able to move past this hundreds of years ago. The Japanese did the same 100 years ago. And the Chinese have been doing so since the 1970's. Only in India are people still stuck on the idea of holding back the rest of society to prop up the primitive ways of a select few. :ohno:

If you don't like the Reliance stores then don't go shop in them. It's as simple as that.

Please read what I have said thoroughly and carefully. Passing a comment without comprehension and mentioning something without some basis will not help anybody.

india

August 29th, 2007, 06:06 PM

India is as fraked up as it was in 1991. Much though we like to talk about progress, India hasn't really progressed at all.

I am in complete disagreement with Paddington's views myself. That said, if you indeed are unable to see India's growth over the past decade and a half then you are as blind as a bat.

Euromast

August 29th, 2007, 10:21 PM

New Delhi: Things seem to be looking up slightly for Reliance retail. The company has been facing stiff opposition in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. But now there is support from unexpected quarters in the very same states.

The angry protest against Reliance retail that has now forced the West Bengal government into damage control mode. Embarrassed by the attack led by coalition partner Forward Bloc, the Bengal government now says it will give blanket security cover to Reliance Retail outlets across the state - even at the risk of alienating its ally.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/up-farmers-up-in-arms-in-support-of-reliance-fresh/47699-7.html

cncity

September 1st, 2007, 03:13 PM

http://www.ishanya.com/

India’s largest Design Centre and Speciality Mall, ISHÃNYA, today announced that the country’s largest Croma, the Electronics Store from the Tata Group had formally been opened by Mr. Kishore Chaukar, Director Tata Sons.

At 28,000 sq.ft, this Croma store from the reputed Tata Group, will be India’s largest. Befitting, that it should be housed within India's largest Design Centre and Speciality Mall for interiors and exteriors.

Ishanya is a destination where anyone who wants anything in interior and exterior products, design, or services can congregate, exchange ideas, browse or buy. The name Ishanya means north-east in Sanskrit, the most auspicious direction according to the ancient Indian science of Vaastu-Shastra. And Ishanya is located very conveniently in the North East of Pune.

“There is nothing quite like Ishanya anywhere in India, and indeed perhaps the world. It will be a pan-India Design Centre and Speciality Mall dedicated to offering all its customers – whether shoppers for the home or office or professionals in the design industry or builder /developers or service providers a unique combination of ideas, expertise and solutions. It will be a must-visit destination for everyone interested in good design whether is consumer or its business aspects. Its unique partnerships with the IIID and CCPS, and indeed other bodies, will make Ishanya a thought-leader – a destination for retail and inspiration,” said Mr. S. C. Mehta, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Deepak Fertilisers And Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd.

With 5,50,000 square feet of retail and services space, Ishanya is a single sourcing point for 52 categories of products and services, materials and knowledge, drawn from across the best in India and across the globe. Over the next few weeks, the remainder of Ishanya’s over 100 outlets offering more than 5000 brands, all dedicated to interiors and exteriors will open their doors by this festive season. Its range offers very wide choices right from the truly price competitive to the ultra-designer league. By night Ishanya will convert into the cultural hub of Pune with an amphitheatre that will form the destination for all performing arts and multi-media shows or even a venue for corporate events.

Ishanya, will be truly unique in that it will also offer art galleries, specialized centres for design, training and research, seminars and exhibitions, features that will truly make it a design destination like never before. Moreover, it is the only Design Centre endorsed by the Indian Institute of Interior Designers (IIID) and Confederation of Construction Products and Services (CCPS).

The IIID will have its chapter office at Ishanya, with a Knowledge and Research Centre the that it will run. Ishanya and IIID will work together to create opportunities for learning whether you are a professional in the business of interiors and exteriors or whether you a simply a consumer looking for knowledge and help.

The Ishanya-CCPS Training and Development Centre will train engineers, supervisory staff, craftsmen, consumers and laymen on the correct selection, usage and application of various products and materials in interiors and exteriors. The centre will also hold seminars, conventions, workshops and training sessions to raise quality and design of indigenous products and services to world standards. Ishanya’s CCPS tie-up enables us to provide our customers a huge database for product suppliers and service providers including CCPS trained craftsmen.

Mr. I. S. Narula, CEO & President, Ishanya said,” Over and above the extensive range of products what makes Ishanya truly unique is its service aspects. We have a Mock-up & Simulation Centre which will be the place to see what your home or office can look like even before it leaves the drawing board. Our Knowledge Centre will offer information and inspiration at your fingertips. Best of all we will offer Design Solutions with Architects, Interior Decorators and Landscapers at hand to advise and inspire. Ishanya’s proposition is truly the most comprehensive that one can get in the space design field.”

http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/pressnews/ish%C3%83nya-opens-croma-the-electronics-store/17/51/300873

irutavias

September 1st, 2007, 04:14 PM

I think all the other retail chains will be too late, as Reliance will have captured most of the market by the time.

cncity

September 3rd, 2007, 12:43 AM

Infiniti to open 40 stores, invest Rs 900 crore

PUNE: Infiniti Retail, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, plans to rollout 40 mega and small electronics stores by March 2008 in eight major cities of the country. The company, an electronic appliances and consumer goods retail chain, plans to take this number to over 100 stores by 2010.

According to reports, the company will invest close to Rs 900 crore over the next three years and will be funded by Rs 400 crore equity contribution by Tata Sons to open 40 stores this fiscal.

Infiniti Retail has two formats, the mega store being called Croma ranging in size of 10,000 to 30,000 sq.ft and Croma Zip in the size of 850 sq ft. The company will launch small as well as mega stores in places such as Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, Nashik, Baroda, New Mumbai and Pune.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Services/Infiniti_to_open_40_stores_invest_Rs_900_crore/articleshow/2332387.cms

harsh1802

September 3rd, 2007, 12:45 AM

Infiniti to open 40 stores, invest Rs 900 crore
3 Sep, 2007, 0342 hrs IST, TNN

PUNE: Infiniti Retail, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, plans to rollout 40 mega and small electronics stores by March 2008 in eight major cities of the country. The company, an electronic appliances and consumer goods retail chain, plans to take this number to over 100 stores by 2010.

According to reports, the company will invest close to Rs 900 crore over the next three years and will be funded by Rs 400 crore equity contribution by Tata Sons to open 40 stores this fiscal.

Infiniti Retail has two formats, the mega store being called Croma ranging in size of 10,000 to 30,000 sq.ft and Croma Zip in the size of 850 sq ft. The company will launch small as well as mega stores in places such as Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, Nashik, Baroda, New Mumbai and Pune.

Source: Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Services/Infiniti_to_open_40_stores_invest_Rs_900_crore/articleshow/2332387.cms)

Euromast

September 3rd, 2007, 09:33 PM

Kolkata, Sept 03: UK-based sports shoe maker Hi-Tec Sports Plc, which recently announced its entry into India, on Monday said it plans to set up exclusive stores in major state capitals by next year.

The company is looking at key cities Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore and proposes to open 25 outlets by 2010.

Having secured a strong foothold in 80 countries, Hi-Tec Sports Plc has decided to pursue its worldwide commercial strategy of focusing on the mid-price market segment here, said B D Nathani, director (sales and marketing) of Delhi-based Chogori (I) Ltd.

http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=392777&ssid=53&ssname=Companies%20and%20Commodities&sid=BUS&sname=LATEST-BUSINESS-NEWS

Euromast

September 3rd, 2007, 09:35 PM

International retail biggies Tesco and Carrefour may be holding back their India foray for now but international real estate developers like Plaza Centers are in no mood to slow down their India plans.

Europe's largest shopping mall developer Plaza Centers knows very well that the European retailers will make their entry here sooner rather than later. And that's why it is now getting ready for the action with brand new malls.

The LSE listed Plaze Centers will pump in Rs 5,000 crore in India to set up 50 shopping malls in next 5-7 years.

http://www.ndtvprofit.com/homepage/storybusinessnew.asp?id=40407&template=&ch=9/3/2007 11:26:00 PM

cncity

September 4th, 2007, 12:42 AM

MUMBAI: Europe's Plaza Centres NV has finalised plans to invest at least Rs 5,000 crore in India. A global major in the business of developing and managing shopping, entertainment and commercial centres, the company will develop 50 such centres across the country in the next 5-7 years.

According to Abraham (Rami) Goren, executive vice-chairman, Elbit Imaging Ltd, owners of Plaza Centers, work has already begun on five entertainment and commercial centres. "There are two projects coming up in Pune. The one at Koregaon is spread across 5 lakh sq ft while the Kharadi project is a much larger one covering an area of 1 million sq ft," said Goren. Financing the developments in India will be done by the parent company that is based out of Israel.

The company is targeting potential markets in tier I, II and III cities, besides the metros. In fact, there are projects already under planning stage in cities like Bangalore, Kochi, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram.

"The way we work is by partnering with various developers in target markets. As for the developments already under execution, we have got into multiple partnerships in these locations and work is expected to start soon," said Yoram Barak, executive director, India real estate for Elbit India Real Estate Pvt Ltd.

Both Goren and Barak refrained from divulging any names of existing partners. However, market rumours indicate that one of the Pune projects is in association with Atul Chordia of Panchshil Realty.

Elaborating on their concept of Plaza Centers, Goren said that these would be world-class entertainment and commercial centres and will replicate the brand's global experience, expertise and success in India. The developments will not be restricted to shopping, entertainment and commercial space and will also include hotels, serviced apartments wherever possible.

In fact, Elbit Medical Imaging (EMI) has acquired and developed six hotels and an apartment hotel in five countries over the last 12 years.

The countries where the company has hospitality projects include The Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Romania. Additionally, EMI is currently developing another hotel in Bucharest, Romania.

"Plaza Centers has been instrumental in creating organised retailing in Eastern Europe after the collapse of communism. We have a consistent track record of success in some of the most difficult markets in the world," said Goren.

Listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), Plaza Centers NV currently operates from Bangalore under the name Plaza Centres India. The company is in the process of setting up offices across several key Indian cities.

Since its inception a decade ago, the company has created 42 entertainment and commercial centres across nine countries in Europe.

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1119584

luvBlore

September 5th, 2007, 09:13 AM

4 Sep, 2007, 2320 hrs IST, PTI

MUMBAI: Tata Enterprises' retail arm Infiniti Retail Ltd will invest Rs 320 crore in consumer electronic Croma chain crore by March 2008, a top company official said.

"We will foray in Bangalore by the first week of October, while in Delhi by December," Tata Enterprises CEO and Managing Director Ajit Joshi said on Tuesday at the sidelines of the Indian Retail Forum 2007.

"In Bangalore we will have two stores by October and by December we plan to have more than 12 stores," he said.

From the present nine stores, there will be around 40 Infiniti stores by March 2008, he said.

"Each store would be of around 8,000-10,000 square feet," he added.

Another format will also be launched where the area of the stores will be around 12,000 to 15,000 square feet, he said.

He said that the main concerns in the retail sector are real estate and trained workforce.

luvBlore

September 5th, 2007, 12:44 PM

S Mart is a chain of retail food and grocery stores with 13 outlets in prominent residential areas of Bangalore.

Mumbai: The Wadhawan group on 5 Septemebr marked its entry into the retail segment in southern India with the acquisition of S Mart, a Bangalore-based retail company.
The group has acquired around 76% stake in S Mart through its retail arm Wadhawan Food Retail Pvt Ltd (WFRL) for an undisclosed amount.
S Mart is a chain of retail food and grocery stores with 13 outlets in prominent residential areas of Bangalore, primarily operating its supermarkets on the neighbourhood format with specific focus on home delivery.
“This acquisition is a part of our expansion plan and marks our foray in southern India. Currently, we have acquired around 76% of S Mart and very soon we will acquire nearly 96% of the company,” WFRL Director, Kapil Wadhawan, said in a statement here.
This acquisition would provide WFRL with the local knowledge to operate in Bangalore efficiently and “we wish to leverage this learning by setting up another 50 S Mart retail stores in Bangalore by the end of next fiscal”, Wadhawan said.
WFRL already has a presence in the retail space with Spinach in retail food and grocery segment in Maharashtra and in non-store format of Direct to Home business through Sangam.
In addition, it operates in north through Sabka Bazaar. In Maharashtra, the company also has a management contract with an established chain of co-operative stores Maratha Co-operative.
WFRL has a presence in the consumer market with 89 stores across India and plans to open 1,500 stores over the next four years.

robin_a_p

September 5th, 2007, 12:52 PM

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1119584

http://www.inrnews.com/realestateproperty/india/thiruvananthapuram/plaza_centers_acquires_land_in.html

London, UK, June 19, 2007 - Plaza Centers N.V., a leading emerging markets property developer, today announces that, in a 50%:50% joint venture with a leading Indian property developer, it has acquired a plot of land with an area of approximately 10.78 acres (approximately 43,600 sq m), situated in Trivandrum, the capital city of the State of Kerala, India.

The total cost of the land (including acquisition costs) amounted to approximately 1,060 million Rupees (approximately £13.4 million).

Plaza and its partner intend to use the plot to develop a project totalling approximately 2.1 million sq ft (195,000 sq m), which is currently intended to comprise:

- A shopping and entertainment centre with a total area of approximately 720,000 sq ft (approximately 67,000 sq m);
- An office complex with a total area approximately 970,000 sq ft (approximately 90,500 sq m);
- A hotel and apartment hotel with a total area of approximately 400,000 sq ft (approximately 37,500 sq m).

This acquisition follows the announcement on 26 February 2007 that Plaza had acquired stakes in two joint venture projects in India through two wholly owned subsidiaries. The first was a fourteen acre plot of land in the Kharadi district of Pune, Maharashtra State, India, on which Plaza and its JV partner intends to build a project totalling 2.4 million sq ft (225,000 sq m) which will include a shopping centre, office complex and serviced apartment facility. The second was a six acre plot of land located in Koregaon Park, an up-market area of Pune, on which the joint venture plans to construct a mixed-use scheme with a total area of 1,180,000 sq ft (approximately 107,000 sq m) comprising a shopping centre and office building. The total investment in these two projects is anticipated to be circa $265 million (approximately £136.2 million).

Commenting, Ran Shtarkman, the CEO of Plaza Centers, said:

“This transaction further demonstrates Plaza’s ambition to expand its activities beyond Central and Eastern Europe. Coupled with the acquisition of our first strategic development projects in India, which was announced earlier this year in February, today’s announcement marks a significant step in advancing Plaza Centers’ presence in India. We look forward to bringing further transactions in India to fruition for our investors.”

Euromast

September 6th, 2007, 03:07 PM

:cheers:
Mumbai: India's 36 billionaires and over 1 lakh high net worth individuals might queue up in south Mumbai in about a week.

It is because the world's largest selling Italian luxury brand, Gucci, is about to move into a swanky flagship store there.

Gucci will set up its flagship store for India. The Murjani Group will bring to India, Gucci, which AC Nielsen has rated as India's most desirable brand.

“In the luxury space we have Gucci, Jimmy Choo and La Perla. India's fascination for luxury is only growing,” says MD, Murjani Group, Vijay Murjani.

Luxury brands are growing popular in India because of India's unprecedented economic growth in the past few yearsThe Murjanis have already brought to India premium brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klien and FCUK but they are in no hurry to expand geographically.

“It is not important to have the most number of stores in luxury. It is important to have the best stores,” says Murjani.

So a 3,000 square foot space that looks like a construction site, will transform itself into a one of its kind luxury destination with Gucci, and the luxury retail market in India will finally start a new chapter.

Cov Boy

September 7th, 2007, 01:07 AM

Hey that's good news and interesting.

I know there is Louis V. store in the Taj Hotel and Versace in CR2 in Nariman Point.

Wonder where this store will be located?

luvBlore

September 7th, 2007, 05:07 AM

"After successfully establishing their lifestyle stores, Paradox One and Paradox Pink in Delhi and Mumbai respectively, Raseel Gujral Ansal and Navin Ansal now launches 'Paradox Black' in the fast growing city of Bangalore at 21, Wood Street, Ashok Nagar, Bangalore - 25."

New Delhi, Delhi, IND, 2007-09-06 11:51:32 (IndiaPRwire.com)
successfully establishing their lifestyle stores, Paradox One and Paradox Pink in Delhi and Mumbai respectively, Raseel Gujral Ansal and Navin Ansal now launches 'Paradox Black' in the fast growing city of Bangalore at 21, Wood Street, Ashok Nagar, Bangalore - 25.

Email Print Download PDF Add to Google RSS New Delhi, Delhi, IND, 2007-09-06 11:51:32 (IndiaPRwire.com) Downloads
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After successfully establishing their lifestyle stores, Paradox One and Paradox Pink in Delhi and Mumbai respectively, Raseel Gujral Ansal and Navin Ansal now launches ‘Paradox Black’ in the fast growing city of Bangalore at 21, Wood Street, Ashok Nagar, Bangalore – 25.

The 4000 square feetBangalore store designed by the duo is located on the high streets of Wood Streetand has been designed and conceived keeping in mind the design aesthetics of Casa Paradox and the lifestyle of the contemporary customer.

The store apt to its name, has a black and gold colour theme and has a chic and contemporary décor with a lot of attention to detail.

Paradox Black is more an experience than a run of the mill retail store. It is the latest statement from Casa Paradox and the language is contemporary and glamorous

The store houses furniture which is decidedly contemporary , however steers away from the sterility of minimalism. The philosophy is maximal with a subliminal Indian flavour. It is hence individual & makes a personality statement.

“A tremendous influx from the South of India, motivated us to create an accessible point in the south for our clients. Hyderabad, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore and Bangalore have been recognized by us to be an emerging market, and Bangalore is the most appealing hub to coalesce all these areas. In the past year, we have been moving even further away from the monochrome & sterility that has pervaded the interior vocabulary. With us, as is internationally, there is resurge of romance and a celebration of ornament. This was expressed, at one extreme, as our mirrored limited edition collection ‘Narcicuss’ in April 2007. We have now incorporated this opulent & glamorous vocabulary into the broader spectrum of our design statement. It emerges as what one can only term as

‘The Opera line’ ”, says Raseel Ansal, Creative Head, Casa Paradox.

Paradox black will introduce ‘The Opera Line’, first in Bangalore. A mood that celebrates mood, fantasy, drama, opulence and luxury while still remaining current and contemporary. This shift has been articulated with the adoption of voluptuous forms in timbers.Lush fabric, silk, velvets, Satins, pearlised leathers, semi precious stones, crystal accents and rich colour, exaggerated pattern in interiors as well as on furniture bodies. Pieces are embellished with a jewel like detail on hardware or in the inlay. Floor coverings that are washed out Mughal patterns with a vocabulary that is global, as well as others that have pattern rendered tone on tone in intense fashion colours.

The accompanying accessories in lamps, vase, planters, cushions, etc carry this all pervasive atmosphere forward, in form, colour material and ornament. Paradox Black opens the first aria of this Opera. The interiors and everything else within the space are the first to showcase this mood & presentation. The theme is theatrical. Drama, opulence, sensuality and over the top luxe. An atmosphere that can only be understood by personal experience, as images and words lose the flavour in translation.

The stores in Mumbai & Delhi will also acquire the same collection from September onwards.

ParadoxBlackwill evolve as an interior designer's heaven that offers complete and real class to its patrons. Says Navin Ansal, "We attend all the important fairs, visit all the ateliers of Italian potters to bring this collection together." Whilst Casa Paradox, the design division creates complete interiors on a turnkey basis, Paradox One in New Delhi and Paradox Pink in Mumbai have been presenting and now Paradox Black in Bangalore will present a perfect window to the Paradox quality of design chic, sleek and refreshingly new.

- End -

Casa Paradox
The house of Paradox, which came into being in 1993 was created by Raseel & Navin Ansal and imbued with their skills & temperament.

An extremely original & personal signature characterizes this brand, which is synonymous with innovation and aspirational style. It has an individual flavour which while being international does not negate the vocabulary of its origin. A premium luxury brand, it now has three retail arms, Paradox One in Delhi, Paradox Pink in Mumbai and Paradox Black in Bangalore. Ludhiana, Calcutta, Dubai & London are sequentially on its radar. Being a design led company, the endeavor is to have this knowledge add value to even to a retail customer. Hence the attempt is to present & promote a concept, rather than sell furniture. Design is used as a medium to enhance the customers’ lifestyle and to translate it into a positive experience. The company is constantly producing new designs to keep the vocabulary current and fresh. There is also the dimension of home accessories, personally resourced from across the globe to complete the environment. There is a constant influx of new merchandise in this segment. In summary, Casa Paradox endeavours to constantly better its best and continue to be recognized as the foremost Indian lifestyle brand.

vibs89

September 7th, 2007, 05:09 AM

Hey that's good news and interesting.

I know there is Louis V. store in the Taj Hotel and Versace in CR2 in Nariman Point.

Wonder where this store will be located?

It will be open in Nariman Points at Hilton Towers.

cncity

September 7th, 2007, 06:05 PM

Growing each day

Malls are fast turning into the most happening place in a city. The increase in prosperity of middle class people due to high economic growth in the country has made India the destination of premium products of famous brands.

The seven large cities - NCR of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune - have the largest share of mall revolution in the country. According to a Knight Frank report, out of the total 361 expected mall projects in the country, 227 are in the top seven cities while the rest 134 are distributed over various smaller towns like Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Indore and other similar cities.

Booming service sector in the metro and other big cities has created a new class of consumers. Because of the boom in these sectors, the average age of getting a job has come down to late teens in the big cities. This has made them available disposable income at a time when they have no other liabilities. Experts say this is the class, which is driving the growth of the mall culture in the country.

The merchants are finding it more profitable to do business in a mall than in the nearest high street area. Because of this, the rentals in malls are higher than that in the nearest high street. Take for example in Noida sector 18, which is considered to be one of most posh shopping areas of NCR. The rentals in the high street shops in area is around Rs 225 to Rs 270 per sq ft per month. As against this, rentals in the malls of the area is in the range of Rs 300 to Rs 350 per sq ft per month.

This trend has also provided opportunities to real estate developers to develop malls. In almost all the new townships that are being developed, there is a provision of mall. According to Cushman and Wakefield, NCR is expected to have over 100 malls and shopping arcades covering approximately 25 million sq ft built up area by 2009. A majority of the proposed mall developments in the city suburbs are planned as mixed use developments that offer shopping, entertainment, commercial, hotel and amusement parks.

MALL AS A DRIVER

More,

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET_Reality/Growing_each_day/articleshow/2345918.cms

india

September 10th, 2007, 10:51 PM

HomeTown to revolutionize way Hyderabadis shop for their homes
September 10, 2007

Home Solutions Retail (India) Ltd, a part of the Future Group, announced the launch of ‘HomeTown’, India’s most comprehensive home making/ home improvement store, at Punjagutta, Hyderabad.

Spread over an area of about 1,83,000 sq.ft. (built up), HomeTown will provide consumers with all that goes into building a house and everything to make it a ‘Home’.

HomeTown offers consumers largest choice and variety under one roof and a specialized team of experts to set it all up for them at their homes.

In addition to retailing home improvement products, HomeTown will also provide services like electrical, plumbing, interior decoration, painting, etc. HomeTown will also have counters by Future Money, where consumers can avail of fast & easy finance on their purchases at HomeTown.

The Store is divided into three sections – exhibitions, markets and services. HomeTown will have live displays of various rooms such as living room, dining room, bedroom, kids' room, kitchen & bathroom in the exhibitions section.

Markets section will feature products like sofa sets, dining tables, beds, kids furniture, kitchen fittings, bathroom fittings, furnishings, mattresses, paints, tiles, electrical fittings, decor lighting, plywood, consumer durables and electronics (through eZone shop-in-shop), books & music (through Depot shop-in-shop), etc.

The services section will offer service options such as - Mr. Carpenter, Mr. Plumber, Mr. Electrician, Mr. Painter, Tilewala, DesignCentre, door delivery and installation. HomeTown will have over 90 live displays in the exhibitions section consisting of - 55 living room settings, 30 dining room settings, 25 kids room settings, 30 bed room settings, 22 kitchen settings and 26 bath room settings, offering consumers a wide variety, to choose from.

Said Kishore Biyani, Group CEO, Future Group, “Owning a home has always been the ultimate Indian dream. Currently, consumers have to visit multiple stores & markets, while building a home and have to often rely on advice from unqualified sources."

"HomeTown will address this consumer pain point by providing a single point destination for all their needs to build, equip and decorate their homes. Additionally, consumers will also get professional advice on various aspects, ranging from interiors, carpentry, plumbing, painting, etc for the home.”

Said, Mahesh Shah, CEO, HomeTown, “We believe HomeTown will revolutionize the way Hyderabadis shop for their homes. HomeTown’s promise to customers is a convenient shopping experience, where they can get value as well as lifestyle products, across a wide range of categories, all under one roof."

"The store has a good mix of products for budget-buyers, aspirational buyers and lifestyle buyers, with an underlying principle of keeping traditions alive in a contemporary world.”

HomeTown offers customers a unique, personalized shopping experience. Every customer walking into the store is escorted around the store by smartly dressed hosts and hostesses, who guide them about their requirements.

The look and feel of the store is casual and strikes a delicate balance between aesthetics and functionality. HomeTown will display products from all major manufacturers from India and abroad.

Customers will be given price, service and product guarantees. If customers find any products that they have purchased, cheaper elsewhere, they will be given a gift voucher of double the difference, provided they bring an original receipt within two days of purchase of the product.

HomeTown will also guarantee workmanship of the jobs that it undertakes, for one year from the time the job is completed. Every product or service provided is backed by the reliable manufacturers and service providers. In case of any manufacturing defect, consumers will get the option to exchange or refund the product.

Source: Fibre2Fashion (http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/company-news/pantaloon-retail-india/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=40746)

harsh1802

September 23rd, 2007, 05:07 PM

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1380/1427362593_21492c754b_b.jpg

and

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1255/1427363977_e21823d64a_b.jpg

and

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1317/1427364777_ee98df7023_b.jpg

and

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1322/1427361949_fdbac97ed7_b.jpg

Source: JoCan's photos @ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/9355057@N03/)

Bombay Boy

September 23rd, 2007, 05:26 PM

"thank you for shopping at q mart" would make me think its...q mart ;)

kronik

September 24th, 2007, 08:35 AM

I am surprised there is no mention here of all the brouhaha going on in UP and MP against Reliance Fresh. Let me be the first then.

I am sure most of us are aware of what has been going on in UP and MP, where the active and vocal produce vendors have teamed up and attacked Reliance Fresh stores at a number of places in both states.

I believe Reliance Fresh has now completely put its UP strategy on hold, and is looking at its options in MP. These hawkers say that it is all fine and dandy if Reliance sells non-perishable consumer goods and other food items, but should stay out of fresh produce, because they will put the thousands of street hawkers, or the 'thelas', out of business.

Uma Bharati, the former BJP politician, led the arson in Bhopal, I think, and was on TV discussing the issue. The anchor raised the point that retail will be the biggest employment generator in the coming years, saying that it will create more than 2 million jobs. She replied that but it will put the more than 4 crore street vendors out of business.

Apparently the consumer's preferences dont matter. If a few thousand grocery shops will put so many millions of such vendors out of business, it means consumers are shopping with them because there is no other choice. In an ideal, competitive economy, in the face of competition,
a) if you can't beat 'em, join 'em
b) change the way you work to be like them
c) find a different niche.

But here, we see large scale bullying, absolute lack of dialogue, and a constant browbeating that seems to step more from paranoia than an actual threat. Organized retail strengthens the delivery systems, the infrastructure, brings quality and efficiency in the farm sector, and provides a safe, clean and relaxed atmosphere for consumers. But of course, petty state level politicians will see none of it.

arijeetb

September 24th, 2007, 11:41 AM

harsh1802

September 25th, 2007, 02:40 AM

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1252/1420048525_21375db18b_o.jpg

Source: nikith's photos @ flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicks_space/)

dreadathecontrols

September 25th, 2007, 03:04 PM

kronik

September 25th, 2007, 06:48 PM

No arrests have been made anywhere in any state.

I think the retail revolution is here to stay, and whats happening in India today (be it at Nandigram, the R'Fresh ruckus etc) is much more than politics. This to me is similar to the Luddite movement during the industrial revolution, with the thousands of workers, farmers, hawkers afraid of the massive changes that they feel is threatening their livlihood.

Change is not easy, and there is no easy solution to this problem. It will take time, but I do hope that the government and especially the retailers themselves spend time and resources to explain the benefits and try to take all the displaced into their fold.

dreadathecontrols

September 25th, 2007, 07:25 PM

No arrests have been made anywhere in any state.

IThis to me is similar to the Luddite movement during the industrial revolution, with the thousands of workers, farmers, hawkers afraid of the massive changes that they feel is threatening their livlihood.

.

Yep could be.
'Enclosure' in the uk, when they took both the common land & small holdings & turned them into massive 'wool factories' made serfs out of lakhs.But it gave the Uk that competetive edge it needed to export & thus increase trade.
(BTW more than half the country were deemed too poor to pay taxes.Bit like india now!)
Change aint pretty for sure

Euromast

September 27th, 2007, 11:56 AM

/// Philadelphia, Sept 27: India will open up its USD 330 billion retail market to foreign investors after convincing mom and pop store owners that their jobs are not at threat from big players, Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said.

"In course of time their fears will be allayed and it is only a matter of time before the policy is tweaked to allow FDI in retail," he said during an interaction with students of Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania here.

While political opposition to allowing FDI is well known, there has been a growing opposition from tens of thousands of small retailers who employ millions of people to even entry of domestic corporates into the sector.

"Experience tells us (organised) retail does not drive them (small retailers) out. They will reorganise themselves and thrive. But there is genuine fear that has to be allayed," Chidambaram told students at a packed Dhirubhai Ambani Auditorium at the school after delivering the Wharton leadership lecture.

Earlier this week, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath had said that the issue was not about allowing FDI in retail but that of large versus small players. His ministry has asked economic think-tank ICrier to study the situation and the report is expected in a month.

Nath's comments had an unsettling effect on big companies, which have presence in retail, as only last month some of the corporate-run food stores received orders to shut shop in Uttar Pradesh. The state government, which cited law and order problems for the decision, has appointed its own commission to study the problem, but the report is yet to be tabled.

Bombay Boy

September 27th, 2007, 12:59 PM

"only a matter of time"

translated from indian politician-speak - "we have no fucking idea when"

dreadathecontrols

September 27th, 2007, 03:55 PM

What d'you rekons the solution to the UP retail prob BB?

kronik

September 27th, 2007, 09:03 PM

there is no straightforward solution at all. I meant most reforms need politicians with balls, and very few have them.

Heres the thing about UP. Before all this took place, Mayawati had brought out an excellent Agricultural policy that would have freed the agricultural sector in the state from the yokels of the middleman and mandis. It would have been a revolution of sorts, but now with these protests, that has been culled as well. I don't blame just her though. Good decisions have been rescinded at all levels of the government because the ones that were affected protested most loudly and violently, even if the decision was for a greater good of the nation.

dreadathecontrols

September 28th, 2007, 02:34 PM

kronik

September 30th, 2007, 01:05 PM

Now that Reliance Fresh has pulled out of Ulta Pradesh, it had to let go more than a thousand employees, and now they have taken to the streets, threatening suicide and protesting against Mayawati. So what will Behenji do?

Funny how our society works. The government will get brickbats from both sides, but I doubt they will ever come face to face to try to sort it out themselves.

india

October 1st, 2007, 04:59 PM

Carrefour to enter India as wholesaler
Monday, 01 October, 2007

French retailer Carrefour, which had held talks with several Indian companies for a joint venture, may now enter the country through the wholesale cash-and-carry route.

According to sources, the world's second-largest retailer is preparing to inform its decision to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

Since 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) is allowed in the wholesale cash-and-carry route, Carrefour is most likely to come on its own, without any Indian partner.

If it does take the plunge as a wholesaler, Carrefour would merely be following the footsteps of Wal-Mart - its toughest competitor and the world's number one retailer.

Wal-Mart has already used this route to set up shop in India. Globally, Carrefour operates many retail formats such as hypermarkets, supermarkets, discount and convenience stores, but its cash-and-carry business is restricted to the home market of France and Italy.

Of the 154 cash-and-carry stores from Carrefour, only 20 are in Italy. The remaining 134 are spread across France.

Each store is between 2,000-4,000 sq m in size. In France, the cash-and- carry operations is done under the Promocash brand. In Italy, it's known by the Docks Market and Gross Iper brands. Carrefour's decision to open cash-and-carry stores in India comes after months of unsuccessful deliberations with potential Indian partners.

Over the last few weeks, it reportedly held talks with many big Indian industrial houses, including the Ruias of Essar, Anil Ambani of ADAG Group, K P Singh of DLF and Kishore Biyani of the Future Group.

To an earlier query on whether Carrefour was talking to these Indian majors for a possible tie-up, a company spokesperson had said in an e-mailed response from Paris: "In a recent press conference, Duran, president of the management board of the Carrefour Group, said Carrefour was studying a short-list of Indian partners to enter the market……..We do not comment further our strategy and do not communicate the names of the different companies".

The talks remained inconclusive because of the tough condition Carrefour imposed.

It wanted 100 per cent control of any joint venture as and when FDI was allowed in India.

At present, 51 per cent FDI is allowed, but only in what is known as "single brand retail".

Carrefour's latest decision may also stem from an urgency to be part of a market where most of the global retail action has shifted over the last few years.

The company may enter front-end retailing later, if the policy environment becomes conducive.

Also, with Reliance Retail and others facing stiff opposition in several states, Carrefour may have opted for the most sensible option.

Source: SIFY (http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14536016)

Euromast

October 6th, 2007, 04:22 PM

As some of the world's largest retailers - Wal-Mart, Tesco, Carrefour, IKEA and Target - take a while to join the retail rush in India, many of their former Indian employees have already embraced the desi retail chains.
A whole new world of opportunities back home, in terms of building new processes and systems from scratch, and the excitement of applying their experience in India's $350 billion retail sector is bringing them back, like never before.

India is ranked number one in the AT Kearney Global Retail Index 2006. The organised retail market will grow to $427 billion by 2010 and further to $637 billion by 2015, according to industry estimates.

More than 200 middle and senior management personnel from international retail chains have joined Indian retail companies in the last six months, according to E Balaji, COO, Ma Foi Management Consultants, an international staffing company.

What drew the Mumbai-born Ashesh Amin, advisor, Raymonds, back to India from the US was the idea of tapping the business potential in the 300-million strong aspirational and affluent middle class. He worked with fashion retailers such as J Crew and BCBG Max Azira in the US.

http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/oct/05retail1.htm

Euromast

October 8th, 2007, 10:27 PM

28states.com, the latest addition to the online real estate market places announces the first ever online real estate seminar in India. The seminar starts on 13th October and will cover not just the major cities, but almost all the cities and towns all over India. The seminar aims to provide users with information on real estate sale and purchase legalities and procedures in India. Users can log in to browse through the properties available in the focus cities throughout the duration of the seminar and get expert views on matters related to home loans, property taxes, tenancy etc.
"We are already providing the user a platform to buy, rent or sell. The focus has been not just the major cities and towns but the off beat locations where only a few people are interested to buy real estate. The purpose of this seminar is to bring the buyers and sellers from all such locations, big or small, to a platform and educate them on the procedures surrounding the sale and purchase of residential property in India", says the director Mr. Deepak Kumar.

28states.com is an online marketplace of Indian real estate where developers from any part of the country can showcase their projects in a simple format and buyers get to leverage the power of technology for the awareness, information, analysis and transactions of those opportunities. The marketplace offers buyers tools to be informed of any new projects that show up in location of their choice. It's the meeting place for buyers, sellers, agents, brokers, and builders to exchange information effectively with interested parties in their neighborhood, around their city, their state and around the world to NRI's and expatriates. The internet platform ensures that no one is too far away from the information at any time. Even those not living in the bigger cities in the US, Canada or UK like New York, Chicago, Toronto, London or Birmingham, where the NRI community is residing in large numbers, can reach out to the sellers online. 28States.com

http://www.delhiscoop.com/story/2007/10/6/44936/9629
www.28states.com

ab041937

October 12th, 2007, 05:00 PM

Retail giant bows to fickle Indian politics (http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/retail-giant-bows-to-fickle-indian-politics/2007/10/12/1191696178052.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1)
Amrit Dhillon
The Age, Australia
October 13, 2007

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/10/12/majvegiesellers_narrowweb__300x444,0.jpg
Indian vegetable vendors and supporters burn an effigy of
Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani in Ahmedabad.
Photo: Sam Panthaky

FOR schoolteacher Suparna Tiwari, shopping for fruit and vegetables at her local Reliance store in Noida, a suburb just outside Delhi, was not only pleasant — air-conditioned with neatly displayed food — but good for her family.

"It felt good using fresh vegetables for my children's meals. At the market, the vegetables were either just OK or stale," said Ms Tiwari, 52, who used to shop at Reliance three times a week.

Until last month, that is, when Reliance Industries, the biggest conglomerate in India, shut down the store and suspended operations at its 49 other Reliance Fresh stores in the state of Uttar Pradesh where Noida is located.

The Reliance stores marked a revolution in Indian shopping habits, away from dingy mum-and-dad corner stores and open-air markets to Western-style supermarkets.

Since last November, Reliance has been opening stores all over India, with a planned investment of $A6.6 billion. Reliance is an energy giant that dominated the economy before venturing into retail in recent years.

Consumer reactions to this retail revolution have been generally positive — satisfaction at fresher produce at lower prices in a salubrious setting.

But Reliance stores have been in the eye of a storm for several weeks, under attack by two sets of opponents.

One comprises some of the 13 million Indians who run corner stores. They fear extinction as consumers migrate to Reliance supermarkets where, owing to economies of scale, prices tend to be lower.

Small shopkeepers and traders attacked and vandalised Reliance stores last month in Uttar Pradesh in the north and in two Communist-ruled states — West Bengal in the east and Kerala in the south.

Earlier this week, 20,000 traders and shopkeepers marched in Bombay to protest against Reliance and plans of US giant Walmart to enter India.

"The fear is understandable but the Indian retail market is so huge that there is space for everyone. Many of them will survive," said Harminder Saini, vice-president of KSA Technopak, a retail consultancy.

In India, though, politics supersedes everything else — economic sense, logic, market trends, consumer preferences. Consequently, politicians are the second set of opponents who are demonising Reliance, in the hope of reaping dividends at the ballot box.

Talk of an early election has gripped India. The ruling Congress Party's allies — the Communists — could bring down the Government at any moment over their opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal.

"With elections round the corner, the Communists are looking at votes. It's easy to exploit shopkeepers' fears over losing their livelihood. They're jockeying for position in case there's a snap election," said political analyst Inder Gupta.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Government's hostility to Reliance supermarkets stems from personal loathing.

The Reliance CEO, billionaire Mukesh Ambani, was close to the former head of the government, Mulayam Singh Yadav. After Mr Yadav lost power earlier this year to his arch enemy, the low-caste female politician Mayawati, she has made life difficult for industrialists believed to be close to him.

"It was Mayawati's job to ensure law and order by protecting the Reliance stores when mobs attacked them, but instead she did nothing and then ordered them to shut," said Uttar Pradesh politician Ramdutt Verma.
Reliance has sacked 1000 workers in Uttar Pradesh and 200 in West Bengal.

For thousands of young Indians who had found jobs packing shelves or working at the checkout counters, the company's decision to suspend operations where it faces opposition has shattered them.

These are Indians from small towns with limited education who would normally struggle to find jobs. Working in the retail sector — wearing a uniform and working in a clean environment — was a dream come true.

Hundreds of sacked workers in Uttar Pradesh have threatened to commit "mass suicide" if the Government does not allow the stores to reopen.

"How can they let us end up on the streets without giving a good reason? Other retail outlets operate here, why not Reliance?" said Aditya Kapoor, a Reliance employee in Lucknow.

For consumers, it's back to poky, poorly stocked shops and markets. "There are piles of rubbish and stray dogs in my local market. The heat is unbearable. It maddens me that people can shop at Reliance elsewhere in India, but I can't," said Ms Tiwari.

kronik

October 12th, 2007, 05:29 PM

once again proving that politicians will always bow down to the loudest and most violent group, without once attempting to make them see reason.

As a consumer, I am disappointed that I can't get to use the Reliance Fresh in my neighborhood. I am in Dehradun, and I actually have one down a block, and its been lying shut, when it was supposed to be inaugurated last month.

Apparently the consumer still does not matter in this country. OPEN RELIANCE FRESH.

Bombay Boy

October 12th, 2007, 05:33 PM

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/10/12/majvegiesellers_narrowweb__300x444,0.jpg
Indian vegetable vendors and supporters burn an effigy of
Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani in Ahmedabad.
Photo: Sam Panthaky

what a waste of perfectly good vegetables. could have made a nice salad. oh well

Bombay Boy

October 12th, 2007, 05:39 PM

What d'you rekons the solution to the UP retail prob BB?

very simple. a mad scientist in uzbekistan genetically modifies flies to become metal-eating swarms. all our machines, electronics, modern marvels, etc are eaten to dust and the war is finally won when a 16 year old boy from varanasi realises that tomato juice is the perfect weapon for this pestilence. sadly by the time the world switches over to tomato farming every bit of metal is eaten up by the flies. at the end of it all we all settle down to having tomato salads for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day and have no need to visit reliance fresh et al. 10,000 years later the decomposed flies bring metal back to iron age levels and humans continue with their great civilisational advancement

saurabh85

October 12th, 2007, 07:09 PM

ab041937

October 13th, 2007, 12:14 AM

^^ cant believe the guys in jeans and sunglasses are vegetable vendors:ohno: looks like these stone pelters are hired by people with vested interests!! Looks like the consumer does'nt have the freedom to choose who he wants to buy stuff from! Shame on democracy!

I had similar thoughts about the state of our democracy. Its outrageous to see hundred billion dollar organized retail industry held hostage to some middleman traders. Every year, several million tons of food grains & vegetables are damaged simply because these roadside vendors donot any kind of storage capacity to preserve them. Such a shame that taxpayers are suffering simply because government decides to court non-taxpayer, no good traders who are acting no better than goons.

kronik

October 13th, 2007, 09:48 PM

While organized retail of perishable goods might threaten the common hawker, it is completely illogical and paranoid to think that a few thousand stores will completely eliminate the lakhs of vendors. I believe there is space to accommodate both.

Not every family in a city will start shopping at a Reliance Fresh just because it is there in their neighborhood. Most will still prefer to go the markets, including all of the lower and probably a lot of the middle class.

cbeboy

October 13th, 2007, 10:00 PM

Wal-Mart chalks out its India brand game (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Wal-Mart_chalks_out_its_India_brand_game/articleshow/2454272.cms)

The Wal-Mart retail juggernaut is rolling in India. The iconic US retailer plans to unveil its premium private labels through its wholesale cash-and-carry stores being set up with Bharti.

Wal-Mart will initially unveil its own brands in segments like fruit, vegetables, personal care products, groceries, staples, stationery, consumer durables and footwear. It’s about to pick and choose from across its formidable global brands portfolio that includes Sam’s Choice (for food and groceries), Great Value (for household consumables), Kid Connection (children products) and Equate (oral and personal care items).

Wal-Mart has a 50:50 JV with Bharti Enterprises, christened Bharti Wal-Mart Pvt Ltd. The JV will set up cash-and-carry stores and back-end supply chain management operations across India.

Incidentally, Wal-Mart intends to source products for its Indian private labels from existing Indian suppliers. This was confirmed by several Wal-Mart’s India suppliers who said, “Early-stage talks were on with the US retailer to extend the relationship for Indian operations.”

dreadathecontrols

October 16th, 2007, 07:53 PM

very simple. a mad scientist in uzbekistan genetically modifies flies to become metal-eating swarms. all our machines, electronics, modern marvels, etc are eaten to dust and the war is finally won when a 16 year old boy from varanasi realises that tomato juice is the perfect weapon for this pestilence. sadly by the time the world switches over to tomato farming every bit of metal is eaten up by the flies. at the end of it all we all settle down to having tomato salads for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day and have no need to visit reliance fresh et al. 10,000 years later the decomposed flies bring metal back to iron age levels and humans continue with their great civilisational advancement

Ok im with ya.
You & socratres dude :)

dreadathecontrols

October 16th, 2007, 07:55 PM

Suncity

October 31st, 2007, 04:25 AM

Two interesting news reports from CNN-IBN

Punjab Farmers take on big retail

http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/51400/reliance-big-bazaar-no-match-for-punjabs-big-idea.html

The Bunty Syndrome

http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/51339/smalltown-india-goes-mall-crawling--reporters-blog.html

ajay_ijn

November 5th, 2007, 06:54 AM

Reliance Retail may add 252 Fresh stores by March 2008
http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14555052
Mumbai: Reliance Retail is likely to launch 252 new Fresh stores across the country by March next year. It also plans to start “Rose”, a jewellery store modelled on Tanishq.

Sources also said the company may unveil 200 Fresh stores in Mumbai alone; but they didn’t specify any deadline.

The sizes of Fresh stores may differ from place to place, they added. Currently Reliance Retail operates 372 Fresh outlets across the country.

As per the Macquarie research equities report, the retail major plans to have a total of 100m sq ft of retail space in 800 cities by calendar year 2010 and revenues of $22 billion by the end of financial year 2011.

Currently, the Fresh store sizes are anywhere between 1100 sq ft and 7500 sq ft depending on the location.

An analyst added the company will have to restrict its store sizes to 1,000 sq ft in Mumbai considering the real-estate crunch and crowded landscape of neighbourhood stores in the city.

A few days ago DNA Money had reported about Reliance talking to mom-and-pop stores to take the franchisee route for small stores.

The analyst added that Reliance Fresh stores could also be run on a franchise model in Mumbai considering the strong associations of small retailers in the city.

And it’s not just the Reliance Fresh- a convenience store format- where the most valued business house is pumping money.

The Reliance Hyper mart (above 50,000 sq ft) also plans to spread its presence from 1 (in Ahmedabad) to 10 by the end of this financial year.

Similarly, there will be 26 mini-marts (10,000-50,000 sq ft) dotting the Indian retailscape by March 2008.

Sources added that these mini-marts and hyper marts will also include speciality stores. Reliance has already bought 1 lakh sq ft in the crown interior mall in Haryana’s Faridabad to launch its home décor speciality store.

Cost-cutting plans
Things aren’t all that hunky-dory at Reliance Retail. Stores haven’t been able to meet the profitability targets, a Reliance source said.

Spinning off the retail venture into different verticals, the source added, is to treat them as independent cost-profit centres and bring more accountability in the areas of costing, manpower, stocks, procurement, and advertising and promotions.

“Earlier there were different reporting centres for different business functions. Now one store manager will be responsible for all the functions of a particular store,” the source said.

The company is planning to hire a lot of apprentices and trainees to do front-line jobs and thereby slash manpower costs.

Also, the spin-off is expected to help the company offset losses incurred in other sections such as jewellery, footwear, apparel due to lock-outs or strikes by protestors.

Fresh vegetables and fruits section has especially been targeted by the small retailers.

Currently, out of 372 Reliance fresh stores, 26 are closed due to protests (19 of them in Uttar Pradesh and Ghaziabad, five in Noida).

Jai Bendre, head, marketing, food business, Reliance Retail, recently said: “The wastage in food and vegetables products in India is believed to be more than the total production of UK.”

Unmesh Sharma, analyst, Macquarie research equities, in a report to investors said: “The lack of cold/supply chain infrastructure has resulted in a food & vegetable produce wastage of 25-40 per cent. The company will aim to improve margins by investing in IT and infrastructure to improve the supply chain efficiencies. However managing space acquisition, IT and manpower challenges might delay the ramp-up by 36 months.”

cbeboy

November 6th, 2007, 12:43 PM

Mallya enters retail; ropes in Louis Vuitton
(http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Mallya_enters_retail_ropes_in_Louis_Vuitton/articleshow/2522082.cms)

After starting a premium airline and buying one of the world's oldest scotch-whisky makers, flamboyant Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya announced Tuesday a new venture in high-end retail.

Mallya's UB Group, the world's third-largest maker of alcoholic spirits, will hold a 55 per cent stake in UB City, the Collection, a Bangalore shopping mall exclusively retailing luxury brands, the company said Tuesday.

Mallya, 51, the self-styled "king of good times," managed to rope in France's Louis Vuitton as one of the anchor tenants of the mall, to be located on No 1, Vittal Mallya Road, named after his late father and due to open in early 2008.

"It has been purely driven by the vision of Mallya, who calls it a value proposition," said Irfan Razack, chairman and managing director of the property group Prestige, which will hold the remaining 45 per cent stake in the venture.

"It will be an iconic landmark of Bangalore, like what the Petronas Towers is to Kuala Lumpur," said Razack, estimating the cost of the project at three billion rupees (76.26 million dollars). "It will be an opportunity to tap high networth individuals."

Other brands who have signed on for space in the 1.5 million square feet complex are Gucci, Fendi, Mont Blanc, Van Cleef & Arpels, Zegna, Rolex and Omega.

The Venetian-style project will include a 250-room JW Marriot hotel, serviced apartments and office space, already leased to Citigroup, Toyota, ABN Amro, Jones Lang LaSalle, 3M, Ernst and Young and Yahoo!.

Cov Boy

November 6th, 2007, 03:17 PM

^^This is interesting!

india

November 12th, 2007, 05:40 PM

Carrefour said to go alone in India
November 12, 2007

MUMBAI (Reuters) - France's Carrefour, the world's second-biggest retailer, plans to set up a wholesale business in India on it own after failing to get local partners, the Economic Times said on Monday, quoting unidentified sources.

The French firm had decided to focus on cash-and-carry model as it did not want to depend on "whims and fancies" of any Indian partner and wanted to avoid opposition from political parties and groups, the newspaper said.

Fearing loss of livelihood, traders, farmers and small shopkeepers oppose plans by foreign and local companies to introduce western-style supermarts into India's fragmented $350 billion market expected to double in size by 2015.

Foreign multiple-brand retailers are limited to cash-and-carry and franchise or licence operations in India.

Quoting an industry source, the paper said, Carrefour was going ahead with a wholly owned subsidiary and had begun recruitment at senior levels.

"Operations are likely to start only by the fourth quarter of next year or early-2009," the paper said.

Source: Reuters UK (http://uk.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUKBOM6458620071112)

November 13th, 2007, 08:09 AM

^^fight the French, they are taking over!!!

bobbie501

November 19th, 2007, 11:12 AM

Study says South India is country's top retail location (http://news.moneycontrol.com/india/news/business/study-says-south-india-is-country-s-top-retail-location/14/15/313488)

http://202.87.40.45/news_image_files/Store-(shopping).jpg

Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore have emerged as India's top retail locations and posted the highest growth in high street rentals over the past year.

Retail rentals in South India's high streets have doubled in the past year. A Cushman & Wakefield India Retail survey shows Banjara Hills in Hyderabad was the highest gainer in India. Nugambakkam/Khader Nawas Khan Road in Chennai have grown 106% while Koramangala 80 Foot Road in Bangalore had an increase 92%.

Anurag Mathur, Deputy MD, Cushman & Wakefield said, “South Indian cities have seen a lot of growth in the IT segment, which in turn has a lot of disposable income. Hence there is growth in retail that requires space. Demand is very robust that's causing the prices to soar.”

Experts say the retail revolution is here to stay. With high-end retail knocking on India's door, southern cities, with their cosmopolitan populations are bound to grow even more.

bobbie501

November 19th, 2007, 04:47 PM

Metro plans new stores in Mumbai, Kolkata (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=30278)

BS Reporter / Mumbai November 19, 2007

German cash-and-carry major Metro Group is planning to scale up its operations throughout the country in the next couple of months despite protests from political parties and trade groups.

"We are not moderating our expansion plans. The protests are done by those who have vested interests in keeping prices high. We will have stores pan-India," said Alan Clayton, operations director, Metro Cash & Carry India.

The German company is planning to start its Mumbai operations in a couple of weeks at Bhandup,a central suburb of Mumbai. Soon after, it is planning to open stores in Kolkata, Punjab and other states.

The wholesale major has invested 95 million euros in its Indian operations in the last four years, Clayton said.

Clayton said the company sources 95% of products from India, and will increase its sourcing from the country in the coming years.

Metro, which has operations in 29 countries, has three stores in India - two in Bangalore and one in Hyderabad.

Asked about competition from Wal-Mart and Carrefour, which are looking at entering the country in the cash-and-carry business, Clayton said: ''Since there are no competitors in the country for us at pressent and since we have already established ourselves, we can take the first mover advantage. The idea is to open several stores every year in the areas that have a population of more than 5 million.''

Metro's stores typically have an area of 3,00,000-4,00,000 square feet, and sell to retailers, hotels and supermarkets.

bobbie501

November 19th, 2007, 04:52 PM

M&S announces Indian store openings (http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?id=15008&t=1&c=34&cg=4)

INTERNATIONAL. The leading UK retailer, Marks & Spencer (M&S), is planning to set up a a 51-49 joint venture in the India. The move is part of a larger global business strategy which is betting heavily on China and India for growth. Three or four Indian partners are said to be ready to partner with the foods-to-apparel retailer, given that single brand retailers in the country are allowed equity only up to 51%.

Buying into the Indian middle class purchasing power story, the high-street retailer is also planning to sell all kinds of food, confectionery, snacks and home furnishing in India, all under the M&S brand.Up to now, the company has sold only clothes and lingerie through its franchisee partner Planet Retail, which operates brands such as Debenhams, The Body Shop, Adidas, Guess and The Athlete's Foot in India. Its retail operations in India span over nearly 22 cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Noida, Pune, Nagpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Indore, Ahmedabad, Surat, Mangalore and Guwahati.

These existing M&S outlets may be transferred to the proposed joint venture company subsequent to its formation. Indian consumers have a soft spot for M&S which was for long the most preferred brand bought by those travelling abroad.

In an official statement post results, M&S CEO Stuart Rose said: “India is an equally exciting long-term opportunity and a market where we have been trading for six years. We are looking to accelerate the pace of growth in this fast developing economy over the next few years.”

Meanwhile the retail industry is India is set for a major turnaround with international names rushing in over the last 12 months. In the past, foreign companies have often used the franchisee-model to introduce brands in India and test consumer preferences. But with the India growth story assuming an almost iconic status, the same brands now want to control the Indian operations themselves.

Many like LVMH, Christian Dior, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Versace and hundreds of other brands are either converting their existing licensee arrangement into an equity joint venture or getting into fresh joint ventures. Sensing an opportunity, even real estate companies are getting into this business and forging joint ventures with foreign brands.

Marks & Spencer, with an annual turnover of over US$16 billion is an iconic UK-based retail giant with over 400 stores located in the UK and 150 stores worldwide, including over 130 franchise businesses operating in 35 countries. It's the largest clothing retailer in the country, as well as a multi-billion pound food retailer.

Most M&S shops sell both apparel and foods. It also has a third line of business - selling homeware like bed linen - but this is far smaller than the other two segments.

M&S, which was largely focused on the UK market, has been forced to look out of the country for growth owing to tightened consumer spending in the face of rising interest rates, stagnating house prices, and stringent credit checks on card applications.

M&S is planning to set up a fully-owned subsidiary in China. Sluggish sales back home has forced the British group to announce investments in India and China next year, as well as ongoing expansion in the Middle East into new markets.

The company has over 250 stores overseas which are largely franchised whereas the new strategy will involve setting up company-owned outlets, sources said. The company will price its products a bit above market price but will offer shoppers value for money. Sluggish sales forced the chain to slash its prices recently in India.

M&S has already selected Global Park in Sri Lanka to house its regional logistics hub where currently M&S garments purchased from Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh are stored for onward distribution to M&S stores in UK, based on their stock levels and sales requirements. The hub is now geared to handle complex multi-country consolidation and will be used by M&S to handle distribution to their international stores, including franchise stores located in Asia and Middle East.

Euromast

November 19th, 2007, 11:28 PM

NEW DELHI: Global furniture major Gautier on Monday said it is scouting for partners in India as it plans to foray into the burgeoning domestic retail industry and open first pilot store by the year-end.

"The burgeoning lifestyle aspirations of the new-age Indian consumers coupled with the retail industry boom sweeping through the country has prompted Gautier to seriously look at establishing its presence in the Indian market," Gautier Chairman & Managing Director M Dominique Soulard said in a statement

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/Gautier_looks_for_partners_to_enter_domestic_retail_market/articleshow/2552809.cms

sudheeshnairs

November 21st, 2007, 07:21 AM

Carrefour unveils India plans

Two business entities in place; talks on with 3 domestic players Kamal Narang
Debdatta Das

New Delhi, Nov. 20

After Wal-Mart, Carrefour, the world’s second largest retailer, is setting up shop in the country. Revealing its blueprint for kickstarting its foray into the organised Indian retail market, the company said that it has put in place two business entities in the country — one for its cash-and-carry business and the other a master franchisee which will lend its banner, technical services and knowhow to an Indian company for direct-to-consumer retail.

The cash-and-carry venture, Carrefour WC&C India Pvt Ltd, and the direct-to-consumer retail company, Carrefour India Master Franchise Company Pvt Ltd, have set up their offices here with a current employee strength of 50, which is expected to grow to over 100 within the next few months.

Prospective partner

Carrefour has also zeroed in on three “large and powerful” prospective Indian companies that could be its possible partner for the direct-to-consumer business. “We hope to start rolling out the outlets in both formats by the second half of the financial year 2009,” said Mr Herve Clec’h, Managing Director, Carrefour India, who will head both the companies here.

Read More. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/11/21/stories/2007112152710100.htm

Euromast

November 25th, 2007, 09:58 PM

/NEW DELHI: Having stitched suits for who’s who of Britain such as former prime minister Tony Blair and NRI steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, India-born millionaire tailor Raja Daswani is coming home to set up shop here.

Daswani heads Hong Kong-based Raja Fashions, which specialises in bespoke suits and his clientele includes many high-profile names, including politicians, businessmen and film stars, from across the world.

Having expanded its presence to Scotland, Ireland, US, France, Germany and Japan, besides Hong Kong and the UK, Raja Fashions is now eyeing India with plans to open at least two stores by mid-2008. /

Euromast

November 26th, 2007, 04:24 PM

NEW DELHI: Joining the bandwagon of big corporate houses entering India's burgeoning organised retail market, real estate major Parsvnath Developers today announced its foray into the sector with hypermarket format stores.

The company has incorporated a subsidiary 'Parsvnath Retail Limited' for its new venture and is joining hands with an existing retailer to start operations in the next 2 months.

Source (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/Parsvnath_Developers_announce_retail_entry/articleshow/2573117.cms)

shivy

November 26th, 2007, 07:54 PM

Euromast

November 27th, 2007, 12:25 AM

Plans foray in 30 hypermarkets

After consumer finance and real estate, the Indiabulls Group is set to step into the retail business. Indiabulls Wholesale Services Ltd, a subsidiary of listed firm Indiabulls Real Estate Ltd, will set up 30 hypermarkets across as many smaller cities in the country in the next 15 to 18 months with an outlay of Rs 1,500 crore.

The first of these stores is expected to come up by March/April 2008 in one of the three cities the company is targeting simultaneously, confirmed Indiabulls director Gagan Banga.

Source (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=10&bKeyFlag=BO&autono=305617&chkFlg=)

harsh1802

November 27th, 2007, 04:52 AM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2341/2066576914_7760fa006c_b.jpg

Source: lkikon_18's photos @ flickr (http://flickr.com/photos/siddharthashukla/)

bobbie501

November 27th, 2007, 12:36 PM

Reliance Digital opens outlets in Mumbai (http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/newsPopup.php?fileR=20071127075041130&dir=2007/11/27&secID=livenews)

Reliance Retail`s consumer durables and electronic store Reliance Digital opened its outlets in Mumbai, reports Business Standard.

The store is spread across 34,000 sq ft store and offers about 9,500 products. Reliance Digital is planning to open a total of 12 stores in Mumbai.

The company is also planning to open 14 stores in Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune and Nagpur in a couple of months.

Presently, Reliance Digital has a store in Delhi.

dreadathecontrols

November 27th, 2007, 01:49 PM

you know what I don't understand is that I see all these new clothing stores opening up, but whenever I just walk in india, I see people wearing the same thing and that is for the men the typical collar shirt tucked in and for women the sari. I hope this will change in the future.

Changes are afoot my freind .The hemline on shalwars, the dress of choice for the modern indian woman, is now at knee height or higher.At least in Bombay.Also younger people tend to dress, well, pretty much like their contempories in any big cities in the world. But still the norm is as you said

November 27th, 2007, 09:37 PM

Euromast

November 28th, 2007, 02:08 AM

Parsvnath has almost 5 million sq. ft of retail space and plans to increase it six times in the next five years

New Delhi: The world’s second largest retailer Carrefour SA is in talks with real estate firm Parsvnath Developers Ltd for opening hypermarkets in India, according to two people close to the situation, who asked not to be named.
The two people said that Carrefour is in the “middle” stages of dialogue with Parsvnath, indicating that India’s fourth largest listed developer is in the running for being selected as a franchisee for the French retail giant. They didn’t want to be identified because of the sensitivity of the talks.
Earlier this week, Parsvnath said it plans to venture into the retail business with a chain of hypermarkets that it will set up in partnership with an overseas retailer. And last week, Carrefour, which has been scouting for an Indian partner for more than a year, said it is in talks with three “very willing” Indian firms and would pick one of them to open the French retailer’s franchisee stores in the country.

Source (http://www.livemint.com/2007/11/28002420/Carrefour-Parsvnath-talking-r.html)

dreadathecontrols

November 28th, 2007, 02:06 PM

What do you want them to wear?

Erm not 'shirting & suitings' from the 1940's might be a start?
My italian mates think saris are brilliant. For me they symbolize , like the ambasador car an unadaptable mindset.Tradition for the sake of it. So for the girls the answer must be what ever they wanna wear given a free range of choices.If one puts the sari next to what western women wore in the 19th century its not so disimilar.A 'coverall' type of garment.It looks good though, but for me it is backward looking.

Euromast

November 28th, 2007, 02:22 PM

//
Chandigarh, Nov 28: Audio equipments maker Bose Corporation India Wednesday opened its first store at Ludhiana, marking its foray in north India.

With the opening of this store, the total strength of its outlets has increased to sixteen in the country.

"Our entry in Punjab market is a response to the overwhelming customer requests and increasing number of visitors from this place to our Delhi outlets, making the entry natural for us. This helps further consolidate our presence in northern India," Bose Corporation India Private Limited general manager Ratish Pandey said today.

The US-headquartered Bose recently opened its outlets in Jaipur, Noida and a third store in Mumbai.

The company has its presence in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Noida.

On plans to open more stores in other parts of the country, Pandey said: "definitely, we would open stores wherever we find suitable opportunity. Presently, our main focus is to strengthen our existing retail operations."

However, he refused to share details regarding expected business volume from its retail operations.

The stores showcase a range of audio systems, including home theatre and stereo speakers, personal audio offerings, headphones, digital music systems and multimedia speakers.

November 28th, 2007, 04:05 PM

Erm not 'shirting & suitings' from the 1940's might be a start?
My italian mates think saris are brilliant. For me they symbolize , like the ambasador car an unadaptable mindset.Tradition for the sake of it. So for the girls the answer must be what ever they wanna wear given a free range of choices.If one puts the sari next to what western women wore in the 19th century its not so disimilar.A 'coverall' type of garment.It looks good though, but for me it is backward looking.

If I follow your logic, everything in India is "backward looking". So what else needs changing? Names, culture, food? As for as I am concerned, if someone wants to wear Sari, it's their choice! If they want "wester wear", they can do it too. But why must they wear something that apparently is "modern"? It's silly to compare Sari with prudish Victorian clothing style of 19th century, by the way.

Amit

November 28th, 2007, 04:23 PM

It is absolutely ridiculous for someone to say that Sari is a 'backward looking' dress :bash: Ever seen Sushmita Sen and Kajol in sari?

The way I see it, it is a sign of colonized mind who cannot appreciate India's cultural uniqueness, and is blinded by all things western even if they are inferior.

When I go to any mall in Mumbai, I am equally impressed by women in Indian and western wear.

bobbie501

November 28th, 2007, 04:26 PM

A Non-Provocative Is Adaptable.....Better Be A Cultured Human Being In The Society Rather Than Spoiling Your Identity.Saree Is the Best Choice Many Americans Love The Tradition Of India.I donno Whether Indians Are Following It or Not???

Euromast

November 28th, 2007, 04:40 PM

NEW DELHI: Global fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger is stepping up India expansion plans, as it expects sales from apparels and accessories to cross the Rs 100-crore mark this fiscal.

The company, which is present in seven Indian cities, is aiming to have a presence in 14-15 cities in three years' time with about 50 points of sale.

"Currently, we are in the second phase of expansion. We have been in the Indian market for the last three years with eight points of sale. By this year, we will be having 22 such points," Tommy Hilfiger Apparel India CEO Shailesh Chaturvedi told media.

Source (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/Tommy_Hilfiger_to_step_up_India_expansion_plans/articleshow/2578911.cms)

bobbie501

November 28th, 2007, 05:44 PM

^^ This Was Already Posted Here...

india

November 28th, 2007, 11:41 PM

...It looks good though, but for me it is backward looking.

Cheese slid off your cracker, eh, mate? :nuts:

And...I'll :cheers: to that!

Suncity

November 29th, 2007, 04:47 AM

Costly sari on display

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/showflipped.aspx?id=FLIEN20070034199

The world's costliest sari was the cynosure of all eyes and why not?

It's not just in pure silk but has 12 precious stones like platinum, diamond, gold and ruby - all hand woven using a special double warp technique to produce a glittering and smooth finish.

And that's not all. These fine jewels are intricately set to adorn the famous paintings by Raja Ravi Verma replicated on this sari. The price tag is a jaw dropping Rs 40 lakh.

Thirty weavers sweated it out for six months to transform this piece of fabric into a marvellous piece of art.

But will the world's most expensive sari promoted as a unique drape for brides as part of the 'Vivaha silk collection' find any takers?

"We are very sure that this particular launch is going to place customers on a different paltform and it's going to increase our customer base. We definitely expect a good market for this sari in Tamil Nadu," said Sriram, AGM, Chennai Silks.

"Even if I buy I don't think I'll wear it because I'll just keep it as a masterpiece," said a local.

"If anybody gifts me such a saree I will surely like to have it," added another.

In the south wedding collections are truly incomplete without Kancheepuram silk saris - making brides feel extra special on their big day but this saree right here is sure to make them feel like a million bucks - quite literally!

Suncity

November 29th, 2007, 04:48 AM

Food Bazaar, Vashi

photo copyright Anjanesh

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8003/foodbazarvashianjaneshib6.jpg

IndiansUnite

November 29th, 2007, 05:16 AM

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/3550/abgmore2hd7.jpg

[Live Mint]

Suncity

November 29th, 2007, 06:27 AM

Retail wave drives food exporters homewards

http://www.business-standard.com/lifeleisure/storypage.php?leftnm=lmnu4&subLeft=5&autono=305066&tab=r

If KK Pillai has his way, you may soon be able to savour the same brand of samosas that made a trip to outer space. Pillai is the managing director of Nikasu Frozen Foods International which made the snack that astronaut Sunita Williams carried with her to the International Space Station.

Based in the Cochin Special Economic Zone, Nikasu has managed to become the largest supplier of spring rolls and samosas to the US where it retails under the popular Laxmi brand (belonging to distributor House of Spices). In the UK, its products are sold as ‘Taj’ by Solanki Foods and are available at the supermarket chain Tesco.

Another young but doughty exporter, Aakriti Foods, that makes Indian curries is also keen to launch its brand Mom’s Pride in India.

It specialises in non-vegetarian curries, rice preparations such as Hyderabadi dum biryani and egg fried rice. AK Kohli, its Delhi-based promoter, claims he’s supplying 33,000 cartons of Mom’s Pride products each month to both the UK and the US.

Suddenly, a number of small and medium sized exporters of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food are eyeing the Indian market.

It’s not difficult to see what is driving such players homewards. The immediate trigger is the appreciating rupee, which has hit their export income in a big way. (Nikasu claims 20 per cent erosion in its turnover in the last one-and-a-half years).

Two, the Indian organised retail market is actually creating a huge demand for such products as branded supermarket chains are vying with one another to offer variety to their consumers.

Three, the rising per capita income and a whirlwind lifestyle,people spending an average 50 per cent of their household expenditure on food, provides for an enticing consumer base.

“The tendency to source ready-to-eat food from the supermarkets is on the rise. What makes it easier to reach consumers is the bevy of retailers such as Reliance and Bharti-Walmart,” Pillai notes.

Clearly, food manufacturers are eyeing the 300 million consumers who have already incorporated such products in their meals. Another 200 million are expected to move into this group by 2010, according to the food processing industry estimates.

Read on

http://www.business-standard.com/lifeleisure/storypage.php?leftnm=lmnu4&subLeft=5&autono=305066&tab=r

bobbie501

November 29th, 2007, 06:46 PM

Alta Moda to set up 100 stores countrywide (http://news.monstersandcritics.com/india/news/article_1377353.php/Alta_Moda_to_set_up_100_stores_countrywide)

Hyderabad, Nov 29 (IANS) Hyderbad-based Alta Moda Garments Thursday announced that it would be opening 100 stores by 2009.

It has also tied up with 14 top designers in Italy to introduce their brands in India. These brands will cater to the urbane, upper- and middle-income groups.

Manoj Kumar Saraogi, CEO, Alta Moda, told media persons here that by 2009 the company would set up 100 stores, both franchisee and standalone models. It will target all major and mini metros along with tier-II and tier-III cities.

The company plans to open 50 shops in the first year with expected gross sales of Rs.1.2 billion.

Each store is likely to have an average turnover of Rs.2 million per 1,000 sq ft per month with 70 percent of the revenues coming from women's products and 30 percent from men's products.

All stores will be in the range of 500 to 5,000 sq ft.

Alta Moda will open two stores in Hyderabad with the first shop coming up by Jan 15.

Each store will have 400 women's and 300 men's products ranging from clothing to accessories. The products would be priced in the range of Rs.3,000 to Rs.30,000 for women and Rs.5,000 to Rs.30,000 for men.

'India is on the threshold of global fashion and the 'aspirational' lifestyles of young Indians have created vast demand for high-end, foreign brands,' he said.

Euromast

November 29th, 2007, 07:35 PM

//JAIPUR: The MobileStore Ltd, an Essar group initiative, Thursday announced here that it would open over 25 new retail outlets in Rajasthan.

The company will create a chain of over 25 retail stores across Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota, Jodhpur and Ajmer in Rajasthan by Feb 20008.

It also plans to create a pan-India network of 2,500 telecom retail outlets across 600 cities in the next three years.

Currently, the company operates over 335 stores across India, a company official said. MobileStore already has five stories in Jaipur.

Mona Singh, the actor who became famous for her role in TV soap opera "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin", Thursday inaugurated a MobileStore outlet in Jaipur.

Speaking at the launch, Rajiv Agarwal, CEO and director, MobileStore, said, "Rajasthan is a fast growing telecom market in the north. We will offer telecom customers a shopping experience with our unique all-under-one-roof telecom solutions."

dreadathecontrols

November 29th, 2007, 08:21 PM

Ok its off topic but I'll clarify.Not everthing indian is backward looking .That is not my logic.Infact its not logic at all.But most traditions are backwrd looking whether they are Indian or bleedin Scandanavian.

An examlpe:
In the 80's in Thailand, just at the begining of their road to prosperity (and modernity) sarongs were still worn by 95% of the pop, men & women.Thats what Thais wore - much like Burma now infact -. (Great I love 'em. I wear them me self.)
Now in Thailand u will hard pressed to find anyone wearing a sarong.
I challenge anyone to go tell a thai that their minds have been colonised by anyone.You'll get a well deserved thai roundhouse kick up ur arse.
Same in C***a, from Mao suits to modernity.
In both these countries, from vastly differant start points modern asian dress modelled on the japanese verion of 21st C styles, - western in concept but local in execution - has become the choice of millions.
India - it may come as a shock to many of you - is not going through some unique-to-its-self process.Given the chioce, just like the 'prudish victorians' did when they were given the choice, people will choose modernity.Thats the whole bleedin' point of progress. Presumably it replaces something not as good.
In the case of saris, they are specificly designed with 'modesty' in mind.They are , as i said a coverall garmant.
Now if the social mores behind that is something progressive for you all then great .Nice one.But for me its backwards looking .
And I'll bet that given the choice ,as Indian women become more emancipated they will drop 'traditonal' dress as women have done all over the world.
And thats exactly why in the last 25 years Indian women have more & more rejected the sari in favour of the shalwar ( a middle eastern version of the medievil tunic) and which in the last 8 years or so has itself seen its hem line rise to knee level.Its progressive & funky
That's (Indian) modernity & I'm all for it.

Follow the logic now chapps?
xxx dread

Bombay Boy

November 29th, 2007, 09:01 PM

November 30th, 2007, 12:36 AM

November 30th, 2007, 12:45 AM

hmm, yeah you will not find many middle-class and above girls in urban india wearing a sari, unless its for a wedding. its just not convenient and comfortable in the same way as a pair of jeans and a tee. any girl born post 1990 and with a choice is likely to reject a sari 90% of the time, much like not many men are likely to wear a dhoti or a lungi in an urban setting (or a kilt if you are scottish ;) )

Very true but the shift from shari to salwar suit/jeans comes from need to wear something more practical and not because salwar is more "revealing" and "progressive" and apparently Sari is part of a backward culture (ofcourse there are some "hip" Indians who might think otherwise)! I would like to know as to how many Europeans wear Victorian era dresses in big functions like marriages? Is our Prime minister backward because he wears kurta or our Finance minster because he wears lungi? Someone clearly has ridiculous notion of what progress means. It's a known fact by the way that unmarried women don't wear Sari anyway.

india

November 30th, 2007, 12:56 AM

In the case of saris, they are specificly designed with 'modesty' in mind. They are, as i said a coverall garmant. Now if the social mores behind that is something progressive for you all then great. Nice one. But for me its backwards looking.

:rofl:!

Saris are THE most sensuous ethnic wear in the world and the way they are designed and worn is pure art! A sari is a perfect combination of aesthetics and comfort for all the practical reasons.

dreadathecontrols

November 30th, 2007, 01:33 AM

You realize that your whole post is rubbish just by the sheer fact that Sari can be way more revealing than Salwar Kameej unless you think Salwar is one piece dress which only covers the knees!! Stop smoking whatever you are high are, you are just babbling crap. Only reason people wear salwar kameej is because it's more comfortable. Comfort drives the need and not because people are trying to get "modern", whatever you think that means! I am happy for you but anyone who thinks business suit is "modern" and better is just deluding himself.

I luv ya man , but either being a yank or living there has disabled your anallitical capabilities.Urm, buisness suits are 150 years old so not modern... Why did you bring them up ?
Obviously when the ladies do ditch the saris - exept for formal wear - youre gonna be one of those old ******s in the corner bemoaning the modern world.
I was using the 'revealing' nature of rising hemlines as an example of modernity, not a reason to embrace it. Thats not my buisness.
Anyway as I said, Indias cultural & social transformations are not unique . Look. listen & learn from the world outside ur little 'indian' bubble
'Indian' = Good
'Non - Indian' = Bad.
Men in urban India generally dont wear dhoti or lunghi anymore but girls tend to wear saris more.You work it out.
And yerself ? Wear jeans ? Eat meat? Have the odd beer? Choose your wife?Travel across the black water?
My guess is you choose which traditions you like & ditch the ones you dont.
So should the girls be able to do that, without dudes (like you, it seems ) controling the social zietgiest & thus deciding what is suitable attire for them.
Modernity is choice.For whatever reason.
And yep, Im smoking another one just for you...
Enough now
Dread

November 30th, 2007, 02:34 AM

'Non - Indian' = Bad.
Men in urban India generally dont wear dhoti or lunghi anymore but girls tend to wear saris more.You work it out.

that just goes to show! What woman in urban India wears Sari unless she is a housewife or old? So stop babbling, clearly you don't have anything to support your rubbish! Why else you comment that I am forcing women to wear Sari (one of those man, right!) instead of "modern" cloths (whatever they are). I didn't realize that meat eating is something alien to India or drinking alcohol or worse, picking your own wife! So yeh, keep smoking but do keep your enlightened opinion to yourself. Let one of those old men like me "bemoan" all by myself.

Euromast

November 30th, 2007, 05:20 PM

Getting top international brands under one roof to provide the best head-to-toe beauty treatment is the USP of Headmasters - possibly the only 'beauty mall' in India. But there's more to it.

The majority of the staff at the salon in Sector 8, Chandigarh, has been handpicked from underprivileged families.

Claiming to be one of the biggest in the world, Headmasters has teamed up with international hair and beauty therapy chains like Wella, Pevonia Botanica, Richfeel Trichology Centre, Breathe and Nail Spa to put up a grand show for a niche high-end market in northern India.

This wellness zone is spread over 15,000 ft and comprises four floors with each floor catering to different services like a salon by Wella, spa by Pevonia Botanica, a hair and scalp clinic by Richfeel Trichology Centre, a skin clinic by Breathe and a nail bar by Nail spa.

Source (http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=a40c151b-d760-4a49-9bab-dc891180704e&MatchID1=4590&TeamID1=3&TeamID2=5&MatchType1=2&SeriesID1=1153&MatchID2=4606&TeamID3=9&TeamID4=4&MatchType2=2&SeriesID2=1159&PrimaryID=4590&Headline=Now%2c+a+beauty+mall+in+Chandigarh)

dreadathecontrols

November 30th, 2007, 08:47 PM

babble babble babble...
Bak on topic, great to see the retail explosion cointinuing.

ajay_ijn

December 1st, 2007, 04:35 PM

Global luxury brands partake in Indian wedding mart
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Cons_Products/Global_luxury_brands_partake_in_Indian_wedding_mart/articleshow/2586738.cms

CHANDIGARH: Christian Dior make-up, GUCCI apparel, Jimmy Choo shoes for the bride for the special day, a 50-inch TV screen from Bang and Olufsen part of the trousseau, fresh fruits from Unifrutti imported from Turkey for the guests and a Canadian wedding planner to take care of it all.

The Indian wedding scene is only growing larger. “It’s no surprise that so many international brands want to get associated with India, especially, during the wedding season. The market has only grown since there are many more millionaires in India today. So all that new money goes on to include the finer aspects like dicor and entertainment. Weddings, especially, in the north are now flying down entertainment stars from Mumbai and overseas,” says chief executive officer Celebrating Vivaha Tarun Sarda indicating Christian Dior’s first association with any Indian wedding exhibition.

The luxury brand it seems has followed the footsteps of Gucci and La Perla to take a slice of the burgeoning Indian wedding mart-pie.

Says chief executive officer Bridal Asia Divya Guraya: “Brands like Chanel and Fendi have got a sudden recognition at wedding marts. Such brands have become prominent ingredients in the trousseau and it works well for the brands as well.

Since consumption level during pre-wedding shopping seasons has risen drastically it translates into immense turnovers for brands. Next year you can see more international brands making way to India,” indicating that brands may follow the Murjani Group model that promoted Gucci, La Perla and Jimmy Choo under its wedding division wing only taking the wedding mart at higher levels.

With the top-segment of the wedding industry growing at a staggering 25%, analysts opine that even the mid-segments are moving up at about 15-20%.

Associate director at retail consultants KSA Technopak Pavas Bhatia says: “The Indian wedding mart could be anywhere between Rs 50-60,000 odd crore but it isn’t just the trousseau that is getting all embellishments. Premium gifting market has also gone up. A few years back the choice was limited to gold or jewellery, now one can think of gifting a Bang and Olufsen and it’s a boon for the brands that are in India at this time making the industry boom.”

The embellishments include an elaborate dicor, real estate cost for the venue, an ensemble of cuisines adding to the catering bill, pole dancers from South Africa, belly dancers from Dubai and the likes of SRK making appearances at weddings adding the spice to the grandiose.

While Delhi and Punjab continue to be most lavish spenders at Indian weddings there seems to be no looking back for over the top extravagant gala weddings Bollywood style.

“Perhaps its is the Bollywood effect that even for a decent wedding that spans 4-5 days Rs 1 crore is the new benchmark. Places like Delhi and Punjab, where weddings are more lavish, costs shoot up,” says a market analyst.

Dolce & Gabbana in Indian stores soon
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Cons_Products/Fashion__CosmeticsJewellery/Dolce__Gabbana_in_Indian_stores_soon/articleshow/2586743.cms
NEW DELHI: Italy’s luxury apparel and lifestyle brand Dolce & Gabbana (DG) will soon make its India entry. The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) on Friday cleared the company’s JV with realty major DLF.

The company had sought government permission to enter India through the single brand retail route by launching two separate stores for two separate global brands — Dolce & Gabbana, and D&G Dolce Gabbana through a single joint venture. The company seeks to form a 51:49 JV with DLF.

Bottega Veneta enters India with luxury line
link (http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=6803c255-ee13-4530-bb5b-a00d139906f5&MatchID1=4603&TeamID1=6&TeamID2=7&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1157&MatchID2=4574&TeamID3=8&TeamID4=2&MatchType2=1&SeriesID2=1147&PrimaryID=4603&Headline=Bottega+Veneta+enters+India+with+luxury+line)
Bottega Veneta, the Italian luxury brand which is part of the Gucci Group, was launched in Mumbai on November 22.

Its store, opened in partnership with the Murjani Group at the Galleria, Hilton Towers, will offer the Indian luxury goods enthusiast a range of handbags, shoes, small leather goods, belts, eyewear and luggage.

Pantaloon eyes retail JV with state firm
http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14569673
Mumbai: Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd plans to form a retail joint venture with state-run National Textile Corp to cash in on the retail boom in the country, the Economic Times daily reported on Saturday.

National Textile Corp (NTC), which has been selling land for revival, plans to spin off its 113 retail outlets across the country into a separate firm. The firm would be taken over by the joint venture, with NTC owning 51 per cent, the paper said.

Institute of Apparel Management launches Apparel Retail Merchandising Course
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/association-news/apparel-export-promotion-council/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=45214
India’s first Institute of Apparel Management (IAM) which was inaugurated on 18th September 2007 has commenced its second programme i.e. a one year part time programme “Apparel Retail Merchandising” for professionals to pursue careers in apparel industry. The objective of this programme is to inculcate in the students the aptitude and skills to work as professionals at managerial levels in areas of retail operations and retail merchandising in the Fashion Apparel Industry.

The One Year Part-Time Programme in Apparel Retail Merchandising has been launched to train professionals for managerial levels in areas of retail operations and retail merchandising in the Fashion Apparel Industry, to equip the students with aptitude and skills to work as Merchandiser/ Buyer, Department Manager, Shop Floor Manager & Visual Display personnel in the retail stores.

ajay_ijn

December 1st, 2007, 05:23 PM

Sharp-eyed L’Oreal gets head start in India (http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/consumer_goods/article2980264.ece)
The cosmetics giant is using hairdressing schools to stimulate demand for products many Indians saw as an alien extravagance
Above a bank in north Bombay, India’s future hairdressers are sculpting the tresses of volunteer models more willing to let trainees loose on their hair than a seasoned local stylist wielding a bottle of dye. “Everyone is very particular about their hair these days,” said Ruchi Khater, from beneath a stack of silver foil at L’Oréal’s hairdressing academy.

For a customer who needs more than a trim, a visit to a hairdresser in India has traditionally been something of a hair-raising experience. This was particularly true for fair-haired Western women with layered styles and blonde highlights. They learnt the hard way that Indian hairdressers know little of colour beyond a jet-black rinse or a streak of henna.

That is not surprising as 85 per cent of Indian women have long, straight hair. Their natural tone is dark and they prefer home remedies recommended by their mothers. Most still use hair oil - vegetable oil, no less – rather than fancy conditioners.

It is a challenging environment for any company trying to sell packaged beauty products – to the majority of India’s 1.1 billion people they are not only alien but also an extravagance.

The solution for L’Oréal, the world’s largest beauty and cosmetics group, was to create a market from scratch.

Since it opened its first academy in Bombay in 2006, 73 hairdressers have graduated. The six-month course turns out professionals capable of working as a junior in one of the select but growing number of international-standard salons in India’s big cities.

L’Oréal’s distribution network also plays a vital role. Over the past decade the company has trained more than 30,000 hairdressers in India in the use of its products. And it has helped to establish about 300 salons in the past five years. The theory is simple: If there is no natural demand for your goods, stimulate it. “We have created a profession and a market,” Didier Vil-lanueva, L’Oréal India’s country manager, said. “If you train people they will use your products.”

The students, who pay 200,000 rupees (£2,440) each, are green to say the least. “Most who come do not know how to hold scissors or use a blow dryer,” Caroline Lannuzel, academy director, said.

Competition is strong with more than 50 applications for 15 places. Sohini Rohra, 24, a former model, got in. “People did not know what a bad haircut was. My mother’s generation did not have a clue because there was no exposure to these things,” she said.

In a media-driven culture obsessed with Bollywood, urban consumers are very demanding and image is everything. They read glossy magazines such as Vogue, which launched an Indian edition in September, and follow the changing fashions of their favourite celebrities.

Much like Britain’s tabloid fascination with David Beckham’s changing hairstyles, the recent decision by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the 26-year-old captain of the one-day cricket team and the face of Brylcreem in India, to chop his long locks made front-page news.

Unprecedented economic growth in India, which is forecast by McKinsey to become the world’s fifth-biggest consuming nation by 2025, has created a raft of opportunities for international lifestyle brands.

Emerging markets such as India are driving the growth of the cosmetics industry. L’Oréal, which uses Aishwarya Rai, the Bollywood star and former Miss World, as one of its international faces, estimates there are 70 million potential consumers being created every year.

Its sales in India, where it is No 2 behind Unilever, are growing at 35 per cent a year. This year, they are about €100 million (£71 million).

Although L’Oréal’s professional products division represents only 17 per cent of total revenues, hair colour was the Paris-based group’s genesis and remains the creative heart of the business. Money-spinning mass-market brands such as Garnier are being pushed hard in India, where the company estimates there is a market of 50 million people.

Its rivals agree. Franck Provost, the beauty salon group, also has a hairdressing academy in Bombay and Toni & Guy opened a salon this year. “There is a beauty business in India waiting to happen,” said Kishore Biyani, managing director of Pantaloon, India’s largest retailer.

Two thirds of the population is under 35: youth will drive growth. In the L’Oréal academy, it has at least two new potential customers.

Sweety Vardhan, 22, a recent graduate, and her friend appear thrilled with their haircuts and say they will be back. “Because I trust them,” she said.

L’Oréal hopes that very soon it will be because they think they’re worth it.

Hair and care
—In India, 66% of shampoo sold is in 7.5ml sachets. Four billion are sold each year

—Up to 96% of urban Indian women use shampoo, 46% facial cleansing products and 47% wear foundation

—About 94% use hair oil, 42% use henna and 74% use home remedies

—About 42% of Indian men dye their hair Half the skincare market is skin lightening creams. Hindustan Lever’s Fair & Lovely accounts for 85%

—Garnier had worldwide sales of €2 billion. It brought the first antiageing cream to India in 1995

—L’Oréeal’s sales per capita in India is 10 cents. In France, it is €28

—The cosmetics market in India is growing at 16%

Euromast

December 2nd, 2007, 05:44 PM

//

NEW DELHI: Swiss watch company Tag Heuer, part of the French luxury products group LVMH, on Sunday launched a premium timepiece from its Link collection 'Calibre S', representing sports and glamour, in the domestic market.

Tag Heuer's brand ambassadors Shahrukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra were present during the launch.

LVMH Watch and Jewellery General Manager Manishi Sanwal told reporters that Tag Heuer is the fourth largest luxury brand in watches in the world and expected to become the biggest brand in the next two-three years.

The watch brand entered India five years back and is now present in 24 cities. The range of Tag Heuer watches start from Rs 33,900.

Tag Heuer President and CEO Jean Christophe Babin said the Indian subcontinent represents one of the most promising markets for Tag Heuer brand globally.

kronik

December 2nd, 2007, 08:38 PM

come on man, this place is for bigger news!

Euromast

December 2nd, 2007, 09:34 PM

^^^ could not find any big news today;-)

Suncity

December 3rd, 2007, 02:28 AM

^^

Okay here's a BIG bazaar photo

:)

with Humayunn (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=507207) right up there to the right

Big Bazaar, Ahmedabad

photo copyright pahabeeb

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/809/bigbazaarpahabeebdd3.jpg

purapagal

December 3rd, 2007, 08:02 AM

Staples - the US based office supply store opens it's first store in Bangalore. This is a collaboration between Future group and Staples.

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4671/blrstaplesdd7.th.jpg (http://img516.imageshack.us/my.php?image=blrstaplesdd7.jpg)

Euromast

December 3rd, 2007, 12:14 PM

Euromast

December 3rd, 2007, 02:22 PM

The company said it will invest Rs120 crore in the next three years on its beauty and lifestyle retail initiative

New Delhi: Home grown FMCG major Dabur India on Monday said it will invest Rs120 crore in the next three years on its beauty and lifestyle retail initiative - H&B Stores.
“We are looking at about 100 H&B stores by 2010 entailing an investment of about Rs 120 crore,” Dabur India vice-chairman Amit Burman told reporters on the sidelines of India Economic Summit here.
The retail initiative is not necessarily meant for distributing only Dabur products, he said adding, “products of other brands would also be retailed through the stores along with our product.”
Burman said H&B Stores would be going on its own for back-end supply chain. It has also stepped up hiring as it plans to open stores from mid-January.
The company plans to expand its retail outlets to over 1,000 stores by the 10th year of operation and is looking at establishing stores ranging from 1,500 sq ft to 6,000 sq ft in size.

Source (http://www.livemint.com/2007/12/03114436/Dabur-India-to-invest-Rs120-cr.html)

Euromast

December 3rd, 2007, 04:02 PM

Eat more Junk!!

NEW DELHI: Domino's Pizza India, a franchisee of US-based Domino's Pizza Inc, plans to invest 2.5 billion rupees ($63 million) over the next 3 years to open new outlets, a senior official said on Monday.

"We want to be a 500 stores company by 2010," Ajay Kaul, the firm's chief executive officer, told reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum India summit. He said the investment would be spent on expansion as well as on upgrading existing manufacturing facilities.

Kaul said the company had set a revenue target of 10 billion rupees by 2010, but did not reveal expected revenues for the current fiscal ending March 2008. Domino's India currently runs 180 stores across 33 cities.

Indian drugs and chemicals maker Jubilant Organosys holds a 67 per cent stake in Domino's Pizza India, while the remaining 33 per cent is owned by JP Morgan

Euromast

December 3rd, 2007, 05:54 PM

NEW DELHI: Global wholesale chain Metro on Monday said it is investing about Euro 40-45 million for setting up two new stores in India, expected to be operational by the first quarter next year, and is looking to set up more facilities across the country.

"Currently construction on two facilities, one each in Mumbai and Kolkata are underway. While the Mumbai store will be operational by the first quarter of next year, the Kolkata one is expected to start functioning by April next year," Metro Cash & Carry Regional Operating Officer Asia James Scott told reporters here on the sidelines of India Economic Summit.

Source (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Latest_News/Metro_invests_Euro_45_mn_for_two_new_stores_in_India/articleshow/2592663.cms)

Euromast

December 4th, 2007, 01:59 PM

//

FMCG major Dabur India today unveiled a brand name - 'new-u' - for its H&B Stores - a retail initiative offering products in beauty, health and wellness. The first H&B Store is scheduled to open in Delhi next month.

"We have scheduled six 'new-u' outlets in the Delhi NCR region by the end of the current fiscal. We will then expand in other markets adding 50 stores in 2008-09. We will take the number of 'new-u' stores to 160 by 2009-10," Peter Baker, CEO, H&B Stores, said.

H&B Stores, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dabur India, has started operations with an initial investment of Rs 140 crore. The company is targeting a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore by 2010 from the 'new-u' brand, Baker said.

"We wish to provide our consumers an international quality store environment and a product range incorporating the global look and feel," said Graeme Fraser, head (sourcing, buying and merchandising), H&B Stores.

Euromast

December 4th, 2007, 06:15 PM

The reason for wanting to open such retail outlets was the variation in steel prices from company to company

Hubli: JSW Ltd plans to open 600 steel retail outlets in India in the next two years to provide best quality steel to customers at competitive prices.
“JSW is looking at opening 600 retail outlets in the next two years time to market steel in the country,” JSW Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Sajjan Jindal told a news conference here.
The reason for wanting to open such retail outlets was the variation in steel prices from company to company, he said
Jindal pointed out that India uses only 50 million tonnes of steel every year, compared to 500 million tonnes in China.
He said the exclusive JSW showrooms (shoppes) will have on display and sell all types of JSW steel, ranging from HR coil to colour-coated steel.
“JSW aims to provide a unique experience of buying steel products through branded distribution channels,” he said.
By March 2008, the company is looking at 25 such shoppes in South and West India.
JSW’s steel production at its two plants in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu at present is around 4.8 million tonnes. “By next year, production is expected to go upto eight million tonnes per annum,” Jindal said.
With steel plants coming up in West Bengal and Jharkhand, JSW group’s steel production is expected to increase to 30 million tonnes by 2020, he added.

shivy

December 4th, 2007, 06:22 PM

dreadathecontrols

December 5th, 2007, 08:35 PM

erm thats 'dick' no?

kronik

December 9th, 2007, 06:37 PM

malls, malls and more malls.

Unitech to invest Rs 20,000 cr to develop 48 malls in 6 years (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Unitech_to_invest_Rs_20000_cr_to_develop_48_malls_in_6_years/articleshow/2601058.cms)

India's second largest realtor Unitech Ltd has announced a Rs 20,000-crore investment to develop 48 malls and shopping centres across the country in the next six years expanding its presence in the organised retail sector.

Unitech currently has two operational malls in Noida and Delhi. After the proposed expansion, the number would reach 50 by the end of 2013. The company plans to develop over 60 million sq ft of retail space through these malls and shopping centres.

"In first phase, Unitech will develop 24 malls covering more than 20 million sq ft," the company's Managing Director Sanjay Chandra said.

To start with, the company is targeting metros and major state capitals for its retail expansion and will gradually move to Tier-II and Tier-III cities, Chandra added.

Of the 24 malls and shopping centres planned in the first phase, 18 are at the designing stage, while the construction work has started on six malls.

In the first phase, the company would develop malls and shopping centres in the NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Lucknow, Bhopal, Goa, Vizag, Bhubaneshwar, Kochi and Trivandrum.

Each of the proposed eight malls in metro cities would be one million sq ft in size.

The mall in Chandigarh would also have an entertainment park, while a convention centre would be built in the one developed in Kolkata. The company would follow similar mixed use model for other malls.

luvBlore

December 10th, 2007, 08:42 PM

Reliance Retail Limited Launches 'RelianceTimeOut' in Bangalore

Reliance Retail Limited (RRL) announced the launch of a new specialty store "Reliance TimeOut" on Cunningham Road in Bangalore today

10 17:00:00 (IndiaPRwire.com)

Reliance Retail Limited (RRL) announced the launch of a new specialty store "Reliance TimeOut" on Cunningham Road in Bangalore today. This store houses Books, Music, Stationery, Toys and Gifts. After the successful launch of Reliance Fresh, Reliance Mart, Reliance Digital, Reliance Trendz, Reliance Footprint, Reliance Wellness and Reliance Jewels, this is the 8th format of stores from Reliance Retail to be launched in India.

Spread over 21,000 sq feet and with over 56,000 products, Reliance TimeOut offers the customers an extensive range of merchandise in Books, Music, Stationery, Toys and Gifts. Reliance TimeOut is all set to revolutionize this business with its unique combination of wide product range and an exciting customer experience.

Commenting on the launch of Reliance TimeOut, Mr. Bijou Kurien, President and Chief Executive Lifestyle said "In today's world, with all the pressures, stress and workload at office, home and school, we need a place where we can unwind and relax, where we can browse, buy a book, sample some music, choose a gift, buy a toy, or some exclusive stationery for ourselves. At Reliance Timeout, we offer a comprehensive range of products in these categories along with a fascinating customer experience in a warm, lively ambience".

In Books, Reliance TimeOut has over 30,000 titles, sourced from National & International publishers. Recognizing customer preference for self-help and professional development the store has an impressive range of non-fiction books. Reliance TimeOut also has a range of Academic and Professional books and Vernacular books in 6 languages, apart from fiction, popular genres and a huge children's section. To help enhance this experience the store has a kid's wall, where kids can cuddle-up with a book. In Music and Movies Reliance TimeOut has over 12,000 titles sourced from leading international and national music companies. Listening pleasure is enhanced by the imported sound domes which provide hygienic sampling of music. Reliance TimeOut also has a Karaoke Studio where the customer can sing-along with a song of their choice and record it in a professional quality recording studio. There is also a cafe at the store, which makes Reliance TimeOut a wonderful hangout for youth and adults alike.

Searching for your favourite music and books is efficiently handled by a search engine and complemented by knowledgeable and energetic staff, so that customers can easily find what they want in a store of this size. The Stationery section with over 7000 products is a wonderland for children, students and working people. For the first time in India, Professional Artists too have an exciting range of products to buy their art supplies from. The professional series from Pebeo and Canson from France, Vinciana and RGM from Italy and Koh-i-noor from the Czech Republic and the Hobby Art products are truly exceptional. The Toy section with over 3,000 toys in an environment that is a lot of fun for the children will definitely make every outing to Reliance TimeOut, great fun for the family. The store also has over 4,000 products in gifts, watches, sunglasses and fragrances.

Reliance TimeOut is truly a wonderful space to simply take time out! A wonderful world where a customer can Explore, Create, Imagine, Play, Unwind and truly call their own.

- End -

Reliance Retail Limited

Reliance Retail Limited, a 100% subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited started rolling its stores in November last year and today operates over 418 stores in over 17 cities spanning 1.5 million Sq ft. The formats that RRL operates in are Reliance Fresh, Reliance Digital for consumer durables and information technology, Reliance Mart, a Hyper Market, Reliance Trendz - the apparel store, Reliance Wellness - offering wellness products, Reliance Footprint -a footwear store & Reliance Jewels -a jewellery storeReliance Industries Limited

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is India's largest private sector company on all major financial parameters with turnover of Rs1,18,354 crore (US$ 27.23 billion), cash profit of Rs17,678 crore (US$ 4.07 billion), net profit of Rs11,943 crore (US$ 2.75 billion) and net worth of Rs63,967 crore (US$ 14.72 billion) as of March 31, 2007.

RIL is the first and only private sector company from India to feature in the Fortune Global 500 list of 'World's Largest Corporations' and ranks amongst the world's Top 200 companies in terms of profits. RIL is amongst the 25 fastest climbers ranked by Fortune. RIL also features in the Forbes Global list of world's 400 best big companies and in FT Global 500 list of world's largest companies.

Suncity

December 16th, 2007, 04:14 AM

Big Bazaar, Darjeeling

photo copyright Ben

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/2549/darjeelingbigbazaarbensv1.jpg

Paddington

December 16th, 2007, 06:27 PM

What's the deal with writing Hindi phrases out in English? Is this some new fad sweeping across India? :dunno:

I blame text messaging. :bash:

purapagal

December 17th, 2007, 12:29 PM

What's the deal with writing Hindi phrases out in English? Is this some new fad sweeping across India? :dunno:

I blame text messaging. :bash:

This is not a recent fad, all hindi movie names were written in English, Hindi and Urdu even though the title was in Hindi like Sree 420, Sholay.

Not everyone in India outside the hindi-belt can read hindi though most can understand it.

dreadathecontrols

December 17th, 2007, 06:35 PM

What's the deal with writing Hindi phrases out in English? Is this some new fad sweeping across India? :dunno:

I blame text messaging. :bash:

Nah, not new at all.Pre dates mobiles, photo ads, the maruti & your birth ma maan.
Anyone been to that big b in darjeeling? Any good?

cncity

December 18th, 2007, 03:39 PM

Delhi and its suburbs are witnessing a race without a finishing line - the rush to build India's largest shopping mall. The players are the top names in the real estate business - DLF, Unitech and Emaar-MGF.
Till recently, Unitech's Great India Place at Noida had eclipsed all other shopping malls in the National Capital Region with 1.5 million sq ft of space. (It was India's first million sq ft mall.)

Then Ambience Group's Ambi Mall came up at Gurgaon, boasting of a 1.8 million sq ft spread and no less than a kilometre long end-to-end walk within. But its days of glory too will not last. Come 2010, DLF will have its 4.5 million sq ft Mall of India next to the Ambi Mall, while Emaar MGF reportedly has a 5.8 million sq ft mall on the anvil, replicating its Dubai Mall.

Is it megalomania? Or is it a start business move to drive away competition? A bit of both, say experts.

"India is seeing a burst of mall activity, going from none to many. They have to differentiate themselves. At this early stage in the evolution of the Indian mall, the differentiator is size," says Asitava Sen, vice-president (retail and consumer goods), KSA Technopak.

"The first mover's advantage helps in getting the right tenants as well as defining the alternative destination in the customer's mind," adds Arvind Nair, managing director of DLF Retail.

These developers are gunning for scale as the differentiator for it allows them to create malls which are destinations for more than shopping, throwing a wide net across consumer segments and locations.

DLF Group Executive Director Rajeev Talwar says: "We are going across the board to cater to the entire family. We will include the bargain-drivers as also the high street in the Mall of India. To tap India's GDP growth story, with rising incomes and very little time, we want to offer a large range under the same roof."

Yet, scale can claim its price too. Sen says, "Building malls pegged on sheer size could be counter-productive. The demand and supply gap has to be ascertained using a competitive analysis of the catchment area."

This is needed to get retailers to open shop in the malls. With at least 50,000 footfalls needed for success in such malls, the count of over 200 shops have to be filled in a planned manner.

Raj Singh Gehlot, chairman and managing director, Ambience Group, notes that until FDI in retail opens up it will remain a tough call.

Cleverly demarcated zones are coming to these developers' rescue to bring in the existing retailers to their malls. These are the key to sustain the mixed-bag of brands - spanning different price categories and market segments.

For example, Ambi Mall has a separate entrance for Big Bazaar, away from the up-market Debenhams, avoiding a clash. The GIP too has home-ware and groceries in the basement and women's and men's apparel flanking the two sides of the mall's ground floor.

Talwar explains DLF's stance, "We are trying to order the large variety into themes, creating distinct shopping experiences for all our buyers."

Mall of India will have a zone marked out for women's clothing, followed by accessories, while mass retail outlets would be separate from the premium zone.

Gehlot also rues how the city planning lacks foresight for malls of this scale. Talwar says, "The government has to fix the access to Gurgaon" while referring to the expected increase in city traffic to Mall of India.

But it has not daunted them from sprucing up their own infrastructure to transform their gigantic real estates into entertainment meccas.

Pani says, "For a mall to be sustainable, it has get into different categories ranging from entertainment, food to novelty retailing."

So while Ambi Mall has a food court that is more than 50,000 sq ft, Unitech's Great India Place (GIP) already has an adjoining amusement park - the World of Wonders - with an Adlabs [Get Quote] multiplex and even a hotel lined up. Mall of India will have an entire cultural centre, complete with amphitheatres, multiplexes, kids zone and of course food parks.

While there is ample elbow-room and more within - the Ambi Mall has a one km walkway and all of these malls are interspersed with plenty of seating and atriums - parking woes too are being put to rest with spaces that can fit in more than 8,000 cars (Great India Place).

This might help mend the yawning gap: the Mall of America has 5.3 parking spaces per 1,000 sq ft while Indian malls have as low as 1.6 parking spaces per 1,000 sq ft, till recently. For transit, GIP and Mall of India have plans to whisk you away on a mono-rail or light rail from the nearest Metro station.

While India's largest mall may remain the ultimate trophy, no less than 20 malls are coming up across India that stretch to more than a million sq ft. And, not just the national capital region but Mumbai, Bangalore and even Ludhiana will soon flaunt these giants. These players are, at least, all winners in introducing "destination malls" in our vocabulary.

http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2007/dec/17mall.htm

dreadathecontrols

December 20th, 2007, 12:56 PM

also these big buisnesses know the futire.In 20 years time that area will be a hugely populated self contained megacity

Suncity

December 21st, 2007, 08:38 AM

Magnet Hypermarket, Mumbai

photos cc rights Kaustav Bhattacharya

1
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4969/magnethypermarket2kauisuq3.jpg

2
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4367/magnethypermarketcckaushm7.jpg

3
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/145/magnethypoercckaustavxl2.jpg

Some related old news

HomeCare plans opening more branded stores

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/08/22/stories/2007082251800500.htm

HomeCare Retail Marts Pvt Ltd (HomeCare) plans to invest Rs 300 crore over the next three years to set up more Magnet and other branded stores in several cities.

The retailer will set up super centres, hypermarkets, supermarkets and speciality chain stores with a fully integrated supply chain, which will include captive organic food farms.

Magnet is a national retail brand running large format stores covering 60,000 sq ft area. With existing operations in Mumbai and Pune, these stores will expand to Ahmedabad and Bangalore following the hub and spoke model before the year-end, and thereafter across other metro and mini-metro cities rapidly.

http://www.homecareretail.com/

Suncity

December 21st, 2007, 03:58 PM

Big Bazaar, Mangalore

photo copyright scorpion

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6007/bharathmallmangalorescodi9.jpg

dreadathecontrols

December 21st, 2007, 05:41 PM

More great pics.
Again, has anyone been to the one in Darjeeling?And how was it?

IndiansUnite

December 28th, 2007, 02:05 AM

Big Bazaar@Bangalore

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/8463/bbbloresf1.jpg

[Live Mint]

Euromast

December 30th, 2007, 12:59 PM

NEW DELHI: Italian high-end designer brand Versace is all set to tap the ladies wear segment in India in 2008 with the launch of its latest collection of jeans and accessories.

"The VJC (Versace Jeans Couture) and Gianni Versace (mainline collection for men and women accessories) would be available in our premium retail stores here in 2008," Blues Clothing Company Executive Director Abhay Gupta told media.

Blues Clothing Company's (BCC) principal activity is to retail men's and women's apparel in both business and fashion wear category. The group's franchised brands include, Corneliani, Versace Collections, Gianni Versace and Versace Jeans Couture.

BCC, which has its stores in upmarket retail locations here would scale up its presence in the national capital.

Versace mainline would be launched by March 2008 at the Grand, Vasant Kunj, while VJC would be simultaneously at two exclusive boutiques, one in South Extension and the other in DLF Emporio Mall.

Source (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Versace_to_enter_Indian_ladies_wear_segment_in_2008/articleshow/2662398.cms)

Suncity

December 30th, 2007, 03:42 PM

Again, has anyone been to the one in Darjeeling?And how was it?

It should be similar as others.

Suncity

December 30th, 2007, 04:04 PM

Pantaloons, Bhubaneswar

photo copyright SM Mishra

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/184/pantaloonsbhubaneswarsnaa9.jpg

Related news

Pantaloon enters the city in a big way

http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/13/stories/2007101351310200.htm

Pantaloon Retail (India) Limited (PRIL) on Friday launched its second largest store of the country in Bhubaneswar with the total floor area spreading across 58,000 square feet.

Featuring different retail formats such as eZone, Depot, Gen M, Mela, Planet Sports, Blue Sky and Food Bazaar.

Cov Boy

December 30th, 2007, 11:19 PM

Then Ambience Group's Ambi Mall came up at Gurgaon, boasting of a 1.8 million sq ft spread and no less than a kilometre long end-to-end walk within. But its days of glory too will not last. Come 2010, DLF will have its 4.5 million sq ft Mall of India next to the Ambi Mall, while Emaar MGF reportedly has a 5.8 million sq ft mall on the anvil, replicating its Dubai Mall.

Why build so close to the Ambi Mall?

Mall of India could have been built in where there aint no Malls instead of building right next to each other! Talk about direct competiton. Even thou the offerings of the Mall is different it dont make sense to have giants next to each other. Perhaps I am wrong but perhaps I would need to see for myself.

Euromast

December 31st, 2007, 12:16 AM

NEW DELHI: The government may allow FDI in the retail sector in three phases. The commerce and industry ministry has reopened discussions on allowing FDI in consumer electronics and sports goods retail, and if everything goes as planned, it may happen before the Commonwealth Games in 2010. In the second phase, FDI in single-brand retail may be hiked from 51% to 100%.

Depending on the impact of the first two phases, the government would consider allowing FDI in the sensitive area of multi-brand retailing. Hectic discussions are on among policymakers in Udyog Bhawan for letting foreign investors into the retail sector.

Source (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Retail_FDI_may_now_come_in_three_phases/articleshow/2663232.cms)

Euromast

December 31st, 2007, 12:20 AM

After failing to get government approval to singly open brand retail stores, the world’s leading coffee chain Starbucks has finally seen the light of day in India through a distribution tie-up with the country’s leading multiplex operator PVR Ltd for its select products.

PVR has started retailing Starbucks products at some of its multiplexes in Mumbai and Delhi and plans to extend the arrangement to as many as 25 movie theatres across major metros.

“The retailing of Starbucks products has already started on an experimental basis at three multiplexes in Mumbai and Delhi. The arrangement is for sourcing the Starbucks products directly from the US, but does not include brewing coffee,” PVR Ltd’s Marketing and Sales General Manager Ranjan Singh told PTI.

PVR is sourcing products with longer shelf-life, including cold coffee and mineral water, from Starbucks and it might look at brewing the flagship hot coffee also, as and when the US firm gets regulatory approval for full-fledged operations here.

Source (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=309210&leftnm=1&subLeft=0&chkFlg=)

phaedrus

December 31st, 2007, 02:27 AM

Reliance Retail steps into Bata shoes (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News_by_Industry/Reliance_Retail_steps_into_Bata_shoes/articleshow/2663002.cms)

Reliance Retail is ensuring it gets the widest possible reach for its footwear business. The company has entered into a strategic alliance with Bata India to jump-start its footwear vertical.

With this alliance, Reliance will get access to India’s oldest and biggest footwear retailer’s 1,200 stores which are spread in every nook and corner of the country. Reliance Retail has entered into a distribution tie-up with Bata India to retail its private labels through Bata outlets, sources have confirmed.

phaedrus

January 1st, 2008, 07:02 PM

Carrefour To Go For Short, Renewable Deals With Several Licensees Around India

FRENCH retail major Carrefour is considering the multiplepartner option for entering India. A senior industry source in discussion for a possible partnership with the retailer said the company may not go for a single partner for front-end retail in India as its American counterpart Wal-Mart has done. On the contrary, the French giant would test waters in India by appointing multiple licencees in various parts of India.
In case such a scenario unfolds, Carrefour won’t be the first foreign retailer to have multiple partners while opening shops in India. Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) chains McDonald’s and Yum! Restaurants (which owns brands like Pizza Hut and KFC), have been operating in India through multiple partners, in respective areas.
The source said that the model that Carrefour is looking at with its licencees is short renewable contracts of 2-3 years.Carrefour has already set up two business entities in the country —Carrefour Wholesale Cash &Carry India and Carrefour India Master Franchise Company for the direct-toconsumer front-end retail.
In the recent past, there have been speculations of Carrefour being in talks with potential partners in diverse sectors, which includes real estate companies such as DLF and Parsvnath Developers, financial services companies such as HDFC and some other leading Indian business families such as the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group (ADAG) and the Wadias.

source economictimes.com

cncity

January 5th, 2008, 03:14 AM

HPCL, McDonalds partner for drive through restaurant in Pune news

Pune: Oil company Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL)and fast food chain McDonalds have partnered to start a drive-through restaurant at the Hinjewadi IT park in Pune.

The drive through outlet will be spread over 2,400 sq ft, and will have a seating capacity of 116 people.

McDonalds plans to open 10 such outlets in the Southern and Western regions of the country, and five in the Northern and Eastern regions, taking the count to around 15 by year-end. The restaurant chain is also reported to have strategic partnerships with café chain Café Coffee Day, and the Kamat Group of Hotels.

Speaking to the press, S P Chaudhary, executive director for retail at HPCL, and Amit Jatia, managing director of Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd, McDonalds' JV company in India, said the outlet in Pune is the first of its kind in the country.

http://www.domain-b.com/companies/companies_m/McDonald/20080103_mcdonalds_hpcl.html

nashcode

January 5th, 2008, 11:47 AM

^^

I thought that there was already a Mc D's drive thru at Panvel, just before the Bombay-Pune expressway begins.

Euromast

January 11th, 2008, 09:55 PM

Realty major DLF is in talks with the world's largest home furnishings retailer, Ikea, in a bid to bring the Swedish brand into India. The developer is looking at a joint venture with Ikea on a sharing ratio that is yet to be finalised. The proposed tie-up is in line with the Delhi-based builder's ambitious plans to bring in a number of foreign retail brands into India, especially in the luxury sector like Armani, Versace, Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, D&G etc.

Confirming the development, a DLF official said that talks were underway with the home furnishings retailer and a tie-up is expected to be finalized soon. "It will be in the form of a joint venture and not a franchisee model. This means that Ikea stores will be set up in any space across India and not just in DLF's malls," he said.

Once finalised, Ikea is expected to give tough competition to HomeTown, home improvement stores launched by the Future Group last year. UK-based Roseby's, which was bought by the Sanjay Dalmia Group, is also planning a foray into India soon.

Source (http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=8f077752-3df9-4199-a56c-d1ccda63d341&MatchID1=4619&TeamID1=3&TeamID2=4&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1163&MatchID2=4617&TeamID3=3&TeamID4=4&MatchType2=1&SeriesID2=1163&PrimaryID=4619&Headline=DLF+may+bring+Swedish+giant+Ikea+to+India)

ajithv

January 12th, 2008, 06:32 AM

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/3687/img0001bx0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/623/img0002fy5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/804/img0003pm0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3074/img0004od8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3848/img0005fu0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/5150/img0006vo8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Spotted near Rengamalai (Karur-Dindigul District Border) in Tamilnadu

saurabh85

January 12th, 2008, 11:43 AM

^^ looks like they are well trained drivers with all of them driving in the left lane.:cheers:

sudheeshnairs

January 12th, 2008, 12:05 PM

Thanks for the pics Ajith, changing signs, in retail/ centralised logistics.:)

Interesting to see the trucks keeping equal distance between one another.

Suncity

January 16th, 2008, 05:38 AM

Metro Cash & Carry, Bangalore

http://www.metro.co.in/

photo copyright Lauren

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/8073/metrocashncarryblrlaurear2.jpg

Cov Boy

January 17th, 2008, 12:52 PM

^^How cool!

I like the Reliance Fresh trucks.

Also I wonder if these new hypermarkets/Cash & Carry have alot of Indian products stocked as well as overseas brands.

Illusionist

January 17th, 2008, 10:23 PM

dont compare it with walmart.. its more like sams club....
hey if it keeps the cost down then i dont mind that kind of retail outlets..

robin_a_p

January 17th, 2008, 10:34 PM

^^ Metro is not retail... they are into wholesale business.

Illusionist

January 18th, 2008, 02:43 AM

even better... no one should have problems with the looks of metro then..

nashcode

January 19th, 2008, 09:16 PM

New Report Analyzes the Booming Growth of Malls in India

January 17, 2008 10:30 PM EST

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c79829) has announced the addition of Analyzing the Booming Growth of Malls in India 2008 to their offering.

Latest addition to the Indian Retail Industry reports - Analyzing the Booming Growth of Malls in India 2008. This report is a comprehensive coverage of the booming mall industry in India. The report looks at the A to Z of mall building, retail real estate industry in India, how to develop your mall into a brand name, and much more. Demand and supply scenarios for mall space in today's market is also looked at in detail.

The highlight of the report is a special mall profiles section from each region of the country, namely North, West & Central, East, and South India. These profiles contain valuable information such as location details of the mall, the status of the mall, operational dates, land area, mall space, number of floors, gross leasable area, leased/sold space ratio, leasing agents/companies, rental models in use, food court area (wherever applicable), services area, number of escalators and lifts in the mall, catchment area, other shopping centers/malls within 6 km radius, tenant mix, anchor brands, and much more in-depth data is provided for each mall discussed in the profiles. A table of mall projects also accompanies each section as a value enhancer.

Malls Mentioned:

T. Brief Profiles of Major Malls in North India

T.1 Celebration Mall, Udaipur, Rajasthan

T.2 Celebration Mall, Amritsar, Punjab

T.3 Ambi Mall, Gurgaon, NCR

T.4 Ansal Plaza, New Delhi

T.5 Ansal Plaza, Greater Noida, NCR

T.6 Ansal Plaza, Palam Vihar, New Delhi

T.7 Ansal Royal Plaza, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

T.8 Ansal Highway Plaza, Sonipat, Haryana

T.9 Ansal Plaza, Meerut, UP

T.10 Ansal Plaza, Panipat, Haryana

T.11 Ansal Plaza, Ajmer, Rajasthan

T.12 Ansal Plaza, Lucknow, UP

T.13 The Centre Stage Mall, Noida, UP

T.14 The EastEnd Mall, Lucknow, UP

T.15 The WestEnd Mall, Moradabad, UP

T.16 The WestEnd Mall, Ludhiana, Punjab

T.17 The EastEnd Mall, Ghaziabad, UP

T.18 VIVA Collage, Dehradun

T.19 VIVA Collage, Amritsar, Punjab

T.20 VIVA Collage, Jallandhar, Punjab

T.21 DLF Star Mall, Gurgaon, NCR

T.22 DLF South Point, Gurgaon, NCR

T.23 DLF Town Square, Noida, NCR

T.24 DLF Mall of India, Gurgaon, NCR

T.25 DLF SouthCourt, New Delhi

T.26 DLF Courtyard, New Delhi

T.27 DLF Promenade, New Delhi

T.28 DLF Emporio, New Delhi

T.29 DLF City Center, New Delhi

T.30 DLF The Galleria, New Delhi

T.31 DLF Jasola Towers, New Delhi

T.32 DLF City Court, Gurgaon, NCR

T.33 Fun Republic - Jammu, Jammu

T.34 Fun Republic - Udaipur, Udaipur, Rajasthan

T.35 Fun Republic - Chandigarh, Chandigarh

T.36 Fun Republic - Lucknow, Lucknow, UP

T.37 Era Mall, Meerut, UP

T.38 BB Mall, Bhiwadi, Haryana

T.39 M2K Pitampura, New Delhi

T.40 M2K Rohini, New Delhi

T.41 M2K Mega Mall, Indore

T.42 Metropolitan Mall, Gurgaon, NCR

T.43 Plaza Mall, Gurgaon, NCR

T.44 City Square Mall, New Delhi

T.45 Mega City, Gurgaon, NCR

T.46 Metropolitan, Jaipur, Rajasthan

T.47 Metropolitan, Saket, New Delhi

T.48 Metropolis, Gurgaon, NCR

T.49 Omaxe Connaught Place, Greater Noida, NCR

T.50 NRI City Center, Greater Noida, NCR

T.51 Wedding Mall, Patiala, Punjab

T.52 Wedding Mall, Agra, UP

T.53 Omaxe Novelty, Amritsar, Punjab

T.54 Omaxe Terminal Mall, Amritsar, Punjab

T.55 Omaxe Plaza, Ludhiana, Punjab

T.56 Omaxe Mall, Ludhiana, Punjab

T.57 Wedding Mall, Gurgaon, NCR

T.58 Omaxe Plaza, Gurgaon, NCR

T.59 House to Home, Gurgaon, NCR

T.60 Pacific East, Ghaziabad, UP

T.61 Pacific North, Pitampura, New Delhi

T.62 Pacific Taj, Agra, UP

T.63 Pacific Mathura, Mathura, UP

T.64 Pacific Moradabad, UP

T.65 Pacific Jodhpur, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

T.66 Pacific Fiesta, West Delhi

T.67 Pacific Hindon, Ghaziabad, UP

T.68 Pacific Doon, Dehradun

T.69 Pacific Vasant Vihar, Dehradun

T.70 Inderlok Metro Mall, Delhi

T.71 Pratap Metro Mall, Delhi

T.72 Tis Hazri Metro Mall, Delhi

T.73 Metro Mall Kashmiri Gate, Delhi

T.74 Metro Mall - Welcome, Delhi

T.75 Mega Metro Mall - East Delhi, Delhi

T.76 Metro Mall - Shahdara, Delhi

T.77 Mahaattan-Faridabad, Faridabad

T.78 MMX-Mohan Nagar, Ghaziabad, UP

T.79 Eleganza-Dehradun, Dehradun

T.80 Mall Matrix - Mohali, Mohali, Himachal Pradesh

T.81 City Center - Bhiwadi, Haryana

T.82 Shopping Mall - Moradabad, Moradabad, UP

T.83 Mall Sonipat, Sonipat, Haryana

T.84 Realtech Mall I, Chandigarh

T.85 Realtech Mall II, New Delhi

T.86 Shipra Mall, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, UP

T.87 Shipra Mall (Announced), Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, UP

T.88 Silver Arc, Ludhiana, Punjab

T.89 Majestic Stadia, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

T.90 Stadia Central, Patiala, Punjab

T.91 Stadia Supercenter, Mandi Gobindgarh

T.92 Stadia Supercenter, Patiala, Punjab

T.93 Cross River Mall, Delhi

T.94 Suncity Vasant Kunj, Delhi

T.95 Triton, Jaipur, Rajasthan

T.96 Jewel of India, Jaipur, Rajasthan

T.97 TDI Mall, New Delhi

T.98 TDI Fun Republic, New Delhi

T.99 Paragon, Delhi

T.100 TDI Mall Sonepat, Sonepat, Haryana

T.101 TDI Mall Agra, Agra, UP

T.102 TDI Mall Jasola, Delhi

T.103 TDI Mall Chandigarh, Chandigarh, Punjab

T.104 Southern Park Saket, Delhi

T.105 Palm Court Gurgaon, Gurgaon, NCR

T.106 Rodeo Drive, Sonepat

T.107 TDI Mall Moradabad, Moradabad, UP

T.108 Centrium Jyoti Mall, Jalandhar, Punjab

V. Brief Profiles of Major Malls in West & Central India

V.1 Dindayal City Mall, Gwalior

V.2 Lake City Mall, Thane

V.3 VIVA Collage, Bhopal

V.4 Mumbai Mills, Mumbai

V.5 DLF Patt Plaza, Goa

V.6 Treasure Island, Nanded

V.7 Treasure Island, Indore

V.8 Treasure Island, Ujjain

V.9 Treasure Island, Indore

V.10 Treasure Island, Annapurna, Indore

V.11 Treasure Island, Vadodara, Gujarat

V.12 Treasure Island, Opp. RNT Marg, Indore

V.13 Fund Republic, Mumbai

V.14 Fun Republic, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

V.15 Center One, Mumbai

V.16 Little World Mall, Mumbai

V.17 Mangal City, Indore

V.18 Growels 101, Mumbai

V.19 Himalaya Mall, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

V.20 Himalaya Mall, Bhavnagar

V.21 Himalaya Mall, Anand, Gujarat

V.22 Himalaya Mall, Mehsana, Gujarat

V.23 Huma Mall, Mumbai

V.24 Poonam Mall, Nagpur, Maharashtra

V.25 Poonam Mall, VIP Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra

V.26 Poonam Mall, Khamla, Nagpur, Maharashtra

V.27 Inorbit Mall, Mumbai

V.28 Inorbit Mall - Vashi, Mumbai

V.29 Inorbit Mall - Pune, Pune

V.30 Ishanya, Pune

V.31 Iscon Mega Mall, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

V.32 Iscon Platinum Mall, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

V.33 Iscon Mega Mall, Surat

V.34 Iscon Mega Mall, Vadodara, Gujarat

V.35 Iscon Mall, Surat

V.36 Iscon Mega Mall, Rajkot

V.37 Empress City, Nagpur

V.38 Deccan City, Kolhapur

V.39 K Lifestyle, Mumbai

V.40 K Lifestyle, Mumbai (Fort)

V.41 Kohinoor City Mall, Mumbai

V.42 Orchid City Center, Mumbai

V.43 Milan Mall, Mumbai

V.44 Mumbai - Kurla, Mumbai

V.45 Pune - Hadapsar, Pune

V.46 Kshitij Mall, Vadodara, Gujarat

V.47 Kshitij Mall Sarabhai Circle, Vadodara, Gujarat

V.48 Kshitij Mall, Indore

V.49 Fun N Shop, Pune

V.50 44 Sinew Hills, Pune

V.51 KK Market, Pune

V.52 Kumar Ashok, Pune

V.53 Fun N Fair, Pune

V.54 Fun N Food, Pune

V.55 The Hub, Mumbai

V.56 Hi! Life, Mumbai

V.57 Nirmal Lifestyle, Mulund (W) (Operational), Mumbai

V.58 Nirmal Lifestyle, Mulund (W) (Under Construction), Mumbai

V.59 Nirmal Lifestyle, Mulund (W) (Conceptual Stage), Mumbai

V.60 The Phoenix, Mumbai

V.61 Crossroads, Mumbai

V.62 CR2, Mumbai

V.63 Prime Mall, Mumbai

V.64 Prozone Golden Mall, Aurangabad

V.65 Royal Palms, Mumbai

V.66 R Mall - Mulland, Mumbai

V.67 The Dream Mall, Mumbai

V.68 Dream the Mall, Mumbai

V.69 Raghuleela Mega Mall, Mumbai

V.70 Dream the Mall, Vashi, Mumbai

V.71 Prime Mall, Vileparle-W, Mumbai

V.72 SEJ Mall, Mumbai

V.73 Star Mall, Ahmedabad

V.74 Mega Mall, Mumbai

V.75 The Ozone Mall, Nashik

X. Brief Profiles of Major Malls in South India

X.1 Bay Pride, Kochi

X.2 Nucleus Mall, Kochi

X.3 Gold Souk & Wedding Souk, Ernakulum

X.4 Ampa Center One, Chennai

X.5 Ashoka Metropolitan Mall, Hyderabad

X.6 Ashoka Mall 2, Hyderabad

X.7 The Orion, Bangalore

X.8 The Arcade, Bangalore

X.9 Chennai Citi Center, Chennai

X.10 DLF Hyderabad, Hyderabad

X.11 DLF Chennai, Chennai

X.12 DLF Chennai, Madras Race Club, Chennai

X.13 DLF Bangalore, Bangalore

X.14 Fun Republic, Coimbatore

X.15 Express Avenue, Chennai

X.16 Ferns Mall, Bangalore

X.17 Urban Oasis, Mysore

X.18 Urban Oasis, Hubli

X.19 Urban Oasis, Davangere

X.20 The Focus Mall, Kerala

X.21 Sigma Mall, Bangalore

X.22 Inorbit Mall - Cyberabad, Hyderabad

X.23 Inorbit Village - Pocharam, Hyderabad

X.24 Total, Bangalore

X.25 Total, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore

X.26 Hyderabad - Uppal, Hyderabad

X.27 Trivandrum - Palayam Junction, Thiruvanathapuram

X.28 Madurai - Race Course Road, Madurai

X.29 Cochin - MG Road, Cochin

X.30 Mysore Garuda, Mysore

X.31 Chennai Velachery, Chennai

X.32 Bangalore Whitefield, Bangalore

X.33 Hyderabad Necklace Road, Hyderabad

X.34 Secunderabad - Wesley Boys, Secunderabad

X.35 Secunderabad - Wesley Girls, Secunderabad

X.36 Vizag - Waltier Road, Visakhapatnam

X.37 Bangalore - Banaswadi, Bangalore

X.38 Highstreet, Vijaywada

X.39 Citysquare, Vijaywada

X.40 Hypercity, Guntur

X.41 LEPL Mall 4, Guntur

X.42 Mahavir Mall, Hyderabad

X.43 MPM Mall, Hyderabad

X.44 MPM Bonsai, Hyderabad

X.45 Spencer Plaza, Chennai

X.46 Riverside Mall, Chennai

X.47 Hyderabad Central, Hyderabad

X.48 Bangalore Central, Bangalore

X.49 The Forum, Bangalore

X.50 Eva Mall, Bangalore

X.51 The Forum Value Mall, Bangalore

X.52 The Forum, Chennai

X.53 The Forum, Anna Salai, Chennai

X.54 The Forum, Hyderabad

X.55 The Forum, Mangalore

X.56 The Forum, Cochin

X.57 The Grand, Chennai

X.58 The Grand, Coimbatore

X.59 The Pavilion, Bangalore

X.60 Trishul Developers Mall, Mysore

Z. Brief Profiles of Major Malls in East India

Z.1 Ozone Mall 1, Kolkata

Z.2 Ozone Mall 2, Kolkata

Z.3 Avani Riverside, Kolkata

Z.4 Avani Europa, Kolkata

Z.5 Avani Renaissance, Kolkata

Z.6 Galaxy Mall, Asansol

Z.7 Avani Atria, Guwahati

Z.8 Magneto the Mall, Raipur

Z.9 City Center, Kolkata

Z.10 City Center, Rajarhat, Kolkata

Z.11 City Center, Haldia

Z.12 City Center, Siliguri

Z.13 City Center, Raipur

Z.14 Dreamplex, Durgapur, West Bengal

Z.15 Asansol Centrum, Asansol

Z.16 Shopping Mall, Raniganj, West Bengal

Z.17 Kaym Plaza, Guwahati

Z.18 City Mall 36, Raipur

Z.19 Treasure Island, Raipur

Z.20 Treasure Island, Jabalpur

Z.21 Treasure Island, Bhilai

Z.22 Fort Knox, Kolkata

Z.23 LEE-II, Kolkata

Z.24 Ffrigangi Bazaar, Kolkata

Z.25 Shop Out, Kolkata

Z.26 JD High Street, Ranchi

Z.27 Pandri Road Mall, Raipur

Z.28 Jessore Road Mall, Kolkata

Z.29 Strand Road Mall, Kolkata

Z.30 VIP Road Mall, Kolkata

Z.31 Sevoke Road Mall, Siliguri

Z.32 Mani Square, Kolkata

Z.33 Acropolis, Kolkata

Z.34 Homeland, Kolkata

Z.35 Grand The International Mall, Dhanbad

Z.36 Krishnagar Centrum, Krishnanagar

Z.37 Sunflower Mall, Siliguri

Z.38 South City Mall, Kolkata

Z.39 The Forum, Kolkata

Z.40 Forum Courtyard, Kolkata

Z.41 Forum Mart, Bhubaneswar

Z.42 Lake Mall, Kolkata

http://www.streetinsider.com/Press+Releases/New+Report+Analyzes+the+Booming+Growth+of+Malls+in+India/3274846.html

Suncity

January 20th, 2008, 04:52 AM

Spar Hypermarket

photo copyright Gaurav

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/3193/sparhypermartgauravwp4.jpg

Old but relevant news

Dutch retail giant SPAR has tied up with Landmark Group for hypermarket foray in India. More here (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Services/Retailing/Dutch_retail_firm_ties_up_with_Landmark_Group/articleshow/2433383.cms).

luvBlore

January 25th, 2008, 06:39 PM

The Aditya Birla Retail chain plans 60 stores in city
Target by March 2008: 500 stores in the country

Bangalore: Bangalore has yet another retail chain store. The Aditya Birla Retail Limited launched its retail branded stores in Bangalore today. The chain of stores, named ‘More’ includes the recently acquired retail brands, Trinethra, Fabmall and Fabcity. After the integration of these stores the ‘More’ chain in the State will have 60 stores in Bangalore, eight in Mysore and 10 in Mangalore.

Sumant Sinha, CEO, said that the company plans to expand operations in Karnataka by establishing 100 stores in the by the end of the current financial year.

The company now has a network of 350 stores across the country, of which 275 are in the southern states Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. By March 2008, the company plans to establish 500 stores across the country.

Mr. Sumant Sinha said that although most of the ‘More’ stores are supermarkets where consumers can get their everyday needs, the company also plans open stores in other formats such as hypermarkets. He said that a hypermarket would have a floor area of at least 60,000 sq. ft., whereas the average size of a supermarket is about 4,000 sq. ft.

The company plans to invest Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 10,000 crore in the next few years. He said that this investment would result in 1,000 to 1,500 new supermarkets and 50 to 100 hypermarkets across the country.

He said the organised retail industry was “still in a nascent stage” and that the market shares of the new entrants “were not very reliable”.

Mr. Sumant Sinha also said that high real estate prices “was still a cause for worry”.

phaedrus

January 26th, 2008, 12:48 AM

Reliance Retail plans tieups with global biggies

WITH a high-profile marketing and distribution deal with Apple Inc in its bag, Reliance Retail is in negotiations to seal similar deals in the current year. The retail major is in talks with three to four global players for exclusive tie ups in speciality retail space. Speaking to ET on the eve of Reliance Retail’s second TimeOut store in Gurgaon, Reliance Retail president & chief executive, lifestyle, Bijou Kurien said: “The tie-ups for speciality retail will be in nonfood, non-FMCG categories such as apparel, footwear, consumer electronics, home and interiors and furniture among others.” While declining to mention specific names of players Reliance Retail was in talks with, Mr Kurien said: “We are hopeful that the speciality retail ventures will be rolled out in the current calendar year.” The company proposes to set up stand-alone stores for speciality retail once the deals are formalised. Reliance Retail is learnt to be in talks with US-based multi-brand home improvement player Lowe. Its first speciality retail store in partnership with Apple Inc, iStore by Reliance Digital, recently started operations in Bangalore.
Elaborating on plans for its books, music, stationery and toys stores under the Reliance TimeOut umbrella, Mr Kurien said: “The plan is to set up 45 TimeOut stores over the next three years.” The company, however, has not firmed up specific investments for TimeOut stores for the threeyear period. It is currently testing the Time-Out format with three pilot stores — one each in Bangalore and Guragon and a third upcoming one in Kochi. While the Gurgaon store has been set up with an investment of Rs 20 crore, Reliance Retail invested Rs 12 crore in the Bangalore store.

source economictimes epaper

Innova Cool

January 26th, 2008, 12:35 PM

UPDATE...

Following Malls are under construction at Coimbatore..

--- Spencer Plaza (Brooke Bond Road)
--- Brooke Fields (Brooke Bond Road)

Cov Boy

January 27th, 2008, 07:36 PM

ewwwwwwwwww....Metro cash and carry looks worse than a Walmart. If I were incharge, i would have bulldozed it in an instant.

What were they thinking, making a piece of shack that looks rather industrial, in bangalore. I mean whats an alaska brand? never heard of it. lol

The design, looks and feel is the same as anywhere else in the world. Such formats are used here in Europe. Unless you been in one you would know. As the others put it, its not for retail but for wholesale so it dont matter what the place looks like as its not a Mall.

Suncity

January 27th, 2008, 08:42 PM

Big Bazaar at Atlantis Mall, Allahabad, UP

photo copyright Ritesh Srvastava

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9510/atlantismallallahabadrijd8.jpg

Suncity

January 28th, 2008, 07:02 AM

Pantaloon Retail's Cosmos Mall in Siliguri

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071226/jsp/siliguri/story_8688563.jsp

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/406/cosmosmallsiliguriup7.jpg

Three lakh square feet for shopping, eating and entertainment, not to mention new rendezvous points for socialising— and all to be available 12 hours a day, seven days a week, spic and span and centrally air-conditioned.

Built on 2.5 acres on what was earlier warehouses for transporters and tea merchants, most of the six-storied structure will comprise shops and bazaars branded and promoted by Pantaloons Retail (India) Ltd (PRIL), the flagship company of the Future Group. Big Bazaar, eZone, Furniture Bazaar, Shoe Factory, Food Bazaar, Tara and Sitara (beauty parlour and saloon), and of course Pantaloons, will be some of the shops that will be housed here.

The total built-up area is 3.25 lakh square feet, including a two-level car parking space for 150 vehicles.

“This will be the largest mall in India run by PRIL, where most of the ventures in our repertoire will have space,” said Ardhendu Bose, general manager, Cosmos Mall. “It will also be the first professionally managed mall in eastern India. Not even Calcutta has such a venture.”

Bose said families could spend the entire day in the building, which has an atrium with fountains, an entertainment plaza called Galaxy that has a bowling alley, and a resto-bar, where food and drinks will add to a relaxed shopping atmosphere. And for those who want to shed calories, there will be a wellness spa and gym too.

“With so many attractions, we expect a daily footfall of about 10,000 people,” Bose said. “There will be 77 units in the building, 71 one them of leading brands. The mall will bring in the metro way of life to Siliguri.”

The venture has generated employment for at least 2,500 people, including security, housekeeping and maintenance staff.

dreadathecontrols

January 30th, 2008, 08:57 AM

That mall count?
Is that the total of malls in use or?Maan thats alot of malls
Spar? I though they were english .they have , or used to have loads of little local mini marts in the uk ..Another illusion shattered...
more importantly about that Mcdonalds in allahabad.
D'you think it ll do a roaring trade at the next Kumbh? All those sadus, stoned with a bad attack of the munchies, trotting off for illicit big macs?Whole akaras of starkers naga babas, trishuals in place demanding more mayonaise?And a place to sit 'on the floor only, chod' ?
Or.
Do we think they'll errect a llittle vegi mac ashram dolling out macprasaad? As a kind of desi marketing tool.I mean theres gonna be 10 million villagers who've never seen one B4.
Chillums & mcprassad i cant wait. The Maya intensifies..!

hoschi

January 30th, 2008, 12:11 PM

Spar is german. In german it means to save- thus the prices in Spar are usually low.

Suncity

February 2nd, 2008, 10:45 PM

Mahratta

February 2nd, 2008, 11:58 PM

ewwwwwwwwww....Metro cash and carry looks worse than a Walmart. If I were incharge, i would have bulldozed it in an instant.

What were they thinking, making a piece of shack that looks rather industrial, in bangalore. I mean whats an alaska brand? never heard of it. lol

It's more comparable to Sam's Club and Costco in its format. It actually looks much better than either of those wholesale stores.
That's why it is called Metro Cash and Carry. :yes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_and_carry_%28wholesale%29

arijeetb

February 3rd, 2008, 12:26 AM

Source: http://www.domain-b.com/companies/companies_r/RPG/20080202_spencers_kolkata.html

Kolkata: Sanjiv Goenka, vice chairman of the RPG Group has unveiled Spencer's largest hyper store in India, at Kolkata.

The thirteenth Spencer's hypermarket in India, and the first in Kolkata, Spencer's now has 400 outlets across 60 cities, including 20 in Kolkata. Over 4 million customers visit Spencer's stores every month.

Speaking to the media prior to launch at the South City Hall, Sanjiv Goenka said, "We are proud that the most modern Spencer's hyper store has been located in our home city, which is also the headquarters of Spencer's operations."

Located as an anchor store at South City Mall, 375 Prince Anwar Shah Road, Kolkata, the Spencer's hyper store has a trading area of 72,000 sq ft, displaying over 70,000 items under one roof.

According to Goenka, "The new Spencer's hyper, our largest hyper store so far, rewrites all shopping rules with offerings that Kolkata citizens have so far not experienced."

International retail design specialists and brand consultants have given the Spencer's hyper store a truly international look. The new Spencer's slug line is "Taste the world", embodying the best that the world has to offer in terms of food, fashion, home and entertainment. A bright, new and vibrant signage, wall colours, murals, graphics and outstanding visual merchandising embody a new look and feel, aimed to give customers an unparalleled international shopping experience.

The overall store ambience and décor elements, lighting, fixtures and fittings are internationally sourced, and the 70,000 SKUs at the Spencer's Hyper comprise 35,000 items of daily use, 25,000 books, and an unparalleled collection of music and DVDs.

Spencer's hypers are city destination stores for monthly groceries, weekly fresh and top ups, fashion accessories, home care products, toys, stationery, electricals, electronics and garments.

Additionally, there is also a bakery, a delicatessen, meat, poultry and fish, a café, wines and spirits, specialty and international foods, live kitchens and a whole gamut of gastronomic experiences. The speciality hypermarkets are comfortable, clean, bright and functional.

According to a Spencer's spokesperson, "At South City, the Spencer's Hyper store offers a 72,000 sq ft trading area, where the customer has a choice of 3,500 food items, including imported, speciality, organic products etc. For instance, there are nearly 40 items of imported cheese, a large choice of chocolates and Haagen Daaz ice-cream. Also available are apparel for adults and kids, sportswear, fashion accessories, luggage, furniture, mobiles, electronics, electricals, home linen, kitchenware, glass / dinnerware, meat/fish with chicken from outside Bengal, cold cuts, as also live fish tanks, wines, a Flury's bakery/ café, take away meals etc. There is a special corner for diet and sugar-free products, as also a large range of breakfast cereals and organic food. The speciality food corner will offer all the ingredients required to prepare Chinese, Thai, Japanese, American, Italian, Gujarati, South Indian and Bengali dishes. At live kitchens, well-known hotel chefs will teach customers latest recipes from different parts of India and the world.''