Retail insight on 7th August 2009

Sep 7, 2009

News and Analysis for the retail industry

News

Barista Coffee to add 100 stores in India Sify Barista Coffee Company Ltd is brewing widespread expansion plans in India by adding 100 stores entailing an investment of Rs 40 crore every year, according to its Chief Operating Officer, Sanjay Coutinho. The retail coffee chain, which was bought over by Italy's coffee brand Lavazza in 2007, currently has 230 stores in the country.

Birlas plan combo strategy for more profits Economic Times Aditya Birla Retail, which runs a chain of stores under the 'More' brand, has combined procurement and financial management of its two different formats of stores as it sets on course to correct past mistakes and make profits in three years.

Van Heusen's new look Business Standard Aditya Birla Group's apparel brand will host India's first fashion week for men next week, wants to shift to lifestyle products from stiff formals. Why so serious' could well be the question that Van Heusen, one of Aditya Birla Nuvo's premium apparel brands, is asking its potential consumers. In its bid to distance itself from staid corporate work-wear and establish itself as a lifestyle fashion brand, Van Heusen is lining up jeans, women's evening wear and a super-luxury shirt range.

Pantaloon Retail to launch integrated loyalty programme mydigitalfc.com Pantaloon Retail India (Pril), country's largest retail company, has now decided to make use of its customer relationships by launching loyalty programmes for its various formats, and integrate it at the same time at the back end to have a better understanding of customer buying habits.

Retail Trends

More than just skin deep Business Standard Last month, Kaya opened its 100th outlet. That might not seem a very big number over seven years. And the business still doesn't make money. It clocked a loss of Rs 50 lakh on a turnover of Rs 164 crore last year. Still, Managing Director Rakesh Pandey claims he heads the world's largest cosmetic dermatology chain which he wants to double in five years. And he expects to break even in this financial year.

Apparel retailers ready to woo customers after Q1 numbers Hindu Business Line Apparel retailers, who witnessed a turnaround in the first quarter of this year, are bullish about the road ahead and are sewing plans to woo customers.

Retail Insight

IN-STORE IMPLEMENTATION: Current Status and Future Solutions James Tenser, VSN Strategies At-retail performance of Category Management, shelf management, promotion, and Shopper Marketing is limited by entrenched business behaviors in ways that cry out for change. Analytic capabilities and insights are advancing rapidly. Post-ECR progress in supply chain efficiency has been very significant in the past 15 years, driving billions of dollars worth of inventory from the pipeline. Yet gaps in the retail implementation of merchandise plans, promotions and the new shopper media continue to limit consumer product industry success.