Retail Insight on January 19th 2010

January 19, 2010

News for the retail industry

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News

Carrefour sees Future in India, may ink JV soon Economic Times Carrefour, Europe's biggest retail chain, has agreed with Kishore Biyani of Pantaloon Retail to set up franchisee stores in India after six years of wandering in the world's second-fastest growing nation for partnerships, including with Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail and real estate group DLF.

Ritu Wears to invest Rs 230 cr; to focus on home products Business Standard Delhi-based lifestyle fashion brand Ritu Wears today said it will invest around Rs 230 crore over the next four years as part of its plan to expand pan- India by opening 33 large format stores across the country. The company also said that it is going aggressive with home category portfolio, and will focus more on the toys and books segment in its outlets.

Reliance Retail banks on Thai talent Economic Times Reliance Retail is slowly filling its top slots with professionals from Thailand, a country whose retail market once used to resemble India's with its freshly-minted organised players hemmed in by a well-entrenched network of neighbourhood stores. The firm has already hired at least 10 people in key roles -- all of them from Thailand's Tesco Lotus.

AlphaOne, Amritsar to open in March indiaretailing.com AReal estate developer and asset management company Alpha G:Corp has confirmed that its mega retail project AlphaOne in Amritsar, Punjab will open in early March. AlphaOne, Amritsar is a two million square feet mixed use development of which the first phase of one million square feet has anchors like Shoppers Stop, HyperCity, Fun Cinemas (5 screen multiplex), Krazy Kingdom and Standard Max.

Marks & Spencer's brand-new store Express Buzz Marks & Spencer Reliance India opened its brand-new store at Inorbit Mall, Cyberabad. Spread over 16,000 sq. feet and covering two floors, the store will offer an international shopping experience.

Megamart's 'Vendor Recognition Knight' Images Fashion Megamart the retail division of Arvind Ltd, recently held a Vendor Recognition Meet in Bangalore. The 'Vendor Recognition Knight' was an initiative of Megamart to acknowledge the efforts of all their vendors in enabling them to achieve their targets with meeting customer demands by the timely delivery of merchandise.

Retail Trends

Ethnic fast-food chains challenge McDonald's, Pizza Huts, KFCs Economic Times Taking on the McDonald's, Pizza Huts and KFCs in the marketplace across the country is a bench of ethnic fast-food chains such as Jumbo King and Goli Wada Pav of Mumbai, Kaati Zone of Bangalore, Ashrafilal Kulfi and Honest Pav Bhaji of Ahmadabad. Initial success of these chains, most of which now have multi-city operations through the franchisee model, has already attracted venture capitalists and industrialists into this fledgling market .

The footfalls are back Financial Express Since October 2009, footfalls at Big Bazaar and Pantaloon have seen an estimated increase of 20-25% and a fair share of customers are buying products. Shoppers Stop, too, is recovering from the downturn.

Establishing footprint with 'roti, kapda aur mall' The Hindu The Chairman and Managing Director of Milan Textile Enterprise Pvt Ltd , Lalji Vora, explains how the brand-conscious customers' search for a basket of mixed products will soon end at Milan'em Mall.

Retail Insight

Interview with Mr Kim Culley, COO, Express Avenue 14 Jan 2010, IndiaRetailNews.com Shopping for that perfect black dress, that elusive present or catching up for a cup of coffee with your friends will soon be lot easier in Chennai when Express Avenue opens to the public early in 2010. Spread over 10 acres this multi-use development will be home to more than 1 million sq ft retail space, a 4/5 star hotel and a grade A office complex. Located in the heart of Chennai, this Grade-A Building will incorporate green building and energy efficient measures to provide an "Eco" friendly asset for Chennai city.