Retail Insight as on 22nd february 2010

February 22, 2010News for the Retail industry










Previous Issues

News: Apparel, Specialty, CDIT ...





France's Carrefour says plans 2010 entry into India

AFP

France's Carrefour, the world's second largest retailer, said it plans to enter India's vast retail market in 2010, following years of delays. In an email statement, Carrefour said that it had been "discussing partnerships" with some Indian companies but that it did not wish to divulge names.





Bombay Store rolls out expansion plan

Economic Times

One of the oldest and best-known listed retail company, Bombay Swadeshi Stores, better known as 'The Bombay Store' has drawn up expansion plans, following improved consumer sentiments. The company is understood to be in talk for JV partnership with international players for setting up stores outside India.





M&S eyes up India a second time

National

Marks & Spencer chief executive, Sir Stuart Rose flew to Mumbai for a meeting with the chairman of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani, an M&S partner. M&S plans to open six to eight new shops this year in India and aims to have 50 stores by 2014.





For luxury brands, India is a tiny market right now

Livemint

Hidesign is a hippie brand that was born in the late 1970s. Today, it's a flourishing 30-year-old that is mainstream in both its availability and its brand values. Dilip Kapur, founder and president of the Puducherry-based company, is now straddling the upmarket, luxury end of the business with Louis Vuitton buying a stake in his company and also wooing the value-conscious Indian shopper with Holii, his partnership with Kishore Biyani's Future Group.







Tanishq launches online service for solitaires

Diamond World Magazine

Tanishq, the jewellery division of Tata Group, has launched an online service offering consumers the facility to purchase solitaires. The service named 'Tanishq Celeste', guides the viewer to an online inventory of over 20,000 solitaires and allows one to pick a Tanishq Celeste solitaire from across the world, at the best price.





News: Food & Grocery, QSR ...



Biyani, Kellogg bury differences

Times of India

The Future Group and Kellogg India have decided to break their fast, with the cornflake maker's products returning to the retailer's shelves after a three month hiatus. Crunching out competition was paramount for both corporates, who have amicably decided to bury the hatchet. Kishore Biyani's Future group and multinational Kellogg India will now work towards growing the breakfast cereal category as a whole, a win-win situation for both.





Swensen's embarks on regional franchise expansion

The Nation

Swensen's (Thai), operator of Swensen's ice-cream restaurants and a unit of Minor Food Group, recently signed agreements with master franchisees to expand the restaurants to Laos, India and Vietnam. Peter King, General manager of Swensen's (Thai), said the first franchised outlet of Swensen's would be opened in Bangalore, India, in April.





Emami food foray

Calcutta Telegraph

The Emami Group cut its teeth on food business by introducing packaged cooking oil. Bollywood actor Preity Zinta launched six variants of the 'Healthy and Tasty' brand oil in Calcutta. Zinta and the Indian cricket captain, M.S. Dhoni, will endorse the edible oil, which has already hit the stores.





Retail Trends



Luxury watch companies say time's ripe to step up India play

Daily News & Analysis

India is becoming the next big destination for luxury watches, with every major watchmaker looking to expand its presence in the country. Be it Rado, Fossil or Rolex, they have all recorded a healthy growth over the last one year despite general recession, and now want to extend their footprint by opening more outlets.





Trent's Reid to head parent firm Tesco's China biz

Economic Times

Gordon Reid, the chief operating officer who oversaw the expansion of Trent's Star Bazaar retail outlets, is returning to his parent firm Tesco, to head its Chinese operations. According to an official Trent release, Mr Reid's India stint was part of a franchise arrangement with partner Tesco, and he is now moving back.





Small brands look to IPL for image makeover

Livemint

Move over beverage and consumer electronics giants, a new wave of smaller advertisers are betting big on the billion-dollar Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament this year. Chennai Super Kings is breathing new life into Orient Fans, a 56-year-old company that is riding on the IPL frenzy to revive its brand image.





Retail Insight



The 21st Century Retail Supply Chain: Three Key Imperatives for Retailers

Aberdeen Group

The multi-enterprise, multi-warehouse and multi-channel retail supply chain needs to undergo a paradigm shift in order to align itself to current economic reality, escalating supply chain costs, and increase customer service demand.