Future Group ties up with Carrefour, planing for new oulets
After years of negotiations with more than a dozen potential Indian partners, Europe’s biggest retailer Carrefour SA has forged an alliance with Future Group, which runs India’s largest store chain. Future Group will open Carrefour-branded franchise stores in the country under a deal signed three months ago. The group plans to open between 150 and 300 Carrefour-branded hypermarkets in the next five years. Future Group, which runs Pantaloon and Big Bazaar chains, is set to hit the retail segment with the new Carrefour brand. Now, the group’s new retail venture will unfold new business opportunity to the signage segment.
HyperCity to 51 percent from 19 percent earlier, making the latter its subsidiary. HyperCity operates three stores in Mumbai and one each in Amritsar, Bangalore, Jaipur and Hyderabad. The stake purchase will cost Shoppers Stop approximately Rs 125 crore. Shoppers Stop on its expansion plans following its stake in HyperCity. The company will open 18 flagship stores over 30 months at an investment of Rs 170-200 crore and it would bring a new opportunity wherein in-store signage companies could unfold a new business chapter.
Rajesh Exports Ltd, one of India’s top jewellery makers and exporters, plans to roll out 300 retail stores across the country over the next three years. The firm currently has 25 retail outlets in the country, which runs under the mass-level brand ‘Shubh’. Of the 300 retail stores in the pipeline, the company is planing to open 80-100 stores. All that glitter will be a new business opportunity for the signage players, such as in-store media companies, sign suppliers and print providers.
Premium menswear brand, Louis Philippe, from Aditya Birla Group has diversified into men’s footwear. The brand, first one under the Madura Garments’ stable to diversify from apparel, expects the new category to contribute at least 15 revenues in a year. The company’s new avatar in the retail zone will result in a new outlook to its store formats wherein a new business opportunity will be immerged for in-store signage companies.
Retailer store operator Trent Ltd has announced that it has decided to raise Rs 500 crore by issuing shares to the existing shareholders on rights basis. The company would utilise the funds raised for its proposed retail expansion plans. The unit of TATA operates in two business segments of retailing and distribution business & consultancy services of the company. Trent operates retail stores of the most popular garment brand Westside across India. Surging of new Trent retail stores will be a new opportunity for the signage sector where in-store media companies, sign suppliers and print providers could carve business.
Cocoberry, India’s first premium frozen yogurt chain is eyeing 50 retail outlets across India by the end of fiscal 2010-11. The company, which at present has about 11 operational outlets in Dehi NCR and Mumbai, plans to expand its reach in cities like Chandigarh, Bangalore, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata etc in the next one year. Cocoberry, which launched its first store in Feburary 2009 in Delhi has earmarked an investment close to Rs 120 crore for expansion in the next two years. It has set a target to grow to about 100-150 outlets over the next three years. The nationwide expansion of Cocoberry outlets is a new sunshine opportunity for signage players like in-store media companies, sign suppliers, print providers, etc.
Komala’s Restaurants, South Indian fast food chain from Singapore, has entered India with its first outlet in Mumbai. The firm has teamed up with Primary Cuisine Pvt Ltd as the master franchisee. The outlet is spread across an area of 3,000 sq.ft at High Street Phoenix, Mumbai. The company has further plans to unveil two more outlets this year and seven more outlets in 2011 in western and northern India. In addition to a new opportunity to nurture everyone’s taste buds, the new Komola’s Restaurants are the right corners for signage companies too as it would give new business opportunity to ins-tore signage companies, sign suppliers, etc.
Middle East retail chain Max, part of Landmark group, is expanding its footprints across India, especially in the south. The company accounts for maximum revenue Max fashion brand, expecting double revenue to breach Rs 400 crore mark by March 2011. Using ‘pocket-friendly prices’ as its USP, the Rs 188-crore Max is offering apparel for family. Max has 16 outlets operating in the metros while the rest are located in the Tier II towns. It plans to take its total store count to 53 by March 2011. With the expansion of the global retail giant’s retail outlets, in-store signage players would find a new pace in business.