Major Brands India Pvt Ltd, the retail venture of Apparel Group in India, is in an aggressive expansion spree and has announced plans to open 68 new stores in major cities of India by 2009 to touch the 100 stores mark, up from its current 32 stores, and will invest around Rs 50 crore for this expansion.
Speaking to Indiaretailing, Govind Bharwani, director and president, Major Brands India Pvt Ltd, said, “We are in the process of opening 25 stores by March next year targeting a total of 100 stores by the end of 2009 with the existing brand portfolio. With these stores, we will be entering seven new cities of India including Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Ludhiana.”
“In the months of January and February 2009 alone, Major Brands has scheduled to open 25 new stores in four cities by opening stores in DLF Promenade mall of Vasant Kunj area in New Delhi followed by Kshitij Mall on Satellite Road and Venus Square on CG Road in Ahmedabad. Other stores in GVK Mall, Hyderabad and Jewel Square at Pune are also slated to be operational by February 2009,” added Bharwani.
At present, Major Brands is operational in four cities including areas like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Gurgaon and retails international brands of apparel and accessories including Mango, Promod, Aldo, La Senza, Nine West, Charles and Keith, Bally, Okaidi, Aldo Accessories and Inglot.
The company is also in talks with three international brands of menswear, unisexwear and women’s footwear to add to its portfolio. However, the source did not disclose the names of these brands.
–Sarimul Islam Choudhury
