Business Standard, Mumbai, February 28, 2011 Sayantani Kar (with inputs from Preeti Khicha) When some of India’s big retail chains banded together recently to substitute Reckitt Benckiser’s products with private labels to protest the latter’s decision to cut sales margins on its products, they were doing something many global retailers have done with great success. Part of their overall strategy, especially for large chains in the US and Europe, is to develop quality private label products that complement other pieces in their marketing mix. While this is one way retailers can differentiate their firms from competition, it also helps them…
REUTERS, Mumbai, 23 Feb 2011 Swati Pandey The textile industry has sought measures to boost exports of apparels and textile products in a cost-competitive market and easier access to funds for cotton buyers as it peaks in a year of global shortage. The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has also sought the restoration of drawback rates as "our textile products are facing tough competition in global markets." "There is an opportunity for taking up market share because costs in China have risen considerably and buyers are shifting some of the sourcing to other parts," said Devangshu Dutta, chief executive,…
Businessworld, February 14, 2011 Vishal Krishna Shoppers Stop (SSL) has topped the list of the Most Respected Companies in the retail category for the third year in a row. The company, which started as a small retail outfit in 1991, now has 34 stores across 13 cities in the country. It has been rated No. 1 by its peers in all categories except one. While the rating on quality of its management, innovativeness, products and services, ethics, people management and global competitiveness are higher than all its competitors, it is second to Pantaloon Retail in financial performance. “Shoppers Stop has…
It has been almost two decades since the government in India re-opened the economy to international investors and brands. During the first dozen years or so, apart from a single visible bump in 1995, every year had a steady dribble of fashion brands coming into the country. It was not until 2005 that this rate accelerated to over 20 international fashion brands entering the Indian market annually, even as the existing brands grew their own retail footprint in the market. 2008 and 2009 were both slightly damp by comparison, reflecting the global economic sentiment, but we were optimistic as we…
Business Standard, Mumbai January 27, 2011 Raghavendra Kamath Star Bazaar, the chain run by Tata-owned Trent Hypermarket, says it used the economic slowdown to book properties when prices were down, allowing it now to open more stores. Rentals of retail properties were 30-35 per cent lower than their peak during the economic slowdown of 2008-09, as retailers shut stores and scaled back their expansion due to lower footfalls. Starting the first store in Ahmedabad in 2004, Trent Hypermarket runs 10 Star Bazaar stores and plans to double the count by the end of 2011. Hypermarkets are larger versions of supermarkets,…
Speciality Restaurants expanding into high-margin QSR and cloud kitchen spaces - @devangshu shared his perspective on the opportunities and realities of managing a diverse "house of brands" in the food service sector #India #strategy #diversification
Geopolitical friction has again sparked renewed concerns over inflation and rising input costs for FMCG companies as @itmeansjustice @whysnavi write. @devangshu commented.
