Friday, January 29, 2010
Subhiksha to re-open through franchising
Subhiksha, the discount retailer which shut down all its stores a year ago, is attempting to revive a few of its stores in Chennai through a franchise model.
The franchisees will operate the stores under the Subhiksha brand at the front end while a Subhiksha team helps at the back end operations and sourcing. The retailer is in the process of identifying franchisees that can help roll out more stores.
Source: http://franchisemart.in/news-80.html
Aptech acquires Maya Academy for Rs 76 cr
29th Jan, 2010 - Maya Entertainment, the film and animation studio company promoted by Ketan Mehta and Deepa Sahi, has sold its education business to Aptech in a transaction valued at Rs 76 crore. The deal will include a cash payout as well as issue of Aptech equity shares to shareholders of Maya Entertainment.
“The value of Rs 76 crore has been frozen but discussions are still on how much will be paid out as cash and how much will be equity,” Aptech CEO and MD, Ninad Karpe, told ET. He said the cash will be paid through internal accruals. As on December 31, 2009, Aptech had around Rs 30 crore cash on books.
Shares of Aptech were down 2.5% to Rs 169 on the BSE on Thursday.
Maya, which has investments from Enam Securities, Bhukhanwala Holdings and Intel Capital, is unlisted. The education business under Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC) imparts training in animation and visual effects.
Niraj Bhukhanwala, a director on the board of Maya Entertainment, said the education business had system wide bookings of Rs 125 crore for FY09.
System wide bookings is the equivalent of an order book for education and training firms.
Mr Bhukhanwala declined to specify what percentage of the overall business education and training constituted. According to Maya Entertainment’s website, its revenues (inclusive of its education business) are over Rs 100 crore.
The acquisition will expand Aptech’s animation education and training business, which operates under the ‘Arena’ brand name. However, the brand identity of MAAC will be maintained even after the acquisition. “We will follow dual brand strategy. There are overlaps but we will continue with the differentiation. MAAC is a fairly strong brand name and they have an evolved curriculum. The acquisition will give us the advantage of scale of operations,” Mr Karpe said. Aptech is present in 35 countries and the Arena brand in 15. MAAC has 70 centres as compared to Aptech’s 700.
“The value of Rs 76 crore has been frozen but discussions are still on how much will be paid out as cash and how much will be equity,” Aptech CEO and MD, Ninad Karpe, told ET. He said the cash will be paid through internal accruals. As on December 31, 2009, Aptech had around Rs 30 crore cash on books.
Shares of Aptech were down 2.5% to Rs 169 on the BSE on Thursday.
Maya, which has investments from Enam Securities, Bhukhanwala Holdings and Intel Capital, is unlisted. The education business under Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC) imparts training in animation and visual effects.
Niraj Bhukhanwala, a director on the board of Maya Entertainment, said the education business had system wide bookings of Rs 125 crore for FY09.
System wide bookings is the equivalent of an order book for education and training firms.
Mr Bhukhanwala declined to specify what percentage of the overall business education and training constituted. According to Maya Entertainment’s website, its revenues (inclusive of its education business) are over Rs 100 crore.
The acquisition will expand Aptech’s animation education and training business, which operates under the ‘Arena’ brand name. However, the brand identity of MAAC will be maintained even after the acquisition. “We will follow dual brand strategy. There are overlaps but we will continue with the differentiation. MAAC is a fairly strong brand name and they have an evolved curriculum. The acquisition will give us the advantage of scale of operations,” Mr Karpe said. Aptech is present in 35 countries and the Arena brand in 15. MAAC has 70 centres as compared to Aptech’s 700.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/media/entertainment-/entertainment/Aptech-acquires-Maya-Academy-for-Rs-76-cr/articleshow/5511322.cms
The Top 10 Restaurant & Food Franchises
Business Ownership Is on the Menu
If you're hungry to start your own business, why not consider a restaurant franchise? From old-fashioned classics to exciting new favorites, there is no shortage of food franchises to choose from.
Here's our list of the 10 restaurant franchises that scored the highest in our 2010 AllBusiness AllStar franchise rankings.
Subway is poised to become the world's largest franchise system. The company's flexibility, with locations in a variety of places and formats, has helped spur expansion, as has its positioning as a healthful, affordable fast-food alternative. Having founder and longtime franchisor Fred Deluca still actively involved in the business as CEO doesn't hurt, either.
Despite the recession's impact on the restaurant industry, Jimmy John's has thrived during hard times. The company's irreverent image and cult-like fan following makes it a natural for social media, and online marketing methods including a Facebook presence have boosted its profile.
Our highest-ranked fast-food restaurant, Jack in the Box has embarked on a refranchising program that contributed to its high growth. Jack in the Box was named one of the top 50 franchises for minorities in 2009 by the National Minority Franchising Initiative.
Despite a down economy and a dismal year for food-service franchising, Smoothie King expanded in 2009. Still run by the original founders, Smoothie King continues to boast strong financial health and is growing internationally, with new stores planned in Turkey, Egypt, and Japan.
McDonald's is the company people think of when they think of franchises. Although consumers are cutting back on dining out, McDonald's was still able to grow profits in 2009. The company's value meals helped boost sales at its franchises, as did innovative new menu items like the Angus burger.
Buffalo Wild Wings' steady growth has helped it maintain its spot near the top of our AllStar list. The company and CEO Sally J. Smith have won many awards, including the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association's Gold Plate Award for outstanding and innovative talent in food service.
Hardee's is going after big burger chains like McDonald's, and a recent survey by consumer research firm BrandIndex showed the company's brand health score rose steadily from 2008 to 2009. Hardee's recently launched a new Big Hardee premium burger to compete with premium offerings from other quick-serve hamburger franchises.
This year, Denny's is actively pursuing families who still want to eat out despite the recession. In June 2009, the company introduced its healthy "Better for You" kids' menu, and it is focused on developing new menu items and enhancing profitability.
Despite the challenges this industry faces, Pizza Hut franchisees still benefit from the pizza restaurant's strong brand recognition. Parent company Yum brands is actively seeking ways to boost the franchise and is making a strong push into China, growing rapidly there.
Dunkin' has been gunning for Starbucks and McDonald's in the coffee business; this year, coffee accounted for more than 60 percent of its business.Brandweek named Dunkin' Donuts 2009 Marketer of the Year, and for the third year in a row it ranked first in customer loyalty in the coffee category in the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index.
If you're hungry to start your own business, why not consider a restaurant franchise? From old-fashioned classics to exciting new favorites, there is no shortage of food franchises to choose from.
Here's our list of the 10 restaurant franchises that scored the highest in our 2010 AllBusiness AllStar franchise rankings.
1. Subway
Subway is poised to become the world's largest franchise system. The company's flexibility, with locations in a variety of places and formats, has helped spur expansion, as has its positioning as a healthful, affordable fast-food alternative. Having founder and longtime franchisor Fred Deluca still actively involved in the business as CEO doesn't hurt, either.
2. Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Shops
Despite the recession's impact on the restaurant industry, Jimmy John's has thrived during hard times. The company's irreverent image and cult-like fan following makes it a natural for social media, and online marketing methods including a Facebook presence have boosted its profile.
3. Jack in the Box
Our highest-ranked fast-food restaurant, Jack in the Box has embarked on a refranchising program that contributed to its high growth. Jack in the Box was named one of the top 50 franchises for minorities in 2009 by the National Minority Franchising Initiative.
4. Smoothie King
Despite a down economy and a dismal year for food-service franchising, Smoothie King expanded in 2009. Still run by the original founders, Smoothie King continues to boast strong financial health and is growing internationally, with new stores planned in Turkey, Egypt, and Japan.
5. McDonald's
McDonald's is the company people think of when they think of franchises. Although consumers are cutting back on dining out, McDonald's was still able to grow profits in 2009. The company's value meals helped boost sales at its franchises, as did innovative new menu items like the Angus burger.
6. Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar
Buffalo Wild Wings' steady growth has helped it maintain its spot near the top of our AllStar list. The company and CEO Sally J. Smith have won many awards, including the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association's Gold Plate Award for outstanding and innovative talent in food service.
7. Hardee's
Hardee's is going after big burger chains like McDonald's, and a recent survey by consumer research firm BrandIndex showed the company's brand health score rose steadily from 2008 to 2009. Hardee's recently launched a new Big Hardee premium burger to compete with premium offerings from other quick-serve hamburger franchises.
8. Denny's
This year, Denny's is actively pursuing families who still want to eat out despite the recession. In June 2009, the company introduced its healthy "Better for You" kids' menu, and it is focused on developing new menu items and enhancing profitability.
9. Pizza Hut
Despite the challenges this industry faces, Pizza Hut franchisees still benefit from the pizza restaurant's strong brand recognition. Parent company Yum brands is actively seeking ways to boost the franchise and is making a strong push into China, growing rapidly there.
10. Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' has been gunning for Starbucks and McDonald's in the coffee business; this year, coffee accounted for more than 60 percent of its business.Brandweek named Dunkin' Donuts 2009 Marketer of the Year, and for the third year in a row it ranked first in customer loyalty in the coffee category in the Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index.
Friday, January 22, 2010
New Regulation beneficial to International Franchisors
Foreign Technology Transfer Fees and Royalty Payments
The Press Note No. 8 (2009 series) dated 16th Dec. 2009 issued by the FC section of ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Industries Policy and Promotion of Government of India further liberalised the foreign technology collaborations fees and the royalty payments through automatic route and done away with the prior approval from the Government beyond certain specified limit which was the case earlier.
Prior to the issue of this Press Note No. 8 (2009 series) prior approval is required to be obtained from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIBP) for a lump sum payment in excess of US$ 2 million since one could remit amount not exceeding US$ 2 million only under automatic route.
Liberalization after the Press Note Release
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Costa Coffee reworks on India strategy
Costa Coffee - British coffee chain has reworked its India strategy to turn profitable and expand its footprint.
Costa Coffee - British coffee chain has reworked its India strategy to turn profitable and expand its footprint. The new strategy involves closing unprofitable locations, segmenting strategy for different locations, changing the look and feel of outlets and customizing the menu to better suit the Indian palate. At present, Costa has 40 outlets operational across India.
Devyani International, a subsidiary of Ravi Jaipuria owned RJ Corporation has a master franchisee agreement of Costa Coffee which is looking to expand only at metros.
The company is planning to expand its outlets more than six fold to between 250-300 outlets by 2014. The chain has also introduced innovation in terms of Indianising the menu.
As part of the restructuring, Costa will have four key formats situated at airports, malls, high streets and IT parks. It has also introduced something called the off premise business where we are setting up kiosks in marriages, and seminars meetings.
Source: http://www.franchisemart.in/news-67.html
First Rosebys outlet in Indore
Rosebys Interiors India Ltd. today has opened its first exclusive showroom in Indore.
Rosebys has launched its stores in the state of Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal, Uttaranchal, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and at present it runs around 80 stores across the nation.
Said by the officials, "Home furnishings and decor market in India is largely dominated by the unorganised players. We are here to bridge the gap between the luxury and low end market present in the home furnishings and decor market currently. Rosebys aims at providing affordable premium products to its customers. We have a wide range of products to suit every aspiring woman. By the end of this year we are targeting around 200 stores in India."
The company would be setting up a pan India network of franchisee stores in the coming months.
Source: http://www.franchisemart.in/news-69.html
Rosebys has launched its stores in the state of Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal, Uttaranchal, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and at present it runs around 80 stores across the nation.
Said by the officials, "Home furnishings and decor market in India is largely dominated by the unorganised players. We are here to bridge the gap between the luxury and low end market present in the home furnishings and decor market currently. Rosebys aims at providing affordable premium products to its customers. We have a wide range of products to suit every aspiring woman. By the end of this year we are targeting around 200 stores in India."
The company would be setting up a pan India network of franchisee stores in the coming months.
Source: http://www.franchisemart.in/news-69.html
Specialty Restaurants plannig to expand
Specialty Restaurants will invest Rs 150 crore on expanding its brands, especially the Chinese fine-dining chain Mainland China. The company is launching its second Oriental catering institute in Chennai that also imparts restaurant management training, informed a top company official.
Having introduced several restaurant brands, including Oh! Calcutta, Sigree, Machaan and Flame & Grill, the Rs 156 crore group will now concentrate on its premier brand Mainland China. The number of restaurants under the brand will be scaled up from 32 to 100 in two years.
The company is also coming up with its second catering institute at Sriperumbudur near Chennai on a two-and-half acre site. The company has invested Rs 25 crore on the institute that also comprises of residential facilities.
The institute will focus on contemporary Indian style of catering and Oriental cuisines like Indian, Chinese, Thai and Indonesian. The company also claims to be the first entity to offer training in restaurant management in India, covering the entire aspects of the business.
Source: http://www.franchisemart.in/news-66.html
Having introduced several restaurant brands, including Oh! Calcutta, Sigree, Machaan and Flame & Grill, the Rs 156 crore group will now concentrate on its premier brand Mainland China. The number of restaurants under the brand will be scaled up from 32 to 100 in two years.
The company is also coming up with its second catering institute at Sriperumbudur near Chennai on a two-and-half acre site. The company has invested Rs 25 crore on the institute that also comprises of residential facilities.
The institute will focus on contemporary Indian style of catering and Oriental cuisines like Indian, Chinese, Thai and Indonesian. The company also claims to be the first entity to offer training in restaurant management in India, covering the entire aspects of the business.
Source: http://www.franchisemart.in/news-66.html
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Reliance Retail to open outlets at corporate premises
With a view to grab a bigger share of the country’s retail market, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Retail has devised a new business model, under which it will open small outlets at the premises of large corporate houses.
The company, which is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, will soon approach big corporate houses with this proposal to implement the novel business plan, a top Reliance Retail Official said.
“We will approach big corporate houses, where thousands of people work, with a proposal to open our small retail outlets there,” the official said.
Elaborating on the new business model, the official said that RRL envisages an employee-friendly retail format. It will provide price discounts to employees in these stores.
In the first phase, RRL plans to open Reliance TimeOut Stores, engaged in books and music retailing business, beginning in Mumbai and Delhi.
“Our initial plan is to start this with our TimeOut stores where we sell music, books and gifts. Our bigger formats may not be viable for this option,” the official said.
The details of the new business model are yet to be worked out, the official said, adding that the company was also looking at options to forge JVs with these firms.
Source: http://retail-guru.com/reliance-retail-to-open-outlets-at-corporate-premises/
The company, which is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, will soon approach big corporate houses with this proposal to implement the novel business plan, a top Reliance Retail Official said.
“We will approach big corporate houses, where thousands of people work, with a proposal to open our small retail outlets there,” the official said.
Elaborating on the new business model, the official said that RRL envisages an employee-friendly retail format. It will provide price discounts to employees in these stores.
In the first phase, RRL plans to open Reliance TimeOut Stores, engaged in books and music retailing business, beginning in Mumbai and Delhi.
“Our initial plan is to start this with our TimeOut stores where we sell music, books and gifts. Our bigger formats may not be viable for this option,” the official said.
The details of the new business model are yet to be worked out, the official said, adding that the company was also looking at options to forge JVs with these firms.
Source: http://retail-guru.com/reliance-retail-to-open-outlets-at-corporate-premises/
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Arvind Mills to tap kiranas for rural reach
Arvind Mills is trying to do in shirts what Cavincare’s Chik did for shampoos. Make the product ubiquitous and affordable.
You may soon get to pick up a shirt bit from a pan shop, or a petrol pump, across the thousands of villages, which lie at the bottom of the growing Indian pyramid.
The world’s third largest maker of denim fabrics and supplier to Levi Strauss and Calvin Klein, plans to expand its retail reach in India as the global markets get tough with slowing consumer spending and currency fluctuations, said a senior company official.
It plans to make its shirt bits available in thousands of shops across the country. The fact that rural incomes have been rising is prompting a change in the thinking of Arvind which has been mostly cities and export oriented so far. There would be more shops in the country which may sell Arvind’s shirts.
“With the increase in disposable incomes and awareness about branded items, rural India is fast becoming a lucrative market,” says Kulin Lalbhai, chief manager of group’s retail arm and the younger son of CMD Sanjay Lalbhai. Arvind Mills will set up a distribution network across the country with at least 1,000-1,500 points of sale per state including non-textile shops like kirana (grocery) and petrol pumps, he says.
Indian textile companies are turning to the domestic market as exporting gets tougher with intense competition from rival Chinese, Sri Lanka and Bangladeshi producers who could keep their costs low.
Also, the ever-changing tastes of western consumers and slowing demand makes it critical for textile companies to look out for an newer markets. It is not only making the product available, but that it should be affordable in the rural areas where many still can’t afford decent shirts.
“The range of the shirting would be affordable, ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 800,” says Mr Lalbhai. “The company can now offer much more variety to the retailers at a much lower risk, like in the case of shampoo sachets, which radically reduced the price to the consumer and increased the ease of distribution.” As a step towards achieving this goal of a likely retail expansion it has already started selling shirt bits instead of multi-metre long rolls which once dominated the shelves of any textile retail outlet in the country. It is also pushing for more retail outlets in cities which sell products of many manufacturers, which are known as shop-in-shop format.
“We are planning to increase our presence in shop-in-shop format outlets by more than double from currently 500 to 1200 by April 2010,” Mr Lalbhai says. Mr Lalbhai’s idea may be great, but it may not be as easy to come out successful in a retail venture as many found out in the last few years.
“Even though the size of the rural market is growing due to increased disposable income with farmers, for such types of network, setting up a logistic supply chain till remotest area would be a very difficult task,” says RK Dalmiya, president, Century Textiles and Industries. But for companies struggling in their traditional markets, it doesn’t hurt to explore new ones.
“Companies should also keep in the mind that preferences and choice in rural market will be different than urban market.”
“It makes sense for rural penetration for Arvind Mills,” said senior retail analyst Indrajeet Kelkar from the broking firm Dolat Capital. “Brand house retail has already planned this out and they have started the rural market penetration with their S-Kumar’s brand.”
Source: http://retail-guru.com/arvind-mills-to-tap-kiranas-for-ruralreach/
You may soon get to pick up a shirt bit from a pan shop, or a petrol pump, across the thousands of villages, which lie at the bottom of the growing Indian pyramid.
The world’s third largest maker of denim fabrics and supplier to Levi Strauss and Calvin Klein, plans to expand its retail reach in India as the global markets get tough with slowing consumer spending and currency fluctuations, said a senior company official.
It plans to make its shirt bits available in thousands of shops across the country. The fact that rural incomes have been rising is prompting a change in the thinking of Arvind which has been mostly cities and export oriented so far. There would be more shops in the country which may sell Arvind’s shirts.
“With the increase in disposable incomes and awareness about branded items, rural India is fast becoming a lucrative market,” says Kulin Lalbhai, chief manager of group’s retail arm and the younger son of CMD Sanjay Lalbhai. Arvind Mills will set up a distribution network across the country with at least 1,000-1,500 points of sale per state including non-textile shops like kirana (grocery) and petrol pumps, he says.
Indian textile companies are turning to the domestic market as exporting gets tougher with intense competition from rival Chinese, Sri Lanka and Bangladeshi producers who could keep their costs low.
Also, the ever-changing tastes of western consumers and slowing demand makes it critical for textile companies to look out for an newer markets. It is not only making the product available, but that it should be affordable in the rural areas where many still can’t afford decent shirts.
“The range of the shirting would be affordable, ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 800,” says Mr Lalbhai. “The company can now offer much more variety to the retailers at a much lower risk, like in the case of shampoo sachets, which radically reduced the price to the consumer and increased the ease of distribution.” As a step towards achieving this goal of a likely retail expansion it has already started selling shirt bits instead of multi-metre long rolls which once dominated the shelves of any textile retail outlet in the country. It is also pushing for more retail outlets in cities which sell products of many manufacturers, which are known as shop-in-shop format.
“We are planning to increase our presence in shop-in-shop format outlets by more than double from currently 500 to 1200 by April 2010,” Mr Lalbhai says. Mr Lalbhai’s idea may be great, but it may not be as easy to come out successful in a retail venture as many found out in the last few years.
“Even though the size of the rural market is growing due to increased disposable income with farmers, for such types of network, setting up a logistic supply chain till remotest area would be a very difficult task,” says RK Dalmiya, president, Century Textiles and Industries. But for companies struggling in their traditional markets, it doesn’t hurt to explore new ones.
“Companies should also keep in the mind that preferences and choice in rural market will be different than urban market.”
“It makes sense for rural penetration for Arvind Mills,” said senior retail analyst Indrajeet Kelkar from the broking firm Dolat Capital. “Brand house retail has already planned this out and they have started the rural market penetration with their S-Kumar’s brand.”
Source: http://retail-guru.com/arvind-mills-to-tap-kiranas-for-ruralreach/
Portico to open 20 EBOs, 100 shop-in-shops by 2011
With a view to tap the healthy growth potential in the bed-and-bath segment,
leading home textile player, Creative Portico, is planning to open 100
shop-in-shop outlets and 20 Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs) by 2011, a senior
company official said.
“We are strongly focussing on the bed-and-bath
furnishing segment that is growing at 20 per cent presently and to tap this
potential we will be opening around 20 EBOs and 100 shop-in-shops,” Creative
Portico’s Senior General Manager (Retail and Marketing), Chandan S, said here
today.
The company launched its first EBO – Portico New York- in
suburban Bandra here while it has 170 shop-in-shops across the country
presently.
The company would be investing around Rs 20 lakh per EBO,
Chandan added.
Going forward, Creative also plans to open 4-5
flagship stores in major metros while it targets entry into Tier II cities in
the next 2-3 years.
Portico, which has a 10 per cent share in the Rs
900 crore nascent organised bed-and-bath market, feels there is a huge potential
in this segment as it is an inexpensive method of changing the decor of a
room.
Portico, which is growing at a rate of 50 per cent
year-on-year, targets a Rs 90 crore revenue this fiscal as against Rs 65-crore
in FY 09.
Creative Portico, the wholly-owned subsidiary of leading
garment exporter Creative Group, deals in three categories namely, portico
regular range, kids range and has recently stepped into promoting healthy living
through its Therapeia range of products, all ranging from Rs 600 to
10,000.
Therapeia range has products like i-bedding (treated with
negative ion technology, soya bean quilts (natural fibre duvet), anti-mite and
bite pillows and eco pillows.
Besides, Creative Portico has an
exclusive agreement with Tommy Hilfiger to make premium home furnishings in the
country.
Source: http://retail-guru.com/portico-to-open-20-ebos-100-shop-in-shops-by-2011/
leading home textile player, Creative Portico, is planning to open 100
shop-in-shop outlets and 20 Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs) by 2011, a senior
company official said.
“We are strongly focussing on the bed-and-bath
furnishing segment that is growing at 20 per cent presently and to tap this
potential we will be opening around 20 EBOs and 100 shop-in-shops,” Creative
Portico’s Senior General Manager (Retail and Marketing), Chandan S, said here
today.
The company launched its first EBO – Portico New York- in
suburban Bandra here while it has 170 shop-in-shops across the country
presently.
The company would be investing around Rs 20 lakh per EBO,
Chandan added.
Going forward, Creative also plans to open 4-5
flagship stores in major metros while it targets entry into Tier II cities in
the next 2-3 years.
Portico, which has a 10 per cent share in the Rs
900 crore nascent organised bed-and-bath market, feels there is a huge potential
in this segment as it is an inexpensive method of changing the decor of a
room.
Portico, which is growing at a rate of 50 per cent
year-on-year, targets a Rs 90 crore revenue this fiscal as against Rs 65-crore
in FY 09.
Creative Portico, the wholly-owned subsidiary of leading
garment exporter Creative Group, deals in three categories namely, portico
regular range, kids range and has recently stepped into promoting healthy living
through its Therapeia range of products, all ranging from Rs 600 to
10,000.
Therapeia range has products like i-bedding (treated with
negative ion technology, soya bean quilts (natural fibre duvet), anti-mite and
bite pillows and eco pillows.
Besides, Creative Portico has an
exclusive agreement with Tommy Hilfiger to make premium home furnishings in the
country.
Source: http://retail-guru.com/portico-to-open-20-ebos-100-shop-in-shops-by-2011/
Haagen-dazs’ first cafe coming up in Delhi
If you have money to burn, here’s your scoop: Haagen-Dazs, a super premium global ice cream brand, will open its first branded cafe in India in the capital next month. “We are setting up our first branded cafe in Delhi shortly, and as is the case in most global markets, the ice creams will be imported,” said Arindam Haldar, director at Haagen-Dazs, owned by General Mills of the US.
The cafe will be opened in the first week of December at Select City Walk at Saket through a franchisee deal with RTC Restaurants, which runs restaurant chains Ruby Tuesday and Italian Sabarro in India. RTC is the exclusive franchisee rights holder for America’s most-loved super premium ice cream in India.
“Depending on the response we get with the first Haagen-Dazs branded cafe, we would like to set up similar such cafes in the country,” said Gaurav Jain, director at RTC. Mr Haldar declined to comment on the brand’s expansion plan.
A person close to the company’s plans said Haagen-Dazs could be setting up a combination of large-format cafes and smaller kiosks, with a national footprint of 30-40 such outlets over the next few years.
As of now, the brand is available in limited select stores such as Sugar & Spice in Delhi, and Nature’s Basket in Mumbai, apart from few 5-star hotels. It sells ice cream bars, sorbets and frozen yogurt. Its existing prices range from Rs 185 for a 100-ml serving, to Rs 625 per 500-ml carton.
The super-premium ice cream segment has not yet been tapped in India. In fact, Nestle, which owns the premium Movenpick ice cream brand globally, has not brought the brand to the country on account of the limited size of the category.
But Haagen-Dazs is confident, after its grand success in China where it operates 80 stores across 20 cities to huge fanfare particularly among young professionals. When it debuted in China in 1996, the market there could have been similar to today’s India.
Established by Polish immigrant couple Reuben and Rose Mattus back in 1961, Haagen-Dazs is today one of the largest super premium ice cream brands in the world. It’s the market leader in the US with about 45% share and is present in 54 other countries.
Starting with only three flavours – vanilla, chocolate and coffee, the company opened its first retail store in Brooklyn, NY in 1976. Today, Haagen-Dazs produces ice cream, ice cream bars, ice cream cakes, sorbets and frozen yogurts.
The $16-billion General Mills markets Pillsbury atta and Betty Crocker cake mixes in India, apart from Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Interestingly, Nestle subsidiary Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc, makes Haagen-Dazs ice creams in the US and Canada although the brand is owned by General Mills.
Haagen-Dazs ice cream is kept at a temperature that is substantially lower than most ice creams in order to keep its intended firmness.
The brand won the Cannes PR Lions award this year for its campaign at the Cannes International Advertising Festival for its high-profile campaign to save vanishing honeybees in North America, “Haagen-Dazs loves Honey Bees”. The campaign also received recognition with the Gold Clio title for its Strategic Communications/Public Relations at the global Clio Awards in Las Vegas, besides several other awards and a huge response from consumers.
Source: http://retail-guru.com/haagen-dazs-first-cafe-coming-up-in-delhi/
The cafe will be opened in the first week of December at Select City Walk at Saket through a franchisee deal with RTC Restaurants, which runs restaurant chains Ruby Tuesday and Italian Sabarro in India. RTC is the exclusive franchisee rights holder for America’s most-loved super premium ice cream in India.
“Depending on the response we get with the first Haagen-Dazs branded cafe, we would like to set up similar such cafes in the country,” said Gaurav Jain, director at RTC. Mr Haldar declined to comment on the brand’s expansion plan.
A person close to the company’s plans said Haagen-Dazs could be setting up a combination of large-format cafes and smaller kiosks, with a national footprint of 30-40 such outlets over the next few years.
As of now, the brand is available in limited select stores such as Sugar & Spice in Delhi, and Nature’s Basket in Mumbai, apart from few 5-star hotels. It sells ice cream bars, sorbets and frozen yogurt. Its existing prices range from Rs 185 for a 100-ml serving, to Rs 625 per 500-ml carton.
The super-premium ice cream segment has not yet been tapped in India. In fact, Nestle, which owns the premium Movenpick ice cream brand globally, has not brought the brand to the country on account of the limited size of the category.
But Haagen-Dazs is confident, after its grand success in China where it operates 80 stores across 20 cities to huge fanfare particularly among young professionals. When it debuted in China in 1996, the market there could have been similar to today’s India.
Established by Polish immigrant couple Reuben and Rose Mattus back in 1961, Haagen-Dazs is today one of the largest super premium ice cream brands in the world. It’s the market leader in the US with about 45% share and is present in 54 other countries.
Starting with only three flavours – vanilla, chocolate and coffee, the company opened its first retail store in Brooklyn, NY in 1976. Today, Haagen-Dazs produces ice cream, ice cream bars, ice cream cakes, sorbets and frozen yogurts.
The $16-billion General Mills markets Pillsbury atta and Betty Crocker cake mixes in India, apart from Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Interestingly, Nestle subsidiary Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc, makes Haagen-Dazs ice creams in the US and Canada although the brand is owned by General Mills.
Haagen-Dazs ice cream is kept at a temperature that is substantially lower than most ice creams in order to keep its intended firmness.
The brand won the Cannes PR Lions award this year for its campaign at the Cannes International Advertising Festival for its high-profile campaign to save vanishing honeybees in North America, “Haagen-Dazs loves Honey Bees”. The campaign also received recognition with the Gold Clio title for its Strategic Communications/Public Relations at the global Clio Awards in Las Vegas, besides several other awards and a huge response from consumers.
Source: http://retail-guru.com/haagen-dazs-first-cafe-coming-up-in-delhi/
Hamley’s First Store in India by February
Famed British toy retailer Hamleys will make its India debut with a 22,000-square-feet store at the popular Phoenix Mills in Mumbai, by February next year.
Reliance Retail, which has a 20-year-franchise agreement with the retailer, will set up 20 stores in the first seven years of the agreement.
Besides Mumbai, other cities on the retailer’s list include Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai in the first phase of the launch. The second store, says Bijou Kurien, president & chief executive, lifestyle division, Reliance Retail, will be launched in Chennai by June next year. This will be a smaller store, roughly 12,000-square-feet in size. “Stores in Delhi and Bangalore will come up next, but we will first monitor the performance of the first two stores,” says Kurien.
Hamleys’ flagship store in Regent Street, London, is a five-storey-structure, over 54,000-square-feet in size. Other Hamleys stores in the UK and rest of the world are slightly smaller. The franchise agreement with the 248-year-old retailer will allow Reliance Retail to use the latter’s branding, store design and best practices when setting up outlets in the country. “They will also provide training to staff in soft skills etc,” says Kurien.
Hamleys was acquired by Baugur, the Icelandic investor that also owns Oasis and House of Fraser, for £47 million in 2003 and has since set its sights on international expansion. However, so far, the group only has a small presence in Denmark but has opened a few stores in West Asia.
Brand experts said as a British institution that may possibly be as well known overseas as at home, Hamleys is likely to enjoy a head-start in many of its planned new markets. The Regent Street shop is in fact one of London’s 10 most popular tourist destinations and is visited by four million people a year. Moreover, Hamleys prides itself on a history of breaking down cultural barriers. In 1909, for instance, it became the first store in Britain to sell a novelty from China called ping pong.
Reliance Retail will not only stock Hamleys merchandise, but also products that are exclusively available to the UK retailer.
Besides, allied national brands from manufacturers such as Mattel, Funschool etc will also be available at the outlets. “The overarching branding will be Hamleys. But there will be space available in the store for allied brands,” says Kurien.
Some of the 20 stores will be located in tier-two cities as well.
The toy retail market in India is roughly Rs 2,500-3,000-crore in size. Of this, about 25 per cent comprises the branded market. The balance 75 per cent is made up of imported toys and products manufactured locally. The total toy retail market, say experts, is growing at 10-12 per cent per annum in the country. But the branded portion has the potential to grow even faster at 25 per cent, they add.
Source: http://retail-guru.com/hamleys-first-store-in-india-by-february/
Reliance Retail, which has a 20-year-franchise agreement with the retailer, will set up 20 stores in the first seven years of the agreement.
Besides Mumbai, other cities on the retailer’s list include Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai in the first phase of the launch. The second store, says Bijou Kurien, president & chief executive, lifestyle division, Reliance Retail, will be launched in Chennai by June next year. This will be a smaller store, roughly 12,000-square-feet in size. “Stores in Delhi and Bangalore will come up next, but we will first monitor the performance of the first two stores,” says Kurien.
Hamleys’ flagship store in Regent Street, London, is a five-storey-structure, over 54,000-square-feet in size. Other Hamleys stores in the UK and rest of the world are slightly smaller. The franchise agreement with the 248-year-old retailer will allow Reliance Retail to use the latter’s branding, store design and best practices when setting up outlets in the country. “They will also provide training to staff in soft skills etc,” says Kurien.
Hamleys was acquired by Baugur, the Icelandic investor that also owns Oasis and House of Fraser, for £47 million in 2003 and has since set its sights on international expansion. However, so far, the group only has a small presence in Denmark but has opened a few stores in West Asia.
Brand experts said as a British institution that may possibly be as well known overseas as at home, Hamleys is likely to enjoy a head-start in many of its planned new markets. The Regent Street shop is in fact one of London’s 10 most popular tourist destinations and is visited by four million people a year. Moreover, Hamleys prides itself on a history of breaking down cultural barriers. In 1909, for instance, it became the first store in Britain to sell a novelty from China called ping pong.
Reliance Retail will not only stock Hamleys merchandise, but also products that are exclusively available to the UK retailer.
Besides, allied national brands from manufacturers such as Mattel, Funschool etc will also be available at the outlets. “The overarching branding will be Hamleys. But there will be space available in the store for allied brands,” says Kurien.
Some of the 20 stores will be located in tier-two cities as well.
The toy retail market in India is roughly Rs 2,500-3,000-crore in size. Of this, about 25 per cent comprises the branded market. The balance 75 per cent is made up of imported toys and products manufactured locally. The total toy retail market, say experts, is growing at 10-12 per cent per annum in the country. But the branded portion has the potential to grow even faster at 25 per cent, they add.
Source: http://retail-guru.com/hamleys-first-store-in-india-by-february/
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Presto to strengthen its presence in India
Presto, a company known for its personalised and corporate gifts plans to take its store count to 50 in 2010. They are eyeing a turnover of around Rs 50 crore by opening more franchised outlets throughout the nation. Recently, the company has launched its 26th store in Nagpur.
As per Anurag Poddar, Director, Presto says, “We would like to open 45-50 stores in 2010. We intend to launch two stores per month. We usually prefer to have our presence in malls to gain maximum visibility of the visitors. Since our company is based in Kolkata, we think we have already made adequate expansion here. Now we are aiming to head towards south and north simultaneously. Outside Kolkata, all our stores will be opened through the franchise route.”
The company already has established a strong presence in many cities of India such as Kolkata, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Vizak, Patna, Siliguri, Durgapur, Shillong, Aizwal, Itanagar, Raipur and other places of eastern India. Presto showcases a diverse category of merchandise. The brand offers products like wooden clock with engraved message, photo frame, desktop accessories like wooden pen box, wooden diary, T-shirts, mugs to carry personal message, key rings and name plates . It also offers corporate buying products like personalised mementos, awards and appreciation products.
Source: http://news.franchiseindia.com/franchise/Presto-to-strengthen-its-presence-in-India-1098
As per Anurag Poddar, Director, Presto says, “We would like to open 45-50 stores in 2010. We intend to launch two stores per month. We usually prefer to have our presence in malls to gain maximum visibility of the visitors. Since our company is based in Kolkata, we think we have already made adequate expansion here. Now we are aiming to head towards south and north simultaneously. Outside Kolkata, all our stores will be opened through the franchise route.”
The company already has established a strong presence in many cities of India such as Kolkata, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Vizak, Patna, Siliguri, Durgapur, Shillong, Aizwal, Itanagar, Raipur and other places of eastern India. Presto showcases a diverse category of merchandise. The brand offers products like wooden clock with engraved message, photo frame, desktop accessories like wooden pen box, wooden diary, T-shirts, mugs to carry personal message, key rings and name plates . It also offers corporate buying products like personalised mementos, awards and appreciation products.
Source: http://news.franchiseindia.com/franchise/Presto-to-strengthen-its-presence-in-India-1098
VIACOM 18 PLANS MERCHANDISE EXPANSION
Viacom 18, a 50-50 joint venture between US based Viacom and Network 18 Group considering the vast opportunities, is contemplating to introduce merchandise for TV channels like Colors and VH1 in India. Given the success of shows like Big Boss and Hit Factory, Viacom 18 is planning to come out with merchandise products for Colors and VH1 in India. Viacom is all set to introduce about 15 new categories like head gear and footwear in 2010.
Presently, Viacom 18’s offerings include paper products, watches, bed sheets and co-branded SIM cards under the brands 'MTV' and 'Roadies', and soft toys under the brand Nickelodeon. In addition to MTV, the company owns and operates TV channels like Colors, Nickelodeon and VH1 in India.
Source: http://www.licenseindia.com/news.php#viacom18id
Presently, Viacom 18’s offerings include paper products, watches, bed sheets and co-branded SIM cards under the brands 'MTV' and 'Roadies', and soft toys under the brand Nickelodeon. In addition to MTV, the company owns and operates TV channels like Colors, Nickelodeon and VH1 in India.
Source: http://www.licenseindia.com/news.php#viacom18id
Virtual Peter England store on HomeShop18
HomeShop18, India’s first 24-hour home shopping channel, has joined hands with Peter England, the largest-selling shirt brand in the country to launch a new exclusive “Peter England Show”. The show will feature exclusive Peter England products ranging from shirts, trousers, suits to denims. Peter England has given formals a new definition and has created a niche for itself in the clothing market. The exclusive show will be aired for half an hour starting December 30, 2009.
Asked about the show, Aloke Malik, President, Peter England Fashions and Retail Ltd said, “Peter England offers the best when it comes to formal. It is India’s most trusted ready to wear apparel brand. HomeShop18 will help us reach a wider audience through its distribution network. Our brand has always been appreciated for its superior product quality and value for money. Our association with HomeShop18 will make it more convenient for our customers to reach us. Homeshop18 is a perfect platform for us to showcase our designs and demonstrate our products” Announcing the launch of the show, Sundeep Malhotra, CEO, HomeShop18, said, “HomeShop18 is an ideal platform for Peter England to showcase its range. The channel features experts, innovations, solutions, demonstrations, tips and ideas, all in an engaging and entertaining fashion, to provide an entirely unique shopping experience for its customers.” Homeshop18 experts will provide detailed information about the brand and the products. All details including price, texture, cuts, styling, sizes will be given on the show.
Source: http://news.franchiseindia.com/retail/Virtual-Peter-England-store-on-HomeShop18-1076/
Asked about the show, Aloke Malik, President, Peter England Fashions and Retail Ltd said, “Peter England offers the best when it comes to formal. It is India’s most trusted ready to wear apparel brand. HomeShop18 will help us reach a wider audience through its distribution network. Our brand has always been appreciated for its superior product quality and value for money. Our association with HomeShop18 will make it more convenient for our customers to reach us. Homeshop18 is a perfect platform for us to showcase our designs and demonstrate our products” Announcing the launch of the show, Sundeep Malhotra, CEO, HomeShop18, said, “HomeShop18 is an ideal platform for Peter England to showcase its range. The channel features experts, innovations, solutions, demonstrations, tips and ideas, all in an engaging and entertaining fashion, to provide an entirely unique shopping experience for its customers.” Homeshop18 experts will provide detailed information about the brand and the products. All details including price, texture, cuts, styling, sizes will be given on the show.
Source: http://news.franchiseindia.com/retail/Virtual-Peter-England-store-on-HomeShop18-1076/
Samsonite to open 20 EBOs (exclusive business outlets) in 2010
Samsonite, a premium travel goods manufacturer plans to open 20 exclusive ‘Samsonite Business’ outlets in 2010. These stores will be a mix of company owned and franchised outlets in tier I and II cities. The preferred locations of the stores include airports, shopping malls and business districts.
As per the officials, the first two stores will be launched at the domestic and international airports by the first week of January 2010. The company's business segment, which accounts for 40 per cent of sales, is set to be the company's growth driver. These stores will account for 50 per cent of the annual budget of the company. The company signed lease to open its business outlets at Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports.
The expected cost of these exclusive stores will be around Rs. 25 lakh each with an area of 400-500 sq. ft. These stores will stock business travel gears like laptops cases, backpacks, travel bag, and other accessories. Presently, the company has 235 existing stores, out of which 180 are franchised outlets while 55 are company owned. Globally, Samsonite has 23 plants in different countries.
Source: http://news.franchiseindia.com/franchise/Samsonite-to-open-20-EBOs-in-2010-1082/
As per the officials, the first two stores will be launched at the domestic and international airports by the first week of January 2010. The company's business segment, which accounts for 40 per cent of sales, is set to be the company's growth driver. These stores will account for 50 per cent of the annual budget of the company. The company signed lease to open its business outlets at Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports.
The expected cost of these exclusive stores will be around Rs. 25 lakh each with an area of 400-500 sq. ft. These stores will stock business travel gears like laptops cases, backpacks, travel bag, and other accessories. Presently, the company has 235 existing stores, out of which 180 are franchised outlets while 55 are company owned. Globally, Samsonite has 23 plants in different countries.
Source: http://news.franchiseindia.com/franchise/Samsonite-to-open-20-EBOs-in-2010-1082/
Monday, January 4, 2010
McDonald’s Offers Free Wi-Fi
McDonald’s may have invented “fast” food.mcdonalds But now it wants customer to slow down, fire up some free Wi-Fi, and stay awhile. The company said it is lifting the $2.95 fee it previously charged for two hours of Internet access and is removing time restriction. "We don't mind at all if people step in, take advantage of the Wi-Fi and linger a bit," said Dave Grooms, chief information officer for McDonald's USA. One company that may mind a bit is Starbucks. The coffee colossus provides free Wi-Fi to regular customers with Starbucks cards, but for everyone else it costs $3.99. Here’s the real question when it comes to free Wi-Fi: Would you rather come home reeking of greasy fries or Italian Roast? Either way, it ain’t pretty.
Big, bad burgers. Finally, a study we actually care about. The Cancer Project, a nonprofit research organization heavily funded by PETA, has ranked the five unhealthiest gourmet burgers. And by “unhealthiest,” we’re assuming they mean “most delicious”. Topping the list is Wendy’s Bacon Deluxe Triple Burger with 1,140 (mouthwatering) calories, 71 grams of (fabulous) fat, and 2,470 milligrams of (sweet, sweet) sodium. The runner-up was Carl’s Jr. Guacamole Bacon Six-Dollar Burger with 1,040 calories, followed by Burger King’s Steakhouse XT Burger, Jack in the Box’s Sirloin Cheeseburger, and McDonald’s Angus Bacon and Cheese Burger. “These pricey burgers could do as much damage to your heart as they do to your wallet,” said Krista Haynes, a registered dietitian with The Cancer Project. Yeah, whatever. At least now we know where to go for a decent burger.
Going green. Despite scoring an impressive third-place on the unhealthiest burger list, Carl’s Jr. is throwing a bone to the Food Nazis out there. The company is debuting a new line of salads and has signed on reality-TV personality Kim Kardashian as spokeswoman. A new set of commercials will depict the voluptuous starlet feasting on salad in bed. “It’s true, I love to have bed picnics,” Kardashian says in the ad. “I’m such a neat freak, but I put out my towel and eat in bed, and then, when it gets all messy, I take a hot bubble bath after to wash it off.” Hmm, kinda makes us hungry for some salad.
Source: http://www.allbusiness.com/food-beverage/restaurants-food-service-restaurants-fast/13627795-1.html
Big, bad burgers. Finally, a study we actually care about. The Cancer Project, a nonprofit research organization heavily funded by PETA, has ranked the five unhealthiest gourmet burgers. And by “unhealthiest,” we’re assuming they mean “most delicious”. Topping the list is Wendy’s Bacon Deluxe Triple Burger with 1,140 (mouthwatering) calories, 71 grams of (fabulous) fat, and 2,470 milligrams of (sweet, sweet) sodium. The runner-up was Carl’s Jr. Guacamole Bacon Six-Dollar Burger with 1,040 calories, followed by Burger King’s Steakhouse XT Burger, Jack in the Box’s Sirloin Cheeseburger, and McDonald’s Angus Bacon and Cheese Burger. “These pricey burgers could do as much damage to your heart as they do to your wallet,” said Krista Haynes, a registered dietitian with The Cancer Project. Yeah, whatever. At least now we know where to go for a decent burger.
Going green. Despite scoring an impressive third-place on the unhealthiest burger list, Carl’s Jr. is throwing a bone to the Food Nazis out there. The company is debuting a new line of salads and has signed on reality-TV personality Kim Kardashian as spokeswoman. A new set of commercials will depict the voluptuous starlet feasting on salad in bed. “It’s true, I love to have bed picnics,” Kardashian says in the ad. “I’m such a neat freak, but I put out my towel and eat in bed, and then, when it gets all messy, I take a hot bubble bath after to wash it off.” Hmm, kinda makes us hungry for some salad.
Source: http://www.allbusiness.com/food-beverage/restaurants-food-service-restaurants-fast/13627795-1.html
FAMS Opens New Rs.100 Crore Value Based Private Fund
FAMS - Financial Assets Managed Simply™ (FAMS Advisors Pvt. Ltd), announced the launch of their new Rs. 100 crore value based fund that will invest in Indian companies purely on the basis of fundamentals.
Yogesh Chabria, Executive Director and Fund ManagerYogesh Chabria, Executive Director and Fund Manager
Mumbai, Maharashtra, January 3, 2010 /India PRwire/ -- FAMS - Financial Assets Managed Simply™ (FAMS Advisors Pvt. Ltd), announced the launch of their new Rs. 100 crore value based fund that will invest in Indian companies purely on the basis of fundamentals.
The fund will look at investing in undervalued assets and has already detected a group of undervalued companies in the space of education, engineering and mining. Speaking about the new fund, Yogesh Chabria, Executive Director and Fund Manager, said "Our investment philosophy is very simple. We buy Rs. 1 coins for 50 paise. We have kept this fund small, because it is much easier to give higher returns on say Rs. 100 crores than on Rs. 500 crores. We are looking at returns anywhere between 50-60% p.a, over the next 5-7 years."
FAMS, caters only to value based investors and mainly operates at the ultra-high HNI investor level. Over the last year FAMS picked up assets at the peak of the stock market crash and booked profits in most companies recently. The new fund plans to start investing these funds once the stock markets start to correct once again.
Source: http://www.indiaprwire.com/pressrelease/financial-services/2010010340632.htm
Yogesh Chabria, Executive Director and Fund ManagerYogesh Chabria, Executive Director and Fund Manager
Mumbai, Maharashtra, January 3, 2010 /India PRwire/ -- FAMS - Financial Assets Managed Simply™ (FAMS Advisors Pvt. Ltd), announced the launch of their new Rs. 100 crore value based fund that will invest in Indian companies purely on the basis of fundamentals.
The fund will look at investing in undervalued assets and has already detected a group of undervalued companies in the space of education, engineering and mining. Speaking about the new fund, Yogesh Chabria, Executive Director and Fund Manager, said "Our investment philosophy is very simple. We buy Rs. 1 coins for 50 paise. We have kept this fund small, because it is much easier to give higher returns on say Rs. 100 crores than on Rs. 500 crores. We are looking at returns anywhere between 50-60% p.a, over the next 5-7 years."
FAMS, caters only to value based investors and mainly operates at the ultra-high HNI investor level. Over the last year FAMS picked up assets at the peak of the stock market crash and booked profits in most companies recently. The new fund plans to start investing these funds once the stock markets start to correct once again.
Source: http://www.indiaprwire.com/pressrelease/financial-services/2010010340632.htm
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