India
Starbucks to enter India, targets 50 outlets by year-end
Starbucks will open its first coffee shops in India in August or September, a year later than originally planned, and aims to have 50 outlets by year-end through a tie-up with the Tata group, the country's biggest business house.
The Seattle-based chain, known as much for the trendy urban lifestyle it represents as its costly cups of coffee, enters a market with a fast-growing middle class and plenty of competition in the small but fast-growing coffee segment.
Paradigm India to open 100 Fashion Station stores pan-India by 2015
Joining the bandwagon of organised retail in apparels, Paradigm retail India is planning to launch 100 "Fashion Station" stores pan-India by 2015 starting from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
By the end of current financial year, the company plans to open 10 stores in major towns of the two states and later expand in other states, including Bihar, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan etc.
India's Bata plans 70 global format outlets
Bata India Limited, India's footwear retailer and manufacturer is expanding its retail chain, by adding 70 new global format stores this year. These spacious stores will be a mix of both, company owned and franchise stores. These will present consumers with the largest variety of footwear designs and styles, with the best in class service.
Bata India recently launched its two new stores in Kolkata. Spread over more than 2,500 square feet of shopping space, the stores are located in Jadavpur.
Ford says opens new India showroom every 10 days
US car giant Ford said on Wednesday that it was opening a new dealership in India every 10 days to feed demand in a market it expects to be the third-biggest worldwide by the end of the decade.
The group has tripled its sales in India over the last three years to about 96,000 units in 2011, up from 29,000 in 2009, largely due to the success of its Figo small car.
Amazon's new online shopping service Junglee launches in India
Amazon.com, Inc. on Thursday announced the launch of Junglee, a new online shopping service enabling customers to find and discover products available in India. Junglee organises product selection from Indian and global brands, and features buying options from online and offline retailers, including Amazon.com, in one convenient place.
Men's hearts melt with a box of chocolates, survey finds
The most preferred gift on the most romantic day of the year continues to be a box of chocolates, according to consumer research across seven Asia Pacific markets released on 30 January by Kraft Foods, the producer of Toblerone and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates.
Chocolate (69 percent), particularly premium chocolate, remains the hottest pick for the special day in addition to flowers (55 percent), a meal (50 percent) and a card (41 percent).
Outsourced whistle-blowing services a growing market in India
Ernst & Young (E&Y) has started a whistle-blowing service to monitor irregularities in Indian companies.
E&Y's independent hotline will receive all complaints and even anonymous calls on irregularities in companies which register themselves for the service. After going through the issues, E&Y officials will work with the company on these, while updating the whistle-blower.
India's Timbor Home opens 3 stores in Rajasthan
Timbor Home, manufacturing-retailing major of modular kitchens in India, has opened three more stores in Rajasthan.
Now the total number of stores in Rajasthan stands at 10 with the company opening a store each in Udaipur, Bhilwara and Sri Ganganagar.
India's airport retail business tops US1b mark in 2011
The airport retail business revenues in India, according to Asipac Projects, have surpassed the mark of USD1 billion in 2011, with the rise in passenger traffic and as more people shop on the go.
Beauty, personal care, alcohol and tobacco emerged as the top three categories in the duty-free section, while food & beverage, books, periodicals and stationery took the top spot within the duty-paid segment.
Designer puts luxury tag on "made-in-India" label
"Made in India" clothing is often seen as the product of sweatshop labour, but fashion designer Saloni Lodha, whose fans include film stars Naomi Watts and Emma Watson, wants to give it a luxury tag.
"I have great faith in the made-in-India idea, and wanted to see an Indian, made-in-India brand in the world's best stores," she told AFP while on a visit to Mumbai to source fabrics.
