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Retail 19-04-2022

Reliance Brands buys majority stake in 'Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla'

19 April 2022, Mumbai:

The strategic partnership is aimed at accelerating the 35-year-old couture house’s growth plans in India and across the globe.

Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), a subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd, on April 19 signed a definitive agreement to invest either by itself and/or through its affiliates in India’s foremost couturiers Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla (AJSK) for a 51 percent majority stake.

ALSO READ Reliance Brands: Shopping Spree Continues As It Forms JV with Designer Rahul Mishra

Based in Mumbai, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla are India's premier couturiers. An AJSK ensemble is considered a wise investment due to its repeat value, the company added in a statement.

Deal with AJSK is RIL's 8th such tie-up with an Indian design label. It plans to shore up its ethnic labels portfolio and take them global.

Darshan Mehta, managing director of RBL, demurs from considering the partnership as a trophy acquisition.

He muses, “If I were to sit where they are sitting, having nurtured their brand from 1986, it is not easy to have someone else come and sit at the table.

Reliance Brands said the investment will happen either directly through itself or through an affiliate and is aimed at accelerating the growth within India and in the global markets of the 35-year-old couture founded by the designer duo.

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CREDITS: Money Control Business Today Vogue ET (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff)

Retail 19-04-2022

Reliance Brands buys majority stake in 'Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla'

FRL lenders keenly await RIL's 'Debt Distribution Plan'

18 April 2022, Mumbai:

If Reliance proposes to take over a large chunk of Biyani co's dues, lenders may be keen to vote in scheme's favour.

In a huddle: Shareholders & Creditors.

ALSO READ Reliance Retail takes over Future Group stores

But RIL hasn't yet spelled out the quantum of Future debt it will take over.

Lenders want RIL to absorb a large portion of this debt.

Estimated dues of Future Group are at over Rs 25k crores.

Voting on the scheme is scheduled this week, but creditors of Future Retail Ltd have not received a plan yet spelling out the distribution of the proceeds from the proposed slump sale of the group's assets to Reliance-linked entities, said three people aware of the matter.

Expect timely payment of their dues since Reliance has an 'AAA' rating.

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CREDITS: ET Dt 18-04-2022 (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff)

Retail 18-04-2022

FRL lenders keenly await RIL's 'Debt Distribution Plan'

Retailers’ revenues grow double digits during March quarter

14 April 2022, Mumbai:

Revenues of listed retailers across apparel, lifestyle products, restaurants, and supermarkets grew by double digits year-on-year during the March quarter despite the Omicron outbreak as the reopening of offices and schools, and weddings drove demand.

Most retailers expect sales to pick up in the new fiscal with the onset of the wedding season and the reopening of schools and offices, says Venu Nair, Managing Director, Shoppers Stop.

Consumption of beauty and kid’s clothes is expected to rebound, posing a rosy outlook for the next six months, he adds.

Supported by new store openings, apparel brands and retail companies such as Trent, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, V-Mart, Shoppers Stop, and TCNS Clothing Company are expected to register over 20 percent Y-o-Y revenue growth in the March quarter, as per ICICI securities.

The third COVID-19 wave in December and consequent restrictions in malls, multiplexes, and restaurants restricted revenue recovery to 60 percent of pre-COVID levels in January’22, says the ICICI Securities report.

February revenues improved to 80-85 percent of pre-COVID levels while they surged higher in March, the report added.

The watches business of Titan grew by 12 percent during the March quarter while its jewelry business declined by 4 percent as gold prices increased sharply and continued to remain volatile.

The Tata-owned retailer hopes for robust demand for its products in the first quarter of 2022-23.

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Retail 14-04-2022

Retailers’ revenues grow double digits during March quarter

Uniqlo to launch new collection with Square Enix

13 April 2022, Mumbai:

Japanese casualwear fashion brand Uniqlo plans to launch a new collection ‘Final Fantasy’ in collaboration with Square Enix. The collection features T-shirts in sixteen designs-one for each entry in the Final Fantasy series.

It will be exported to other countries where Uniqlo operates stores.

ALSO READ 'Uniqlo India' sales jump

Uniqlo produces an amazing number of unique products as its business model unifies the entire clothes-making process--from planning and design through production, distribution, and retail. The brand develops radical new materials together with the world's best fabric technology innovators and creates basic designs using superior natural materials.

Uniqlo LifeWear is high-quality, innovative clothing that is universal in design and comfort.

The brand leverages today's increasingly digital world to communicate directly with customers and quickly transform their desires into actual products.

RELATED NEWS Uniqlo India reduces their losses

Uniqlo Japan had 810 stores including 30 franchise stores as of the end of August 2021.

Uniqlo International expanded to 1,502 stores, including 932 stores in the Greater China region, 134 in South Korea, 270 in South Asia, Southeast Asia & Oceania, 109 in Europe, and 57 in North America.

The brand has been accelerating new store openings, primarily in the Greater China region and Southeast Asia.

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Retail 13-04-2022

Uniqlo to launch new collection with Square Enix

FRL: Shareholders, creditors meet legitimate

16 April 2022, Mumbai:

Big Bazaar parent Future Retail (FRL) on Friday said the meetings of its shareholders and creditors that are scheduled to be held on April 20 and 21 for the approval of its proposed deal with Reliance Retail are "legal" and conform to the directions issued by NCLT.

ALSO READ Future Group refuses to implement Amazon’s investment in Future Coupons

The regulatory filing by the Kishore Biyani-led entity comes in the wake of a warning by Amazon, which wants to block the deal.

Earlier this week, a US retailer shot off a letter to FRL's promoters, alleging that the meetings are "illegal" due to injunctions granted by a Singapore-based emergency arbitrator.

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CREDITS: TOI Dt 16-04-2022 (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff).

Retail 16-04-2022

FRL: Shareholders, creditors meet legitimate

Post Covid World: Malls Rent Hike Is A Reality

14 April 2022, Mumbai:

AFTER A TWO-YEAR COVID-HIT HIATUS.

Malls Plan Rent Hikes Hearing Cash Counters Ring at Stores.

ALSO READ As retail limitations reappear, retailers are resuming rent negotiations with malls

Landlords across malls and high streets are increasing rentals by 15-25% after a two-year hiatus when retailers either got significant discounts or converted minimum guarantee agreements into revenue-sharing due to falling footfalls amid Covid 19 and various restrictions.

Several retailers saved nearly 20% of their annual lease during the last two years due to rent concessions, which helped curtail net losses.

However, over the past few months, retail sales have outpaced the pre-Covid levels, triggering a fresh round of negotiations, companies said.

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CREDITS: ET Dt 14-04-2022 (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff).

Retail 14-04-2022

Post Covid World: Malls Rent Hike Is A Reality

Q4 FY'22: Retailers likely to post double digit growth

13 April 2022, Mumbai:

Retailers Overcome Slow Start to Grow in Double Digits in Q4.

Apparel brands and retail cos could gain from healthy store additions.

ICICI Securities expects apparel brands and retail companies such as Trent, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, VMart, Shoppers Stop, and TCNS Clothing Company to post more than 20% YoY revenue growth in the March quarter, backed by the healthy store additions.

ALSO READ CRISIL Ratings: 'Offline Apparel Retailers' expected to witness growth trajectory this year

Office and school reopenings boost biz, but sales may be lower than in Q3

January was hit due to omicron with revenue recovery of 60% of pre-covid levels.

February improved with 80-85% recovery.

Sales in March grew 28% over a year ago.

Listed retailers across apparel, restaurants and supermarkets are posting double-digit YoY revenue growth in the March quarter despite a slow start due to the third wave with reopening of offices and schools, and weddings driving demand.

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CREDITS: ET Dt 13-04-2022 & ICICI Securities (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff).

Retail 13-04-2022

Q4 FY'22: Retailers likely to post double digit growth

H&M launches new linen collection

15 April 2022, Mumbai:

Leading apparel brand H&M has launched a new collection of linen long sleeve shirts, linen tees, relaxed-fit resort shirts, along with pull-on trousers and shorts both in relaxed fits.

The silhouettes and colors give the collection a fresh and light feel through neutral shades along with playful prints.

ALSO READ Despite persistent retail limitations, H&M returns to pre-pandemic sales level

Its garments are designed in soothing neutral and pastel tones making the collection a perfect addition to a summer wardrobe.

The collection features classic menswear pieces, relaxed tailoring, and more sustainable materials that combine to create a modern range of everyday wear, says Amit Kothari, Regional Marketing & Communications Manager – South Asia.

The collection launched with a campaign, starring musician and artist Armaan Malik, embodying the message of freedom to be your own self.

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Retail 15-04-2022

Amazon letter to FRL warning violation

14 April 2022, Mumbai:

Shareholder, Creditor Meeting Lined Up Next Week.

Meets Planned to OK RIL Deal Illegal, Amazon tells FRL.

ALSO READ Amazon challenges Delhi High Court’s order in Supreme Court

In a letter to Biyani & other promoters, US co says the move will violate the Singapore tribunal's injunction order.

Amazon has warned Future Retail Ltd (FRL) against going ahead with meetings of shareholders and creditors next week to approve the sale of its retail assets to Reliance Retail.

In a letter sent on late Tuesday to chairman Kishore Biyani and other promoters of FRL, the US e-commerce company termed the planned meetings as illegal.

These would not only breach the terms of Amazon's 2019 investment in FRL promoter firm Future Coupons Pvt Ltd (FCPL) but also violate a Singapore arbitral body's injunction order staying the Future-Reliance deal, it said.

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CREDITS: ET Dt 14-04-2022 (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff).

Retail 14-04-2022

Shoppers stop sells stake in Crossword

12 April 2022, Mumbai:

Shoppers Stop sold a 19.50 percent stake in Crossword on Friday, April 08, 2022, reducing its stake in the company to 29.50 percent On August 31, 2021, the board approved the sale of 100 percent equity shares held by Shoppers Stop in Crossword Bookstores (Crossword) to Dinesh Gupta, Aakash Gupta & Family (owners of Agarwal Business House) (ASH), Pune.

On October 11, 2021, Shoppers Stop sold a 51 percent stake of the company in Crossword that ceased to be a subsidiary of the company.

ALSO READ Shoppers Stop to open new department stores

In continuation to the same, Shoppers Stop plans to sell its entire 100 percent equity shares held in Crossword.

In Q3 FY21, Shoppers Stop reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 77.32 crore against a net loss of Rs 25.11 crore in Q3 December 2020. On a consolidated basis, net sales rose by 33.82 percent to Rs 958.11 crore over Q3 December 2020.

Shoppers Stop is an Indian department store chain, owned by the K Raheja Corp.

There are 86 stores across 40 cities in India, with clothing, accessories, handbags, shoes, jewellery, fragrances, cosmetics, health and beauty products, home furnishing, and decor products.

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Retail 12-04-2022

Flipkart’s Singapore arm invests in Myntra

14 April 2022, Mumbai:

The Singapore arm of e-commerce company Flipkart has invested $116 million in fashion retailer Myntra.

This increases Flipkart’s investment in its various businesses in March to over $800 million.

In March, Flipkart invested $553 million in its marketplace business and another $143 million in the new healthcare business. The e-commerce company also launched a separate app for healthcare businesses, called Flipkart Health+.

ALSO READ Flipkart is a firm believer in real-time transactions

The new investment would help Myntra focus on building live commerce and beauty categories in the future, says Nandita Sinha, CEO.

The company’s live commerce feature aims to target Gen Z shoppers.

The company also launched Style Squad on February 22 to attract more influencers onto the platform and help them launch and promote new brands.

Kalyan Krishnamurthy, the CEO, of Flipkart, says, Myntra will continue to operate with its strategy under the new management.

It will continue to target growing customer segments.

Walmart-owned online retailer Flipkart witnessed several changes in its management in recent months.

Amar Nagaram, the Former CEO, quit to start his own ventures along with Ramesh Bafna, CFO, and Harish Narayanan, CMO.

The e-commerce firm acquired Myntra in March 2014 for Rs 2,000 crore.

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Retail 15-04-2022

Flipkart’s Singapore arm invests in Myntra

RAI : Retail clock decent sales growth in March

13 April 2022, Mumbai:

All-time low infection rates, withdrawal of sanctions, and improvement in consumer mobility helped boost retailers’ sales to the highest levels of 28 percent in March, indicates a pan-India study by the Retailers Association of India.

The study revealed, that the West region grew the fastest at 37 percent last month compared to a year back; followed by the North at 28 percent, East at 26 percent, and South at 21 percent.

ALSO READ January retail sales restricted to 91 per cent of pre-pandemic levels: RAI

Kumar Rajagopalan, the CEO, of RAI, says, the removal of pandemic-related restrictions gave a boost to the growth of retail businesses across regions and categories including garments and footwear.

However, inbuilt inflation in products like garments, electronics, and FMCG products impacted the performance of the sector.

The report shows that the consumer durables, and electronics segment grew 45 percent in March over last year, while categories like furniture, furnishing, food, and grocery grew by 28 percent. Sports goods and apparel categories grew 26 percent each.

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Retail 13-04-2022

RAI : Retail clock decent sales growth in March

CBRE: New store openings to increase 25% in 2022:

12 April 2022, Mumbai:

Real estate investment firm CBRE says, new store openings will increase by 25 per cent in 2022, compared to last year. Leasing across high streets and malls in India will also soar past the pre-COVID levels this year, adds the firm in its report 'Real Estate Market Outlook 2022’.

Further it adds retailers will lease over 5.1 million sq ft of space in 2022, coming close to the previous two years' combined figure of 5.9 million sq ft.

Devarajan Iyer, CEO, of Lifestyle International, says, their store count will increase in double-digits this year. A bulk of the company’s expansion will be on smaller towns.

A sharp drop in COVID-19 cases has accelerated the pace of economic recovery in the country and encouraged retailers to roll out store expansion plans. The robust economic recovery has strengthened consumer and market sentiments, causing retail growth to return to pre-COVID levels, adds Shibu Philips, Business Head, Lulu Mall.

Most companies were able to surpass pre-COVID level sales in March on account of strong demand driven by the opening of offices, and schools and increased demand due to the wedding season. Driven by a strong recovery in demand despite the third wave of the pandemic, revenues of brick and-mortar apparel retailers are expected to grow 20-25 per cent this fiscal, says CRISIL on analyzing 35 apparel retailers.

The industry will also see an increase in retail rentals as leasing inches back to pre-pandemic levels, adds Abhishek Trehan, Executive Director, Trehan Iris.

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Retail 12-04-2022