Landmark India’s international brand licensing division, LMG Brands, will open up to 90 department stores by 2009, bringing its international brands together under one roof for the first time.
LMG Brands vice-president K A Madappa said: “We are looking at having large-format stores in India, but we are still working on the nature of the format and the segment it will cater to.”
LMG Brands was set up two years ago and has acquired the India rights for Kappa, Bossini, Springfield, Josef Seibel and Vincci.
The brands are represented in 30 shop-in-shops within Landmark’s Lifestyle department stores and 40 standalone stores under each brand’s name. The new format is yet to be named.
Planet Retail analyst Robert Gregory said he expects the new department store format to succeed, as Indian retail groups capitalise on an emerging wealthy middle class.
“Many Indian retailers are experimenting with lots of different formats,” said Gregory. “International brands are popular and it is a major reason for international retailers to sign up with companies like Landmark and Pantaloon.”
Madappa signalled that UK retailer New Look may be included in the new format. He said: “Scouting for international brands is a perennial process. We have a tie-up with New Look and nothing stops us from bringing it over in future if it fits in with our plans.”
New Look chief executive Phil Wrigley told Retail Week that the fashion retailer only has a franchise agreement with Landmark in the Middle East.
Landmark is owned by retail entrepreneur Micky Jagtiani, who was linked with the failed deal for New Look this summer.
The expansion comes as the international branded fashion sector booms in India.
Fashion industry veteran Fazle Naqvi, who set up LMG Brands two years ago, left the Landmark group last week to float a venture capital-backed start-up, according to reports in the Indian press.
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