100 openings planned for next five years
Baby- and maternity-wear chain Mothercare hopes to launch 100 stores in India within the next five years, according to its market franchise partner Shopper's Stop.

The childcare retailer had originally planned 40 Indian outlets, on top of its existing eight. Shopper's Stop chief executive B S Nagesh said that Mothercare expects to break even within the first year.

The expansion plans come as Mothercare seeks to offset difficult trading in the UK with an international growth strategy. In the first half of the year, Mothercare's UK business was almost flat, with a growth of just 1.9 per cent. But like-for-like sales from its international outlets increased by 28 per cent.

The market for babywear in India is at present dominated by small, independent and unbranded retailers. It is estimated to be worth INR15 billion (£175.1 million) and is expected to grow at a rate of 13 per cent a year

Mothercare recently opened its 300th overseas shop and aims to open a further 50 international outlets within the next few months, on top of the 34 stores it has opened abroad this year.

The retailer has already entered the Russian market, where it is sticking to a franchise formula, combining lower financial risk with more limited rewards.

The retailer is eyeing India and Indonesia as future growth markets.