The Hindu : Business : Benetton, Trent form alliance

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Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007
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Business

Benetton, Trent form alliance

Staff Correspondent

— PHOTO: SHASHI ASHIWAL

FASHION CONSCIOUS: Noel Tata (left), Managing Director, Trent, with Alessandro Benetton, Executive Deputy Chairman, Benetton Group, at a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday.

MUMBAI: The Benetton group and Trent, a Tata Group company, have formed a strategic partnership for the Sisley brand’s commercial expansion in India. Under the agreement, Trent will manage and operate the three existing Sisley stores in Delhi. It will also open and manage a number of new stores in major cities.

The first shops will open over the next few months, starting with the top shopping streets in Hyderabad and Bangalore. The new partnership will enable the Benetton group to boost its presence in India where it has been operating for over 15 years and already counts around 140 United Colors of Benetton shops.

Existing portfolio

Trent has over a decade of experience in the Indian retail industry with an existing portfolio of 39 stores across three formats, targeting the value and mid-market segment. Each of the stores covers between 15,000 and 30,000 sq. ft.

The company operates the Westside departmental stores; Landmark, the largest books and music retail chain in India and Star Bazaar, its chain of hypermarkets.

According to Alessandra Benetton, Executive Deputy Chairman, Benetton group, “working with such a prestigious partner will allow us to accelerate Sisley’s development and success in India. We immediately found ourselves in solid accord with the Tatas, based on our goal to launch Sisley, a high-end brand with strong growth potential. Together, we can guarantee the quality of both the product and its distribution and consolidate the brand’s distinctive identity.”

Noel Tata, Managing Director, Trent, said, “our existing operations, across three diverse retail formats, have given us key insights into the business and the Indian consumer.

The partnership with the Benetton group gives us the opportunity to tap the burgeoning premium segment of consumers. We believe that Sisley has a high potential for growth and we will leverage our experience to optimize the tremendous oppor- tunity.”

The agreement comes only a few months after the successful launch of Sisley’s first three pilot stores in Delhi. Sisley has more than 900 stores around the world and offers a wide choice of clothes for men and women.

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