Satish Kaushik Launches First MahaVastu Franchise in Mumbai

With the launch of its first franchise center in the financial capital of India, at Star Hub in suburban Mumbai, MahaVastu has converted Vastu Shastra — an ancient Indian art of creating happy environment in buildings — into a business model.
“Today, the financial capital of modern India has received an essential catalyst to create another boom in the Indian economy,” said Vastu guru Khushdeep Bansal at the launch May 26.
The event witnessed the presence of “Mr. India” fame producer, director and actor Satish Kaushik, who said, “Even my home and office are as per Vastu compliance. I am very happy that MahaVastu has come to Mumbai city with its center. People here will now be able to avail its services to rectify their Vastu-related problems at home and office.”
MahaVastu is described as an established brand and leader in the domain of Vastu. The center also provides scientific Vastu evaluation reports, Vastu-perfect building designs, short courses and simple Vastu remedies as well as offering a 4-step method to know the influence of your building (home, office or factory) on you and your life.
MahaVastu plans to expand to 240 global centers, including 60 abroad. The next MahaVastu franchise center will open in Houston, Texas by Chetan Patel and in Raipur by Yashvant Sahu, said a spokesperson.

North Indians will relish Natural Ice Cream soon

Natural Ice Cream is planning to expand in the northern and eastern states by opening 15 outlets. The ice cream brand intends to open stores in cities like Delhi- NCR, Chandigarh and Kolkata. The company has a mix of single and multi-unit franchisees. In small cities, Natural Ice Cream has single unit-franchisees and in bigger cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, it has multi-unit franchisees.

RS Kamath, Founder of the brand, says: “Identifying good location and skilled labour remains the biggest challenge. To overcome it, we have recently tied with real estate experts who provide insights on real estate and key locations.”

“We have systems and checks in place to ensure that each staff conducts his or her scope of work in the most efficient way possible to deliver best customer service. We have in-house training centre to train managers and their staff. We also have regional area managers who provide training and support on regular basis,” he adds.

The company presently has 116 outlets. Of them, 114 are franchise outlets.

Dell to open 200 stores in tier III, IV towns

Dell India, leading technology company, is eyeing tier III and IV towns for its franchise expansion in the country. 
"Dell currently has 200 exclusive stores in India and is planning to double this count to 400 by March 2015. An increasing number of requests are coming from smaller tier-III and tier-IV towns and that is the market that Dell wants to focus on,” informs Ritu Gupta, Director Marketing Consumer and Small Business, Dell India.
“Our franchisees are our partners. They form a crucial part of our distribution structure which drives our products and solutions to the end customer. In this scenario, we believe in maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship. We ensure that our franchisees develop trust in us, in order to cultivate enduring relationships with them,” she adds.
Company’s exclusive stores are owned and operated by franchisees and are not simply a retail outlet. The brand has placed immense emphasis on promoting its retail strategy with a focus on exclusive brand outlets being launched in tier-II cities. 
Considering the rate of expansion of the Dell exclusive franchise stores, it can only be deemed beneficial for a potential franchisee. Since, the Dell exclusive store has a unique appearance, setting and display in order to recreate the Dell experience consistently, the brand ensures that the franchisee understands the importance of these elements. 

Indore gets the flavour of Vinegar

Spanish apparel and accessories brand-Vinegar- has opened its second franchise store in Indore. The brand is currently present in Mumbai and Hyderabad. A collection of imaginative and well-designed apparel is there at this exclusive store in Malhar Mall. The 500 sq ft Vinegar store has uber-chic western clothes and accessories.

“Vinegar celebrates the little bit of ‘crazy’ inside every woman, the daring and the edge behind her elegance. Unconventional yet fashionable, each Vinegar piece exudes oomph and class. The international imagery, branding and design are sure to establish us as the ‘must have’ brand on high-street. We are glad to spread our passion for fashion to the gorgeous ladies in Indore,” says Varsha Bhawnani, Owner and Managing Director, Vinegar.

The collection caters to women in the age group of 20-40 and stocks an elaborate range of day, office and evening wear. The collection at Vinegar is about summer fashion-pops and bright with prints and cuts. Trendy palazzo pants or neon shorts are also available at the store. Further, the brand has a collection of shoes and accessories in various colours and designs. It also has playful accessories, a pair of wedges and sunglasses.
 

Bata game plan for small cities

Bata India will engage franchisees to expand in smaller towns. The company has set a target to open 100 franchisee stores in the small cities in two years. Bata has also set up a separate rural division. It has put in place a distribution model for the rural areas, which is now being tested in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The footwear company will invest Rs 50 crore each in modernising its plants and setting up stores. The company hopes to increase productivity from its Bihar, Bengal and Bangalore facilities by 10-15 per cent. “The tier III and IV markets (small towns) are growing and we are going into these markets with a different model of operation. We have developed a system that will support franchisees and help them to make profit. We have tested it in 20 stores. Products will be different from the ones in existing stores. It will have to be tailor-made for these kinds of markets. Prices will have to be competitive,” Rajeev Gopalakrishnan, group managing director (emerging markets), Bata India, said on the sidelines of the company’s 81st annual general meeting. The rationale behind the franchise structure, according to Gopalakrishnan, is to avoid putting in a huge capex where the turnover will not cover the expense of setting up a company-owned store.Bata sells around 50 million pairs of footwear annually through 1,400 retail stores across 500 cities. In cities, the company plans to open 100 stores. In addition, there will be 20 Hush Puppies and 20 Footin stores.

LuLu International Group Acquires MENA Franchise of Galito's for F&B Division Tablez

Tablez Food Company, the F&B arm of LuLu International Group, has announced a franchise agreement with Galito's, a South African casual dining restaurant chain.
 
Galito's offers authentic flame-grilled chicken cooked to perfection using fresh and natural ingredients. Since its inception in 1996 in South Africa, Galito's has rapidly expanded its operations to develop a strong market presence in the rest of Africa and Canada.
The exclusive franchise agreement mandates Tablez Food Company (TFC) to develop the Galito's brand across the Middle East, India and Sri Lanka.

In the UAE, the Group is actively looking at strategic locations to open its outlets, and is set to launch its first restaurant in the country in the fourth quarter of 2014. TFC aims to invest over AED55 million towards the launch of 15 outlets in the UAE within next four years. In India, TFC plans to invest US$10 million to launch 10 outlets within the next five years

Shafeena Yusuff Ali, CEO, Tablez Food Company, said: "Tablez Food Company is continuously seeking to expand its portfolio by introducing world-class F&B brands that cater to the region's diverse culinary preferences. Our choice of partners is backed by a profound understanding of customer preferences, and we are confident that Galito's, an exceptional brand known for its healthy and delicious food options, will find a high uptake in the region."


Louis Germishuys, CEO - Galito's, said: "We are excited to partner with Tablez Food Company, which has in-depth knowledge and experience of the region's F&B scene and enjoys a significant international market presence. In our bid to provide customers with fresh made-to-order meals, we use the healthiest natural ingredients in our marinade and bastings at Galito's. We look forward to bringing our customised meal options to the Middle East's health-conscious diners." Galito's' entry into the Middle East is rooted in its core vision to emerge as a global brand in its category. The agreement with Tablez Food Company marks a significant step forward in its international expansion strategy.

Marks & Spencer opens first lingerie store in India

To capitalises on the growth opportunities in the lingerie and beauty markets, global retail major Marks & Spencer today unveiled its first standalone lingerie and beauty store in India. The store, covering 5000 square feet, was opened by model and Bollywood actress Lisa Haydon and Venu Nair, Managing Director of Marks and Spencer Reliance India, at Infinity Mall, Mumbai.

Speaking on the occasion, Lisa Haydon said: “It’s great to have such a large and dedicated lingerie and beauty store for shoppers and I’m sure that women will love it.”

Venu Nair, Managing Director of M&S Reliance India said, “The standalone concept we’ve unveiled today capitalises on the growth opportunities in the lingerie and beauty markets in India. The format with a smaller footprint also allows us to access even more prime positions in leading shopping malls in line with our international growth strategy to have a presence in these key retail locations.”

Marks & Spencer lingerie and beauty stores will showcase the best of M&S’s quality, stylish lingerie, with edited collections to showcase the season’s key trend of florals and pale tones in all shapes and sizes.

Source: Financial Express

Thomas Cook targets tier II & III cities

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, an integrated travel and travel related financial services company has a footprint that extends to over 236 locations (including 19 airport counters) in 98 cities across India, Mauritius and Sri Lanka, and is supported by a strong partner network of 116 Gold Circle Partners and 165 preferred sales agents in over 150 cities across India.

Thomas cook plans to expand its network to tier II, III cities. It's also looking to increase focus on the Middle-East market, since it will continue to grow massively over the next few years.

Thomas Cook India follows the single model franchise pan-India, offering consumer services like visas, holiday packages, forex, travel insurance, ticketing and others. The franchise model allows the franchisees to bring in only the investment and the remaining part is taken care of by the company.

India will soon become the largest overseas franchise for Domino’s Pizza

Jubilant FoodWorks, the company that operates a number of US brand-name restaurants in India, announced on Friday that they intend to make India the biggest worldwide market for Domino’s Pizza next to the US. Earlier in the week, India got its 700th Domino’s Pizza franchise, as Gurgaon welcomed yet another installation of the pizza giant. Jubilant FoodWorks, which also operates Dunkin’ Donuts and other such commercialized restaurant labels, told the Press Trust of India that the UK still leads India with 720 franchises, but says that the very small gap should be closed very soon.
Jubilant is also investing in a small number of high-output factories across India, at a cost estimated to be as high as Rs. 200 crore. Factories are going to open up in hot spots like Hyderabad, Nagpur, and Guwahati, with the latter being ready soonest. The Guwahati plant should be operational by September at the latest, while the Nagpur and Hyderabad facilities should open either towards the tail end of this year or early next year.
“In the last one year, Domino’s Pizza has aggressively strengthened its presence in tier II and tier III cities,” the company said in a press release. “The brand has constantly focused on winning a loyal customer base across India through its tasty Pizza offerings, unmatched delivery promise and warm guest service approach.”
The company also stated that “Domino’s Pizza India operations are the fastest growing operations in the Domino’s global system. The company also continues to be market leaders in the organized pizza market with a 67% market share in India (as per latest Euro monitor report).”
Jubilant said that it also plans to aggressively expand its Dunkin’ Donuts operations. The company opened 20 outfits over the last year, and just opened its first location in Mumbai. Jubilant said that the next major metropolis it has its eyes on is Bangalore, where it hopes to have a fully function Dunkin’ Donuts opened by the end of 2014. The Bangalore franchise will be the company’s inaugural excursion into south India, and will stand as a litmus test for future branches in Hyderabad and Chennai.

Mahindra First Choice Services introduces Franchise Owned and Franchise Operated (FOFO) model

Jaipur: India's leading multi-brand car workshop company, Mahindra First Choice Services (MFCS) is now looking forward to expand its presence through the franchise model. The home grown auto maker has already appointed 10 franchisees in Chennai. The first of these outlets is KLN Motor Agencies at Ekkattuthangal which was inaugurated by YVS Vijay Kumar, CEO, Mahindra First Choice Services. MFCS as a network of  28 Company owned Company Operated (COCO) workshops across the country.

On the auspicious occasion of inauguration, Mr. Vijay Kumar said, “With a car population of over 6,00,000, and a culture of strong process adherence, Chennai was the logical choice for us to establish our first franchisee workshop. Moreover, we already have a strong network in the city with three COCO workshops at Ambattur, Guindy and Nerkundram. With its strategic location and local knowledge, KLN Motor Agency will help MFCS to further enhance its reach and reputation as its franchisee partner.We have also appointed 10 additional franchisee workshops in the Chennai cluster which are all set to commence operations in the next three months. MFCS is also actively exploring newer regions like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi NCR and Punjab and Karnataka which will help us meet our target of 100 plus workshops by the end of this fiscal. This will enable us to enhance the scale and depth of our operations, allowing us to reach a greater number of potential customers and most importantly, provide us with economies of scale.”
With a strong reach of over 180,000 customers, MFCS believes that it has a strong proposition for a franchisee which can be easily met by the 28 operational COCO (Company Owned Company Operated) workshops . The company has a strong spares supply chain of quality spare parts, skilled technical staff, state-of-the art equipment, robust processes and on the top of a free pick up and drop facility. Customer can also book online getting their car serviced. Through these workshops, the auto-maker looks forward to offer a simplified business model in the servicing of cars from different brands.

Dr Batra’s mulls expansion in tier II, III cities

Dr Batra's Health Care, homeopathy clinics chain, is eyeing tier II, III cities for further franchise expansion across India. Dr Batra’s currently has 141 clinics in 72 cities out of which 22 are operational via franchisees in India. The brand has plans to open 350 clinics by 2016.
The brand has also decided to expand its footprint abroad by opening more branches in the Middle East and the UK.  Dr Mukesh Batra, Founder Chairman, Dr Batra's Healthcare informed: “We have presence in Dubai through two clinics, but we want to open ten more in the Middle East, including Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Bahrain over the next two years.
Dr Batra further added: “We will be the only Indian chain of homeopathy to be present in the UK. In London, majority of the visitors to the clinic are Indians. In Dubai, out of the total visitors, 20 per cent are the locals, mostly women and children.
Dr Batra's Healthcare had an overall turnover of Rs 153 crore in the last financial year and expects to grow to Rs 1,000 crore in the next five years. The homeopathy chain already has a clinic in London.

Lacoste to expand footprint through the franchise route

French brand, Lacoste, has decided to aggressively expand its India footprint through the franchise route. The company is looking to increase its store count to 90, adding 20-25 franchise stores in cities like Surat, Kochi, Lucknow and Jalandhar. Lacoste’s product portfolio includes: clothing, footwear, leather goods, perfumes, eyewear and watches.

A symbol of relaxed elegance, Lacoste was created in 1933 by famous tennis champion René Lacoste. Lacoste India is a strategic alliance between Lacoste and Sports and Leisure Apparel (SLA). SLA has the exclusive rights to manufacture Lacoste branded garments in India and distribute/market in India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It also has exclusive rights to distribute/market Lacoste branded footwear in the India and Maldives.

Established in 1993, the company considers India, an important market for growth. It is focusing on emerging markets of the world including China, Brazil and India. Currently, it enjoys presence through 45 points of sale pan India, covering 15 Indian cities, including one at Maldives.