The Hindu Business Line : Khadim's lines up major superstore plans for Bengal

THE Khadim group of companies, with a significant presence in the footwear segment, especially in the east and south regions, has redefined its business plans to leverage the Khadim's brand and register a major presence in lifestyle retailing in the semi-urban markets.

The company plans to launch 10 superstores initially in district towns, under `Khadim's Khazana' brand entailing an investment of Rs 50 crore in the next three years.

The first such store, housed in 30,000 sq ft and spread over four floors, has been launched at Kanchrapara town in North 24 Paraganas district.

The other nine superstores are expected to come up in Bardhaman, Siliguri, Durgapur, Asansol, Malda, Sodhpur, Chinsurah, Bandel and Serampur.

According to Mr Siddharta Burman, Managing Director of the group, the store would retail quality items for the Indian household such as groceries, jewellery, garments, and cosmetics.

Speaking to Business Line, Mr Satya Prosad Roy Burman, Chairman of the group, said that once the superstore model being pursued by the company is perfected, it would be launched in other parts of the country too, particularly in south India, where the Khadim's name has a brand equity.

The group, which now employs 700 staff, has decided to pursue organic growth in the three businesses of footwear, real estate and lifestyle retailing.

On entry into lifestyle retailing, he said: "We want to emerge as India's own Wal-Mart."

Khadim's entry into superstores will also to expansion of the existing Kanchrapara market in a big way.

The particular store concept being adopted by Khadim's - to make it suitable to a semi-urban target audience with an ethnic quotient - has been developed by a two-member design team of IIT, Mumbai along with Mr Debabrata Chaudhuri, CEO of Studio PrintArt, particularly for the distinctly different signages used.

The Chairman said that the group's aim was to achieve a turnover of at least Rs 250 crore in the footwear business and Rs 150 crore through superstores by 2007.

Khadim's now has 183 franchisee outlets across the country, besides owned outlets in most metros.

The Chairman said that the group's core competence in real estate development was an added advantage for choosing the locational sites for the lifestyle retailing stores, both in semi-urban and city markets. An elaborate food court and a large Khadim footwear mart are the major attractions at Khadim's Khazana in Kanchrapara.

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