The Hindu Business Line : Planet Retail plans 10 Debenhams stores

Planet Retail Holdings Pvt Ltd has said it plans to set up ten `Debenhams' stores across major cities in India by 2010, envisaging an overall investment of $30-50 million.

Planet Retail Holdings, which is the master franchisee for a host of international brands including Marks and Spencer, Guess, Women's Secret, Debenhams, and Body Shop, said the first Body Shop store would come up in India during May this year, in Delhi and Mumbai.

"The first Debenhams store will come up in Gurgaon, followed by a second store in Delhi. By 2010, Debenhams stores will come up in locations such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ludhiana," said Mr Arun Bhardwaj, Managing Director of Planet Retail Holdings.

The investment for each Debenhams store is pegged at $3-5 million, taking the overall investments to $30-50 million.

Debenhams, a department store chain with over 50 exclusive designers and its own brands and labels, has a retail market share of about 20 per cent in the UK and Ireland. Debenhams also has franchise stores in Bahrain, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dubai, Iceland, Kuwait, Indonesia, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sharjah and Sweden.

"Planet Retail Holdings has 55 stores for various brands and we plan to increase it to 250 stores by 2008," he said adding that the company plans to set up as many as 40 Body Shop stores by 2010.

The Rs 140 crore project is expected to be completed by June 2008.