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Dharini Nagarajan

To spend more on marketing and promotional activities

New Delhi , July 6

Leather footwear company Superhouse Group, makers of the Allen Cooper brand of footwear, is looking to invest Rs 55 crore to expand its production capacities and increase its retail presence.

The export-oriented company said it would be investing Rs 15 crore in setting up a greenfield plant in Noida to enhance capacities.

"We would be adding another 30-40 per cent to our existing capacity. We currently have four factories and would be setting up an additional one, which would be operational by early next year," said Mr Mukhtarul Amin, Chairman and Managing Director of the Superhouse Group. The investments would be funded by internal accruals and financial institutions, he added.

Retail expansion

The Rs 200 crore turnover company is an approved vendor to many overseas brands including Wal-Mart, Filanto, Andre and Shoe Fayre, among others. "We recorded a 40 per cent growth last year and are looking to clock business worth Rs 250 crore," Mr Amin said.

With regard to its Allen Cooper brand, the company is expanding its retail outlets and would be adding another 20 outlets in north India this year. "We would be roughly spending around Rs 40 crore on retail expansion of our outlets in States such as Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi-NCR, among others," he said.

However, Mr Amin hopes to build a pan-India presence for the shoes next year. The company has also expanded its portfolio to offer other leather products such as accessories, handbags, and laptop covers under the Allen Cooper brand name and is now focusing on institutional sales.

Further, the company has also upped its marketing spends for the brand. Last year, the company spent Rs 2.5 crore. This year, "We have allocated Rs 4 crore on marketing and promotional activities," Mr Amin said.

More Stories on : Retailing | Outlook | Brands | Leather

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