Chinese firm Aokang to diversify its biz

forays into apparel segment

The company, which had been mainly into shoes and other leather accessories, has earmarked an investment of Rs 300 crore during the next four years as part of its plan to set up two manufacturing facilities in India.     

"We are venturing into the apparel segment and for this we are setting up an exclusive lifestyle store in Mumbai by October. It will have both our shoes and casual wear collections," Aokang International India CEO Anirudh Banerjee said.     

The company plans to add seven more exclusive stores across the country by the end of this year to its existing three stores in the major cities, he said.     

"We are targeting smaller cities like Lucknow and Kanpur. We have also tied up with Reliance and Shoe Tree to retail our products," he added.     

On expanding its footwear category, Banerjee said Aokang would launch two more footwear brands, Little Foot and Cross Country, within the next one year.     

Elaborating on the company's plans to set up its two manufacturing units, he said the plants would be ready by 2012.     

"The first unit will come up within this month in Manesar at an area of 20,000 sq yard. It will have a capacity to produce 500 to 1,000 pairs of shoes per day," Banerjee said.     

The plant of the Chinese firm, which produces high-end and business class products, would be manufacturing mid segment shoes, he added.