GHCL plans Rs 125 cr retail foray

Gujarat Heavy Chemicals (GHCL), which is into home textiles and soda ash, has announced plans to enter the Indian retail arena. The company is expected to enter the home textiles segment through the franchisee model.

The company will be opening 100 retail stores in three years at an investment of Rs 125 crore, according to sources.

"The first store is expected to come up by the end of December in the National Capital Region. The area of the store would be in the range of 2,000-4,000 square feet," said GHCL Chairman Sanjay Dalmia.

Dalmia further added that with organised retailing growing at more than 30 per cent annually, there was a huge, untapped market for home textiles speciality stores in India.

Last week, the company launched Grace, its bed, bath and windows collection, for which the company has tied up with 2,500 retailers across the country.

"The products under this brand will be available throughout India from the first week of September," said Vijay Sharma, senior manager, marketing, GHCL.