Future Group to bring Replay to India

Kishore Biyani's Future Group is all set to bring another foreign brand Replay into India next month. The group will launch two standalone stores for the Italian denimwear brand.

The 2,000-square feet stores will be opened in Delhi followed by stores in Mumbai and Bangalore, Rakesh Biyani, CEO of Future Retail, said.

The group has signed an agreement with the $500 million Fashion Box, the company which owns Replay, to be the distribution franchisee in India. Replay will start at around ¤ 50 and compete with brands such as Diesel in the Indian market. Future plans to spend Rs 3 crore on each store and is planning 12 standalone stores in three years.

The company was responsible for bringing in brands such as French lingerie retailer Etam, US-based stationery products retailer Staples and UK-based Lee Cooper in the past.

The group company, Planet Retail, owns and operates the franchisee of international brands such as Marks & Spencer, Next and Guess in India.

The group is also planning a separate format for selling ethnic wear. According to Rakesh Biyani, ethnic wear is an important segment as it constitutes 40 per cent of the fashionwear market in India.

The company will launch the UK department store giant, Debenhams, in India next month by rolling out two stores in Delhi. Debenhams has a mix of its own and third-party brands.

The store has a strong presence in product categories such as women's wear, men's wear, homeware, health and beauty, accessories, lingerie and children's wear.

Each store would be spread over 25,000 square feet and positioned in the premium category, Biyani said. However, the company did not provide details about the investment involved.