Landmark to make its mark in northern, western India

Landmark, a subsidiary of Trent which is a Tata group concern, will invest Rs 85 to Rs 90 crore to ink its spread over next three years with major focus on northern and western India markers.

Himanshu Chakrawarti, chief operating offer of Landmark, a book and music retailer with major presence is south India, told Business Standard, "By 2009 we will increase the number of stores from six to 23 with an investment of Rs 85 to Rs 90 crore."

"The company's focus is on its expansion plans for western and northern India," Chakrawarti, and added: "This year we will add six new stores with an investment of Rs 35 crore."

On Thursday, Landmark opened its seventh store in Vadodara and will start its eighth store in New Delhi next month. "We will also open stores in Lucknow and Chandigrah," he said. The Lucknow store will become operational by this year end.

Chakrawarti said the company would add four new services in the next five months' time. One of the categories will be Luggage for which a pilot test was conducted in the Chennai store.

On Trent's acquisition plans, Chakrawarti, said, "We are currently focused on our expansion plans that will be carried out through organic means." However, when asked whether Trent would increase its present 76 per cent stake in Landmark to 100 per cent , he said the option was open.

Trent, a Tata group of company, had picked up 76 per cent stake in Landmark in August 2005 for Rs 103.6 crore. Before the acquisition, Landmark's turnover was Rs 95 crore for the FY 2004-05 which increased to Rs 112 crore in 2005-06 period after Trent took over Landmark.