Noel Tata's masterstroke in retail

His value lifestyle brand Zudio signals a coming of age of retail in small town India

Jharsuguda, an industrial hub located in western Odisha, is known for its proximity to thermal power stations and metallurgical industries. Today, the town is making waves in the retail industry, as Zudio, a value lifestyle chain, set up shop at a prominent location. Retail watchers say that the single store is doing brisk business, contributing about Rs 3 crore a year to Zudio’s top line of Rs 2,500 crore.

It isn’t just Jharsuguda. Zudio is rapidly spreading its wings across more than 120 locations and over 550 stores, many of which weren’t even on India’s retail map until now: Dimapur, Ujjain,