GHCL forays into home retail, eyes 1st franchise store by year-end

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) Announcing its foray into the home textile retail segment in the country, the 700-million-dollar Sanjay Dalmia-promoted Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd (GHCL) today said it will come out with the first franchise store in the National Capital Region by the year end.

''We are ready with the required infrastructure and outsourcing of goods is in place for rolling out services. Only thing left is management infrastructure,'' company's Chairman Sanjay Dalmia told reporters here.

The company is currently in talks with various franchisees and will likely open its first franchise store by end of the year in the NCR, he added.

The company would have its presence across both the exclusive and multi-brand outlets.

GHCL is having 40 vendors across India, Pakistan and China.

The company also wants to grow through UK-based home textile retailer Rosebys brands in Eastern Europe and the US.

''GHCL will bring in foreign home textile brands for retailing in the country,'' Nikhil Sen, Head, International Business and Strategy, GHCL, said.

The company owns global home textile companies like Dan River, Best Manufacturing Group and HW Baker.

''We would like to be a dominant player in India and will cover every nook and corner of the country,'' Mr Dalmia said adding that company's presence in home textile vertical will create more value as compared to its soda ash business.

GHCL needs to bring international brands to succeed in home textiles retailing in the country. The strategy to bring foreign brands will certainly give leverage in a market dominated by home-grown brands.

The company has built a home textile manufacturing facility at Vapi (Gujarat) with an investment of Rs 230 crore which is likely to generate 100 million dollars in revenues.

UNI