Infiniti Retail to set up 100 outlets by 2010

New Delhi, Jan 22 (UNI) Eyeing the Rs 25,000-crore consumer durables market in the country, Tata Sons subsidiary Infiniti Retail Ltd (IRL) today said it will open more than 100 stores pan-India by 2010.

''We plan to open more than 100 Croma stores by 2010 across the country, including 20 such stores in the national capital region (NCR),'' IRL Managing Director and CEO Ajit Joshi told reporters at the launch of its first store in the state.

This is the company's first foray into the north Indian market after 14 stores in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Surat.

Croma is a large-format, multi-brand consumer durable and electronic store and will offer more than 6,000 products and 180 national and international brands, across eight categories of Home Entertainment, Small Appliances, White Goods, Computers and Peripherals, Communication, Music, Imaging and Gaming software.

''We have entered into a technical and sourcing agreement with Australian retail giant Woolworths Ltd to provide technical support and strategic sourcing facilities from its global network,'' said Mr Joshi.

After the NCR, the company will also enter markets like Jalandhar, Amritsar and Chandigarh, apart from strengthening operations in the circles it is already present.

The company is also looking at foraying into the eastern Indian market by setting up its first store in Kolkata in the next fiscal.

''We would like want it preferably by Durga Puja but it all depends on the availability,'' said Mr Joshi.

The company is also planning to launch its own label of items.

''We will launch our own label but that is still on the drawing board stage. We will not do it till the time we are sure we can provide good after-sales service as we are a part of the Tata group,'' said Mr Joshi.

The company will also foray into other items apart from the current line of electronic products but did not divulge the details or the time frame.

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