Lalbhai to build brand Arvind into Rs 2,000-crore business

Integrated textile and apparel company Arvind said today it is planning a four-fold growth for its fabric business brand, Arvind, during the next four years to Rs 2,000 crore, from Rs 500 crore in FY'13.

"Our aim is to make brand Arvind a Rs 2,000-crore mega brand in the next four years. It will be made possible with the rapid rollout of Arvind stores which will have over 400 outlets and revenue in excess of Rs 600 crore by FY18," Arvind Executive Director Kulin Lalbhai told reporters here today.

The company also plans to increase its retail footprint of Arvind stores to 400 stores in the next four years. "We have opened 100 Arvind stores, out of which 50 were opened last year alone. This year, we plan to open 60 stores. We intend to have around 400 stores in the next four to five years," Lalbhai said.

About the investment for these stores, Lalbhai said almost 60-70% of the stores are franchisees while the remaining is owned by the company.

"There isn't much investment as most of the stores are owned by franchises. We will be investing in a capex of around Rs 15-20 crore," he said.

The company had launched a premium fabric brand Tresca a year ago and is aiming to build it up into a Rs 250 crore brand in the next five years.

"Our new premium fabric brand Tresca will target the fast-growing premium shirting and suiting fabric market. It is built aggressively like a lifestyle brand. It is a lifestyle product unlike any other distribution product.

"It will be available over 1,000 points of sales. We aim to develop Tresca as a Rs 250-300 crore brand in the next three to five years," he said.

He said the brand is a premium product as the starting point of the fabric is Rs 700 per metre. Lalbhai also said that the company is focusing in the South and West at present and will look at the North and the East in the coming years.