Superhouse to take Allen Cooper national

Leather fashion products and accessories manufacturer Superhouse Ltd is planning a major retail thrust for its well-known Allen Cooper brand.

The Rs 250-crore company, which earns about 80 per cent of its income from exports, is betting big on the retail explosion in India, chairman and managing director Mukhtarull Amin told Business Standard.

"Earlier we were focusing only on export market but in view of the changing trends and lifestyles of Indian consumers, we propose to open retail outlets in major cities," Amin said.

Besides increasing the sales through its franchisee stores, Superhouse would target big retailers like Reliance Retail, Wal-Mart, Big Bazaars and others.

Superhouse would also add to its reach in the world market, Amin said, adding that imposition of anti-dumping duty on Chinese goods by the European Commission and closure of leather and leather goods manufacturing facilities in Europe had given the company an expanded opportunity.

To meet the increased demand projections and the company's plans to penetrate the home retail segment, Superhouse has undertaken a capacity expansion programme.

Amin said the programme, to add about 30 per cent to the company's manufacturing capacity, would be implemented at a capital outlay of Rs 45 crore.

The capacity addition would be in both tanning and finished goods. The company would add capacities at four of its existing units located at Kanpur, Unnao, Agra and Noida in Uttar Pradesh. Amin said the company might also consider acquiring a running unit, which could be converted into a research and development centre.

Superhouse makes formal and casual footwear (men and women), safety footwears, leather garments and accessories like belts, in addition to leather bags, portfolio and travel goods. The company exports its products to more than 50 countries globally, mainly to France, Germany, UK, Ireland, Spain, China and West Asia.

The company's financial performance growth had been on an average of 30 per cent this fiscal, Amin said.

The first half revenue was Rs 150 crore with an export earning of Rs 117 crore. Amin said the company was expecting to close the year with a turnover of Rs 300 crore and with exports of Rs 240 crore.