Mahindra''s retail operations to focus on premium lifestyle stores

Amidst virtual nationwide protests against organised retail, the $4.5 billion Mahindra group, which yesterday announced its retail plans (See: Mahindra group to enter retail business) to focus on premium lifestyle stores selling apparels, toys and furnishings.

Named Mahindra Retail, the new venture would operate under group company Mahindra Intertrade, which has the roll out reportedly planned over a year.

According to company sources, the Mahindra group has licences to distribute children''s apparel, toys and furnishings of giants such as Walt Disney, Mattel, Lego and Woolworths'' Ladybird.

Raghunath Murti, executive vice chairman of Mahindra Intertrade terms it as the "natural extension of the group''s existing business."

The company also reportedly planning to introduce private labels in its stores.

According to advertisements in a section of the print media, Mahindra Retail is already on the look out for staffing its retail venture, seeking talent with 15 years of experience in different fields such as project development and management, business development, merchandising and so on.

To beef up its logistical and distribution capabilities, Mahindra Logistics would reportedly be made into a separate listed company.

Mahindra Logistics has earmarked Rs400 crore for setting up greenfield warehouses across the country, with plans for customised cold and dry warehouses and fruits and vegetable processing centres for corporates in major cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi and Kolkata.

The Mahindra group''s interests in the agriculture sector cover the export of fresh produce under Mahindra Shubhlabh. Mahindra Agri Business is a group company reportedly in talks with European supply chain companies to establish supply chain joint ventures for international and domestic markets.

Mahindra''s Agri Business has interests in contract farming, contract services, exports and agri retailing.