Clarks to enter SAARC region

British shoe retailer C&J Clarks International is looking at establishing it footprint in the SAARC

nations through its Indian joint venture company with the Future Group — Clarks Future Footwear. It has recently started a master franchise operation in Sri Lanka with a single store and intends launching new stores in Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius and Bangladesh.

Clarks opened its first store in India in 2011 through the equal joint venture. Clarks Future Footwear and it will control operations in the neighbouring countries by appointing master franchises in these new markets. While India would continue to be the largest market, new countries in the SAARC region would be targeted. The products would be supplied to this region by a manufacturing base set up in countries such as India, China and Vietnam.

In fact, India is already supplying 30 per cent of the UK-based company’s requirements for its global operations through its arrangement with local manufacturing companies. Chennai-based Farida Group and Bangalore’s Sara Soles are two of the companies that are manufacturing for Clarks.