Pantaloon aims for strong growth

India’s largest listed retailer, Pantaloon, is expected to record a sales growth of 20 to 25 per

cent over the next two years on the back of aggressive expansion as well as a robust same store sales growth. The company is also planning to team up with Carrefour, the world’s second largest retailer after Wal-Mart, to set up its branded stores in India.

The company which currently operates about 16 million sq. ft. of space is expected to add about 1.5 million to 2 million sq. ft. of retailing space annually over the next two years. On the back of capacity addition as well as strong same store sales growth across formats (value, lifestyle and home), the company expects to grow its sales by 25 to 30 per cent in 2010-11. The completion of the restructuring process and the company’s focus on its core retail operations will help it improve cash flow and profits.

Pantaloon Retail operates multiple retail formats in both the value and lifestyle segment of the Indian consumer market. The leading formats are Pantaloons, a chain of fashion outlets, Big Bazaar, a uniquely Indian hypermarket chain, Food Bazaar, a supermarket chain, and Central, a chain of seamless destination malls. Some of its other formats include Brand Factory, Blue Sky, Top 10 and Star and Sitara.