Marks & Spencer expands its footprints in east India

Marks & Spencer is expanding in eastern India majorly. It opened three stores in the region, one in Guwahati and two in Kolkata. In addition it is looking at opening more lingerie stores in the country. The British multinational retailer already has 54 outlets in India. The brand has added 15,500 square feet of retail space in the Northeast. It earlier had a 4,500 square feet store in Kolkata. Now, the largest store in the eastern region at 11,000 square feet is in Guwahati. In total, the brand has about 6.5 square feet of retail space across 24 cities nationally.

The two new outlets in Kolkata also have standalone lingerie and beauty store. Similar lingerie stores have been opened in Jaipur and Mumbai. Now it plans to open in Bangalore and Chennai in 2016-17, says Mohit Bhayana, head of retail, Marks & Spencer Reliance India.

The plan is to increase the number of stores from the current 54 to 56 by the end of the financial year. Bhayana said that in March the company will add two more outlets in Goa and Thrissur each respectively. That will make the total number of Marks & Spencer stores to 56. Also, the brand is looking at 10,000 square foot of space in an upcoming mall in Kolkata.

The brand, which opened its first store in 2001, has a presence in 24 cities in India through its brick-and-mortar stores. But through its online presence, available on Myntra and Flipkart, it has reached out to 140 cities and towns, including Tier II and III cities too. Marks & Spencer entered India’s retail market through a joint venture with Reliance Retail.