New Real Estate division leadership drives Apparel Group's store expansion in India

Global retail conglomerates are accelerating physical store acquisitions across secondary and tertiary Indian markets to capture expanding regional discretionary spending. To spearhead its aggressive commercial property strategy, Apparel Group India appointed Karan R Pethani as Vice President – Real Estate. Bringing nearly two decades of retail real estate expertise from Future Group and Reliance Retail, Pethani will oversee site selection, lease negotiations, and portfolio optimization as the Dubai-based retail giant expands its current 300-store footprint to 1,000 physical doors over the next three years.

Diverse brand portfolios require specialized location acquisition

Managing real estate across twenty distinct international and licensed fashion brands requires highly segmented store location strategies. Value apparel banner R&B plans to expand from 35 to 200 stores focusing on Tier-II residential catchments across South and West India, while luxury labels like Victoria's Secret and ALDO target premium high-street adjacencies and Tier-I lifestyle malls. Securing high-density retail space across varied formats - from apparel boutiques to 2,000-square-meter hypermarket sites - is central to scaling direct customer reach, states Tushar Ved, President,  Apparel Group India. The expansion aims to raise India's contribution to global group revenue from 10 per cent to 25 per cent.

Capital allocation strategy targets regional retail hubs

A operational examination of Apparel Group's expansion blueprint reveals an aggressive push into fast-growing secondary markets like Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, and Ahmedabad. By securing long-term leases in emerging retail centers alongside potential inorganic acquisitions, the retailer mitigates metro store saturation while locking in lower occupancy costs.

Global retail conglomerate and multi-brand licensee

Apparel Group India is the domestic arm of the Dubai-based global fashion and lifestyle conglomerate founded by Sima Ganwani Ved. Managing over 20 global brands including ALDO, Crocs, R&B, and Victoria's Secret, the group operates 300+ stores across 50 Indian cities. It targets 1,000 stores to significantly expand its multi-format retail footprint.