Retail brands bet on high-streets for retail expansion

A host of leading retail brands across diverse categories zeroing in on high-street markets for expansion across India in a calibrated post-pandemic move. Between April 2020 and May 2021, some of the brands closed over 120 lease deals at prominent high-street markets across Indian cities and towns. The deal sizes ranged for areas as low as 400 sq ft and went all the way up to 35,000 sq ft, Some Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) within the F&B category (Starbucks, Pizza Hut, KFC, etc.), apparel brands, and even large-format stores like Pantaloons, Westside, Zudio, Reliance Trends, and Max (typically anchor tenants in malls) are now getting more serious about their high-street presence. This is a big opportunity for the signage companies whose activities involve in in-store branding and graphic projects.