Marks and Spencer Reliance India to open 15 stores

Marks and Spencer Reliance India, a joint venture between Mukesh Ambani-run Reliance and Marks and Spencer Plc, intends to open 15 stores in two-years, mainly in the metros. The company’s plan is to open larger stores between 15,000 sq ft and 35,000 sq ft. By 2014, the joint venture company plans is to have 50 stores. It all depends on momentum and right locations. The retailer currently operates 18 stores in conjunction with Reliance Retail across India in destinations such as Delhi, Amritsar, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai with an average size of around 5,000 sq ft to more than 22,000 sq ft. Of course, a new opportunity for signage companies playing around retail segment, these new high-end stores will offer a new business to in-store signage majors.