ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I take the opportunity to express our gratitude to all the concerned people who have directly or indirectly

contributed towards completion of this project. I extend my sincere gratitude towards Pantaloon for providing the opportunity and resources to work on this project. I am extremely grateful to Mr.____________, my mentor in Pantaloon for his guidance and invaluable advice during the projects. Also to my guide, Mrs. Geeta Raja whose insight encouraged me to go beyond the scope of the project and this broad ended me learning on this project. I also want to show my gratitude to Dr. Surya Ramdas whose insight helped me to complete this project. WHAT IS RETAIL?
The word retail is, in fact, derived from the French word retailer, which means to cut off a piece or to break bulk.A retailer may be defined as a dealer or trader who repeatedly sells good in small quantities. The sale of goods or commodities in small quantities directly to consumers. Of, relating to, or engaged in the sale of goods or commodities at retail. It also means to sell in small quantities directly to consumers.

RETAIL
The sale of goods individually or in small quantities to the public to sell or be sold in small quantities to the public. Retailing consists of the sale of goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store or kiosk, or by post, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services such as delivery. The sale of goods directly to the consumer; To sell at retail, or in small quantities directly to customers; To repeat or circulate (news or rumors) to others; Of, or relating to the sale of goods directly to the customer; In retail quantities, or at retail prices To sell directly to the consumer, usually in small quantities in comparison with the total level of sale.

Any product for sale in a store or directly to a consumer. Trade in which a client buys or sells an over-the-counter stock through a broker-dealer. Merchants selling tangible goods in a face-to-face environment who normally use conventional terminals and swipe transactions.

TYPES OF RETAIL SECTOR Retailing is one of the pillars of the economy in India and accounts for 35% of GDP. The retail industry is divided into organized and unorganized sectors. Over 12 million outlets operate in the country and only 4% of them being larger than 500 sq ft (46 m) in size Organized Retail Unorganized Retail

ORGANIZED RETAIL
Organized retailing refers to trading activities undertaken by licensed retailers, that is those who are registered for sales tax, income tax, etc. These include the corporate-backed hypermarkets and retail chains, and also the privately owned large retail businesses. Organized retail segment has been growing at a blistering pace, exceeding all previous estimates. According to a study by Deloitte Haskins and Sells, organized retail has increased its share from 5 per cent of total retail sales in 2006 to 8 per cent in 2007. The fastest growing segments have been the wholesale cash and carry stores (150 percent) followed by supermarkets (100 per cent) and hypermarkets (75-80 per cent).Further, it estimates the organized segment to account for 25 per cent of the total sales by 2011.

UNORGANIZED RETAIL
Unorganized retailing, on the other hand, refers to the traditional formats of low-cost retailing, for example, the local kirana shops, owner manned general stores, paan/beedishops, convenience stores, hand cart and pavement vendors, etc. Unorganized retailing is defined as an outlet run locally by the owner or caretaker of a shop that lacks technical and accounting standardization . The supply chain and

5 sourcing are also done locally to meet local needs. Its organized counterpart may not obtain its supplies from local sources. Difference between organized and unorganized retailing The major differences between organized and unorganized retailing lies in its number(chain) of store operations. An unorganized outlet may be just stand alone or can have maximum of 2-3 outlets in a city, where as the organized outlets are "any retail chain(more than two outlets)which is professionally managed (even if its family run), has a accounting transparency (with proper usage of MIS and accounting standards) and organized SCM with centralized quality control and sourcing (certain parts can be locally made) can be termed as an "organized retailing" in India. Retailing in India is predominantly unorganized. According to a survey by AT Kearney,an overwhelming proportion of the Rs. 400,000 crore

retail market is UNORGANISED. In fact, only a Rs. 20,000 crore segment of the market is organized. We are known as a nation of shopkeepers with over 12 million, the highest outlet density in the world in the world with an estimated turnover of $ 200 billion. However a disturbing point here is that as much as 96 per cent of them are smaller than 500square feet in area. This means that India per capita retailing space is about 2 square feet (compared to 16 square feet in the United States). India's per capita retailing space is thus the lowest in the world. Another point to note is that only 8 % of our population is engaged in Retail whereas the global average is around 10-12%.

INSTORE RETAILERS
This type of retail format is also known as the brick and mortar format. These retail stores are in the form of fixed point sale outlets. They are specially designed to lure the customers. There are different types of stores through which the in store retailers operate or excess stock left over at the season. The product category can range from a variety of perishable/ non perishable goods DEPARTMENT STORES: Large stores ranging from 20000-50000 sq. ft catering to a variety of consumer needs. Further it is classified into localized departments such as clothing, toys, home, groceries, etc. DEPARTMENT STORES: Departmental Stores are expected to take over the apparel business from exclusive brand showrooms. Among these, the biggest success is K Raheja's Shoppers Stop, which started in Mumbai and now has more than seven large stores (over 30,000 sq. ft) across India and even has its own in store brand for clothes called Stop!. HYPER MARTS/SUPERMARKETS: Large self service outlets, catering to varied shopper needs are termed as Supermarkets. These are located in or near residential high streets. These stores today contribute to 30% of all food &grocery organized retail sales. Super Markets can further be classified in to mini supermarkets typically 1,000 sq ft to 2,000 sq ft and large supermarkets ranging from of 3,500 sq ft to 5,000 sq ft. having a strong focus on food &grocery and personal sales. CONVENIENCE STORES: These are relatively small stores 400-2,000 sq. feet located near residential areas. They stock a limited range of high-turnover convenience products and are usually open for extended periods during the day, seven days a week. Prices are slightly higher due to the convenience premium. MBOs : Multi Brand outlets, also known as Category Killers, offer several brands across a single product category. These usually do well in busy market places and Metros.

8 OVERVIEW OF INDIAN RETAIL SECTOR Retail Sector is the most booming sector in the Indian economy. Some of the biggest players of the world are going to enter into the industry soon. It is on the threshold of a big revolution after the IT sector. Although organized retail market is not so strong as of now, but it is expected to grow manifolds by the year 2010. The sector contributes 10%of the GDP, and is estimated to show 20% annual growth rate by the end of the decade. The current growth rate is estimated to be 8.5%, but CRISIL report says that the

retail market is most fragmented in the world and only 2% of the entire retailing business is in the organized sector. There are about 300 new malls, 1500 supermarkets and 325departmental stores being built in the cities very soon. The retail boom will face a strong competition from the 12 million mom-andpop stores which are easily accessible and approachable and provide services like free home delivery and goods at credit. But buying from Malls, Supermarkets and Department stores like Subhiksha, Marks & Spencers, etc gives a different feeling and the environment of pick and choose from a variety of products. A number of retail giants are also going to explore the market such as Reliance Retail Ltd and Wal-mart. The revolution is driven by large expectations where both domestic and international players will be channel through which other large stores in India are spreading themselves across the country. Some of the players present in the industry: Archies, Bata India Ltd, Big Bazaar, Crossword, Ebony Retail Holdings Ltd., Fabmall, Food Bazaar, Globus Stores Pvt. Ltd., Health and Glow, Liberty Shoes Ltd., MTR Foods Ltd., Music World Entertainment Ltd., Pantaloon Retail India Ltd., Shoppers Stop, Style SPA Furniture Ltd, Subhiksha, Titan Industries, Lifestyle, etc. New entrants entering the market soon will be Reliance Retail Ltd, WalMart Stores, Carrefour, Tesco, Boots Group, etc. 9 EVOLUTION OF THE SECTOR

12 Magnification of the Indian Retail Industry Yardstick Situation in 04-05 Situation in 07-0 Value of retail sales Rs. 10,20,00 Rs 12,00,00Annual growth rate Value of organized market Rs 35,00 Rs 55,00Share of organized market in the sector Forecasts (after 5 years) about size of organized retail market Over Rs. 1,00,00 Rs. 2,00,00Forecasts about growth rate of organized market Aroun Aroun The above table clearly shows that the retail market as well as the mindset required for it has experienced a thorough revisal in the last three years. This is just the beginning and Indians are sanguine that the sector will see rosy days in the future. This confidence has helped India acquire the No.1 position among 30 most attractive retailing destinations in the world according to the Global Retail Development Index of2005 (by AT Kearney, India). Among emerging markets, India holds the second position after China in the list of most favored retail destinations. The retail industry employs a huge share of the total workforce in India. It is the second largest employer after India. Presently 7 percent of the total labor force is employed in the retail sector. According to available data it is also the largest employer in the services sector and maximum growth in the non-agricultural sector has been witnessed by retail trade. According to market analysts 300 new malls, 1,500 supermarkets and325 departmental stores are going to come up

in India in the next few days. The shopping revolution that has led to this retail boom is going to continue and this is a good news for the government as well as those who wish to work in the organized sector.

13 8.90%9.0%6.8%6.0%6.0%5.6%5.2%6.4%6.6%5.4%9.2%0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10% 19971998199920002001200220032004200520062007 Projections of 8% sustainable real GDP growth rate till 2020promise high growth potential for Indian Retail CONTRIBUTION OF FDI IN RETAILING Permitting Foreign Direct Investment in the retailing sector can have immense benefits. It can generate huge employment for the semi-skilled as well as illiterate population which otherwise can't be employed in the already confined rural and organized sector. The retail sector is highly dependent on the rural sector. Thus it can facilitate the improvement of the standard of living of farmers by purchasing commodities at a reasonable cost. It also stems out an indirect employment generation channel by training and employing people in the transportation and distribution sectors such as drivers, mechanics etc. It is also evident that real estate is a genuine challenge for organized retailing. Traditional retailers can use this situation in their favor by taking franchisees of the mega players of this industry. On the other hand, the consumer gains from the wide variety of choices and a more diversified basket of prices available under one roof. Secondly the indirect benefits like better roads, online marketing, expansion of telecom sector etc. will give a 'big push' to other sectors including the rural one itself. Last but not the least the huge tax revenue generated from these retail biggies and collected in government coffers will gradually wipe out the ugly looking fiscal and revenue deficits. Besides the transaction in foreign currencies by these MNCs will create a balance in exchange rate and will bring in stable funds in the economy as opposed to FII's hot money. This will in turn act as a boost to the developing (or 'transforming', as suggested by the USAID) economy of India. The phobias relating to

14 Greater Per Capita Income Greater Consumer Spending due to economic boom Increasing Tax Paying Population Greater Sourcing From India Reduced Tax Evasion GDP Growth Increased Tax Revenues Greater Exports Employment Benefits to Govt. FDI in the retail sector are unfounded as neither the retailing sector in India is an infant industry, nor it can outweigh the paramount local tastes and preferences. Let's pray that the retail sector like the IT and manufacturing sector brings happiness in the eyes of the people and help remove the regional and classbased disparities. BENEFITS TO THE GOVERNMENT

It will help in increasing employment levels as FDI would result in market growth and expansion which in turn will result in employment generated at various levels Increased consumer demand implies employment generation across the value chain as certain areas in retail does not need very high skill sets as basic needs are high school graduates and other similar skill levels which is currently a majorly unemployed demographic group. ESTIMATES AND PREDICTIONS FOR RETAIL SECTOR: At present, the industry is estimated to be at more than US$ 400 billion by a study of McKinsey. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) estimates the retail market in India will increase to US$608.9 billion in 2009 from US$394 billion in 2005.KPMG Report says that the organized retail would grow at a higher rate than the GD Pin the next five years. The retail sector would generate employment for more than 2.5million people by the year 2010, predicts an analysis by MaFoi Management Consultants Ltd. Traditional vis a vis Modern Format Retailers The retail boom will face a strong competition from the 12 million mom-and-pop stores. These are easily accessible and provide services like free home delivery and goods at credit, which is not possible with hypermarkets and supermarkets. Buying from Malls, Supermarkets and Department stores like Subhiksha, Marks & Spencers, etc. provide a

15 different environment where one can pick and choose from a variety of products. Owing to the entry of such big players, the small shopkeepers fear losing their business. Reliance Retail Ltd. has been inviting such people to join in its Dairy business as franchisees.

LEGAL ISSUES IN RETAIL SECTOR Many countries specially in south east Asia like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand have put in place tough regulations with a view to balance the conflicts of interests between modern retail and the traditional retailers and suppliers to the modern retail. These countries have imposed a number of restrictions on the growth of large retail companies particularly the transnational companies as against fairly liberal approach to the retail sector practiced until the late 1990s.In India in a bid to cushion small retailers from corporate giants, the Centre is in consultation with states for setting up a retail regulator. As per the consolations among states, state level legislative authorities would wield powers to grant licenses to retailers for operating business. The regulators in coordination with the state governments would also demarcate zones in the cities for setting hypermarkets. Moreover, the regulators would work in tow with competition commission to oversee pricing of products so that small retailers do not fall prey to predatory pricing. States would submit the final guidelines on the regulatory mechanism in 2 months to Commerce & Industry ministry. In fact, the proposal is part of the Icrier report on Big Versus small retail recently submitted to the government. We have had several rounds of consultations with the state governments and other ministries. We are now awaiting their comments on the report, a senior commerce ministry official said. The policy framed by the government based on the report would also set the ground for FDI in retail, which has been facing problems due to lack of consensus among political parties. The regulator would also look into real estate cornering by large retail chains to restrict competitor access and complaints of muscling out smaller retailers by price under cutting. All the following statutory provisions related to following acts are applicable to retailindustry1) Shops & Establishment2) PF & Misc.Provisions Act

17 3) ESI Act4) Bonus Act5) Minimum Wages Act6) Industrial Disputes Act7) Gratuity Act8) Maternity Act9) Welfare Act As part of a big move to liberalize the foreign direct investment (FDI) regime, the Cabinet today approved new FDI norms for several sectors including retailing. Retail presents the next big opportunity (worth $250 billion) for the foreign investor. However, foreign direct investment in the India retail sector is currently restricted. There are several methods pursuant to which a foreign investor may gain exposure to the Indian retail sector:(i) Pursuant to Press Note No. 3 (2006 series), foreign direct investment up to 51% is now permitted in single brand retail trade with the prior approval of the government;(ii) Pursuant to Press Note No. 4 (2006 series), foreign direct investment up to 100% isnow permitted under automatic route for cash and carry wholesale trade; or(iii) The foreign investor could enter into franchise arrangements. LVMH is among the international brands that have indicated interest in a 51% stake. However, multi-brand retail stores such as Wal Mart are not yet permitted CURRENT ISSUES The boom in Indias retail sector will continue and top $365 billion in 2008, against $300billion a year. With a year-on-year growth of 30-35 per cent, the retail trade sector in India will top $440 billion by 2010, says the study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham). The study estimated the organised retail segment would witness an additional investment of $70 billion by 2010. In 2008, the investment size would be in the region of $25-28 billion. Mukesh Ambani, RILs chairman, plans to open 100m sq ft of retail space in India by2010. Local press reports talk of between 5,000 and 10,000 stores spread across 1,500towns and cities. Ambani has described the concept as a pan-India footprint of multi-format retail outlets. Reliance will operate hypermarkets, convenience and speciality stores, as well as business-to-business operations, selling food, clothing, electrical goods, consumer durables, luxury goods and financial and travel services. The project will employ 1m people within five years. Protests against reliance fresh in UP and Jharkhand. Chinese conglomerate Li & Fung Group said it is studying India's logistics and retail sectors to expand its presence in the country. The company, engaged in distribution, retail, logistics, private equity and properties businesses, currently sources consumer products worth 550 million dollars from India every year for its global operations."We will look at India for innovative designs and creativity. In the next three years we expect to more than double our sourcing from this country," Li & Fung Group Chairman Victor KFung said today on the sidelines of a FICCI event. Taxpayers, especially corporates in the retail sector who have to bear the burden of huge rentals for commercial space, could get some relief soon. The government is considering allowing taxpayers to deduct tax at source (TDS) on rents after reducing the total outgo on service tax. North Block is examining a proposal in this regard after receiving references from field formations, and a clarification

may be issued shortly. To put it simply, if a taxpayer pays Rs 100 as rent he is liable to pay service tax at the rate of 12%, taking the total outgo to Rs 112. There was a confusion as to whether TDS would be on Rs 100 or Rs 112. As the field formations were in dilemma, in some

19 instances they had demanded deduction of tax on the final amount of Rs 112. The confusion had arisen after the government brought commercial rental service under tax net in the Budget for 2007-08. Wal-Mart Store Inc. will open its first cash-and-carry centre in India in 2009, the head of its India operations said on Wednesday. Wal-Mart, which has a venture with India's Bharti Enterprises for cashand-carry wholesale operations, had earlier said it aimed to open the first of its centres by year-end and open 10-15 centres over seven years. INTRODUCTION Established in 1998 as part of the Tata Group, Trent Ltd. operates Westside, one of India's largest and fastest growing chains of retail stores. The Westside stores have numerous departments to meet the varied shopping needs of customers. These include Menswear, Womens wear, Kids wear, Footwear, Cosmetics, Perfumes and Handbags, Household Accessories, lingerie, and Gifts. The company has already established 31 Westside departmental stores (measuring15,000 - 30,000 square feet each) in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Chennai, Pune, Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Kolkata, Nagpur, Indore, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Surat, Mysore & Rajkot. The company hopes to expand rapidly with similar format stores that offer a fine balance between style and price retailing. HISTORY This story began circa 1998 when The Tatas acquired Littlewoods a London based retail chain. This acquisition was followed by the establishment of Trent Ltd(a Tata enterprise that presently operates Westside). Littlewoods was subsequently renamed Westside. In a rapidly evolving retail scenario, Westside has carved a niche for its brand of merchandise creating a loyal following. Currently, the company has31 Westside stores measuring 15,000-30,000 square feet each across 17 cities. With a variety of designs and styles, everything at Westside is exclusively designed and the merchandise ranges from stylized clothes, footwear and accessories for men, women and children to well-co-coordinated table linens, artifacts, home accessories and furnishings. Well-designed interiors, sprawling space, prime locations and coffee shops enhance the customers shopping experience.

22 THEIR MISSION

 At Westside the mission is to be regarded by their customers as the most relevant retailer in the country. In order to achieve this goal, they shall develop a comprehensive understanding of their needs, strive to win their confidence, and offer them best-in-class products and services at affordable prices. They shall always be in the forefront of fashion and services by anticipating and exceeding the expectations of their customers. Their leadership will be the product of their styling, quality and serviceconsciousness.hey will continue to scale new heights of excellence through teamwork, in an atmosphere that encourages creativity and innovativeness. It is their policy to satisfy our customers with the range, quality and value of the products we offer. However, if they are dissatisfied with any item that they might have purchased they would take the necessary measures to assist them. They expect their customers to return unused merchandise along with its receipt within 30 days; they would exchange the returned items or give the customers a complete refund. In the event that the customers do not have the receipt they would offer them an exchange or provide them a gift voucher to the current or last known selling price. They have complete confidence in the quality of our merchandise however should if customers have any grievances, they would be happy to address them once they are brought to our attention. 4 Ps

PRODUCT The Westside stores have numerous departments to meet the varied shopping needs of customers. These include Menswear, Womens wear, Kids wear, Footwear, Cosmetics, Perfumes and Handbags, Household Accessories, lingerie, and Gifts. Some of them are as follows;

PRICE Menswear: For men at work and at play, Westsides menswear range extends from formal to casual to sporty. There is also a wide price range starting from value and extending into premium. Womens wear:

For women there are western casual, western formals & very classyethnic wear with a look unique to Westside. The range does not end with clothes but extends right into accessories with a great range of jewelry, scarves & other accessories. Also available are comfortable lingerie at affordable prices. Kids wear: With a dash of attitude and a sprinkle of playfulness, Westsides Kidswear has a huge range to select from. Catering to a wide age band starting rom infants to early teens the garments sport a look that is hip, trendy and very international. Footwear: The range encapsulates footwear for the entire family with a wide variety of choice, great styles and colours to charm everyone. Cosmetic, Perfumes and Handbags: The Westside store has a separate section for cosmetics and perfumes in some stores. The handbags are tastefully crafted and range from casual to formal wear. Household Accessories: The Westside motto is -Your Dreams Our Vision- which translates into a Household section that caters to every taste. This section is one of the most contemporary with every item being exclusive & unique. The merchandises well coordinated & allows customers to mix & match and to create their own look. The range extends from bed linen, towels, table linens to coordinated crockery, a cook shop, glassware and much more to set up an entire home. The range also includes high quality home accessories and dcor product. Gifts : A wonderful gift section with the trendiest of collections that will leave one spoilt for choice. This section matches every requirement and suits every occasion.

24Westsides gift section is vast and includes gifts ranging from photo frames, candle stands, candles, vases, ceramic mugs, lanterns, lamps and more. PLACE The company has 31 Westside departmental stores up till now (measuring 15,000 -30,000 square feet each) in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Chennai, Pune,Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Kolkata, Nagpur, Indore, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Surat, Mysore & Rajkot. The company hopes to expand rapidly with similar format stores that offer a fine balance between style and price retailing. PROMOTION Westside does its regular brand building through advertisement in the media with brand ambassador yuvraj Singh and other young models. More importants its in-house promotions which peak during main festive seasons, summer, diwali andChristmas. The promotion are mostly them based, with decorations to match, live bands and other attractions.

25 FINANCIAL INTERPRETATION DIVIDEND: On 30th June 2008, the Board of Directors recommended a final dividend of Rs. 7/-per share on 1,95,32,896 equity shares (70%) (Previous year interim dividend - 70%on 1,57,60,737 equity shares)

involving a distribution of Rs. 13.67 crores (previous year Rs. 11.03 crores). The total outflow will be Rs. 15.24 crores including the tax on dividend of Rs.1.57 crores.

26 ISSUE OF EQUITY SHARES ON RIGHTS BASIS:

During the year under review, the Company allotted 31,48,264 equity shares of Rs10/- each at a premium of Rs. 490/- each for an amount aggregating to Rs. 157.41crores on Rights basis to the existing equity shareholders of the Company in the ratio of one fully paid equity share for every five equity shares held on the record date i.e. on 15th May 2007. The shares have been listed on Bombay Stock Exchange Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited. DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUE:

27 H R P o l i c y & C o d e o f C o n d u c t S i n c e W e s t s i d e i s a T a t a E n t e r p r i s e t h e y a d o p t t h e s a m e C o d e o f C o n d u c t p o l i c i e s a s T a t a Code of Conduct1. National Interest A Tata company shall be committed in all its actions to benefit the economic development of the countries in which it operates. It shall not engage in any activity that adversely affects such an objective. It shall strive to make a positive contribution to the achievement of such goals at the international, national and regional level, as appropriate. 2. Financial Reporting And Records A Tata company shall prepare and maintain its accounts fairly and accurately in accordance with the accounting and financial reporting standards which represent the generally accepted guidelines, principles, standards, laws and regulations of the country in which the company conducts its business affairs. 3. Competition A Tata company shall fully strive for the establishment and support of a competitive, open market economy in India and abroad, and shall cooperate in efforts to promote the progressive and judicious liberalization of trade and investment by a country. 4. Equal - Opportunities Employer Employee policies and practices shall be administered in a manner that ensures that in all matters equal opportunity is provided to those eligible and that decisions are based on merit.

5. Gifts and donations A Tata company and its employees shall neither receive nor offer or make, directly or indirectly, any illegal payments, remuneration, gifts, donations or comparable benefits which are intended to or perceived to obtain business or uncompetitive favours for the conduct of its business. 6. Government Agencies A Tata company and its employees shall not offer or give any company funds or property as donation to any government agencies or their representatives, directly or through intermediaries, in order to obtain any favourable performance of official duties

28 7. Political Non-Alignment The company shall not offer or give any company funds or property as donations, directly or indirectly, to any specific political party, candidate or campaign. 8. Health, Safety and Environment A Tata company shall be committed to prevent the wasteful use of natural resources and minimize any hazardous impact of the development, production, use and disposal of any of its products and services on the ecological environment. 9. Quality of Products and Services The quality standards of the company's goods and services should meet the required national standards, and the company should endeavor to achieve international standards. 10. Corporate Citizenship Tata companies are encouraged to develop social accounting systems and to carryout social audits of their operations. 11. Cooperation of Tata Companies In the procurement of products and services, a Tata company shall give preference to another Tata company as long as it can provide these on competitive terms relative to third parties. 12. Public representation of the company and the Group A Tata company shall honour the information requirements of the public and its stakeholders. It will be the sole responsibility of these authorised representatives to disclose information on the company or the group. 13. Third-Party Representation Parties which have business dealings with the Tata Group but are not members of the group, such as consultants, agents, sales representatives, distributors, contractors, suppliers, etc. shall not be authorised to represent a Tata company if their business conduct and ethics are known to be inconsistent with this code. 14. Use Of The Tata Brand The use of the Tata name and trademark owned by Tata Sons shall be governed by manuals, codes and agreements issued by Tata Sons. The use of the Tata brand is

29defined in and regulated by the Tata Brand Equity & Business Promotion Agreement. 15. Ethical Conduct Every employee of a Tata company, including whole-time directors and the managing director, shall deal on behalf of the company with professionalism, honesty and integrity, as well as high moral and ethical standards. 16. Group Policies

A Tata company shall recommend to its board of directors the adoption of policies and guidelines periodically formulated by Tata Sons. 17. Shareholders A Tata company shall be committed to enhance shareholder value and comply with all regulations and laws that govern shareholders' rights. 18. Regulatory Compliance Every employee of a Tata company shall, in his or her business conduct, comply with all applicable laws and regulations, both in letter and in spirit, in all the territories in which he or she operates. 19. Concurrent Employment An employee of a Tata company shall not, without the prior approval of the managing director of the company, accept employment or a position of responsibility (such as a consultant or a director) with any other company, nor provide 'freelance' services to anyone. 20. Conflict of Interest An employee of a Tata company shall not engage in any business, relationship or activity, which might detrimentally conflict with the interest of his company or the Group. A conflict of interest, actual or potential, may arise where, directly or indirectly: 21. Securities transactions and confidential information An employee of a Tata company and his or her immediate family shall not derive any benefit or assist others to derive any benefit from access to and possession of information about the company or the Group, which is not in the public domain and thus constitutes insider information.

30 22. Protecting Company Assets The assets of a Tata company shall not be misused but shall be employed for the purpose of conducting the business for which they are duly authorised. 23. Citizenship An employee of a Tata company shall in his or her private life be free to pursue an active role in civic or political affairs as long as it does not adversely affect the business or interests of the company or the Group. 24. Integrity of Data Furnished Every employee of a Tata company shall ensure, at all times, the integrity of data or information furnished by him or her to the company

31 Key Personnel Chairman Emiretus: S.N.Tata Board Of Directors: F.K.Kavarana (Chairman)N.A.SoonawalaB.S.BhesaniaA.D.CooperK.N.Suntook N.N.Tata (Managing Director) Corporate Social Responsibility India is a youthful country where a large percentage of the population is in the younger age brackets. We believe that these young people shall be the backbone of the nation in the coming years. It is

therefore our intention to focus on socially underprivileged children in order to provide them with a chance to have a better life tomorrow. We shall dedicate resources commensurate with our business requirements to community activities that work towards improving the future of socially underprivileged children. We shall also use our assets and our expertise in the retail business to further the cause of such communities. Were it not for the active participation of our customers, our social policy might never have been activated. We are truly grateful for their generosity in supporting our socially conscious endeavours.

32 Lend a hand

Light a Diya, Help a Child Purchase a diya and light it at Westside during the Diwali Promotion. Funds collected will be donated to NGOs to help bringing smiles to the faces of underprivileged children. Angels Tree Purchase a Silver Star or a Gold Star during our Christmas Promotion, and decorate our Angels Tree. The money collected will be donated to various NGOs across the country working with underprivileged children. Assisting a number of child welfare organizations The company also extended its technical assistance to new NGOs The company strictly adheres to a number of human rights principles against discrimination & child labour FUTURE PLANS OF WESTSIDE Westside, one of largest and fastest growing chains of retail stores in India, is on an expansion path these days. The retail chain has just launched KIDSWEST , a kids program that incorporates learning with playing, in its stores operating in Delhi, Bangalore and Pune. Westside, Tatas leading chain of stores, is planning to adopt the franchisee route to expand its presence in tier-II and tier-III cities. Through this model, 25-30franchisee-operated stores of across 8,000-12,000 sq ft and with an initial investment of Rs 1.2 crore, per store would be set up in the next five years. With this move, it plans to reach out to consumers across 37 cities.

Trent-controlled retail chain Westside is planning to open 18 flagship stores in calendar year 2008. Market sources said that Westside, one of Indias fastest growing retail store chains, will target mostly tier II and III cities as part of its expansion plans for 2008, with flagship stores in the 40,000-50,000 square feet range. At least 80 per cent of the property acquisitions required for Westsides next phase of expansion have been wrapped up. Trent is also set to launch its second Star One Global hypermarket (under the StarIndia Bazaar initiative) after Ahmedabad, at Vashi in sub-urban Mumbai.

34 SIGNIFICANT EVENTS In 1998 Tata sold of their 50% stake in the cosmetic products company Lakme to HLL for Rs 200 Crore (approx. 45 million US$), and created Trent from the money it made through the sale. All shareholders of Lakm were given different shares in Trent. SIMON TATA, the chairperson of Lakm, went on to head Trent. Trent Ltd. operates Westside, one of Indias largest and fastest growing chains of retail stores that currently operate 29 stores in the major metros and mini metros in India. Westside has garnered numerous accolades Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame India Brand Summit Brand Leadership Retail IFA Visionary of the Year Award, 2002 Mrs. Simone N. Tata Most Admired Large Format Retail Chain of the Year - Lycra Images Fashion Awards 2005NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards 2006 - Retail Category Westside, Tatas leading chain of retail stores has launched its Designer Development Programme (DDP) to encourage Emerging Talent of the fashion industry and provide them a mass retailing platform. A concept pioneered by Westside; this is a significant step to bridge the gap between exclusive designer wear and the fashion conscious Indian consumers.

 It is significant that Trent had in April this year entered into an agreement with The Xander Group Inc, a global private equity firm, to develop and manage an institutional retail real estate portfolio in India in partnership with Indian developers. The flagship stores planned next year will substantially improve possibilities for cross-promotion between Westside and Landmark, the south-based books and music retail chain in which Trent had acquired 76 per cent stake in 2005.

35 SUGGESTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS Modern retailing is all about directly having "first hand experience" with customers, giving them such a satiable experience that they would like to enjoy again and again. Providing great experience to customers can easily be said than done. Thus challenges like retail differentiation, merchandising mix, supply chain management and competition from supplier's brands are the talk of the day. In India, as we are moving to the next phase of retail development, each endeavor to offer experiential shopping. One of the key observations by customers is that it is very difficult to find the uniqueness of retail stores. The problem: retail differentiation. The next problem in setting up organized retail operations is that of supply chain logistics. India lacks a strong supply chain when compared to Europe or the USA. The existing supply chain has too many intermediaries: Typical supply chain looks like:- Manufacturer - National distributor Regional distributor - Local wholesaler - Retailer - Consumer. This implies that global retail chains will have to build a supply chain network from scratch. This might run foul with the existing supply chain operators. In addition to fragmented supply chain, the trucking and transportation system is antiquated. The concept of container trucks, automated warehousing is yet to take root in India. The result: significant losses/damages during shipping. Merchandising planning is one of the biggest challenges that any multi store retailer faces. Getting the right mix of product, which is store specific across organization, is a combination of customer insight, allocation and assortment techniques. The private label will continue to compete with brand leaders. So supplier's brand will take their own way because they have an established brand image from last decades and the reasons can be attributed to better customer experience, value vs. price, aspiration, innovation, accessibility of supplier's brand. In their preparation to face fierce competitive pressure, Indian retailers must come to recognize the value of building their own stores as brands to reinforce their marketing Positioning, to communicate quality as well as value for money. Sustainable competitive advantage will be dependent on translating core values combining products, image and reputation into a coherent retail brand strategy

Future Group's private brands top the booming modern retail industry

15 Jul 2011

Retailers' own brands are making rapid gains across consumer product segments in the booming modern retail industry, weakening several established brands' power to negotiate lower trade margins.

Leading the charge is the country's largest retailer Future Group, whose private brands have been outselling some of the country's best-known brands in select categories across 200-plus Big Bazaar and Food Bazaar outlets.

Private brands already account for close to 7 per cent of modern trade sales in India, compared to 1 per cent in China, according to market researcher Nielsen's latest survey that covers over 50 countries.

"The private label phenomenon has leapfrogged in India compared to other Asian countries for many reasons: the value conscious Indian shopper, their familiarity and comfort with unbranded/ generic products, and the focus on quality of private label products on behalf of the retailers," says Dipita Chakraborty , executive director for retail and shopper practice at Nielsen.

The development will impact the bargaining power of marketers such as Reckitt Benckiser and Cadbury who have had a face-off with big retailers over margins.

"This is worrisome.... Very soon, large retailers will call the shots. It has already started happening," head of a Delhi based maker of consumer goods said on condition of anonymity.

In Big Bazaar stores, private labels such as Clean Mate and Tasty Treat outsell national brands such as Domex, Pril and Bambino, and own brands lead the sales chart in at least four product segments (see chart). Future Group had boycotted chocolate maker Cadbury in 2008, and the following year it boycotted cereal maker Kellogg's brands across its Food Bazaar and Big Bazaar stores, both demanding higher business margins.

It stopped fresh orders from Reckitt Benckiser, maker of Dettol soaps and Harpic toilet cleaner, in February this year after the marketer slashed retailers' margins to 14 per cent from 16 per cent on some of its products to partly offset rising input costs. The issue was resolved two months back with Reckitt products back on Big Bazaar and Food Bazaar shelves.

OTHER RETAILERS STRUGGLE

Largely Future Group is fueling growth in private brands, while others have yet to crack the private label space. Reliance Retail and Aditya Birla Retail's More have said they will slow down and consolidate their portfolios. More has already removed personal care products from its private brands.

Future Group Chairman and MD Kishore Biyani says customer acceptance and repeat purchases are what is driving its private brands. "We are working hard on our private brands," he says. Based on information shared by Nielsen, Future Group president of food and FMCG, Devendra Chawla, says that Future group's own brands grew 52 per cent last year while private brands in modern trade grew 19 per cent.

"Unlike in the West, where retailers brands started decades later than national brands, in India, we are participating in new age categories, so we can be significant players in driving consumption," Chawla says.

"Modern trade is a catalyst and incubation ground for categories like corn flakes and hand washes, so we are placing big bets on these brands," he adds. Future Group recently extended its Sach brand to hand wash. Industry experts, meanwhile, point out private brands' share is miniscule in absolute numbers.

"Actually the base of private brands remains small, which is why their growth looks impressive," says retail industry veteran and consulting firm Wazir Advisors MD Harminder Sahni. Retailers sell private labels (or store brands) to consumer at prices 10-20 per cent lower than national brands because retailers don't incur overheads like marketing and advertising costs.

Pricing depends on the category - in some low-involvement categories like toilet cleaners private brands are priced cheaper, but in others like hand washes they are costlier than established ones. In developed markets, there are many examples that reiterate the clout of retailers.

Private labels cannot replace established brands: HUL

31 Mar 2008

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), the countrys largest FMCG marketers, is in the process of extending its brands portfolio in India.

Speaking to India retailing, Sunil Tolani, business head, HUL, said: HUL is supplying its products to almost every traditional and modern retailer, and will expand its products portfolio to meet demands of retailers and consumers."

Asked if the company is benefiting from the growing modern retail sector, Tolani did not make a direct comment, saying, Both, the traditional and the modern retailers, are equally important for the company. We will have products in every price segment for all kinds of customers."

Answering the India retailing query whether 'private labels from modern retailers, in future, will affect the growth of FMCG brands,' Tolani said: The emerging private labels in the country cannot outdo established FMCG brands.

HUL, today, launched a new anti-ageing cosmetic range named Aviance Prestige. Speaking about the product, Tolani said, Targeting the elite group, Aviance Prestige is a collection of age-defence solutions." The product, according to Tolani is a medicated anti-ageing solution and is priced between Rs 750 and Rs 1,650.

To promote the new product, the company has initiated a new strategy wherein it has employed executives who will personally meet consumers to demonstrate the products. Our executives will meet potential consumers in their offices and houses to explain the benefits of the product, informed Tolani.

The product will be stocked at retail outlets as well.

Pantaloon private labels to have their own shops

02 Apr 2008

To create a separate identity and create national brands of its private labels, Pantaloon Retail has transferred some of its private labels to Future Brands. Pantaloon private labels will now move out of Pantaloon stores and probably have their own exclusive shops or will retail through multi-brand outlets.

"We will use in-house labels in the beginning and then launch pan-India brands at a later stage," Santosh Desai, CEO, Future Brands, said in a statement.

The labels to be retailed outside company-owned stores include John Miller, Bare, DJ&C, Ajile, Rig and Umm. Besides, the company will also split consumer electronics labels Koryo and Sensei, and home dcor brand Greenline.

The company will invest Rs 50 crore for brand-building exercise in 2008-0

Pantaloons adding private labels

06 Nov 2007

In an effort to add on more products at Big Bazaars, Pantaloon Retail will add more private labels across segments including apparel, food, cosmetics and electronics.

At present, private labels contribute about 12-14 per cent of total sales while the company is aiming them to this to 25 per cent in the next two years.

We already have a range of private label products at our hypermarkets in apparel, food and electronics. At present, this segment contributes about 1214 per cent to our sales. We are planning to increase this to 25 per cent in the next two years, Rohit Malhotra, head, Pantaloon Retail, told media.

We have crossed the critical mass of 45-50 a few months ago, opening up the opportunity in private labels. This number supports a certain amount of manufacturing, ensuring cost competitiveness, he said.

The Big Bazaar network currently has 70 stores across major cities.