Kishore Biyani conferred ‘international retailer of the year’ award

It was a a proud moment for nascent, organised retail industry of India to have been recognised when one of its visionary leaders Kishore Biyani, CEO & MD, Pantaloon Retail, was conferred the International Retailer of the Year award by the National Retail Federation (NRF) at the 96th annual convention of in New York, on 16th January, 2007.

This honour, which is the first for any Indian, is especially significant because the US National Retail Federation (NRF) is the world’s largest retail trade association, which represents combined annual members’ turnover of US$ 4.5 trillion.

Explaining the reasons influencing the Federation’s choice this year, Karen Knobloch, Senior VP, NRF said: Pantaloon is interesting because it is very agile; focused on giving what customers want and offers whatever format is needed, from food to electronics to high fashion apparel. And they really are a good example to all the other retailers who come here to learn.

“I think what we have to learn from the US is how consumption can drive our economic growth,” said Pantaloon Retail MD Kishore Biyani adding that the US market is all about thinking big in terms of number of stores, technology and consumerism.

This award has been conferred when the world’s biggest American retailers like “Wal-Mart” have already stitched up necessary agreements, while others like “Starbucks” and “Costco Wholesale” are waiting in wings to make their foray into the world’s second most populous as well as the world’s fastest growing market.

Pantaloon joins hands with Staples to become leading office products’ supplier

Pantaloon Retail (India) has announced signing of an agreement to set up a JV between the US-based, world`s largest office products company, Staples and Future Office- its 100% subsidiary business unit.

The Boston -based USD 16.1 billion, Staples, which invented the office superstore concept in 1986, is the world’s largest office products company, has presence in 21 countries through a network of 1,800 stores and 69,000 employees. Staples’ range of office products include supplies, technology, furniture, and business services.

While, the JV agreement will allow Staples to enter the office products’ market in India, it will allow Pantaloon Retail to benefit from the industry expertise and sourcing network of Staples. In a related development, Future Office had recently announced acquisition of the operations and management of Officedge, an online B2B office products company providing contract delivery services to corporate customers across the country.

“The office products business in India presents tremendous opportunities for growth. Through our partnership with Staples, the industry leader, we can become the office products provider of choice for businesses throughout India,” said Pantaloon Retail MD and CEO Kishore Biyani, commenting on the deal.

Staples Future Office would serve businesses of all sizes through delivery as well as cash-and-carry locations, offering a wide range of office products from core office supplies, printers as well as computers. Future Office would expand its delivery operations in all major cities of the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Indore and Chandigarh.

The deal is a part of the group’s strategy to become the leading provider of office products in India.

Biyani silent on ‘Starbucks’; denies ‘Burger King’ tie-up

Kishore Biyani, CEO and MD, Pantaloon Retail, a part of the Future Group, while talking to media persons at the NRF annual convention in New York, where he was conferred the International Retailer of the Year award, said that there was absolutely no truth in media speculation about his group’s imminent tie-up with the the world’s second biggest fast food restaurant retail chain Burger King.”Our job is to keep on meeting people. But I don’t think there’s anything happening that side,” he said.
While, he refused to comment on reports about a possible tie-up with Starbucks- the world’s biggest coffee shop chain in India, he expected that the first shop of the chain would open in India by June, 2007.

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