India is likely to see an explosion of interest from global retailers in the next 6 months, according to data collected by Franchise India. It is expected that more than 50 worldwide brands will be opening more than 3,000 stores in the country, with many targeting smaller, untapped regions of the country. The brands that the report says are likely to be involved include Korres, Lush, and many other western brands from places such as the US. Together it is forecasted that there could be up to 500 million US dollars invested in India during this time, due to its recent economy expansion and growing middle class. The chairman of Franchise India has said that whilst large brands entered the country around a decade ago, it was now “the turn of small and mid-sized brands as they look to cash in on the… gap in the market for branded products”. Another report, this time by AT Kearney, also recently suggested that India has now surpassed China as the most promising retail market in the world.
