Retail News Update

Kohler India, part of global bath and kitchen major Kohler Co, has opened its maiden modular kitchen store — Kohler Kitchens — in India. Further, the company plans to open one more store this year in Ahmedabad. Spread across 2,000 square feet area, the store on MG Road, Ghitorni in the national capital houses five comprehensive modular kitchen designs that include Prelude, Kuranda, Nuval, Retra and Bristol.

Speaking on the launch, Sharad Mathur, MD, Kohler India, said, “We fore see a great business opportunity in the Indian market. The market size of the segment is around Rs 15 billion, which is growing at 15 per cent year-on-year. We will be targeting the mid to high-end market segments and promoting modular kitchens in India.”

However, he did not mention about the company’s expected turnover and said: “As we are new in this segment, we do not have any set target. We are starting with zero.”

Elaborating the expansion plan, he further said, “As a company policy, we do not have our own showrooms. We open through franchisees. Idealy, we require an investment of around Rs 5 million to open our showroom. Our next showroom will be opened soon in Ahmedabad.”

Currently, Kohler Kitchen is operational in North America and in Asia Pacific regions that include Chaina, Thailand and India. The company, which also retails bath products, operates 80 such outlets across 43 cities in India and plans to touch 120 stores mark by 2009-end.