Debenhams set for 10 new stores across India

UK DEPARTMENT STORE brand Debenhams is set for major expansion in India, where its Master Franchisee Planet Retail Holdings has set out plans to open up to 10 stores by 2010.

Planet Retail Holdings also holds the Indian Master Franchises for Marks & Spencer, Guess, Women's Secret, Debenhams and Body Shop. "The first Debenhams store will come up in Gurgaon, followed by a second store in Delhi," says Arun Bhardwaj, Managing Director of Planet Retail Holdings. "By 2010, Debenhams stores will come up in locations such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ludhiana."

Debenhams, which is established through company-owned stores in the UK and Ireland, also has franchise stores in Bahrain, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dubai, Iceland, Kuwait, Indonesia, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sharjah and Sweden.