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Time of India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
The world's biggest names are racing to enter India
As tariff concerns begin to cast a shadow on growth prospects in major global markets such as the United States — where inflation risks and pressure on consumer spending loom large — India is increasingly emerging as a sweet spot for foreign brands. From Spanish fast fashion label Bershka to Korean skincare player Sungboon Editor, a host of global names are eyeing India. A young, tech-savvy population is reshaping how households discover and engage with brands, and this shift — which accelerated after the pandemic — shows no signs of slowing down despite global economic uncertainties. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Technology Healthcare healthcare Product Management Digital Marketing Artificial Intelligence Management Operations Management Finance Data Science Data Analytics CXO Data Science Leadership others PGDM Design Thinking Degree Public Policy Others MCA Project Management MBA Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks MIT xPRO CERT-MIT XPRO Building AI Prod India Starts on undefined Get Details Earlier this week, Canada's Lululemon announced its intention to enter the Indian market, with a launch expected in the second half of 2026. It joins a growing list of foreign brands planning an India foray. While some companies may delay their entry due to tariff-related uncertainty, their appetite for India remains undiminished. Reliance Retail, for instance, has already launched six international beauty brands in the country so far this year. The rollout of FaceGym, announced recently, will take place by the end of 2025. In addition, fashion brand Shein also made its India debut. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo Number of foreign brands has nearly doubled Before the pandemic, about 12 global brands entered India each year on average, according to analysts at Cushman & Wakefield. That number rose to 14 in 2023 and has nearly doubled in 2024, with up to 27 foreign brands making their entry into the Indian market, data from real estate firms showed. Live Events 'Given the consumption challenge that we are seeing in developed markets, India is a shining light and has seen a reasonable degree of growth. India's consumption and manufacturing story are different, and brands are keen to enter India,' Bharat Mimani, MD & partner at BCG, told TOI, adding that the most active segments are premium and bridge-to-luxury in fashion. 'The spending capacity of Indians at the premium end is quite sizeable, and brands are increasingly recognising that. From the supply side, there are uncertainties, but most large export companies are holding a positive outlook given progress on FTAs with different countries,' Mimani said. Many international fashion brands already have sourcing partnerships in India. For those that do not, plans to set up local manufacturing hubs are on the table, helped by local partners once they scale up operations in the country, Mimani added. Companies that are already in the market are also expanding their presence. Danish toy giant Lego, for instance, opened its first exclusive store in India earlier this year in Gurgaon, even though it has operated in the region since 2020. The expansion among global brands signals the emergence of new growth opportunities in the Indian market. 'We see long-term potential in India driven by rising disposable incomes, an evolving toy landscape,' Bhavana Mandon, country manager at Lego India , said. Digital retail platforms such as Tata Cliq, Myntra, and Nykaa are playing a crucial role in helping global brands reach a wider consumer base in India. These platforms are particularly valuable in a market where real estate availability remains a challenge. They also serve as ideal channels for launching accessible product categories like perfumes and accessories. Chanel Beauty and Fragrance, for instance, expanded its reach earlier this year by launching on Nykaa. 'While metro cities are key markets, we are also seeing growing demand for global brands from non-metro markets,' Gopal Asthana, CEO at Tata Cliq, said. Tata Cliq is also partnering with Lululemon for its India entry. Venu Nair, head of strategic partnerships and omnichannel at Myntra, said the platform would soon be launching American clothing brands Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister in India. 'Rising affluence, Gen Z customers, and growing demand for global trends are fuelling this momentum,' Nair said. Global brands are keen to better understand Indian consumers and are tailoring their strategies accordingly, said Kashika Malhotra, CMO at Brandman Retail, which distributes global footwear brands On and Saucony in India and is in talks to bring in more international names. Building a brand takes time, which means labels must place bets on markets where long-term consumption growth is expected. 'Between 2014 and 2024, emerging markets accounted for 60% of total global consumer products sales value growth. That's going to be 75% in the next decade,' said Nikhil Prasad Ojha, partner at Bain & Company. The timing of a brand's market entry is partly shaped by geopolitical concerns. But as things stand today, India appears to be benefiting from geopolitical shifts and is seen as being within the sphere of acceptability for many western multinationals, Ojha added. At the same time, India's domestic retail infrastructure is undergoing change. Traditional shopping malls are being reinvented as experience-driven destinations — a trend that holds particular appeal for foreign retailers eager to build unique and immersive brand environments in India. Anuj Kejriwal, CEO & MD at Anarock Retail, said the evolution of malls into experience hubs is drawing global brands towards the Indian market. However, breaking through to higher revenue levels remains a challenge. Ankur Bisen, senior partner at The Knowledge Company, said many global brands operating in India have still not reached the Rs 1,000 crore revenue mark. (with ToI inputs)
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Foreign brands head to India amid global woes
AI image As tariff jitters cloud growth prospects in big markets such as the US, which risk stoking inflation and impacting consumer spending, India is increasingly emerging as a sweet spot for foreign brands. From Spanish fast fashion brand Bershka to Korean skincare player Sungboon Editor, global brands are eyeing India, where a young, tech-savvy population is changing the way households discover brands and shop. The trend picked up post-pandemic, and the momentum continues despite global uncertainty. Earlier this week, Canada's Lululemon announced its India foray (launch in H2 2026), joining a rush of brands plotting an India entry. As brands wait for the tariff issue to settle, some of them could delay launch timelines, but the appetite for the market remains intact. Reliance Retail alone launched six foreign beauty brands in India so far this year (rollout of FaceGym, announced recently, will happen by the end of 2025) aside from fashion brand Shein, which made its debut. No. of brands double The number of global brands entering India pre-Covid stood at about 12 on an average annually, analysts at Cushman & Wakefield said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo That number went up to some 14 in 2023 and nearly doubled in 2024, with up to 27 foreign brands entering the market, data from real estate firms showed. "Given the consumption challenge that we are seeing in developed markets, India is a shining light and has seen a reasonable degree of growth. India's consumption and manufacturing story are different, and brands are keen to enter India," Bharat Mimani, MD & partner at BCG, told TOI, adding that there's more activity in the premium and bridge-to-luxury segments, at least in fashion. "The spending capacity of Indians at the premium end is quite sizeable, and brands are increasingly recognising that. From the supply side, there are uncertainties, but most large export companies are holding a positive outlook given progress on FTAs with different countries," Mimani said. Multiple global fashion brands have sourcing partnerships in India today, and those that do not intend to set up local manufacturing hubs helped by their partners once they start scaling up and expanding in the country, added Mimani. Companies already in the market are widening their footprint - Danish toy brand Lego, for instance, opened its first exclusive store in India earlier this year in Gurgaon after operating in the region since 2020. Expansion, in the case of global brands, underscores new growth pockets they see in a market. "We see long-term potential in India driven by rising disposable incomes, an evolving toy landscape," said Bhavana Mandon, country manager at Lego India. Digital gateway The rise of online platforms like Tata Cliq, Myntra, and Nykaa has helped brands reach more customers in India, where the availability of real estate can be a challenge and push entry products like perfumes and accessories. Chanel Beauty and Fragrance tapped into Nykaa earlier this year to broaden access. "While metro cities are key markets, we are also seeing growing demand for global brands from non-metro markets," said Gopal Asthana, CEO at Tata Cliq, which is partnering with Lululemon in its India foray. Venu Nair, head of strategic partnerships and omnichannel at Myntra, which will be launching American clothing brands Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister in India soon, said that rising affluence, Gen Z customers, and growing demand for global trends are fuelling this momentum. Global brands now want to understand the Indian consumer and are strategising accordingly, said Kashika Malhotra, CMO at Brandman Retail, which distributes On and Saucony products in India and are in talks to bring more foreign labels to the market. Timing Matters Brand-building takes a long time, and so labels have to make bets on parts of the world where consumption is going to see a secular increase in the next many years. Between 2014 and 2024, emerging markets accounted for 60% of total global consumer products sales value growth. That's going to be 75% in the next decade," said Nikhil Prasad Ojha, partner at Bain & Company. The timing to enter a market is determined to an extent by geopolitical issues, but right now, India seems to be on the right side of geopolitical shifts in terms of being in the sphere of acceptability to western multinationals, Ojha added. Besides, the local retail sector is moving away from old-school shopping malls, instead turning these assets into experience destinations. This change is particularly attractive to foreign retailers who are keen on crafting unique experiences for Indian consumers, said Anuj Kejriwal, CEO & MD at Anarock Retail. The challenge for global brands in India, however, is to grow beyond a certain point. Many have not yet touched Rs 1,000 crore in revenues, said Ankur Bisen, senior partner at The Knowledge Company. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
