Trent Ltd, a retail venture owned by the Tatas, is in consultations with Tata Strategic Management Group (TSMG) to chalk out a detailed plan for its proposed foray into the foods business. Speaking to FE, Trent chairman Simone Tata said, "We hope to unleash our first retail store in Mumbai during the second quarter of the current financial year. We have shortlisted a number of brands for our foray into the foods retailing business. However, we have not taken a final call on it."

The stores will be on the pattern of service super markets selling food and non-food items including wet groceries. Trent was earlier evaluating the possibility of venturing into the foods retail business through acquisitions or joint ventures (JVs). However, Ms Tata said, "We have planned to go on our own. We will neither go in for a JV nor an acquisition." Ms Tata declined to divulge the investment plan for the project. The company had earlier announced that the project would entail an investment of up to Rs 40 crore over a five-year period.

Industry observers feel that the Tatas’ foray into food retailing is expected to give a tough fight to a few big players including the RPG-promoted FoodWorld chain. Trent has already scripted a success story in the lifestyle retail business with its Westside stores promising an international shopping experience and value-for-money to its customers. The company continues to focus on retail chain shops as it is among the fastest growing businesses.

The Westside stores have several departments to meet the varied shopping needs of customers, which include menswear, womenswear, lingerie, kidswear, household accessories, cosmetics and perfumes. TSMG was also instrumental in chalking out strategy for the company’s lifestyle retail business. Trent has already established 10 Westside departmental stores measuring 20,000 square feet each, in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, New Delhi and Kolkata.

The company hopes to expand rapidly with similar format stores that offer a fine balance between style and price retailing. Ms Tata further said, "We are in the process of consolidating and expanding our Westside retail network in the country. We will be shortly inaugurating a new Westside outlet in Ahmedabad and a couple of similar outlets in northern India." Future plans include establishing the Westside brand in all large towns with a population of over one lakh.