Date:14/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/03/14/stories/2008031450770500.htm

Dabur enters retail space with flagship store ‘newu’

Our Bureau

New Delhi, March 13

Dabur India has rolled out its maiden retail venture ‘newu’, which is its wholly owned subsidiary. It plans to add 30 ‘newu’ stores by 2008-9.

The flagship health and beauty store in Rajouri Garden offers customers leading international and national beauty and health brands. The core categories are complemented with pharmacy, personal care, babycare, fashion accessories and male grooming.

The 4,500 sq. ft store is being pegged as a one-stop destination for all beauty, health and wellness needs. It has merchandising of over 13,000 SKUs. In addition, ‘newu’ stores will introduce exclusively to the Indian market several leading international cosmetics and personal care brands.

Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive Officer, Mr Peter Baker, said, “This store will offer easy access to the latest and the best products from the world of beauty, health and wellness.”

The ‘newu’ brand image presents a new dimension to lifestyle branded retail in India, designed by Pikefell, UK-based brand agency. It may be recalled that Dabur had earlier earmarked Rs 140 crore towards its retail venture.

Accenture is the technology partner for ‘newu’ retail operations. The company is planning to rapidly expand its presence in the organised retail market throughout India.

“In the coming months, in addition to further stores in Delhi/NCR, we will open stores in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh and Ludhiana and growing the ‘newu’ presence to about 30 stores by the end of the 2008-09 fiscal,” Mr Baker said.