Kanz set to enter

BANGALORE: German kids wear brand Kanz is all set to make a retail foray in India and is looking at an alliance with its sourcing partner Prateek Apparels. Josef Kanz, which has a manufacturing tie-up with Bangalore-based Prateek Apparels, is looking at the retail venture by the end of this year.

This would include exclusive outlets, presence in multi-brand formats and a franchisee model. According to Prateek Apparels’ spokesperson, the business model though has not yet been finalised. The kids wear market in India presents tremendous opportunity and is estimated at $2.9 billion.

Of this, the organised sector accounts for only $750 million. The premium market in this segment is dominated by American brands like Gerber, Little Tomatoes and Kangaroo. The other international players include Italian brand Monnalisa and the British premium line Mothercare.

Kanz, one of the leading kids wear brands in Europe, had in 2005 initiated ties with a Hyderabad-based manufacturer for a retail entry into India, but this move fell through.

In the same year, it entered into a manufacturing JV with Prateek Apparels. “For the last two years, Prateek Apparels has been manufacturing for Kanz’s European requirement.

The same will continue this year too,” according to the spokesperson. Prateek Apparel is part of the Phulchand group of companies and caters to close to 20 brands including Benetton, Provogue, Pantaloon, Spykar, Levis, Dockers, Weekender and kids wear brand Gini & Jony.

It also has its own in-house design team called Munch that designs collections for various clients and has a pret label called Moh.