Spain's Inditex may shun DLF in favour of Tata for India foray

NEW DELHI: Tata Group retail venture Trent is learnt to be tying up with Spanish apparel brand Zara. The flagship chain store of the $15-bn Inditex Group is owned by Spain���s richest man Amancio Ortega.

Sources say Trent and Zara are likely to form a JV for India, with the Spanish retailer holding a majority stake. Trent declined to comment on the subject.

Inditex has also held negotiations with realty giant DLF for its India foray. But, sources say, Inditex is likely to drop DLF in favour of Tata. This will be the second instance when a foreign fashion retailer has chosen to go with Tata after having had long negotiations with DLF.

Earlier, British billionaire Philip Green���s Arcadia Group had picked up Trent over DLF to launch its Topshop retail chain in India.

In line with Reliance Retail and several other domestic retailers, Tata Group too is now seeking foreign partners. Sources say Tatas will be able to access technical expertise and leverage foreign brands through these tie-ups. Trent recently tied up with supermarket chain Tesco.

Inditex operates nearly 4,000 stores across 70 countries under different brand names, including Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Bershka and Stradivarius. Amancio Ortega, a high school dropout who ranked 22nd on Forbes richest list in 2008, has been looking for a partner to launch its operation here.