Lap dance

Shiv Nadar8217;s HCL Infosystems has set a scorching pace in the hardware space growing...

Shiv Nadar8217;s HCL Infosystems has set a scorching pace in the hardware space growing from a mere Rs 400 crore company to a Rs 4,413 crore monolith in a decade8217;s time. After dominating the desktop market for years, the tycoon has now decided to turn his attention to laptops. The category, industry watchers believe, is headed for a phenomenal 50 growth during the current year. Nadar plan to manufacture laptops at his Pondicherry plant, where he would be adding two new lines dedicated to it. He will be launching a staggering 11 segment specific laptops targeted at particular customer groups like doctors, lawyers and corporate executives. Anticipating stiff competition, the tycoon has decided to price his products aggressively, which is likely to start from a lowly Rs 27,000 to suit the budget buyers. Nadar8217;s laptops will of course come with software packages specifically designed for each target group, and even offering monthly installment plans to buyers, with benefits like insurance coverage for theft and accidental damage. Even though the tycoon maintains that his own foray into laptops will not affect HCL8217;s relationship with Toshiba, whose laptops he is selling today, it8217;s difficult predict as to how the touchy Japanese laptop maker will view HCL8217;s own foray into the segment.

More bite

Top retailer Kishore Biyani has a huge appetite for diversification. Food seems to be his favourite these days. He is not only planning to expand the number of his Food Bazaar outlets from 40 to 150 by the end of 2007 but also trying to enter other unexplored areas on the food platform. Among the several 8216;foody8217; initiatives on Biyani8217;s cards is an entry into the restaurant business, which he will be venturing into either independently or through an alliance partner. Initially he plans to launch restaurants in Mumbai and Bangalore. Biyani is also intent on expanding his product offerings at his outlets. He will be adding an array of home-style gravies, dals, cooked rice and even kneaded dough to his already varied range. The tycoon claims that his products will make life simpler in the Indian kitchens. The smart retailer will be putting together his new offerings in a new format called 8220;Live Kitchen8221;, which is going to be part of each Food Bazaar outlet. Biyani is also trying to fine-tune his other food retail brand Caf8218; Bollywood, which serves Indian street food and 8216;Chamosa8217;, his favourite kiosk brand that sells chai and samosa at affordable prices. He wants them to make significant contributions to his top line in the near future. A tycoon who is clearly never short on novel ideas.

dilipcheriangmail.com