Trent shifts business model; becomes a platform for multiple retail brands
16 September 2025, Mumbai
Tata Group-owned owner of Westside and Zudio brands, Trent is shifting its business model to become a ‘platform’ for multiple retail brands, according to Palaniswami Venkatsalu, Managing Director. The company is actively moving to replicate Westside's in-store experience online, notably by avoiding flash sales and heavy discounting.
While digital channels currently account for just 5-6 per cent of Westside’s sales, this is a significant and material number for the brand, states Venkatesalu.
Trent is focusing on brand incubation and diversification, with a goal of creating a new billion-dollar brand every five years. Over the last five years, it has launched three new brands - Burnt Toast, Samoh, and Utsah - and expanded Zudio Beauty into a standalone format.
The company’s value-fashion brand, Zudio surpassed $1 billion in revenue in FY25. In the June quarter of FY26, Zudio and Westside together generated 82 per cent of Trent’s total revenue of Rs 4,883 crore.
Trent is also leveraging technology to improve operations. The company is applying artificial intelligence (AI) behind the scenes in various areas, said Venkatsalu. Umashan Naidoo, Head- Customer and Beauty, adds, AI helps make creative processes much faster, saving time and money.
Looking ahead, Trent is optimistic about new categories like beauty, personal care, innerwear, and footwear, which currently contribute about 21 per cent of total revenue. The company is also consolidating smaller stores into larger formats to enhance the customer experience.
Furthermore, Trent is exploring international expansion for Westside, with a test launch in Dubai. The company aims to turn around and set sights on not only being an Indian brand, says Venkatesalu, indicating a long-term goal of making Westside a global name.
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