Trent’s rapid retail expansion fuels 22% profit rise amidst market volatility

Trent, Tata Group’s retail arm, reports a 22% increase in net profit for the June quarter, driven by aggressive growth of Westside and Zudio, as the company adapts to shifting consumer preferences and expands its footprint internationally.

Trent, the Tata Group’s retail arm, said net profit rose 22% in the June quarter to ₹518 crore from ₹425 crore a year earlier, as the company continued to lean on the rapid expansion of its Westside and Zudio chains. Revenue climbed 18% to ₹5,755 crore and EBITDA increased 33% to ₹848 crore, signalling that scale gains are still supporting earnings even as the market environment remains uneven.

According to The Hindu BusinessLine, chairman Noel N Tata said the business had delivered an encouraging performance despite macroeconomic volatility and geopolitical events, adding that Trent’s brands still account for only a modest share of the addressable market. He said the retailer intended to keep investing in store expansion and strengthening its position in selected markets, while remaining responsive to changing customer preferences.

Store growth remained central to the quarter. Trent opened 1 Westside outlet and 22 Zudio stores, including one in the UAE, while consolidating 3 Zudio stores, taking its portfolio to 301 Westside stores, 982 Zudio stores and 29 other lifestyle outlets by June 30. The company said it now operates more than 1,300 large-format fashion stores across 330 cities, including three in the UAE. The food and grocery arm under Star added 5 stores in the period, lifting that network to 86 stores in 12 cities. Trent also said emerging categories such as beauty and personal care, innerwear and footwear accounted for more than 21% of revenue, while online sales through Westside and Tata Neu continued to grow profitably.