Apple India opens franchise stores

Apple has set up more than 100 small franchise stores in India in the pilot phase of an initiative aiming at six-fold expansion over the next 12 months.

The US electronics company’s move is a bid to take on Samsung and Chinese rivals, reports The Economic Times.

Branded as Apple Authorised Resellers, the stores are no larger than 46 sqm and are distinct from the company-owned outlets Apple plans for India.

It is a format through which the company plans to widen its presence in high-rental, high-street locations in large cities, neighbourhoods and tier-two and -three markets, say senior trade partners.

Such stores have been set up in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Mumbai, the National Capital Region (NCR) and Pune. In the NCR, the stores can be found in Gurgaon’s Galleria Market, Malviya Nagar, South Extension and Vasant Vihar.