As Cantabil Retail India celebrates its silver jubilee, CFO Shivendra Nigam reflects on the brand’s journey, steady growth, and its bold roadmap for the next decade
As Cantabil Retail India marks its 25th anniversary, the brand continues to hold its ground in India’s mid-premium apparel market with consistent growth, expanding product lines, and a strong focus on affordability and quality. In this exclusive interview, Shivendra Nigam, Chief Financial Officer at Cantabil Retail India, shares insights into the brand’s evolution, strategic focus, and growth outlook for the coming years.
As Cantabil marks 25 years, how would you describe the company’s growth journey—from its early beginnings to becoming a leading mid-premium apparel brand in India? What key milestones or turning points stand out for you?
Cantabil’s 25-year journey has been nothing short of phenomenal. From our humble beginnings in 2000, we’ve evolved into one of India’s most trusted mid-premium apparel brands. Over the years, we have expanded from a modest footprint to more than 630 stores across India. The past eight years, particularly post-GST, have been transformative — we’ve scaled nearly four times in size and significantly strengthened our margins.
Despite market challenges, we’ve maintained a steady 17–18 per cent year-on-year growth and are on track to touch the Rs 1,000 crore revenue milestone by FY27. Our commitment to quality, affordability, and consistency has been central to this sustained success in a highly competitive segment.
India’s retail industry has evolved dramatically over the past two decades. How has Cantabil adapted to shifts in consumer behaviour, digitalisation, and the rise of organised retail while maintaining its strong presence in the mid-premium segment?
Cantabil operates in a finely balanced price segment with an average selling price of Rs 1,100–Rs 1,150, catering to aspirational consumers, particularly in Tier II and III cities. This space is competitive yet full of opportunity. Our ability to offer both formal and casual wear under one roof has positioned Cantabil as a one-stop destination for families.
We’ve embraced digital transformation by strengthening our e-commerce presence, integrating customer data analytics, and expanding online reach. With over 50 lakh customers and a 50 per cent repeat purchase rate, our focus remains on quality, affordability, and creating an omnichannel shopping experience that meets evolving consumer expectations.
In a highly competitive apparel market, what differentiates Cantabil from other fashion retailers? How does the brand continue to build and retain customer loyalty across metros and emerging cities?
Our biggest differentiator is our value-driven philosophy — delivering high-quality fashion at accessible prices. Cantabil offers a complete wardrobe solution covering formal, casual, and winter wear, and we’re now expanding into women’s and kids’ collections as well.
Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility ensures consistent quality control, which has built deep trust among consumers. The fact that half our customers are repeat buyers speaks volumes about satisfaction and loyalty. Growth in categories like winter wear and women’s apparel has been especially strong, further establishing us as a family brand that appeals across demographics and geographies.
Cantabil has set an ambitious target of achieving Rs 2,000 crore in revenue over the next five years. What strategies and growth levers will drive this goal?
Our strategy is built around three key pillars — retail expansion, product diversification, and operational excellence. We plan to add 60–70 stores annually over the next two years, with a vision to surpass 1,000 stores within the next 6–7 years.
Currently, menswear contributes around 80 per cent of our revenue. We are now scaling womenswear, kidswear, and footwear, which will play a pivotal role in reaching our Rs 2,000 crore goal. Ecommerce accounts for about 6 per cent of our revenue, and we expect this to rise to 8–9 per cent in the next two years.
We are upgrading our ERP systems to strengthen analytics, streamline decision-making, and enhance supply chain efficiency — all crucial to sustaining our momentum.
Could you share details about recent product launches and store openings? How is Cantabil planning its next phase of expansion across India, and what key priorities will shape the brand’s roadmap for FY 2025–26 and beyond?
In the past year alone, Cantabil has added 40–50 new stores, taking our total count to over 630. We’re focusing on larger-format stores that allow us to showcase a broader product portfolio under one roof.
Our women’s and kids’ wear segments are seeing strong traction, and new categories like footwear and accessories are gaining ground. For FY 2025–26 and beyond, our top priorities include implementing a new ERP and POS system by April 2026, expanding across metros, Tier II, and Tier III cities, strengthening our omnichannel and ecommerce strategies, and continuing to deliver affordable, quality-driven fashion for Indian families.
Our long-term goal is to reach Rs 1,000 crore by FY27 and double that within five years, while staying true to Cantabil’s promise of accessible, stylish, and reliable fashion.
