Biyani scouts for foreign partner

The Kishore Biyani-controlled Future Group, the country's largest retail chain, has marked Ezone as its first target for a partnership with a foreign player. This might be the group's first tie-up with a foreign company after a committee of secretaries recently approved a proposal to increase the limit of foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail to 51 per cent.

Talks were at an initial stage and the company was yet to decide on what percentage it would offload, said a Future Group spokesperson.

Ezone, which has more than 45 stores across India, is the consumer durable and infotech chain of the Rs 12,000-crore Future Group. It was separated from the flagship Pantaloons and made into a separate company earlier this year.

Besides Ezone, Future Group operates other retail formats like Pantaloons, Big Bazaar and Brand Factory.