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Apple India has written to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) to set up its own Apple branded stores in India. The brand presently sells its products through a network of franchisee-owned stores.

American pre-school educator Sesame Street has expanded its network in Pune with the launch of two more centres at Pimple Saudagar and Hadapsar. Sesame Street is currently present across 11 cities in India.

Mahindra Retail, a part of the USD 16.9 billion Mahindra Group had announced that it will be bringing Carter’s Inc, America’s leading brand of children’s clothing, gifts and accessories, to its chain of BabyOye stores across India.

?Mahindra Retail hopes to set up about 50 Babyoye franchise stores by the end of 2016. The brand currently runs 32 franchise stores.

?Monte Carlo Fashions has now decided to open only 30 exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) by FY17. Earlier, the brand wanted to 50 outlets but has scaled back its plans owing to economic slowdown.

British men's salon chain Truefitt & Hill is eying at opening five new stores in India by March 2016. The outlets are planned to be set up in Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Pune.

Subway India is eyeing at entering emerging markets of Aligarh, Ambala, Guntur, Rohtak and Vijayawada this year.

?Chinese phone maker Gionee is looking forward to raise its franchise outlet count to 100 by March and 250 by December. Its products are currently sold through multi-brand stores and 30 Gionee-branded franchise outlets.

?India’s kids lifestyle brand Toonz Retail has planned to open 10 stores in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries by March next year. The brand has tied-up with Saudi Arabia-based Tariq Albassami Group for expanding in the Gulf nations.

Mandhana Industries and Salman Khan Foundation venture Being Human Clothing is planning to enter the activewear category by April this year.

?Italian clothing company Benetton has promoted Sundeep Chugh as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its Indian operations. Chugh has been Commercial Director of Benetton India since 2011 before his portfolio was raised.

?Following in the footsteps of consumer electronic brands Apple and Gionee, Lenovo India is also planning to write to the Centre to open its own stores under the liberalised single brand retail foreign direct investment rules.

Smart School Tutor, which is an eLearning package containing curriculum mapped k-12 digital content supported by robust assessment software Examguru, is looking forward to opening 10,000 franchise operated stores in each and every state of India.

?Juniors, which is a learning step initiative taken by Pioneers Education to bring interactive platform of extra curriculum products for children after school hours, is looking for franchise partners to expand its presence.

Printer cartridge refilling chain Re-feel has been awarded the prestigious CIO Choice 2016 Recognition under the category ‘Print & Cartridge Solutions.’