Aretto targets 300–400 stores as expandable kids’ footwear gains traction

Indian kids’ footwear brand Aretto plans to grow from more than 70 retail outlets to 300–400 stores over the next two to three years, prioritising North and East India before entering the UAE/GCC and US. The brand says it sold nearly 400,000 pairs in about 34 months.

— Source publishedWed, 5 Aug, 2026, 10:37 IST·First seen Wed, 5 Aug, 2026, 10:38 IST·Source IMAGES Business of Fashion

What happened

Indian kids’ footwear brand Aretto plans to expand from over 70 outlets to 300–400 stores, focused on North and East India. Its patented expandable Supergrooves

Key facts

  • More than 70 retail outlets
  • Close to 400,000 shoes sold in approximately 34 months
  • One SKU: Supergrooves, available in 10 colorways
  • Expandable sole covers up to three sizes
  • Approximately $5.27 million raised across five funding rounds
  • $550,000 (Rs 4.5 crore) seed round in August 2023
  • Revenue of around Rs 30 crore last year
  • Target of 300 to 400 stores

Why this matters

Aretto’s differentiated expandable-sole proposition and planned UAE/GCC and US entry could make it a relevant partnership or acquisition target for footwear, children’s retail and cross-border distribution players.

What to watch

  • Quarterly net store additions, format mix and concentration in North/East India.
  • Same-store sales growth, sales per square foot and store payback periods.
  • Gross margin trends and discounting levels versus conventional kids' footwear brands.
  • Repeat purchase rates, return rates and customer feedback on durability and fit of Supergrooves.
  • Inventory turns, stockouts and size availability as the network expands.
  • Evidence of franchisee uptake or strategic retail partnerships.
  • International pilot launches, distributor appointments or marketplace availability in the UAE/GCC.
  • Whether annual revenue grows materially faster than store count, indicating improving store productivity.
  • Prioritise clustered openings in North and East India rather than a nationally dispersed rollout.
  • Use franchise, shop-in-shop and multi-brand retail partnerships to reduce capital intensity while retaining key flagship stores.
  • Build a parent-facing value proposition around fewer replacement cycles, fit assurance and foot-health comfort rather than fashion alone.
  • Strengthen size-data capture, CRM and repeat-purchase programs as children outgrow existing pairs.
  • Secure manufacturing capacity and quality controls for expandable-sole components before accelerating store count.
  • Test UAE/GCC demand through marketplaces, pop-ups or distributor partnerships before committing to a permanent retail footprint.

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