ITC's Wills Lifestyle taps Franchise India to grow exclusive store network across metros and Tier 2 cities

ITC's apparel brand Wills Lifestyle is expanding its exclusive retail footprint via a franchising partnership with Franchise India Brands, targeting both metros and Tier 2 markets. The rollout spans formal, casual and party-wear sub-brands including Wills Classic, Wills Sport and Wills Clublife.

— FiledThu, 16 Jul, 2026, 09:49 IST·First seen Thu, 16 Jul, 2026, 09:48 IST·Source Financial Express · BrandWagon

What happened

ITC's Wills Lifestyle apparel brand partners with Franchise India to expand its exclusive store network across India via franchising, targeting metros and Tier

Key facts

  • 14 years
  • 3 brands

Why this matters

The Franchise India Brands partnership positions Wills Lifestyle for asset-light multi-city expansion, opening potential for further franchising alliances or regional retail tie-ups as the sub-brand portfolio scales.

What to watch

  • Store-count additions and city-tier mix in next 2-3 quarters
  • Same-store sales and franchisee churn/renewal rates
  • ITC segment disclosure on apparel/lifestyle revenue and margins
  • Competitive EBO expansion by Raymond, Arvind, Aditya Birla Fashion in Tier 2
  • Any commentary on brand refresh or capital allocation to non-FMCG verticals
  • Franchise India signs regional master-franchise or area-development partners for Tier 2 clusters
  • ITC defines standardized store formats and capex/ROI templates per sub-brand
  • Omnichannel tie-in: EBO inventory linked to online and marketplace listings
  • Localized assortment and price-laddering for Wills Sport in smaller-town demand