TOUGH AS LEATHER

The Kalsis have rebuilt a leather footwear export business that was ravaged by fire twice. Can the third generation stitch a new story with a consumer brand?

- RAJIV SINGH

COMPANY METRO & METRO

FAMILY MEMBERS

FIRST GEN:

DWARKA NATH KALSI STARTED THE COMPANY IN 1972 UNDER THE NAME LEATHERFACT; IT BECAME METRO & METRO IN 1991

SECOND GEN:

AJIT NATH KALSI, MANAGING PARTNER; JOINED IN 1991

MEENAKSHI KALSI, MANAGING PARTNER; JOINED IN 2003

THIRD GEN:

ARUSHI KALSI, MARKETING MANAGER; JOINED IN 2018

REVENUE (FY19-20) ₹151 CRORE

STRENGTH

Leading footwear exporter to global brands such as Clark’s, Hush Puppies global, Deichmann, Bugatti and Pikolinos

WEAKNESS

Though in B2B business for over four decades, B2C started only in 2018

OPPORTUNITY

Homegrown-brand Overdrive has enough headroom for growth

THREAT

Massive focus on B2B or exports doesn’t leave much room for growth for domestic brand