Thomas Pink aims to button up India

Shirtmaker Thomas Pink is to open its first store in India later this year after nearly quadrupling its annual profits in the UK.

The chain, owned by French luxury goods giant LVMH, has teamed up with Indian partner Reliance Brands and is eyeing sites in Delhi and a couple of other Indian cities.

Thomas Pink delivered UK pre-tax profits of £1.58 million in the year to December 31 against £408,000 in the previous year.

Chief executive Jonathan Heilbron said: “Trading was very strong everywhere, hence the record turnover last year.”

Turnover grew 6% to £33.87 million in the UK last year. It paid an interim dividend of £1.75 million to LVMH-owned Thomas Pink Holdings in 2011.

The retailer last week opened its first concession in Bloomingdale’s department store in New York, and unveiled a new shop at Waterloo station.

It opened its debut store in Johannesburg in June and now has about 100 stores and concessions globally. It is the official outfitter for the British Lions rugby team’s tour of Australia and Hong Kong next year.