Tata's consumer durable chain, Croma, is expected to break even by the next financial year. The company has been working to add more stores in a bid to achieve its revenue target of Rs 1,000 crore in the current financial year, as compared to Rs 657 crore in the previous fiscal.

R K Krishna Kumar, the Chairman of Infiniti Retail and Director of Tata Sons, said: "Out of our total stores, 17 to 18 are already profit-neutral and we are seeing ascending intensity among others. We are close to break-even by next fiscal.''

The consumer durable chain is said to have suffered huge losses in the past two years, but the Tatas have maintained confidence in Infiniti Retail, investing around Rs 220 crore despite all odds. The company is confident of achieving 15 per cent growth rate; adding that every store, except one or two, has been growing at a steady pace.

The chain plans to invest Rs 150 crore, in order to open 18 more stores by the end of the current financial year. Mr. Kumar said: "We do not have presence in the east now.

By 2011, there will be major national expansion for Croma. Since electronic retailing is consumer-facing, it goes well with the group's strategy of growing consumer-facing businesses.''