Aswani Lachmandas Group is a leading business group based in Kochi. Established in 1950, the group had a humble beginning by the founder and Late Chairman Mr. Lachmandas Aswani as the distributor for ITC products in Wayanad district, Kerala under the name Lachmandas & Sons. Later, the business got firm footholds and expanded to Trivandrum, and subsequently to Kochi during the period 1950-1955. Soon the group got established as the biggest distributor for ITC in India. The group advanced into the textile industry in the 1970's by opening a DCM retail showroom which was the first in Kerala. In 1976, the group opened the first showroom for Bombay Dyeing in Kerala. The group expanded the business with the joining of next generation, Mr. Deepak L. Aswani and Mr. Vishnudas L. Aswani. In 1986, the group opened an exclusive Raymond store at MG road, Kochi, which was the first showroom for Raymond in Kerala. The group was the first to bring many brands in Kerala including Raymond, DCM and Bombay Dyeing. In 1998, the group succeeded in opening the second showroom for Raymond which is situated at Marine Drive, Kochi. The group has always been innovative and diversified the business by also starting to work as the carrying and forwarding agency for Bombay Dyeing. In 2005, The group was the first to introduce a factory outlet concept in Kerala through Priceless and a Raymond Factory Outlet. In 2006, the group opened a 20000 sq.ft lifestyle showroom, which was the first of its kind to be introduced in Kerala, with all sorts of luxuries like a beauty salon, an ayurvedic spa, accessories, books, sweets, home furnishing, footwear etc besides premium fashion apparel for the entire family. With the third generation joining the group, the business got further expanded: The group now has 4 ITC distribution points in Ernakulam city, Nettoor, Fort Kochi & Vaikom, an exclusive distribution point for Modern Trade based in Nettoor, besides newly opened showrooms for The Raymond Shop & Made-to-Measure at Lulu Mall, and also Park Avenue & ColorPlus stores at the Centre Square Mall.
The group is also involved in Community Service Initiatives and has been doing charity work by helping educational institutions, supplying orphanages with food and clothes, and helping the poor & needy.
Today, Aswani Lachmandas Group with its third generation namely Mr. Prakash D. Aswani (Managing Partner, ITC distribution division) & Mr. Susheel D. Aswani (Managing Partner, ITC distribution division), and headed by the Chairman and Managing Director of the group Mr. Deepak L. Aswani (Chairman & MD of the Group, Co-Chair of FICCI Kerala Chapter) & Mrs. Jyothi Aswani (MD - Textile Division), has become one of the most reputed business groups in Kochi. Mr.Deepak Aswani is also a managing committee member of the Kerala Management Association.
