India’s retail and FMCG landscape is evolving rapidly, with global consumer brands increasingly turning their attention to the country as a key growth market. Amid global uncertainty, companies like P&G, Reckitt, and PepsiCo are betting on steady Indian consumption to offset challenges elsewhere. The pet care segment is also witnessing a shift, with FMCG majors eyeing opportunities as Indian pet ownership becomes more mainstream and premium.
Meanwhile, the retail ecosystem is undergoing significant changes. Social media influencers are transforming from digital content creators to startup founders, using their platforms to launch niche beauty and fashion brands that compete with legacy players. On the ground, kirana stores, long the backbone of Indian retail, are adapting to the rise of quick commerce. While their market share is shrinking, they are evolving their models to stay relevant.
The Retailers’ Association of India projects retail growth will soon hit 9–10%, fuelled by increasing disposable incomes and digital adoption. In urban markets, success is no longer about store size. Whether in metros or Tier II cities, smaller, smarter retail formats with personalised experiences are winning over traditional big-box approaches.
Click on the headings below for insights on how these trends are shaping India’s retail landscape…
1. FMCG cos prefer to bet on India amid global headwinds, challenges
For global consumer giants battling business headwinds posed by tariffs and sluggish consumer spending in developed regions like the US, where an uncertain macro environment has nudged people to cut back on purchases, India is emerging as one of their key growth markets. From P&G to Reckitt and PepsiCo, companies in their recent earnings calls said that consumption in India remains steady, even as some firms have lowered their full-year forecasts due to the global backdrop.
2. FMCG giants sniff out opportunity in India’s booming pet care market
Once viewed as companions, India’s paw friends are now increasingly seen as family. And as pet parenting becomes a lifestyle, not just a choice, the country’s pet care industry is at an inflection point. From packaged nutrition and premium grooming to diagnostics and supplements, the sector is evolving rapidly, and FMCG majors are taking note.
3. From reels to retail: India’s influencers turn startup founders
Indian social media influencers are transitioning from content creation to entrepreneurship, launching brands in beauty, fashion, and more. Leveraging their strong audience connections, they compete with established celebrities, focusing on niche communities. This evolution unlocks new value beyond influencer marketing, driven by India's vast digital population and creator ecosystem, with firms supporting their business ventures.
4. Retail sector may soon jump into a 9-10% growth mode: Retailers’ Association of India
The Indian retail sector, pegged at $900 billion and growing at 5% currently, is expected to soon jump into a 9-10% growth pace, as markets seem quite ready with right consumer base and increasing spending power, according to the Retailers’ Association of India (RAI), a trade body which represents chain store retailers, independent retailers, e-commerce players and retail service/technology providers across the country.
5. Reinventing Retail: How local kirana stores are adapting to India’s quick commerce boom
As per a 2024 report by Datum, the market share of kirana stores in India’s retail market dropped to 92.6% in 2023 from 95% in 2018. This number is further projected to drop to 88.9% by 2028. The report also showed that 46% of quick commerce users have reduced buying from kirana stores. More than 82% of the buyers have shifted at least 1/4th of their purchases from kirana stores to quick commerce platforms.
6. Why India’s Hottest Retail Spaces Are Shrinking — and Winning
From mega metros like Delhi-NCR to fast-evolving Tier II cities, the ground reality is clear — retail success hinges less on square footage and more on smart strategy, seamless integration, and curated experiences.