India’s retail and FMCG landscape this week reflects both resilience and recalibration. Global giants like Unilever, L’Oréal, and Nestlé reported temporary slowdowns in sales, citing heavy rains and the transition to new GST slabs. Yet, confidence in India remains strong, with multinational firms reaffirming its status as a key growth market. Franklin Templeton’s latest report highlights how rising affluence and easy access to credit are reshaping spending patterns — Indians are buying for aspiration, not just necessity.
Meanwhile, Reliance Retail’s JioMart has expanded its quick commerce network to over 1,000 cities, underscoring India’s growing appetite for convenience-led shopping. Digital-first models continue to thrive, with e-commerce and quick commerce platforms transforming how international and domestic brands reach consumers. With India’s retail sector projected to nearly double to $1.93 trillion by 2030, the momentum points toward a market driven equally by scale, speed, and sophistication.
Click on the headings below for insights on how these trends are shaping India’s retail landscape…
1. Rains And Reforms Slow India’s FMCG Momentum, But Global Giants Stay Bullish
Several multinational fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies — from soap to soft drink makers — reported a temporary impact on their India sales during the September quarter, citing disruptions linked to the implementation of new GST slabs and unusually heavy monsoon rains, according to media reports.
2. India’s affluence wave fuels FMCG, appliance boom
Franklin Templeton’s latest thematic report, Beyond Necessities: India’s Affluence-Driven Growth put numbers to a shift already visible in India’s shopping baskets. Indians are no longer spending only to meet basic needs. The report said this transition, powered by higher incomes, urban migration, and easier access to credit, was reshaping the economy’s core demand engine.
3. Unilever & L'Oreal report strong growth from India's quick commerce, traditional online channels
Unilever and L'Oreal are experiencing significant sales increases on online platforms. India is a standout market, with hyper-local delivery services driving rapid growth. Quick commerce and traditional e-commerce are proving to be game changers, enabling faster product launches and wider consumer reach across the country. Digital channels are becoming increasingly important for both companies.
4. Reliance’s JioMart Expands Quick Commerce Reach to Over 1,000 Cities
JioMart, the e-commerce platform operated by Reliance Retail, has strengthened its position in India’s fast-growing quick commerce sector. The platform is now supported by a network of more than 3,000 physical stores and operates across over 1,000 cities, servicing more than 5,000 pin codes nationwide.
5. India’s Retail Sector Poised to Nearly Double to $1.93 Tn by 2030
Valued at $1.06 trillion in 2024, the Indian retail sector is projected to almost double to $1.93 trillion by 2030, growing at a robust 10 percent CAGR. This growth is not just about numbers—it’s about a tectonic shift in how India consumes, buys, and engages with brands.
India is evolving into a critical growth frontier for global consumer goods firms, propelled by the swift ascent of e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms. This burgeoning digital retail landscape is facilitating expedited market entry and fortifying online sales, thereby positioning India as a premier market for international consumer brands.