Retail In India

India retail industry is the largest industry in India, with an employment of around 8% and contributing to over 10% of the country's GDP. Retail industry in India is expected to rise 25% yearly being driven by strong income growth, changing lifestyles, and favorable demographic patterns.

It is expected that by 2016 modern retail industry in India will be worth US$ 175- 200 billion. India retail industry is one of the fastest growing industries with revenue expected in 2007 to amount US$ 320 billion and is increasing at a rate of 5% yearly. A further increase of 7-8% is expected in the industry of retail in India by growth in consumerism in urban areas, rising incomes, and a steep rise in rural consumption. It has further been predicted that the retailing industry in India will amount to US$ 21.5 billion by 2010 from the current size of US$ 7.5 billion.

Shopping in India have witnessed a revolution with the change in the consumer buying behavior and the whole format of shopping also altering. Industry of retail in India which have become modern can be seen from the fact that there are multi- stored malls, huge shopping centers, and sprawling complexes which offer food, shopping, and entertainment all under the same roof.

India retail industry is expanding itself most aggressively; as a result a great

demand for real estate is being created. Indian retailers preferred means of expansion is to expand to other regions and to increase the number of their outlets in a city. It is expected that by 2010, India may have 600 new shopping centers.

In the Indian retailing industry, food is the most dominating sector and is growing at a rate of 9% annually. The branded food industry is trying to enter the India retail industry and convert Indian consumers to branded food. Since at present 60% of the Indian grocery basket consists of non- branded items.

India retail industry is progressing well and for this to continue retailers as well as the Indian government will have to make a combined effort.The Indian retail market is literally on the go. The share of retail trade in the country's gross domestic product was between 10-12 per cent in 2009. It is currently around 12 percent, and is likely to reach 22 per cent by 2010.

The Indian retail market, which is the fifth largest retail destination globally, was ranked 2nd after Vietnam as the most attractive emerging market destination for investment in the retail sector, by AT Kearney's seventh annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), in 2008.

According to a studies, with a year-on-year growth of 3035 per cent, the sector is likely to touch US$ 440 billion by 2010. By 2015, the retail sector is

projected to overtake the US$ 650 billion mark, and organised retail will cross the US$ 130 billion mark. The study also estimated that the organised retail segment would see an investment of US$ 25 billion28 billion, which would touch US$ 70 billion by 2010. The organised segment will account for 25 per cent of the total sales by 2011.

Commercial real estate services company CB Richard Ellis' findings state that India's retail market, is currently valued at US$ 511 billion, and is poised to grow to US$ 833 billion by 2013. The report further stated that organised retail that currently accounts for less than 5 per cent of the total retail market is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40 per cent and swell to US$ 107 billion by 2013.

India has one of the largest number of retail outlets in the world. Of the 12 million retail outlets present in the country, nearly five million sell food and related products. Thought the market has been dominated by unorganized players, the entry of domestic and international organised players is set to change the scenario.

A report by Images Retail estimates the number of operational malls to grow more than two-fold, to cross 412, with 205 million square feet by 2010, and a

further 715 malls to be added by 2015, with major retail developments even in tier-II and tier-III cities in India.

Even as the organised retail market is starting to take off, there is an associated surge in branded discount outlets in India. Top realtors and local retail chains are developing malls in regional boroughs, specifically to sell premium branded goods.