Eastern India’s Retail Sector Shines at KRS 2025 Summit
KRS 2025 Explores Technology, Consumer Shifts, and Retail Growth
The Kolkata Retail Summit 2025 united retailers, brands, and industry experts to discuss emerging trends, consumer behaviour, and growth opportunities shaping Eastern India’s rapidly evolving retail market.
The Retailers Association of India (RAI) successfully hosted the Kolkata Retail Summit (KRS) 2025—also recognised as the Retail Convention of Eastern India—on December 2, 2025, at Hyatt Regency, Kolkata. This year’s edition brought together retailers, service providers, and influential industry voices to deepen collaboration, identify emerging opportunities, and examine the evolving direction of the retail sector, particularly the accelerating adoption of omnichannel retail models.
The summit delivered engaging panel discussions, meaningful networking sessions, and an energetic exchange of ideas on the latest shifts shaping retail in the region. KRS 2025 reinforced its role as a leading platform for driving innovation and building strategic partnerships across Eastern India’s fast-growing retail ecosystem.
Commenting on KRS 2025 and the region’s retail momentum, Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India (RAI), remarked, “Eastern India’s retail landscape is entering a defining era, driven by rising consumer demand, strong main-street and mall leasing activity, and the rapid evolution of logistics networks. With fashion, food, and lifestyle brands expanding aggressively and new retail formats emerging across cities like Kolkata, the region is fast becoming one of the country’s most dynamic retail growth corridors. As retailers blend heritage with innovation and embrace more experience-led models, Eastern India is steadily shaping itself into a sustained and future-ready retail hub.”
Sagar Daryani, Co-Founder & CEO, Wow! Momo Foods Pvt. Ltd., and Chairman, Kolkata Chapter, RAI, shared, “The East has always been high on culture, but today it’s also high on consumer experimentation. Whether it’s food, fashion, or digital-first brands, customers here are open to trying what’s new — as long as it feels authentic. The brands winning in this region are not just scaling products, but scaling identity, pride, and emotion. That’s what turns a business into a brand.”
According to Iffat Jahan, Director, Metto Supermarket Pvt. Ltd., “The East is no longer a ‘catch-up’ market; it’s a learning market. From neighbourhood kiranas to organised supermarkets, we’re seeing a decisive shift toward convenience-driven retail where trust, access, and relevance matter more than size. Digital payments and home delivery may have been trends elsewhere, but here, they are becoming the foundation of everyday retail behaviour.”
Rohit Kedia, Co-Founder & Director, Style Baazar, Baazar Style Retail Ltd., added, “The biggest opportunity in Eastern India lies between aspiration and affordability. Consumers across Tier 2 and 3 cities are asking for variety, not just value — and that’s where regional retailers have an edge. We understand local tastes, festivals, lifestyle preferences, and family-driven buying decisions. That’s why homegrown retail brands from the East are now scaling nationally.”
As Ravee Shanker, CMO, Krishna Bhumi Arcade, explained, “Retail today is not just about selling space — it’s about building destinations. In Eastern India, shoppers are demanding more immersive experiences, curated retail clusters, and lifestyle-led environments. Malls are no longer real estate assets; they are community hubs where food, culture, entertainment, and commerce merge to create long-term consumer loyalty.”
KRS 2025 also hosted a series of insightful sessions exploring major themes impacting retail. The discussion on ‘The New Consumer Playbook: What Shoppers in the East Really Want’ offered a deep understanding of changing expectations and purchasing behaviour. The session on ‘Experience is Everything: From Storefront to Storytelling’ highlighted how immersive retail formats and authentic narratives are redefining engagement. Another panel, ‘The Power of Partnership: Retailers, Brands, and Technology Working Together,’ underscored the value of collaboration and integrated solutions. The event concluded with ‘Retail 2025 and Beyond: Building for the Next Generation,’ which emphasised innovation, flexibility, and customer-led strategies for sustainable growth.
Notable speakers included Aninda Das (Infinity Group), Sagar Daryani (Wow! Momo Foods Pvt. Ltd.), Ankur Agarwal (Medkart Pharmacy), Deepak Kumar (Wah! Puchka), Dipraj Das (Craft Coffee), Rohit Kedia and Shreyans Surana (Style Baazar), Suman Mukherjee (Barbeque Nation), and Surbhit Lihala (Keventer Agro Ltd.), among others.
KRS continues to serve as a premier platform where retailers and service providers connect, collaborate, and explore new growth pathways. This year’s edition featured a robust mix of panel conversations, fireside chats, and networking opportunities, enabling attendees to engage with potential partners and gain actionable insights into the future of retail in Eastern India.