Manufacturers & Modern Trade: Joining Forces To Win Over Bharat
Progressive Grocer|March 2019

Marketing heads of leading Indian food and grocery brands and retailers engaged in a thought leadership session moderated by Kabir Gossain, Customer Director – Modern Trade, Unilever and Kamaldeep Singh, President, Food Business, Future Group. The debate centred on the rapid expansion of modern trade in tier 2 and 3 cities, the implications for food brands (from large brands to startups) and the evolving paradigms in the relationship between modern trade and these brands as they penetrate the hinterland.

Virat Bahri
Manufacturers & Modern Trade: Joining Forces To Win Over Bharat

Trends indicate that the Indian retail sector is headed for an exponential phase of growth, with modern trade expanding its reach and influence to tier 2 and 3 cities to explore new potential. Growing awareness, higher disposable incomes and aspirations make these regions hotbeds of opportunity for modern retail. Moreover, real estate costs are estimated to be 30-40% lower than the cities and players with first mover advantage stand to gain.

The total Indian retail sector was estimated at around US$ 641 billion in 2016, and projected to grow at a CAGR of 10% to reach US$ 1.6 trillion by 2026. Modern trade, on the other hand is expected to grow at twice the rate (20%). Food and grocery garners the largest revenue share in the retail sector and accounted for 16% of the India’s GDP. In 2020, food and grocery retail is expected to account for 66% of the total revenue in the overall Indian retail sector.

Modern retail in India is expected to nearly double in size (from 2017 levels) to reach Rs 1.72 lakh crore by 2019 in the top 6 markets of India, largely driven by an omni-channel push, according to a report by the Retailers Association of India (RAI) and property consultancy firm Knight Frank India.

As modern retail in the food and grocery sector expands to tier 2 and 3 cities, certain strategic realignments become imperative for both manufacturers and retailers. New customer-centric value propositions are being developed to cater to customers in these regions across segments – high end retail, convenience stores, wholesale channels and e-commerce. Apart from this growing customisation, adequate availability and freshness of food products is a major challenge that players across the supply chain have to address collaboratively.

This story is from the March 2019 edition of Progressive Grocer.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the March 2019 edition of Progressive Grocer.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM PROGRESSIVE GROCERView All
Gurgaon's First and Most Successful Independent F&G Retailer
Progressive Grocer

Gurgaon's First and Most Successful Independent F&G Retailer

SINCE LAUNCHING ITS FIRST OUTLET IN THE YEAR 2000 IN DLF GURGAON AT A TIME WHEN MODERN TRADE FOOD AND GROCERY STORES WERE NOWHERE ON THE RETAIL HORIZONS OF THE MILLENNIUM CITY, NEEDS SUPERMARKET HAS GROWN TO ADD 26 LARGE, MEDIUM AND SMALL STORES TO ITS KITTY, CLOCKING AN ADMIRABLE RUN RATE ON VARIOUS PARAMETERS OF RETAILING EXCELLENCE ALONG THE WAY. PROGRESSIVE GROCER SPOKE TO NEEDS SUPERMARKET’S MD AJAY DHAR, AND CEO, ARUN KHATTAR, ABOUT HOW THE GROCERY CHAIN HAS BEEN ABLE TO HOLD ITS OWN AND CLOCK STEADY GROWTH IN A HYPER-COMPETITIVE MARKET DOTTED WITH BIG-BOX NATIONAL RETAILERS AND THE SECRET SAUCE BEHIND ITS SUCCESS RECIPE.

time-read
10+ mins  |
August 2021
Paras Spices is innovating with unique products to meet new trends in the spices category
Progressive Grocer

Paras Spices is innovating with unique products to meet new trends in the spices category

CATEGORY WATCH FOOD STAPLES

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2021
Brands and retailers collaborate to promote the growth of non-alcoholic beverages
Progressive Grocer

Brands and retailers collaborate to promote the growth of non-alcoholic beverages

SUPER-HERB INFUSED BEVERAGES THAT BRING THE POWER-PACKED GOODNESS OF SUPERFRUITS ARE TAKING THE MARKET BY STORM. THESE NONALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES CLAIM TO CONTAIN ZERO CALORIES, ZERO SUGAR, ZERO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS, AND ZERO PRESERVATIVES AND ARE DESIGNED FOR TODAY’S MILLENNIAL-GEN WHO ARE SEEKING A HEALTHY DRINK WITH A TASTY TWIST.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2021
Just Outside the Box
Progressive Grocer

Just Outside the Box

THE HUMBLE PARKING LOT HAS BECOME A DIFFERENT KIND OF RETAIL DESTINATION AND HUB OF COMMERCE.

time-read
6 mins  |
July 2021
Increased Focus on Health, Wellness, and Immunity-boosting Products
Progressive Grocer

Increased Focus on Health, Wellness, and Immunity-boosting Products

SALES OF PACKAGED FOODS HAVE SURGED SINCE THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC, AS HOME-BOUND CONSUMERS STOCKPILE FAMILIAR PRODUCTS THAT WON’T GO STALE QUICKLY. BREAKFAST CEREALS, INSTANT NOODLES, RICE AND COOKING FATS ARE AMONG THE PRODUCTS THAT HAVE SEEN THE STRONGEST GROWTH IN RECENT MONTHS.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2021
Consumer focus on hygiene & nutrition boosts packaged paneer sales
Progressive Grocer

Consumer focus on hygiene & nutrition boosts packaged paneer sales

THE DEMAND FOR CATEGORIES SUCH AS CHEESE AND PANEER HAS WITNESSED AN ALL-TIME NEW HIGH DURING THIS PANDEMIC THANKS TO THE VERSATILE NATURE OF THESE PRODUCTS. NOT ONLY IS PANEER DELICIOUS TO TASTE BUT DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE LOCKDOWN, THE INTERNET WAS TRENDING WITH UNIQUE, FUN AND EASY-TO-MAKE PANEER RECIPES.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2021
How Hormel Became a Snack Company
Progressive Grocer

How Hormel Became a Snack Company

ACQUISITIONS, ADJACENCIES AND INNOVATION DEFINE THE GLOBAL BRANDED FOOD COMPANY’S GROWTH STRATEGY

time-read
10+ mins  |
July 2021
The New Normal for Snacks
Progressive Grocer

The New Normal for Snacks

THE POST-PANDEMIC CONSUMER WILL DEMAND BETTER-FOR-YOU MEAL SOLUTIONS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.

time-read
6 mins  |
July 2021
The rise of superfoods and ways to mainstream them on retail shelves
Progressive Grocer

The rise of superfoods and ways to mainstream them on retail shelves

WHAT ARE SUPERFOODS AND THEIR BENEFITS AND WHY THESE PRODUCTS ARE WITNESSING A HUGE SURGE IN DEMAND? WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF INFUSING THESE SUPERFOODS INTO OUR TRADITIONAL FOOD PRODUCTS, AND HOW CAN THEIR VISIBILITY AND AWARENESS BE RAMPED UP IN ON-GROUND SHELVES OF SUPERMARKETS AND RETAIL COUNTERS?

time-read
8 mins  |
July 2021
What is driving consumers to become more conscious of what they eat?
Progressive Grocer

What is driving consumers to become more conscious of what they eat?

WITH CONSUMERS BECOMING MORE HEALTH-CONSCIOUS, RETAILERS HAVE ALSO STARTED MAKING SHIFTS IN THEIR OWN MERCHANDISING AND MARKETING TO KEEP UP WITH THE TREND.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2021