Kolkata, December 2, 2025: The Retailers Association of India (RAI) successfully hosted the Kolkata Retail Summit (KRS) 2025 — the largest retail convention of Eastern India — at Hyatt Regency Kolkata. The summit brought together leading retailers, service providers, and industry stakeholders to explore growth opportunities, consumer behaviour trends, and the accelerating adoption of omnichannel retailing in the region. Through high-impact sessions, networking exchanges, and collaborative dialogues, KRS 2025 reaffirmed its standing as a premier platform driving innovation and partnerships across Eastern India’s fast-evolving retail ecosystem.
“Eastern India is entering a defining era of retail expansion,” said Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, RAI. “Strong consumer demand, rapid logistics advancements, and the surge of fashion, food, and lifestyle brands are transforming this region into a future-ready retail hub where heritage blends seamlessly with innovation.” Sharing insights on shifting consumer aspirations, Sagar Daryani, Co-Founder & CEO, Wow! Momo Foods Pvt. Ltd. and Chairman, RAI Kolkata Chapter, noted,
“The East is no longer just cultural — it’s experimental. Brands here thrive by scaling trust, identity, and emotion.”
Iffat Jahan, Director, Metto Supermarket Pvt. Ltd., emphasized a new era of convenience-driven retail:
“Digital payments and doorstep delivery have moved from trend to everyday behaviour in the East.”
Highlighting the rising demand in Tier 2–3 markets, Rohit Kedia, Co-Founder & Director, Style Baazar, stated,
“The biggest opportunity lies between aspiration and affordability — and regional retailers understand these nuances best.”
Ravee Shanker, CMO, Krishna Bhumi Arcade, underscored experience-led retailing:
“Malls are evolving into community destinations where commerce meets entertainment and culture.”
Key Focus Themes at KRS 2025
The summit convened visionary leaders to discuss:
The New Consumer Playbook: Understanding evolving preferences of Eastern India’s shoppers
Experience is Everything: Storytelling-led store formats and experiential commerce
Power of Partnership: Tech-enabled collaboration between brands and retailers
Retail 2025 & Beyond: Innovation, agility, and customer-centricity shaping future retail
Retail Thought Leaders in Attendance
Notable speakers included: Aninda Das (Infinity Group), Sagar Daryani (Wow! Momo), Ankur Agarwal (Medkart), Deepak Kumar (Wah! Puchka), Dipraj Das (Craft Coffee), Rohit Kedia and Shreyans Surana (Style Baazar), Suman Mukherjee (Barbeque Nation), Surbhit Lihala (Keventer Agro Ltd.) among others.
