India's vast middle class and its almost untapped retail industry are key attractions for global retail giants wanting to enter newer markets. Driven by changing lifestyles, strong income growth and favourable demographic patterns, Indian retail is expected to grow 25 per cent annually.

Modern retail in India could be worth US$ 175-200 billion by 2016. With the economy booming, competition in the marketplace is fierce. According to 'Retail in India Getting Organised to Drive Growth', a report by AT Kearney and the Confederation of Indian Industry, retail is one of India's fastest growing industries with a 5 per cent compounded annual growth rate and expected revenues of US$ 320 billion in 2007. Rising incomes, increasing consumerism in urban areas and an upswing in rural consumption will fuel this growth to around 7-8 per cent.

KSA-Technopak, a retail consulting and research agency, predicts that by 2010, organised retailing in India will cross the US$ 21.5-billion mark from the current size of US$ 7.5 billion.

Retail space

Retailers in India are the most aggressive in Asia in expanding their businesses, thus creating a huge demand for real estate. Their preferred means of expansion is to increase the number of their outlets in a city, and also expand to other regions, revealed the Jones Lang LaSalle third annual Retailer Sentiment Survey-Asia.

Deutsche Bank's research report on 'Building up India' says India's burgeoning middle class will drive up nominal retail sales through 2010 by 10 per cent per annum. The country may have 600 new shopping centres by 2010.

Food retail

Food dominates the shopping basket in India. The US$ 6.1 billion Indian foods industry, which forms 44 per cent of the entire FMCG sales, is growing at 9 per cent and has set the growth agenda for modern trade formats. Since nearly 60 per cent of the average Indian grocery basket comprises non-branded items, the branded food industry is homing in on converting Indian consumers to branded food.

The mobile revolution

The retail market for mobile phones -- handset, airtime and accessories -- is already a US$ 16.7 billion business, growing at over 20 per cent per year. In comparison, the consumer electronics and appliance market is worth US$ 5.6 billion, with a growth rate that is half of the mobile market.