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There are multiple factors driving Indian retail growth. With roughly 60% of the total population below 30 years of age, favourable demographics are expected to drive consumption across categories. The purchasing power of a young consuming middle class has been talked of considerably along with the spending power associated with this consumer segment.

According to Ernest & Young Report, the retail sector in India is highly fragmented and organized retail in the country is at a very nascent stage. There are about 12 million retail outlets spread across India, earning it the epithet of a "Nation of Shopkeepers". More than 80% of these 12 million outlets are run by small family businesses which use only house-hold labour. Traditionally, small-store (kirana) retailing has been one of the easiest ways to generate self-employment, as it requires limited investment in land, capital and labour. Consequently, India has one of the highest retail densities in the world at 6% (12 million retail shops for about 209 million house-holds). India's peers, such as China and Brazil, took 10-15 years to raise the share of their organized retail sectors from 5% when they began, to 20% and 38% respectively. India too is moving towards growth and maturity in the retail sector at a fast pace.

Retail is amongst the fastest growing sectors in the country. India ranks 1st, ahead of Russia, in terms of emerging markets potential in retail, and is deemed a 'Priority 1' market for international retail.

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Anuraag Mittal is B.Com. (Hons) & M.Com. (Specialization in Marketing) from Delhi University, PGDBM (Marketing & HRM) & M.Phil. (Management) from Bharati Vidyapeeth. Also done Ph.D. from CCS University, Meerut. He is currently working as Reader in Department of Management, Delhi Institute of Advanced Studies (DIAS). He is the co-author of the book titled, "Case Studies in Management".
Suchi Priya Mittal is B.Com. (Hons) & M.Com. from University of Delhi, and is currently persuing Ph.D. from Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi in the area of "Emotional Intelligence". She is also working as faculty in University of Delhi and is teaching Marketing, Advertising, Management & Economics.