Retail Leadership Summit 2026 (RLS 2026), the flagship event of the Retailers Association of India (RAI), marked its 20th edition by successfully convening leading voices from across the retail ecosystem at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, on February 16 and 17, 2026. Celebrating two decades of industry leadership, this landmark edition was bigger in scale, broader in participation and richer in insight than ever before, reaffirming RLS’s position as India’s premier retail industry forum. RLS 2026 provided a powerful platform for thought leadership, innovation and collaboration, addressing the rapidly evolving dynamics of the Indian retail sector.

The summit centred on key themes including customer-centricity, value creation, new-age leadership, sustainability and emerging future paradigms. These focus areas prompted meaningful dialogue among industry leaders, policymakers and technology experts. Through keynote addresses, expert panel discussions and insight-driven knowledge reports from BCG, Deloitte, Meta and Vector, RLS 2026 underscored the critical importance of innovation, agility and strategic value creation in shaping the future of retail.

Speaking about RLS 2026, Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India (RAI), said, “2025 marked a period of consolidation for Indian retail, with a clear shift from aggressive expansion to strengthening fundamentals — improving customer experience, enhancing the quality of growth, and building sustainable margins across both metros and emerging markets.

As we move into 2026, retail will be defined by leadership and execution rather than standalone technology adoption, with customer centricity, omnichannel integration, sustainability, and future- ready talent emerging as key differentiators, even as AI begins to reshape retail practices and operations. In this context, the Retail Leadership Summit continues to provide much-needed clarity, enabling retailers to look beyond short-term noise and focus on long-term value creation, resilience, and responsible growth. By bringing together peers, policymakers, solution providers, and allied associations, RLS reinforces RAI’s role as a trusted convener shaping the future direction of Indian retail.”

RLS 2026 featured the unveiling of key industry reports, offering valuable insights into the evolving retail landscape. The report titled “Retail Agenda for capturing the $2 Tn opportunity by 2033” was released by BCG, Reimagining Retail: Maximizing Omnichannel Business Impact in the Age of AI by Meta and Managing Shelf Space as a Perishable Asset: A New Blueprint for Retail Profitability by Vector.

Speaking on the retail landscape in India, P. Venkatesalu, Managing Director, Trent Ltd., said, “Indian retail has entered a phase where disciplined execution matters as much as significant expansion. Over the next few years, profitable growth will depend on sharper assortment planning, supply chain responsiveness, and real-time consumer insights. Technology will not be a layer added on top — it will be embedded into merchandising, inventory, and decision-making. The winners in 2026 and beyond will be retailers who combine operational excellence with an intuitive understanding of changing urban and emerging market consumption patterns.”

Sanjay Vakharia, CEO, Spykar Lifestyles Pvt. Ltd., commented, “India’s youth-driven consumption story is reshaping fashion retail. The next phase will be defined by community-led branding, faster product refresh cycles and omnichannel consistency. AI-driven forecasting, demand planning and hyperlocal marketing will become mainstream. However, beyond technology, the real differentiator will be agility – the ability to listen, adapt and respond to consumers in near real time while maintaining strong cost discipline.”

Geetika Mehta, Managing Director, Nivea India, added, “The next wave of retail growth will come from deeper localisation and faster design-to-shelf cycles. Consumers today expect relevance — culturally, regionally and digitally. As we move ahead, brands must build agile sourcing ecosystems, leverage data to anticipate demand, and create experiences that resonate across physical and digital touchpoints. The focus is shifting from scale alone to speed, authenticity and long-term brand equity.”

RLS 2026 concluded with the Fashion Arena presented by Myntra. This dynamic platform celebrates style, creativity, and innovation in the retail fashion space. The showcase featured exclusive collection launches from leading and emerging brands, captivating runway shows, and immersive brand experiences, making it a standout feature of the summit.

RLS 2026 also included the grand felicitation of the crème de la crème of the retail industry with India’s Retail Champions Award 2026 and the Retail Start-up Awards 2026, both evaluated by eminent personalities from the industry as the Jury.

Winners of India’s Retail Champions Awards 2026 were:

Over the 2 days, RLS 2026 saw participation of retail leaders, as well as top names in the retail service provider space. Retail stalwarts speaking at the summit included Kulin Lalbhai, Vice Chairman, Arvind Ltd.; Manish Kapoor, Managing Director, Marks and Spencer Reliance India Pvt. Ltd.; Vishak Kumar, CEO, Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Ltd.; Biju Kassim, CEO – Beauty, Shoppers Stop; P. Jayakumar, CEO, Apollo Pharmacy; Vipul Chaturvedi, CEO, Lakme Lever Pvt. Ltd.; Rakesh Jallipally, MD & CEO, Pepe Jeans India Ltd.; Siddharath Bindra, Managing Director, BIBA Apparels Pvt. Ltd.; Ankur Damani, Country Head – India & Sri Lanka, Triumph; Mohit Khattar, CEO, Graviss Foods Pvt. Ltd. (Baskin Robbins); P. Senthilkumar, Senior Partner, Vector Consulting Group; Murali Krishna B, Principal Consultant, Vector Consulting Group; Vikram Bothra, MD & CEO, Chandan Retail Pvt. Ltd. (Askaran Binjraj); Avnish Kumar, Director, Neeru’s; Johnson Verghese, Managing Director, Fossil India Pvt. Ltd.; Satyen Momaya, CEO, PVH Arvind – Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein; Geetika Mehta, Managing Director, Nivea India; Pooraan Jaiswal, Group CIO, TBZ; Deepak Jain, CEO, Amante; Neeraj Nagpal, CBO, Raymond; Sanjay Vakharia, CEO, Spykar Lifestyles Pvt. Ltd; Amit Sarda, Managing Director, Soulflower; Blessing A. Manikandan, CEO, TONI&GUY; Natasha Tuli, CEO & Chief Formulator, Soulflower; Shashank Anamula, MD, Cafe Niloufer; Anil Menon, CIO, LuLu Group India; Rahul Agrawal, CEO, Barbeque Nation, among others.

RLS 2026 highlighted that the future of retail lies in innovation, adaptability, and seamless consumer experiences. As technology, sustainability, and customer expectations evolve, retailers must go beyond transactions to build deeper connections and immersive experiences. The summit fostered strategic collaborations and fresh insights, paving the way for a more dynamic, resilient, and consumer-driven retail future.

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