Reasons to Read

Discover the five forces set to redefine Indian retail in 2026—from quick commerce to expanding non-metro consumption and AI-led transformation. This report is part of our global 2026 Retail Predictions series.

Read this report to discover answers to these and other questions:

• How are India’s quick commerce leaders shifting focus from growth at all costs to profitability through higher AOV and tighter cost control?
• Why are Tier-3 and 4 cities becoming the next frontier for retail expansion, and how are major players localizing formats and assortments?
• In what ways will improved macroeconomic conditions, such as lower inflation and better credit access, lift consumer spending across India?
• How is the rise of agentic AI changing the game in retail, enabling end-to-end automation in discovery, checkout and service?
• Why is the supply chain emerging as the key competitive advantage in Indian retail—and how are leaders investing to stay ahead?

Companies mentioned in this report include: Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, Trent (Zudio), Reliance Retail (Yousta, Reliance Digital), ABFRL (Style Up), DMart (Avenue Supermarts), Flipkart, Amazon India

Data in this report include:
India’s projected total retail sales and YoY growth; quick commerce profitability and dark store expansion; retail footprint growth in Tier-3/4 cities; macroeconomic indicators including GDP, inflation, and liquidity; retailer adoption and deployment of agentic AI solutions.