What’s Happening With Travel Retail in India?
India, as of mid-2025, is the second fastest growing economy in the world, after Guyana, and before the Philippines, Vietnam and Rwanda. Their growth is down to investing in manufacturing and major investments into the country’s infrastructure. For example, Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, and Jewa (Noida) in Uttar Pradesh are just three new airports you may know are currently being built, and there are 15 in planning.
A quick history lesson
In the 1600s, a trading route between India and England was started, and today, the relationship between India and England is still a trading passage of goods, services, and for us – design! The East India Trading Company was founded in 1600, and is still an active members-only club based in St James, London, apart from England’s trade relationship with West Africa, where gold, pepper and ivory were traded, all other partnerships were inside of Europe.
When we think of Indian culture in Britain, we instantly think of curry, no doubt our national dish and in terms of business, the enormous conglomerate TATA owns Tetley Tea and Jaguar Landrover. In 1600, the foundations of a partnership between India and Britain were laid, and this partnership remains in place today. We look upon each other as partners, sharing products and services as needed through trade.
Design Inspiration in India
Our team have recently travelled to Bangalore to deliver a Concept Presentation for a retail design project for GIVA jewellery, a young but established jewellery brand with already over 200 stores across India. the project has spanned everything from strategy and brand design through to a full interior design package for a new retail concept to be rolled out as the company expands.
As ever with our retail design projects, we look to the people, the culture and the landscape for inspiration. For GIVA, as we led with a new brand design, we researched the key customer types, their shopping personas and of course, other leading jewellery brands across the world.
We were inspired by their customers and the team, and we have explored a colour palette that has bright pops of colour amongst a more pared-back setting, showcasing their elegance yet remaining enticing for customers.
The photos of the bustling streets with noisy tuk-tuks are a symbol of their hard-working ethics, haste and desire for India to succeed. We certainly feel that GIVA’s ambition and drive are reflected in how quickly they turn projects from design into reality, there is no waiting, it’s go go GO!
We will bring you more news of this exciting project as soon as it launches in a few weeks.
Other design inspirations we’ve discovered are in nature, the landscape and use of colours. We did a Tender submission for Flemingo Duty-Free based upon the Indian Roller “NeelKanth” bird, which has extraordinarily bright blue and turquoise feathers in the wings; so we used the colours and used the bird as a beacon to guide shoppers throughout the space.
This month, we read that the Bengaluru (Bangalore) airport features a rotating Art gallery, neurodivegent sensory room and a century-old dosa ‘instutution’, it’s probably the best place to have your flight delayed. More here.
Did you know Soho House now has two locations in India, and another five set to open? The members club market is booming with others, including The Indus Club, The Quorum Club and the Regent Club.
What about foodie events by Alt Food Co. in Goa- they are a community-driven culinary studio and food lab, that turns cooking into a social ritual. Their movement is fast-paced, cluing into what their community need- Meal Prep Mondays and Cooked Up Histories. The NBA (yes I mean the National Basketball League in the states) is hosting an NBA Weekend in India for the first time, bringing together NBA, Budweiser, Visit California, and Brand USA for India’s fast-growing basketball fans.
When growth is the goal, anything and everything is a possibility.
Brilliant travel retail innovations in India
Beyond the above example of what’s happening in Bengaluru (Bangalore) Airport, “Jewar” Airport, more commonly known as Noida, the first 100% FDI-funded airport, transforming connectivity across India and beyond, now has its first runway completed.
Adani Airport Holdings Limited operate eight airports across India, and they’re expanding into other countries, such as France. The new duty-free concept (currently in progress) is called Le Marche, and it’s innovative because the design concept is based around an actual French market, continuing a traveller’s holiday in France or even providing a home-from-home for French residents about to travel. (More about Le Marche here)
Delhi Duty-free have recently announced that all their lighting is now LED – while this shouldn’t be innovative in 2025, having purely LED lighting across such a vast space is indeed a huge improvement.
Ospree duty-free, apparently the fastest-growing airport retail group, re-branded and put design and customers at the heart of their decision-making and they also operate under Adani Airport Holdings. In an interview with DFNI, Guarav stated the following: “We’re not just selling products; we’re offering pre-arrival concierge services, meet-and-greets, and curated recommendations based on consumer data. Even within business travellers, there are segmented needs, and we address that.”
What’s next?
From our perspective, what’s to be expected in travel retail in India is progress; from Adani and Ospree not just in India but further afield. And for the innovators to keep pressing ahead, not just in sustainability and about having world-leading projects, but in terms of enhancing the customer experience. If you are an Indian business wanting to push your travel retail or retail store forward, our agile, hard-working team can match your ambition.