The PGDM Retail Management Department at JIMS Rohini, New Delhi, successfully hosted Retail Summit 2026 on 28th February 2026 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The summit brought together leading industry professionals, academicians, and management students to explore the evolving dynamics of the retail industry under the theme “Redefining the Retail Equation: Where Sustainability Meets Artificial Intelligence.”
The event served as a powerful platform for dialogue between academia and industry, highlighting how Artificial Intelligence (AI), sustainability, governance, and evolving consumer behavior are shaping the future of retail. Through keynote addresses, panel discussions, and an engaging fireside chat, industry leaders shared real-world insights on how retail businesses are adapting to technological disruption while remaining socially and environmentally responsible.
Inaugural Session
The summit began with a ceremonial lamp lighting and Saraswati Vandana, symbolizing knowledge and innovation.
In her inaugural address, Dr. Pooja Jain, Director, JIMS Rohini, reflected on the remarkable evolution of the Indian retail sector—from traditional local markets to organized retail, e-commerce, and quick commerce platforms. She emphasized that Artificial Intelligence is now influencing every stage of retail, from manufacturing and supply chains to customer engagement, while sustainability has become essential for long-term growth and consumer trust.
A notable highlight of the session was an AI-generated avatar video of Dr. R.K. Singh, Dean – PGDM Retail Management, prepared by the student digital team. The innovative presentation truly amazed the audience and perfectly reflected the summit’s theme of integrating AI into modern retail practices.
The session set the tone for the summit by emphasizing the importance of balancing technological innovation with responsible and sustainable business practices.
Keynote Session I
The Next Retail Frontier: Technology, Responsibility & Scale
The first keynote address was delivered by CA Sushil Batra, Executive Director & CFO, Relaxo Footwears Ltd.
Drawing on his extensive experience in the footwear industry, Mr. Batra discussed how the retail sector has evolved from simple product exchanges to complex, technology-driven ecosystems. He emphasized that technology has become indispensable for managing modern retail operations, especially in areas such as supply chain management, demand forecasting, and inventory optimization.
He also highlighted the growing importance of financial discipline and responsible governance in maintaining profitability while scaling operations. According to him, organizations that fail to adopt digital systems and data-driven decision-making risk falling behind in today’s competitive retail landscape.
Keynote Session II
Reimagining Retail Leadership in the Age of AI
The second keynote address was delivered by Mr. Abhishek Easwar, Head – E-commerce Marketing, Nestlé India.
His session focused on the transformation of consumer behavior in the digital age. Modern consumers are more informed, value-driven, and digitally connected. They evaluate brands not only based on product quality and price but also on ethical practices, transparency, and sustainability commitments.
He explained how Artificial Intelligence enables personalized marketing, predictive analytics, and smarter customer engagement, allowing brands to deliver tailored experiences. However, he also stressed that consumer trust remains the most valuable asset for any brand, and ethical use of data is essential.
Special Feature: Launch of The Retail Management Journey – Evolving with Time
A special highlight of Retail Summit 2026 was the launch of the coffee table book “The Retail Management Journey: Evolving with Time,” celebrating 15 years of growth and industry engagement of the PGDM (Retail Management) Department at JIMS Rohini.
The book captures the department’s journey, key milestones, industry collaborations, and academic initiatives that have shaped retail education and student learning over the years, while also outlining its vision for the future. On this occasion, former Deans of the PGDM Retail Management program were also felicitated by the Director in recognition of their valuable contributions to the department.
Panel Discussion I
Building a Responsible Global Retail Ecosystem
The first panel discussion was moderated by Mr. Swapan Datta, a strategic retail consultant, and featured experts from various industries including sustainability, QSR, manufacturing, and automotive.
Key speakers included:
- Naman Gupta, Founder & CEO, Code Effort Pvt. Ltd.
- Preet Kumar Mahajan, Head – Training & Restaurant Excellence, KFC India
- CA Ashish Bansal, COO & Finance Director, Aqualite Industries Pvt. Ltd.
- Vikrant Gupta, Regional Head, BMW Group India (JIMS Alumnus)
The discussion highlighted how sustainability is evolving from a corporate responsibility initiative into a strategic business necessity. Panelists shared examples of circular economy models, ethical sourcing practices, and ESG-driven governance frameworks.
They emphasized that sustainable practices not only address environmental concerns but also strengthen brand credibility, improve operational efficiency, and create long-term competitive advantage.
Panel Discussion II
AI in Retail: The Intelligent Marketplace
The second panel discussion explored how Artificial Intelligence is transforming retail operations across industries. The session was moderated by CA Anand R. Gupta, Global Internal Audit Leader at Bunge.
Panelists included leaders from retail, fashion, banking, and FMCG sectors such as:
- Ssidharth Mallik, DGM, Max Fashion – Lifestyle International
- Inderpreet Kaur, Business Development & Operations Head, Pulse Fashion
- Nitulya Chawla, AVP & Branch Relationship Head, Axis Bank
- Nitin Khindria, Chief Human Resources Officer, Omega Seiki Mobility
Speakers discussed how AI is used in inventory planning, pricing strategies, queue management systems, fraud detection, and customer analytics. While AI improves efficiency and operational accuracy, the panel agreed that human insight, creativity, and emotional intelligence remain irreplaceable in customer experience and brand building.
Fireside Chat
The Future Retail Leader: Balancing Purpose, People & Technology
One of the most engaging sessions of the summit was a fireside chat between:
- CA Abhay Batra, Co-Founder & CFO, Clovia
- Vibha Sarin Prabhakar, Chief Experience Officer, Shriram Automall India
The conversation explored the importance of purpose-driven businesses. Mr. Batra shared the journey of building Clovia as a brand designed to solve a real consumer problem while maintaining affordability and quality.
The speakers highlighted that successful retail leaders must balance three critical elements: purpose, people, and technology. While AI and digital tools enable scale and efficiency, long-term success depends on strong leadership, empathy, and ethical decision-making.
Key Insights from Retail Summit 2026
Several important themes emerged throughout the summit:
- Artificial Intelligence as a Retail Backbone
AI-driven systems are transforming demand forecasting, pricing strategies, marketing personalization, and operational efficiency.
- Sustainability as a Strategic Imperative
Environmental and social responsibility are becoming central to retail strategy through ESG frameworks and responsible sourcing practices.
- Governance and Financial Discipline
Strong governance systems, financial transparency, and risk management are essential for long-term stability in a volatile retail environment.
- Changing Consumer Behavior
Consumers increasingly rely on digital platforms, online reviews, and algorithm-based recommendations when making purchasing decisions.
- Integrated Retail Competitiveness
The most successful retail organizations are those that combine technology, sustainability, governance, and consumer-centric strategies into a unified business model.
Conclusion
Retail Summit 2026 provided a comprehensive exploration of the rapidly evolving retail ecosystem. The discussions demonstrated that the future of retail lies at the intersection of technological innovation, sustainability, governance, and consumer-centric strategies.
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping retail operations, while sustainability and ethical governance are becoming fundamental to long-term business success. Organizations that strategically align these dimensions will be best positioned to build resilient, responsible, and future-ready retail enterprises.
Through meaningful industry-academia collaboration, the summit not only offered valuable insights into modern retail transformation but also inspired the next generation of management professionals to lead with innovation, responsibility, and purpose.