Retail sales grow on consumer demand

India is emerging as a major market for retail sales of food items because of changes in consumer demand, supply-chain dynamics and marketing interventions, according to CII-AC Nielsen ORG-MARG Report on Foods & Beverages "" Challenges & Opportunities in the Indian Market.

The report said sale of food items contributed 72 per cent more to incremental FMCG value in 2004 against 2000.

Most of the growth came from packaged basics like cooking oil, wheat flour, rice, and ghee, indicating an overall upswing in the commodity-to branding movement.