What: Shoppers Stop expands beyond traditional retail locations with a landmark 10,000 sq. ft. department store at Delhi Airport, demonstrating its evolution from a single Mumbai store to a 299-outlet retail powerhouse.

Why it is important: This strategic expansion highlights the transformation of Indian retail, where domestic players are confidently entering new retail formats while maintaining aggressive nationwide growth.

Shoppers Stop has achieved a significant milestone with the opening of India's largest airport department store at Delhi Airport Terminal 1. The 10,000 sq. ft. outlet represents a strategic expansion beyond traditional retail locations, offering a comprehensive range of fashion, beauty products, and home essentials to both travelers and airport staff. This development marks a notable evolution in the company's growth trajectory, from its humble beginnings as a single store in Mumbai in 1991 to its current status as a nationwide retail giant. Today, Shoppers Stop operates 299 outlets across 70 cities, including 112 department stores, 75 Intune value-fashion stores, and 82 beauty-format outlets. The company's venture into travel retail demonstrates its commitment to exploring new opportunities, including airport stores and pop-up kiosks at major transit hubs, as it continues to expand its reach to customers on the go.

IADS Notes:

Shoppers Stop's expansion into airport retail aligns with significant transformations in India's retail landscape. According to Inside Retail in November 2024, Indian tourists are emerging as a major force in travel retail, with projected spending of $89 billion, making airport locations increasingly strategic. This move comes as ET Retail reported in January 2025 that Shoppers Stop achieved a 41.7% profit increase while successfully expanding its beauty retail network to 334 doors, demonstrating the company's ability to operate diverse retail formats. The India Economic Times revealed in February 2025 that the country attracted 27 new international retail brands in 2024, highlighting the growing competition in premium retail spaces. This context makes the 10,000 sq. ft. airport store particularly significant, as it aligns with broader industry trends identified in May 2024 by retail experts, projecting the global travel retail market to reach $121.09 billion by 2029. The India Economic Times reported in July 2025 that despite market challenges, Shoppers Stop continues to focus on premiumisation and private brands, suggesting that the airport expansion is part of a broader strategy to capture high-value consumer segments.

Shoppers Stop unveils India’s largest airport department store at Delhi Airport