Chennai: Indian retail industry stalwart S. Shriram has been honoured with the prestigious title of “Top Retail Strategy Minds in India.” The citation was presented to Shriram at the Retail and Shopping Centre Congress, during an exclusive event held at The Taj Lands End in Mumbai on 20th February 2024.
Shriram, an industry veteran with over 27 years of experience in the Indian retail ecosystem, has donned various key roles, contributing to the success of multiple top-tier retail companies such as RPG Retail, The Future Group, and Café Coffee Day. His multi-faceted expertise spans across retail formats, operational management, and strategy.
Notably, Shriram was the first Indian to establish Airport Retail at India’s first greenfield and privately managed airport in Bengaluru (BIAL) in 2006. He conceptualized, set up, and managed over 45,000 sq. ft. of retail space, including Duty-Free, Domestic Retail, F&B, and ForEx. This pioneering initiative was a game-changer for the Indian retail landscape at the time.
His career also includes a successful tenure at Café Coffee Day, where he oversaw the establishment of 140 cafés across India in malls, airports, cinemas, educational institutions, and more. Later, while at Royal Enfield Motorcycles, Shriram played an instrumental role in doubling the brand’s dealer network across India, growing it to 320 locations by 2014.
Since founding Miles2Go Consulting Services in Chennai in 2014, Shriram has continued to lead a boutique management advisory firm, offering expert consulting in areas such as Domestic Retail, FMCG, F&B, Fashion, and Airport Retail to marquee clients, including Fortune 500 brands, family-held enterprises, and publicly listed companies.
On receiving the award, Shriram shared his thoughts: “I am deeply honoured to receive this award from Asia Retail Congress and thank them for recognising my efforts. This award is not just a motivation for me to continue my efforts in the industry but also a huge responsibility to live up to the expectations of the industry.”
Apart from his leadership role in the retail industry, Shriram has also dedicated over two decades to academia. As a visiting faculty member at top business schools across India, he has taught over 5,000 students in subjects such as Retail Strategy, Sales & Marketing, Advertising, Supply Chain Management & Distribution, New Product Development, and Entrepreneurship.
