Indian travel retail offers bright spot for booze brands

Friday, 26 September, 2025
The Drinks Business, Eloise Feilden
Beverage alcohol sales volumes in Indian travel retail increased by 13% in 2024, far outpacing the 6% increase in volumes sold in India’s domestic market.

Spirits and wine experienced similar rates of growth (up 13% and 12% respectively) in India’s travel retail sector, according to IWSR, while the very small RTD category saw a significant spike in sales via the channel, up 123% in 2024.

Global travel retail (GTR) offers promise to an industry experiencing tough times. IWSR forecasts predict that global alcohol volume sales will be flat between 2024 and 2029. However, travel retail volumes are expected to be in growth, rising 3% over the same period.

At a regional level, sales volumes in Asia’s travel retail sector are set to grow at a rate of 4% in the same five-year period.

And Indian consumers are poised to increase their purchasing in the channel. Indian passenger numbers will grow by 50% over the next five years, according to the Oxford Economics Air Passenger Forecast published in June.

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