Ramraj Hosts Culture Connect Conclave with
Industry Voices on Retail Transformation
Chennai, December 19, 2025:
Ramraj Cotton, a trusted household name in traditional Indian attire, hosted the inaugural edition of Culture Connect – Shaping the Next Decade of Retail at Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay, Mahabalipuram, bringing together retail business owners and retail industry veterans from across Tamil Nadu.
The conclave focused on how Indian
retail must respond to changing consumer behaviour, rapid technology adoption
and the challenge of modernising at scale without losing cultural relevance.
The
panel featured C.K. Ranganathan, Founder & Chairman, CavinKare; Kumar
Vembu, Co-founder, Zoho Corporation; G.R. Ananthapadmanaban,
Managing Director, GRT Group; Vasanth Kumar, Former Managing Director,
Lifestyle International (Landmark Group) and V.K. Srikanth, Chief
Digital Officer, Tata Croma. The discussion was moderated by television anchor Gobinath
Chandran and hosted by Bhavna Balakrishnan.
Discussions
centred on consumer evolution, the role of technology and AI in scaling retail
businesses and the need to reimagine formats while retaining trust and cultural
continuity. Speakers shared practical insights drawn from decades of leadership
across FMCG, jewellery, apparel, technology and large-format retail,
emphasising that scale and long-term relevance will depend on balancing
efficiency with human connection.
K.R.
Nagarajan, Founder and Chairman, Ramraj Cotton, said, “Indian
retail is changing fast, but its foundation continues to be trust,
relationships, and consistency. Culture Connect was conceived as a platform
where legacy businesses and modern retail can exchange perspectives and build
future-ready models grounded in these fundamentals.”
He
added, “Ramraj Cotton was built with a clear purpose—to create sustainable
livelihoods for weavers and keep traditional Indian attire relevant in everyday
life. The growing acceptance of traditional wear among younger consumers reinforces
that belief. Culture Connect reflects our intent to prepare for the future
without disconnecting from our roots.”
The
conclave concluded with a consensus that the next phase of Indian retail will
be defined by purposeful growth, technology-enabled decision-making and the
ability to stay culturally rooted while remaining relevant to a new generation
of consumers.
