Ramraj Hosts Culture Connect Conclave with Industry Voices on Retail Transformation
Chennai, December 20, 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 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.
Photo Caption:
Right to Left: Mr V.K.Srikanth, Chief Digital Officer, Tata Croma; Mr C.K. Ranganathan, Founder & Chairman, CavinKare; Mr K.R Nagarajan, Founder and Chairman, Ramraj Cotton; Mr.
G.R. Ananthapadmanaban, Managing Director, GRT Group; Mr Kumar Vembu, Co-founder, Zoho Corporation and Mr. Vasanth Kumar, Former Managing Director, Lifestyle International
