Malls in Kolkata registered record footfalls in 2023. Sales in the year remained slightly tempered but surged above pre-pandemic levels of 2019.
Sales at the Acropolis mall broke all records to generate the highest revenue in 2023, said K Vijayan, General Manager. Footfalls increased by 15 per cent over last year while sales turnover surged y 20 per cent.
This growth could be attributed to the growth of mall tourism, catalysed by various initiatives by mall operators to whip up excitement among children and youth, adds K Vijayan.
Footfalls at the twin City Centres remained 12 per cent-14 per cent higher than in 2022. But, these did not translate to higher revenues as footfalls at these malls are primarily driven by cine-goers who did not go shopping, observed Ramesh Pandey, Wholetime Director, Ambuja Neotia, the manager of City Centre malls at Salt Lake and New Town.
The South City mall witnessed a surge in footfalls but a decline in revenues over the previous year, according Manmohan Bagree, Vice President, South City Mall.
Footfalls and sales at Quest also declined by 10 per cent from last year’s figures. However, the mall is currently under renovation leaving sales at stores disrupted. The brand closed last year on a very strong note, says Sanjeev Mehta,Vice-President, Quest.
