Reliance Retail
{{short description|Indian retail company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Reliance Retail
| logo = Reliance_Retail.png
| logo_size = 200px
| type = Subsidiary
| trade as =
| ISIN = INE002A01018
| industry = Retail
| services = {{Ubl
}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|2006}}
| founder = Mukesh Ambani
| hq_location = Mumbai, Maharashtra
| hq_location_country = India
| area_served = India
| key_people = {{Unbulleted_list|Mukesh Ambani
{{small|(Chairman)}}|Isha Ambani
{{small|(Managing Director)}}}}
| revenue = {{gain}} {{INRConvert|330870|c}} (2025)
| operating_income = {{gain}} {{INRconvert|24265|c}} (2025)
| net_income = {{gain}} {{INRConvert|12392|c}} (2025)
| num_employees = 207,552 (2024){{cite news |title=Reliance Industries AR 2023-24|url=https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/d473280d-1c2b-4037-8ff9-dfbb82aa2c7e.pdf |access-date=8 August 2024}}
| subsid = See divisions and subsidiaries
| owner = {{Unbulleted list |
- Reliance Industries (85.12%)
- Vanishree Commercials (4.7%)
- Infotel Infocomm (0.6%)
- Sovereign wealth funds (5.86)
- Private equity firms (4.32%)
}}
| parent = Reliance Industries
| website = {{official URL}}
| footnotes = Financials {{as of|2025|03|31|lc=y|df=yes}}.{{cite web |title=Financial Results Presentation FY 2024-25 / 4Q FY2025 |url=https://www.ril.com/sites/default/files/2025-04/RIL_4Q_FY25_Analyst_Presentation_25Apr25.pdf |website=ril.com |publisher=Reliance Industries Limited |access-date=26 April 2025}}
}}
Reliance Retail is an Indian retail company and a subsidiary of Reliance Industries. Founded in 2006, it is the largest retailer in India in terms of revenue.{{cite web|last=Annual Report|first=RIL|date=20 July 2020|title=Reliance Retail sales cross $23 bn mark|url=https://www.ril.com/getattachment/299caec5-2e8a-43b7-8f70-d633a150d07e/AnnualReport_2019-20.aspx|access-date=11 September 2020|website=Reliance Industries Limited|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424184318/http://www.ril.com/getattachment/2b3a5223-b9a3-4bc1-b9b6-99f9b1e85a07/Financial%20performance%20for%20the%20year%20ended%2031%20Mar,%202019.aspx|url-status=dead}} Its retail outlets offer foods, groceries, apparel, footwear, toys, home improvement products, electronic goods, and farm implements and inputs. {{asof|2023|post=,}} it has over 245,000 employees at 18,000 store locations in 7,000 towns.{{cite news |last1=Prabhakar |first1=Sai |title=Reliance Retail: What's in store? |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/portfolio/news-analysis/reliance-retail-whats-in-store/article67068594.ece |access-date=31 August 2023 |work=BusinessLine |date=12 July 2023 |language=en}}
{{asof|October 2023|post=,}} the company is valued at $100 billion.{{Cite web |last=Rosendar |first=Yessar |title=Qatar Investment Authority Invests $1 Billion In Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail Ventures |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/yessarrosendar/2023/08/24/qatar-investment-authority-invests-1-billion-in-mukesh-ambanis-reliance-retail-ventures/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
History
Reliance Retail was established in 2006 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries, with chairman Mukesh Ambani announcing an investment of up to {{INRconvert|25000|c|mode=historical|year=2006}} for the new venture at Reliance's 32nd annual general meeting in June 2006.{{cite news |title=RIL unveils retail plans, to pump in Rs 25,000 cr |url=https://www.rediff.com/money/report/retail/20060627.htm |access-date=22 July 2024 |work=Rediff |language=en}}
The first set of convenience stores under the name Reliance Fresh were inaugurated in Hyderabad in November 2006.{{cite news |title=Reliance retail arrives in Hyderabad |url=https://www.rediff.com/money/2006/nov/03ril.htm |access-date=22 July 2024 |work=Rediff}} This was followed by entry into consumer electronics via Reliance Digital,{{cite news |title=Reliance unveils Reliance Digital logo in red and blue |url=https://www.afaqs.com/news/advertising/17647_reliance-unveils-reliance-digital-logo-in-red-and-blue |access-date=22 July 2024 |work=afaqs! |date=25 April 2007 |language=en}} hypermarkets under Reliance Mart,{{cite news |title=Reliance Retail to create half a million jobs |url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/cnMp2lcALddEmZk9fSVyfN/Reliance-Retail-to-create-half-a-million-jobs.html |access-date=22 July 2024 |work=Mint |date=15 August 2007}} apparel with Reliance Trends,{{cite news |last1=Deshpande |first1=Tejal A. |title=Reliance Retail plans apparel blitzkrieg |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/reliance-retail-plans-apparel-blitzkrieg-107092901056_1.html |access-date=22 July 2024 |work=Business Standard |date=29 September 2007}} jewellery via Reliance Jewels,{{cite news |title=Reliance ventures into jewellery retail; to roll out 300 Reliance Jewels stores in 3 years |url=https://www.exchange4media.com/marketing-news/reliance-ventures-into-jewellery-retailto-roll-out-300-reliance-jewels-stores-in-3-years-28604.html |access-date=22 July 2024 |work=Exchange4Media}} and footwear through Reliance Footprint, all in 2007.{{cite news |last1=Mamgain |first1=Pramugdha |title=Reliance sees Rs 3,000 cr turnover in footwear biz |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/durables/reliance-sees-rs-3000-cr-turnover-in-footwear-biz/articleshow/2547157.cms |access-date=22 July 2024 |work=The Economic Times |date=17 November 2007}}
In 2008, Marks & Spencer established a 51:49 joint venture with Reliance Retail to open a chain of Marks & Spencer stores in India.{{cite news |title=Marks & Spencer, Reliance Retail announce JV in India |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/retail/marks-spencer-reliance-retail-announce-jv-in-india/articleshow/2962331.cms |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=The Economic Times |date=18 April 2008}} In 2011, Reliance Retail started its wholesale cash and carry chain called Reliance Market.{{cite news |last1=Mehta |first1=Shramana Ganguly |title=Reliance Retail's first Cash & Carry store ‘Reliance Market’ to come up in Ahmedabad |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/retail/reliance-retails-first-cash-carry-store-reliance-market-to-come-up-in-ahmedabad/articleshow/8800435.cms |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=The Economic Times |date=10 June 2011}}
In 2013, the company stopped retailing non-vegetarian food items and shut down its 100-plus Reliance Delight meat and seafood stores, owing to opposition from shareholders, customers and animal rights activists.{{cite news |last1=Karmali |first1=Naazneen |title=Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail Chickens Out, Turns Vegetarian |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/naazneenkarmali/2013/12/16/mukesh-ambanis-reliance-retail-chickens-out-turns-vegetarian/ |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=Forbes |date=16 December 2013 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Opposition by Consumers, Stakeholders & Activists Prompted Closure of RIL's Delight |url=https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/personal-care-pet-supplies-liquor/opposition-by-consumers-stakeholders-activists-prompted-closure-of-rils-delight/27584957 |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=ETRetail.com |publisher=The Economic Times |language=en}} By 2014, it also closed its book and music stores called Reliance TimeOut, and furniture retailer, Reliance Living, in order to focus on value retailing and e-commerce.{{cite news |title=Reliance exiting furniture business |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/reliance-exiting-furniture-business/article20869787.ece1 |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=BusinessLine |date=21 September 2014 |language=en}}
In 2016, Reliance Retail rebranded its hypermarket and mini-hypermarket formats–Reliance Mart and Reliance Super–under the name Reliance Smart.{{cite news |last1=Agarwal |first1=Sapna |title=Reliance Retail looks to reinvent itself |url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/fWo7QwpE3CBS0a1TOK1dTJ/Reliance-Retail-looks-to-reinvent-itself.html |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=Mint |date=11 April 2016}} In April 2016, it launched its online fashion retail platform called AJIO.{{cite news |last1=Agarwal |first1=Sapna |title=Reliance Industries launches online fashion portal Ajio.com |url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/ryhOuEuNL2Xa5vLC62tC5I/Reliance-Industries-launches-online-fashion-portal-Ajiocom.html |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=Mint |date=2 April 2016}}
Reliance Retail largely grew organically until 2019, when it acquired the multinational toy retailer Hamleys.{{cite news |last1=Karwa |first1=Krishna |title=Another acquisition for Reliance Retail on the cards? |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/another-acquisition-for-reliance-retail-on-the-cards-3849501.html |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=Moneycontrol |date=18 April 2019}} In December 2019, the company soft-launched its online grocery service JioMart, followed by a wide launch in May 2020 amidst the COVID-19 lockdown.{{cite news |title=JioMart goes live in 200 cities after Mumbai pilot |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/jiomart-goes-live-in-200-cities-after-mumbai-pilot/articleshow/75955843.cms |work=The Times of India |date=25 May 2020 |language=en}}
In August 2020, Reliance Retail announced its acquisition of Future Group's retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing business for {{INRConvert|24713|c|mode=historical|year=2020}}.{{cite news |last1=Deb |first1=Aparna |title=Reliance Retail buys Kishore Biyani's Future retail for Rs 24,713 crore |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/companies/article/reliance-retail-buys-kishore-biyanis-future-retail-for-rs-24713-crore/644685 |publisher=Times Now |date=29 August 2020}} However, the deal was called off in April 2022 after a prolonged legal dispute between Future Group and Amazon.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Manish |title=Reliance calls off $3.4 billion deal with Future Group |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/23/reliance-says-its-3-4-billion-deal-with-future-group-cannot-be-implemented |access-date=29 June 2023 |work=TechCrunch |date=23 April 2022}} Later, Reliance Retail took over more than 200 of Future Group's Big Bazaar, Central and Brand Factory outlets due to Future Group's non-payment of lease,{{cite news |title=Reliance to take over operations of 250 more Future Retail stores-sources |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/retail/indias-reliance-to-take-over-operations-of-250-more-future-retail-stores-sources/articleshow/89890142.cms |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=The Economic Times |date=28 February 2022}} and reopened them as Smart Bazaar, Centro and Fashion Factory respectively.{{cite news |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Writankar |title=Reliance Retail to rebrand brand factory stores as fashion factory |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/retail/reliance-retail-to-rebrand-brand-factory-stores-as-fashion-factory/articleshow/94571734.cms |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=The Economic Times |date=1 October 2022}}
In October 2021, the company partnered with 7-Eleven to franchise the latter's stores in India, opening India's first 7-Eleven in Mumbai.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-07|title=Reliance Retail to launch first 7-Eleven store in India this week; Mukesh Ambani takes master franchise|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/reliance-retail-to-launch-first-7-eleven-store-in-india-this-week-mukesh-ambani-takes-master-franchise/2345394/|access-date=2021-10-07|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}} In July 2022, Reliance Retail entered a similar franchising agreement with Gap to bring Gap to India.{{cite news |last1=Haidar |first1=Faizan |title=Reliance Retail to bring fashion brand Gap to India |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/retail/reliance-retail-limited-announces-partnership-with-gap-inc-/articleshow/92701810.cms |access-date=25 July 2024 |work=The Economic Times |date=6 July 2022}}
In January 2022, Reliance Retail invested $200 million in Dunzo for a 25.8% stake.{{cite news |title=Reliance Retail picks up 25.8% stake in Dunzo, leads $240 mn funding |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/reliance-retail-picks-up-25-8-stake-in-dunzo-leads-240-million-funding/articleshow/88733921.cms |date=2022-01-06 |website=The Economic Times | access-date=2022-01-06}}
In 2022, soft drink brand Campa Cola was acquired by Reliance Industries for ₹22 crores. In March 2023, Reliance Consumer Products (RCPL), the fast-moving consumer goods arm and subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL), announced the relaunch of Campa Cola in three flavours at select stores.{{Cite web |title=Campa Cola is back: Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries relaunches iconic Campa in 3 flavours |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/campa-cola-is-back-mukesh-ambanis-reliance-industries-relaunches-iconic-campa-in-3-flavours/3003752/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}
In May 2024, Jio Leasing Services Ltd (JLSL), a subsidiary of Jio Financial Services, announced that it would lease customer premises equipment, devices and telecom equipment worth $4.32 billion from Reliance Retail.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Manish |date=2024-05-24 |title=Jio Financial unit to buy $4.32B of telecom gear from Reliance Retail |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/23/jio-financial-unit-to-buy-4-32b-of-telecom-gear-from-reliance-retail/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}
Subsidiaries and divisions
File:Reliance Mall, Vikaspuri 01.jpg]]
File:Reliance Mall Nizamabad.jpg]]
File:Reliance Mart, ISCON Mall, Ahmedabad.jpg]]
{{CSS image crop
|Image = Reliance Trends Woman showroom in Kadappakada, Oct 2018.jpg
|bSize = 350
|cWidth = 220
|cHeight = 140
|oTop = 80
|oLeft= 1
|Location=right
|Description = A Reliance Trends Woman store in Kollam.
}}
File:Reliance Centro Mall in Pune.jpg]]
There are over 45 subsidiaries and divisions of Reliance Retail.{{cite web |url=http://www.ril.com/html/aboutus/subsidiaries_associates_RRL.html |title=Subsidiaries of Reliance Retail Limited |publisher=ril.com |access-date=27 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812101653/http://www.ril.com/html/aboutus/subsidiaries_associates_RRL.html |archive-date=12 August 2013 |df=dmy-all }}
=Major divisions=
=Acquisitions=
Products and services
= Private label products =
Although Reliance Retail's grocery businesses primarily markets products of third party FMCG players, they also sell inhouse brands including: Best Farms, Good Life, Enzo, Mopz, Expelz and Home One.{{Cite web|title=Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Retail plans to sell in-house brands in kirana stores|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/current/corporate/reliance-retail-plans-to-sell-in-house-brands-in-kirana-stores/story/368693.html|access-date=2021-03-10|website=www.businesstoday.in|date=29 July 2019 }}{{Cite web|last=Pathak|first=Kalpana|date=2019-07-29|title=RIL plans a big push for private-label brands|url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/ril-plans-a-big-push-for-private-label-brands-1564341638059.html|access-date=2021-03-10|website=mint|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Pathak|first=Kalpana|date=2020-05-25|title=For Reliance Retail's JioMart, private labels are the way to go|url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/for-reliance-retail-jiomart-pvt-labels-are-the-way-to-go-11590344650286.html|access-date=2021-03-10|website=mint|language=en}}
=Fashion labels=
Reliance Brands, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Retail, holds stakes in fashion labels such as Satya Paul (72%),{{cite news |title=Reliance buys additional stake in Future101, Genesis Colors |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/reliance-buys-additional-stake-in-future101-genesis-colors/articleshow/67904498.cms |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=The Economic Times |date=8 February 2019}} Manish Malhotra (40%), and Ritu Kumar (52%).{{cite news |last1=Bailay |first1=Rasul |title=Reliance Retail acquires a controlling stake in designer Ritu Kumar's company |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/retail/reliance-retail-acquires-a-controlling-stake-in-designer-ritu-kumars-company/articleshow/87136675.cms |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=The Economic Times |date=19 October 2021}}
Funding
In September 2020, American investment firm Silver Lake bought a 1.75% stake in Reliance Retail for {{INR}}7,500 crore{{cite news|url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/brokerages-view-on-silver-lakes-investment-in-reliance-retail|title= Brokerage view on Silver Lake investment in Reliance retail|work=Bloomberg Quint|last1=Dsouza|first1=Sharleen|date=11 September 2020|access-date=11 September 2020}} and KKR acquired a 1.28% stake for {{INR}}5,500 crore valuing the company at $58 billion.{{cite news|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/latest-news-kkr-reliance-retail-deal-american-buyout-firm-to-invest-rs-5500-crore-for-1-28-in-ril-unit-5873461.html|title= KKR-Reliance Retail deal: American buyout firm to invest Rs 5,550 crore for 1.28% in RIL unit|work=Moneycontrol|date=23 September 2020|access-date=23 September 2020}}
In October 2020, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC bought a 1.22% stake for $752 million, while TPG acquired a 0.41% stake for $250 million, giving Reliance Retail a pre-money valuation of $58.5 billion.{{Cite web|title=Singapore’s GIC and TPG to invest over $1 billion in Reliance Retail|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/02/singapore-gic-reliance-retail-ambani/|access-date=5 October 2020 |website=TechCrunch|date=2 October 2020 }}
In August 2023, the Qatar Investment Authority invested $1 billion in Reliance Retail for a 0.99% stake in the company at a $100 billion valuation. In October 2023, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority acquired a 0.59% stake in the company with an investment of nearly $600 million.{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Manish |title=Abu Dhabi sovereign-wealth fund invests nearly $600M in Reliance Retail at $100B valuation |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/10/06/abu-dhabi-sovereign-wealth-fund-invests-nearly-600m-in-reliance-retail-at-100b-valuation/ |access-date=6 October 2023 |work=TechCrunch |date=6 October 2023}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Reliance Group}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Reliance Industries subsidiaries
Category:Retail companies of India
Category:Retail companies established in 2006
Category:Companies based in Mumbai
Category:Clothing brands of India
Category:Indian companies established in 2006
Category:2006 establishments in Maharashtra
Category:Consumer electronics retailers
Category:Supermarkets of India
Category:Clothing retailers of India