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Tag: Reliance Retail

  • Zoff adds spice to digital with chef Natasha Gandhi as first ambassador

    Zoff adds spice to digital with chef Natasha Gandhi as first ambassador

    MUMBAI: When it comes to adding flavour, Zoff Foods has turned up the heat by roping in Masterchef India Season 6 finalist and Forbes India Top 100 digital star, chef Natasha Gandhi, as its first digital ambassador.

    The move marks a milestone in Zoff’s next growth phase, coming on the heels of its expansion into ready-to-cook gravies and offline retail tie-ups with Reliance Retail and D-Mart. For one of India’s fastest-growing spice brands, the collaboration is all about blending innovation with scale and adding a dash of star power to its storytelling.

    Chef Natasha Gandhi, who is also the founder of House of Millets, brings with her a reputation for healthy, millet-based recipes and clean-label cooking. Her digital presence resonates strongly with young households seeking authenticity and convenience, a perfect match for Zoff’s vision of making modern Indian kitchens both healthier and easier to manage.

    From whole and powdered spices to gourmet essentials, Zoff’s portfolio is designed for India’s evolving tastes. With Natasha’s recipes and digital voice anchoring campaigns, including past hits like #UnfilteredBandhan and #goldenglowwithzoff, the brand hopes to spark new consumer movements around flavour, health, and convenience.

    “For us, it’s about empowering every home cook,” said Zoff Foods co-founder Akash Agrawalla. “With Natasha’s expertise and relatability, we see an opportunity to inspire households to put on their chef hats and trust Zoff as a kitchen partner.”

    Chef Natasha echoed the sentiment: “This is not just about recipes, it’s about inspiring Indian households to embrace healthy eating and making flavourful cooking effortless. Zoff stands for purity and innovation, which is exactly what people want.”

    With 450 plus products across skincare, haircare, bath and body already under its belt, Zoff’s foray into digital-first food storytelling looks set to redefine the spice aisle, one millet recipe at a time.

  • Smart Bazaar, gives retail therapy a makeover with Mccann’s new campaign

    Smart Bazaar, gives retail therapy a makeover with Mccann’s new campaign

    MUMBAI: When life upgrades from jugaad to joy, retail must follow suit. Smart Bazaar has roped in Mccann Worldgroup India for its latest campaign, a creative push that mirrors the country’s shift from “making do” to “living well”. Based on insights into evolving Indian households, the campaign spotlights how homes today are being redesigned with purpose organised kitchens, thoughtful bathrooms, and living spaces that blend function with flair. The message? Families no longer just seek affordability; they aspire to elevate everyday living with quality and comfort at the core.

    “Smart Bazaar isn’t just another retail chain; we are emerging as the value-first catalyst for everyday aspiration,” said Reliance Retail CMO Surabhi Sen noting how the brand aims to bridge necessity with desire. Mccann Worldgroup India CEO & CCO Prasoon Joshi added, “India is at a cultural inflection point. Families are realising that living well isn’t about luxury, it’s about dignity, joy, and shared values. With Smart Bazaar, we tapped into that truth and gave it an authentic yet aspirational voice.”

    With this collaboration, Smart Bazaar positions itself as more than just a marketplace, it’s pitching itself as a partner in everyday upgrades, making better living accessible to households across India.

     

  • Q1 FY26: Reliance Retail charges ahead with Rs 84,171 crore revenue blitz as profit surges 28 per cent

    Q1 FY26: Reliance Retail charges ahead with Rs 84,171 crore revenue blitz as profit surges 28 per cent

    MUMBAI: Reliance Retail has delivered a commanding first quarter performance, posting revenues of Rs 84,171 crore—an 11.3 per cent year-on-year surge—whilst profits catapulted 28.3 per cent to Rs 3,271 crore as the retail behemoth continued its relentless expansion across India’s consumer landscape.

    The company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation climbed 12.7 per cent to Rs 6,381 crore, with margins expanding 20 basis points to an industry-leading 8.7 per cent—cementing its position as India’s most profitable large-scale retailer.

    Reliance Retail’s physical footprint swelled with 388 new store openings during the quarter, taking the total count to 19,592 stores spanning 77.6 million square feet. The registered customer base hit 358 million, reinforcing the company’s claim as one of India’s most preferred retailers.

    The star performer was JioMart, which the company  described as “India’s fastest scaling digital grocery platform.” The hyperlocal delivery service registered explosive growth with daily orders surging 175 per cent year-on-year and 68 per cent quarter-on-quarter, now serving 4,290 pin codes through 2,200-plus stores across 1,000-plus cities.

    JioMart’s rapid-fire expansion included launching AJio Rush, a four-hour delivery service now live in six cities with 130,000-plus options. The initiative is delivering superior unit economics driven by higher average bill values and lower returns, according to the company.

    Fashion and lifestyle delivered robust growth, with emerging formats Gap, Azorte and Yousta registering 59 per cent year-on-year growth across 170 stores. Ajio’s new customer revenue share reached 18 per cent, up 150 basis points year-on-year, whilst average bill values jumped 17 per cent. The platform expanded its catalogue to 2.6 million options—44 per cent growth year-on-year.

    Consumer electronics faced headwinds from early monsoon onset impacting air conditioner sales, though average bill values surged 26 per cent with conversions up 200 basis points. The company bolstered its own-brand strategy by acquiring Kelvinator brand intellectual property for India.

    Grocery maintained its market leadership with broad-based growth across categories. Home and personal care grew 15 per cent year-on-year, as did fruits and vegetables, whilst packaged foods expanded 13 per cent. The Metro format delivered standout performance with home and personal care categories growing 25 per cent year-on-year.

    The quarter also saw strategic brand expansions including Shein crossing two million app downloads with 20,000 live options, whilst AJio Luxe grew its portfolio to 875 brands. Premium brands continued segment leadership with Hamleys expanding geographically and launching its Green Club sustainability programme.

    “Reliance Retail delivered resilient performance during this quarter driven by our relentless focus on operational excellence, geographical expansion and sharper product portfolio,” said executive director Isha M. Ambani “Our continued investments in cutting-edge technologies and differentiated product offerings have enabled us to serve our customers better and scale with agility.”

    The results underscore Reliance Retail’s dominance in India’s Rs 70 trillion retail market, with the company now processing 389 million transactions quarterly—a 16.5 per cent year-on-year increase—as it continues reshaping India’s retail landscape through aggressive digitisation and expansion.

  • Reliance hits record Q1 FY26 EBITDA as Jio and retail fire on all cylinders

    Reliance hits record Q1 FY26 EBITDA as Jio and retail fire on all cylinders

    MUMBAI: Reliance Industries has kicked off FY26 with a blockbuster first quarter, posting its highest-ever consolidated quarterly EBITDA of Rs 58,024 crore ($ $6.8 billion), a sharp 35.7 per cent leap over last year, fuelled by robust performances across digital, retail and energy verticals.

    Group net profit soared 76.5 per cent year-on-year to Rs 30,783 crore ($3.6 billion), aided by operational gains and a Rs 8,924 crore windfall from its stake sale in Asian Paints. Total revenue rose 6 per cent to Rs 2.73 lakh crore ($31.9 billion), with EBITDA margins improving by a stellar 460 basis points to 21.2 per cent.

    Reliance Jio continued to dominate the digital landscape, crossing a jaw-dropping 200 million 5G subscriber milestone and 20 million home broadband connections. Jio Platforms’ revenue jumped 19 per cent to Rs 35,032 crore, while EBITDA climbed 24 per cent to Rs 18,135 crore, with margins expanding 210 basis points to a best-in-class 51.8 per cent.

    ARPU rose to Rs 208.8, driven by premium subscriber additions and deepening data consumption, which reached 54.7 billion GB this quarter. Jio also unveiled its next-gen tech stack—JioGames Cloud, JioPC, and the proprietary UBR fixed wireless platform—taking a firm aim at India’s AI and home computing future.

    Reliance Retail cemented its pole position, clocking Rs 84,171 crore in revenue (up 11.3 per cent), and EBITDA of Rs 6,381 crore (up 12.7 per cent), marking an industry-leading margin of 8.7 per cent. The business added 388 new stores, taking the total footprint to 19,592 outlets spanning 77.6 million sq ft.

    JioMart’s hyper-local push paid off with daily order volumes exploding 175 per cent year-on-year. AJIO continued to thrive in the online fashion segment with its new 4-hour delivery service and strong traction for Shein, while the FMCG arm doubled revenue to Rs 4,400 crore.

    Reliance’s Oil-to-Chemicals (O2C) segment, despite a 1.5 per cent drop in revenue due to crude price softness and planned shutdowns, posted a solid 10.8 per cent EBITDA gain at Rs 14,511 crore. Jio-bp’s aggressive retail fuel push contributed significantly, with volumes of petrol and diesel up 38.6 per cent and 34.2 per cent respectively.

    With net debt remaining flat at Rs 1.17 lakh crore and capital expenditure of Rs 29,875 crore this quarter, the group is doubling down on its “golden decade” growth strategy across tech, consumption, and energy. Chairman Mukesh Ambani said, *“Reliance will continue its stellar track record of doubling value every four to five years.”

    From superfast data to doorstep delivery and clean fuels, Reliance is firing on all fronts—and showing no signs of slowing down.

  • Reliance Retail snaps up Kelvinator in bold consumer durables play

    Reliance Retail snaps up Kelvinator in bold consumer durables play

    MUMBAI: Reliance Retail has bagged Kelvinator in a deal that signals its aggressive push into India’s Rs 75,000 crore consumer durables market. The acquisition brings the century-old global refrigeration pioneer under the wing of one of India’s most voracious retailers.

     The details of the acquisition were not revealed at the time of writing, but Reliance Retail, had earlier signed a 10-year deal with Electrolux for brand licensing, manufacturing, marketing, and distributing the Kelvinator brand.  The latter’s consumer cooling products have  been absent from the Indian market for while now
    . 
    Kelvinator, a household name in the ’70s and ’80s, was once the epitome of Indian middle-class aspiration with its catchphrase, “The Coolest One.” Reliance now plans to reboot the brand’s nostalgia with cutting-edge appliances, promising mass access to global-quality tech at local prices.

    “Our mission has always been to serve the diverse needs of every Indian by making technology accessible, meaningful, and future-ready,” stated Reliance Retail Ventures executive director Isha M Ambani.”The acquisition of Kelvinator marks a pivotal moment, enabling us to significantly broaden our offering of trusted global innovations to Indian consumers. This is powerfully supported by our unmatched scale, comprehensive service capabilities, and market-leading distribution network.”

    The move aligns neatly with RRVL’s ambition of “democratising aspirational living.” With 19,000+ stores and 3 million merchants in its ecosystem, the company is now eyeing deep penetration of premium appliances into Indian homes.

    Reliance Retail reported Rs 3.3 lakh crore in turnover and Rs 25,053 crore in EBITDA in FY25, maintaining its perch among the world’s fastest-growing retailers, according to Deloitte.

    With Kelvinator’s legacy and Reliance’s distribution muscle, the group is betting big on middle India’s thirst for quality, affordability—and a bit of old-school cool.

  • Reliance unifies FMCG brands, bets big on affordable consumer products

    Reliance unifies FMCG brands, bets big on affordable consumer products

    MUMBAI: Reliance Retail is taking a major step in its fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) play by consolidating nearly all of its snack, beverage, and home-care brands under Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL)—a subsidiary created just two years ago. The move brings together over 15 brands including Campa, Independence, SnacTac, Puric, and Enzo under a single umbrella, a structure already cleared by the company’s board.

    The goal: to compete directly and efficiently with household giants such as Hindustan Unilever, ITC, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola. Industry insiders suggest this is far more than a backend shuffle. RCPL will
    receive up to Rs 3,900 crore in fresh capital from Reliance Retail Ventures, with planned investments of Rs 6,000–8,000 crore over the next 18 months to expand manufacturing and distribution—particularly for Campa beverages, which have staged a rapid comeback since relaunch.

    Bringing all brands under one roof allows Reliance to make quicker decisions, simplify partner collaboration, and streamline operations. Crucially, it enables RCPL to function as a full-fledged standalone
    FMCG entity, backed by its own resources and agile enough to scale quickly. The company’s stated ambition is to reach 600 million Indian consumers by offering high-quality products at prices 20–40 per cent lower than current market leaders—while deepening its commitment to kirana-first distribution.

    That hyperlocal strategy is already in motion. RCPL products currently reach over one million outlets via 3,200 distributors nationwide. Campa Cola—relaunched at Rs 10 per bottle with bold, modern
    packaging—has become a flagship success, already crossing Rs 1,000 crore in sales and capturing double-digit market share in several states. New bottling plants in Bihar, Assam, and Tamil Nadu are being commissioned to scale the brand nationally and challenge entrenched players in the Rs 67,000-crore soft drink market.

    RCPL’s expansion isn’t limited to drinks. The consumer division’s revenue has grown 3.5x over the past year to Rs 11,500 crore, making it the fastest-growing vertical in Reliance Retail. Alongside Campa and Independence, the company now owns legacy brands like Velvette (personal care), Lotus and Ravalgaon (confectionery), and is set to launch new functional beverages such as Spinner sports drink and Campa Energy.

    The consolidation under RCPL also enables sharper media planning, packaging efficiencies, and supply chain optimisation—all while embedding sustainability goals such as lighter bottles and recyclable
    materials.

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  • Zoff Foods stirs up ready-to-cook game with Reliance Retail tie-up

    Zoff Foods stirs up ready-to-cook game with Reliance Retail tie-up

    MUMBAI: Raipur-based spice disruptor Zoff Foods is whipping up a storm in Indian kitchens with the launch of its new Quick Homestyle Food range, marking its entry into the fast-growing ready-to-cook (RTC) segment. The launch comes with a strategic offline retail partnership with Reliance Retail, making the range available pan-India.

    The lineup includes 5-minute Gravies (Rs 150) and 1-minute Marinades (Rs 75), served in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian avatars — from Paneer Tikka to Chicken Chettinad and Magic Mix Gravy to Mutton Curry. The kicker? No preservatives, no prep, and no flavour compromise.

    Zoff’s latest play combines India’s craving for homestyle flavour with the rising demand for convenience. With its eye on becoming a full-stack kitchen solutions brand, the company is positioning itself as a serious player in the RTC space — where taste meets tech, minus the chopping board.

    Talking about the partnership and expansion, ZOFF Foods co-founder Akash Agrawalla stated, “Indian kitchens are celebrated for their rich traditions and the love poured into every meal. At ZOFF Foods, we honour these culinary roots while embracing the evolving needs of today’s home cooks. With our 5-minute gravies and 1-minute marinades, we are introducing a convenient solution for today’s fast-paced lifestyles, without compromising on flavour or quality. Having built our reputation on delivering clean, high-quality whole spices, and this new launch is a natural extension of our promise, with a clear vision: “Ab poora India cook karega.’ We’re bringing authenticity and ease together in every pack. Through our strategic partnerships with Reliance Retail, we are making these innovations more accessible, reaching 400+ stores by July 2025 and helping consumers experience convenience like never before.”

    Ashish Agrawal shared, “Akash and I have always shared a vision to bring innovation to Indian kitchens while staying true to the roots of purity and authenticity. This marks a significant step, not just for us, but for how Indian households can experience flavor, freshness, and convenience in new ways. Our evolving range, from whole spices to ready-to-cook gravies and marinades, reflects our commitment to clean-label, unadulterated food that meets modern needs while honoring our culinary heritage.”

    The range is now available via zofffoods.com, Reliance Retail outlets, and is headed soon to e-commerce and quick commerce shelves.

  • Retail’s runway moment as offline struts ahead of digital discounts

    Retail’s runway moment as offline struts ahead of digital discounts

    MUMBAI: Clickbait may be sexy, but cash still walks into stores. That was the clear takeaway at the Phygital Retail Convention 2025 (PRC), where industry heavyweights made a persuasive case for why offline retail continues to bag the profits even as online steals the spotlight.

    “Online is a matter of discount in India,” quipped Kumar Nitesh, CEO of Ajio Business and Trend Footwear, Reliance Retail, summing up the e-tail paradox, it boosts valuations, sure, but often bleeds the bottom line. While online contributes about 25 per cent to business, Nitesh noted it’s the brick-and-mortar game that ensures retailers aren’t just surfing trends but making money from them.

    Earlier in the day, P Senthilkumar, senior partner at Vector Consulting, flagged a deeper inventory dilemma: with fashion trends flying faster than ever, predicting demand has become a retail roulette. “What was sold in the previous session is no longer relevant in the next,” he said, highlighting that the average product lifecycle has shrunk to just four months, a ticking timebomb for inventory planners and merchandisers.

    Management thinker Shiv Shivakumar didn’t hold back either, calling out the “buy two, get one free” gimmickry plaguing the apparel space and lamenting the sector’s lack of innovation. Drawing a sharp contrast, he urged retailers to borrow a leaf from the IT playbook where rupee costs meet dollar revenue to de-risk their models and rethink profitability.

    Zooming out from fashion to the broader consumer mindset, B S Nagesh, chairman of Shoppers Stop and founder of Trrain, urged traditional grocers to embrace tech-driven scalability, echoing the wider theme of phygital fusion. Meanwhile, Nikhil Bhatia of CBRE India offered a glimpse into the future of retail real estate: where families don’t come for shopping, they come for a showdown of experiences.

    Based on insights from 700 voices across metros, Bhatia revealed that entertainment-led retail saw a 150 per cent surge, thanks to rising demand for gourmet food courts, upscale bowling alleys, and family entertainment centres especially in Pune, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. “Entertainment is the new anchor tenant,” he said, painting a vivid picture of malls where dining and dancing might just edge out discount deals.

    At PRC 2025, the message rang loud and clear: online may be the poster child, but offline is still the parent paying the bills. And as the retail universe evolves, the future may just lie in a perfect stitch between the two.

  • Reliance Jewels and JioStar spark Akshaya Tritiya frenzy with a blast of bling and buzz

    Reliance Jewels and JioStar spark Akshaya Tritiya frenzy with a blast of bling and buzz

    MUMBAI: Diamonds might claim the sparkle crown, but this Akshaya Tritiya, JioStar’s MegaBlast stole the show. Mumbai lit up like a carnival as Reliance Jewels and JioStar staged a launch spectacular loud enough to wake the gods. Matching the grandeur of Tirupati temple’s golden spires, Reliance Jewels unveiled its Tirupati Collection with a punchy, gold-dusted flourish, fuelling the 10 edition of its Jewels of India series. Powered by JioStar’s freshly minted MegaBlast platform, the campaign turned the gold-buying frenzy of 29 April 2025 into a full-throttle nationwide spectacle.

    Reliance Jewels took the wraps off its Tirupati Collection, inspired by the spiritual richness and design grandeur of Tirupati. Timed to perfection, the launch coincided with Akshaya Tritiya, when buying gold is almost a national sport. JioStar cranked up the volume with its MegaBlast solution, flooding TV and digital platforms at high frequency through JioStar’s vast entertainment network and JioHotstar.

    “The Tirupati Collection represents devotion, craftsmanship, and tradition. Partnering with JioStar allowed us to launch it with the scale and sanctity it truly deserves. We chose MegaBlast, a first-of-its-kind innovation, as it gave us a unique, all-encompassing solution for reaching our target audience at an unprecedented scale and delivering impact. The high-impact visibility across TV and digital gave us the momentum to connect meaningfully with audiences across India, turning our launch into a nationwide celebration,” a Reliance Jewels spokesperson said.

    In true showbiz style, JioStar ensured that every six seconds, across 84 top general entertainment and movie channels, audiences caught a glimpse of the bling. Formats such as Spotlight Frames, Brand Bridges, Stings, and Mega Spots weaved Reliance Jewels into the entertainment fabric, making the brand impossible to miss.

    “Akshaya Tritiya is a time for tradition, celebration, and new beginnings. We are proud that JioStar’s MegaBlast was able to elevate the Reliance Jewels Tirupati Collection into a true cultural moment. MegaBlast is more than just a product—it’s a comprehensive marketing funnel that drives high-decibel awareness, ensures top-of-mind recall and ultimately influences consumer consideration. With its unmatched scale, cross-platform integration, and storytelling capabilities, it offers brands an unparalleled opportunity to engage with audiences throughout the entire campaign journey,” a JioStar spokesperson said.

    The sparkle didn’t stop at TV. Reliance Jewels unleashed a Digital MegaBlast too, hogging screens with pre-roll takeovers, feature trays, pause ads, and juicy mid-roll spots on top shows, ensuring a gold rush across all devices.

    The campaign demonstrated that, even in today’s splintered media jungle, a bold strategy with the right platform still cuts through the clutter. MegaBlast delivered not just big glitzy moments, but also measurable business outcomes, proving that real-world impact can come wrapped in glitz and strategic grit.

  • Zenith enlists Tanya Gupta as director strategy

    Zenith enlists Tanya Gupta as director strategy

    MUMBAI: Zenith took up a lot of her share of mind. Senior media executive Tanya Gupta has taken the plunge and moved from Mindshare India where she was senior director strategy  & insights to Zenith where she is director strategy  (yes, the insights tag has been dropped).

    Tanya has done the rounds of agencies such as Wavemaker, Interpublic group, Isobar (where she spent four years), Group M, Admagnet, Affle . Reliance Retail and Dainik Bhaskar (going in reverse order, with Dainik Bhaskar being her first job).

    Her stints at Isobar and Interpublic group gave her an opportunity to work with brands like Microsoft and Coca-Cola (sparkling, juices and hydration) = two assignments she enjoyed greatly.

    She holds a bachelor s degree in business studies marketing.