Mumbai: Led by Isha Ambani, Reliance Retail continued its quiet but wide-reaching expansion in 2025, strengthening its position as one of the most visible names in everyday Indian shopping. While there were no dramatic shifts, the year was marked by steady growth, wider reach and deeper integration into daily consumer habits.
By the end of the year, Reliance Retail operated nearly 20,000 stores across more than 7,000 towns, giving it one of the largest retail footprints in the country. In many smaller towns, the opening of a Reliance Retail store marked the arrival of organised retail, offering fixed pricing, broader choice and a more reliable shopping experience.
“Stores remain the backbone of our retail business, and our expansion continues steadily across towns and cities,” Isha Ambani said at the company’s annual general meeting, highlighting the continued importance of physical retail even as digital services expand.
Consumer engagement during the year reflected the scale of this network. Across its stores and online platforms, Reliance Retail handled over a billion customer transactions, underscoring how frequently households depended on it for groceries, apparel, electronics and daily essentials. Much of this activity was driven by routine purchases rather than occasional splurges.
Grocery remained central to the business, supported by a supply chain designed to ensure consistent availability of staples and fresh produce. Fashion formats continued to expand beyond metros, bringing affordable, trend-led clothing to smaller cities where options were earlier limited.
Digital services added further convenience. Platforms such as JioMart and Milkbasket offered consumers choices ranging from quick deliveries to scheduled and subscription-based services. Many of these orders were fulfilled through nearby physical stores, enabling faster deliveries even outside major urban centres.
Alongside consumers, small retailers remained part of the ecosystem. Through its wholesale and B2B platforms, kiranasand traders accessed inventory and logistics support while continuing to operate independently within their neighbourhoods.
Strengthens Brand Portfolio
Reliance Retail used 2025 to sharpen its focus on brand additions and new customer-facing services across fashion, beauty, electronics and digital retail. For consumers, the year translated into wider choice, faster access and new shopping experiences.
One of the key fashion developments during the year was the launch of global fashion brand Shein in India through Reliance Retail’s platforms. Positioned around trend-led international styles at accessible prices, the launch expanded options for younger shoppers seeking frequent style refreshes. Alongside this, youth-focused formats such as Yousta and premium fashion brand Azorte continued to expand, while international labels like Gap strengthened their presence. The introduction of French women’s wear brand Maje marked a further step into accessible luxury.
Beauty and wellness also emerged as a major growth area. Through its beauty platform Tira, Reliance Retail brought several world-renowned beauty and skincare brands to India. During the year, Tira partnered to introduce Fenty Beauty, founded by global music and fashion icon Rihanna, and also worked with Cosnova to launch popular cosmetics brand Essence in the Indian market. This push was complemented by a strategic minority investment in UK-based facial fitness brand FACEGYM, signalling a move towards experience-led beauty through standalone studios and select Tira stores.
In consumer electronics, Reliance Retail strengthened its portfolio with the addition of Kelvinator, expanding its own-brand appliances range with products designed specifically for Indian households.
Services also scaled up during the year. Platforms such as JioMart and Milkbasket expanded quick, scheduled and subscription-based delivery options, while Ajio Rushintroduced faster delivery for curated fashion assortments.
Backed by nearly 20,000 stores across more than 7,000 towns and over a billion customer transactions in the year, Reliance Retail closed 2025 with a clear focus — expanding not just its footprint, but the brands and services shaping everyday shopping.
