Isha Ambani Steers Reliance Retail to 20,000 Stores, Cementing Global Brand Reach

Moving beyond headline-grabbing launches, the company focused on integrating an expansive physical footprint with a fast-growing digital ecosystem. By year-end, Reliance Retail’s network had expanded to nearly 20,000 stores across more than 7,000 towns, servicing over a billion customer transactions and reinforcing its position as a go-to shopping destination for millions of Indians.

Articulating the strategy at the company’s 48th Annual General Meeting, Isha Ambani described physical stores as the backbone of a unified omnichannel ecosystem. This vision gained momentum in 2025 with the aggressive expansion of quick commerce. Reliance overhauled its logistics to enable sub-30-minute deliveries, supported by its store network and around 600 newly added dark stores. The push was reflected in the growth of JioMart across more than 1,000 cities and the launch of Ajio Rush, which brought 30-minute delivery to fashion and improved conversion rates while reducing returns.

Brand curation emerged as another defining theme. Reliance focused on making global lifestyle brands accessible to India’s middle class. The relaunch of Shein on Reliance platforms stood out, crossing six million app downloads and attracting 11 million monthly active users. This was complemented by the introduction of French womenswear label Maje, alongside the expansion of youth-focused formats such as Yousta and Azorte.

In beauty and personal care, the Tira platform reshaped the segment with the India debut of Fenty Beauty and Essence. A strategic investment in UK-based facial fitness brand FACEGYM signalled a move toward experience-led retail.

On the structural front, Reliance Retail strengthened its FMCG play. Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL) recorded a turnover of ₹11,500 crore in just its second year, driven by nationwide adoption of brands such as Campa and Independence. In a significant corporate move, RCPL was made a direct subsidiary of Reliance Industries, positioning it to tap the $2 trillion opportunity in India’s consumer market. The company’s B2B platforms also continued to support over four million kirana partners with inventory and technology solutions.

Financially, the momentum translated into strong results, with the retail business posting a 28% year-on-year rise in profit and 20% revenue growth. Industry observers note that the real achievement under Isha Ambani’s leadership is a quiet transformation in consumption—where shoppers in Tier-3 towns can access global brands, fresh essentials, and 30-minute deliveries with the same ease as metro consumers.

With this foundation, Reliance Retail is now targeting a 20% compound annual growth rate over the next three years, driven by data-led insights and a supply chain designed to reach every corner of the country.