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, kiranas and traders accessed inventory and logistics support while continuing to operate independently within their neighbourhoods.
As 2025 drew to a close, Reliance Retail’s impact lay less in headline announcements and more in its everyday presence — a steady expansion that made shopping simpler and closer for millions across the country.
