RELIANCE

Retail pushes for aggressive expansion

After a period of strategic workforce and store rationalization,

has shifted back to an expansionist approach, particularly in its retail segment. The company's overall workforce grew to 4,03,303 in FY25, a significant rebound from a reduction in FY24, with the retail business alone adding 40,230 new employees. Reliance Retail added 2,659 stores in FY25, bringing its total store count to 19,340—the largest retail footprint in India. The company has been focusing on optimizing its retail space by closing larger format stores and opening smaller, more agile outlets. This strategy is now on an accelerated path, with 388 new stores opened just in the June quarter. This expansion is backed by a substantial capital investment of ₹33,696 crore in FY25, reflecting a strong focus on infrastructure and growth. Reliance Retail reported a gross revenue of ₹3.3 trillion in FY25, marking a 7.9% growth, and its profit jumped by 11.3% to ₹12,388 crore. The business operates a diverse portfolio of brands across various segments, including grocery, fashion, and electronics, and its registered customer base has now surpassed 349 million. In comparison to its peers, Reliance Retail's expansion pace has been rapid. This is evidenced by its store count, which significantly surpasses that of competitors like (with 1,013 stores for Zudio and Westside) and Ltd (with 415 DMart stores). Mukesh Ambani has identified retail as one of the company's four new engines of growth, positioning it as a technology-first, innovation-led platform designed to disrupt the industry and deliver value to consumers.