“Over the next three years, we will invest Rs 40,000 crore ($4.7 billion) to create Asia’s largest integrated food parks with AI-driven automation, robotics, and sustainable technologies, securing lasting cost leadership,” Ambani told shareholders.

The food parks will form a cornerstone of Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL), which is being carved out as a direct subsidiary of RIL. RCPL, which reported Rs 11,500 crore in revenue in FY25, has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing FMCG players within just three years.

So far, the company has invested Rs 3,000 crore ($351 million) in 12 factories fitted with Industry 4.0 technologies, achieving what Ambani described as “some of the highest efficiency rates in the Indian FMCG sector.” Reliance has also set up a 1,50,000 sq ft R&D hub housing over 100 scientists, with 15 patents already filed. “Its mandate is clear – better-than-market quality, first-to-India products, and first-to-world innovations,” Ambani said.

Reliance’s consumer portfolio includes Campa, which has captured double-digit market share across several states, and Independence, its daily essentials brand, which crossed Rs 1,000 crore in sales last year.

Outlining the roadmap ahead, Ambani said: “Our near-term ambition is clear – to be the fastest consumer brands company to reach Rs 1 lakh crore ($11.7 billion) in revenue within five years.”

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Reliance Retail’s financial report for the fourth quarter concluding on March 31, 2024, indicates a notable 11.7 percent increase in net profits, totaling Rs. 2,698 crore in contrast to the previous year’s figure of Rs. 2,415 crore for the same period. However, it’s noteworthy that this profit represents a decline compared to the preceding quarter, wherein the company boasted a profit of Rs. 3,165 crore.

The revenue from operations experienced a notable uptick, marking a 9.8 percent increase to Rs. 67,610 crore from Rs. 61,559 crore in the corresponding period last year. The company achieved a significant milestone in fiscal year 2024, with a robust gross revenue of Rs. 3 trillion, showcasing a remarkable growth rate of 17.8 percent compared to the previous fiscal year. This expansion was fueled by the strategic expansion of the business’s footprint, encompassing a diverse array of consumption categories. Notably, the company added 1,840 new stores, augmenting its gross area by 15.6 million square feet. Consequently, the total store count now stands at an impressive 18,836, spanning a combined area of 79.1 million square feet.

The registered customer base was at 304 million at the end of the year, up 22.2 per cent year on year, while the total transactions recorded were at 1.26 billion, up 22 per cent y-o-y.

Isha Ambani, Executive Director, Reliance Retail Ventures, said ‘Reliance Retail continues to deliver steady performance, led by growth across consumption baskets. We continue to invest and innovate across formats and products to improve our customer value proposition and serve evolving consumer needs. Robust expansion and growth of our retail business signifies our commitment to customer centricity and confidence in India’s consumption story’.

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