Exclusive: Reliance Retail will selectively explore international expansion, besides tier 2, tier 3 emphasis in India, says Isha Ambani

Reliance Retail , India’s largest organised retail chain with 19,340 stores, looks to expand its network in tier 2 and tier 3 markets as part of its growth strategy, while selectively exploring international growth opportunities. Isha Ambani , executive director, Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL), told Fortune India that technology and innovation will be central to this journey, as will strategic partnerships that allow the company to enhance its offerings.

“Our expansion plans are focused on building a future-ready retail ecosystem that’s inclusive, sustainable, and globally competitive,” she said. Her vision is to build Reliance Retail into a globally admired omni-channel leader that serves customers seamlessly across physical and digital platforms.

“We are expanding across urban and rural India, and selectively exploring global opportunities that align with our capabilities and values. We will continue to diversify into new product categories, build global partnerships, and prioritise innovation and sustainability,” she added. Though Isha mentioned exploring international opportunities, she has not elaborated on it. The company has a presence in the international market through global toy retailer Hamleys, which it acquired in 2019.

Reliance Retail recorded gross revenue of ₹330,870 crore in FY25, a growth of 7.9% over last year. The business continued its strong track record of profit growth registering an EBITDA of ₹25,053 crore, higher by 8.6%. The net profit increased by 11.3% to 12,388 crore. The business continued to grow its store footprint, opening 2,659 stores during the year. However, with store rationalisation, the total store count was at 19,340 with a total area of 77.4 million sq. ft.

Its e-commerce arm, JioMart scaled up its quick hyper-local deliveries, benefiting from its wide store network presence. The company’s FMCG business, which Isha launched, has achieved ₹11,450 crore sales in its second year of operations.

The last couple of years tested every aspect of our business, said Ambani. “We faced major supply chain disruptions, accelerated digital adoption, and fast-changing consumer expectations. We addressed these by accelerating our investments in digital infrastructure and local sourcing, forging stronger supplier relationships, and enhancing supply chain visibility. We also focused on empowering our teams to respond with speed and flexibility to new demands,” she added.

A combination of innovation, collaboration, and staying grounded in the customer-first mindset helped the company, she said. “As a result, we came out of this period stronger, more agile, and even more deeply connected to our consumers’ needs,” Isha said.

Technology lies at the heart of RRVL’s transformation strategy. “Artificial intelligence allows us to deliver personalised experiences, while predictive analytics enhances our decision-making across areas such as inventory, pricing, and marketing. Robotics has been instrumental in optimising warehouse and supply chain operations, leading to greater speed, accuracy, and efficiency,” said Isha.

“Data analytics helps us understand consumer behaviour in real time, enabling us to act on insights swiftly and with precision. Together, these technologies are not only streamlining our operations but also enhancing the customer experience across both digital and physical touchpoints. The aim is to continue using technology to build a scalable, sustainable, and customer-centric retail ecosystem,” she said.

The past few years have been both intense and immensely rewarding for Isha. Navigating Reliance Retail through a global pandemic, economic volatility, and a rapidly evolving consumer landscape has significantly shaped my leadership journey, she said. “We reimagined the way we connect with our customers — launching platforms like AJIO, which have become leaders in their categories, and expanding our offline and online integration to offer seamless shopping experiences,” she noted.