Brands
Ajay Devgn takes a swing at India’s whisky drinkers
MUMBAI: Hindi cinema stars launching whisky brands is hardly novel. Ajay Devgn is having a crack anyway. The actor and entrepreneur has co-founded The GlenJourneys, a single malt scotch brand developed with premium spirits outfit Cartel Bros, which launched its Cask Series in India in October with the ambitious goal of capturing 20 per cent of the country’s luxury single malt segment within two years.
The brand made its global debut with the Pioneer Edition, a 21-year-old Highland single malt priced at Rs 50,000 and limited to 600 bottles worldwide, available only in select international duty-free shops. The India launch takes a more accessible approach. The Cask Series—finished in rum, bourbon and sherry casks—is priced at Rs 6,409 and crafted specifically for the domestic market, which is growing at seven per cent year-on-year.
Maharashtra gets first dibs. The GlenJourneys has targeted 10,000 cases in the state by the end of this financial year, with rollouts planned for Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Chandigarh in November 2025, followed by other metros in early 2026. The brand has positioned itself as bridging tradition and modernity, appealing to both seasoned collectors and younger drinkers exploring premium spirits.
Living Liquidz and Mansionz founder and Cartel Bros co-founder Mokksh Sani delivered the expected patter about craftsmanship. “Age refines a whisky—but a great cask defines it,” he said, claiming each expression in the Cask Series reveals “distinctive character” that sets it apart from conventional single malts. Devgn chimed in with talk of tradition meeting innovation and “the quiet power of time, wood, and artistry.”
The GlenJourneys comes backed by Cartel Bros’ track record. The company makes The Glenwalk Scotch Whisky, which won gold at Mexico’s Spirits Selection Awards and best single malt scotch at the India Wines & Spirits Awards 2025. Whether those accolades translate into market share is another question entirely.
India’s premium whisky segment is crowded with international heavyweights like Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal and Glenfiddich, alongside domestic players pushing upmarket. Celebrity endorsements open doors but don’t guarantee shelf space or repeat purchases. Devgn’s star power may generate initial buzz, but sustaining a 20 per cent market share target in a competitive, slow-growing category requires more than name recognition.
The brand’s pricing strategy suggests pragmatism. At Rs 6,409, The GlenJourneys Cask Series sits below ultra-premium territory whilst claiming luxury credentials through cask finishing and Scottish provenance. It’s a crowded middle ground where execution matters more than marketing spin. Whether Indian whisky drinkers buy into Devgn’s vision—or simply buy the bottle once out of curiosity—will become clear soon enough.
Brands
Reliance Retail FY26 revenue rises 11.8 Per Cent to Rs 3.7 lakh crore
Q4 revenue up 11.1 Per Cent, hyperlocal orders surge 4x, PAT steady
MUMBAI: Reliance Retail isn’t just ringing up sales, it’s ringing doorbells faster than ever. Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL) reported a steady FY26 performance, with growth powered by store expansion, a sharp surge in hyperlocal commerce, and consistent traction across grocery, fashion and jewellery. For the full year, revenue rose 11.8 per cent year-on-year to Rs 3,70,026 crore. In the January–March quarter, revenue from operations climbed 11.1 per cent to Rs 87,344 crore, up from Rs 78,622 crore a year earlier.
Operating performance remained stable, with Q4 EBITDA inching up 3.1 per cent YoY to Rs 6,921 crore from Rs 6,711 crore. However, quarterly profit after tax held steady at Rs 3,563 crore. For the full fiscal, PAT grew 11.7 per cent to Rs 13,842 crore.
Expansion remained a key lever. RRVL added 1,564 new stores during FY26, while simultaneously scaling its digital and hyperlocal commerce play. The latter emerged as a standout, with daily orders surging more than fourfold year-on-year in Q4, underlining a clear shift towards faster, localised fulfilment.
In grocery, large-format stores maintained momentum, aided by festive demand and the expansion of Smart Bazaar, which crossed 1,000 stores. Promotional campaigns such as ‘Full Paisa Vasool’ delivered record results, with sales rising 26 per cent YoY.
Digital commerce also picked up pace. JioMart added 5.8 million new users in Q4, nearly doubling its registered base year-on-year. Hyperlocal orders grew 29 per cent sequentially and over 300 per cent annually during the quarter.
Fashion and lifestyle saw steady traction. Ajio recorded a 23 per cent YoY rise in average bill value, while fast-fashion platform Shein crossed 11 million app installs, scaling rapidly with expanding product lines.
The jewellery business added further shine, with average bill value jumping 53 per cent YoY, largely driven by rising gold prices and sustained consumer demand.
Commenting on the shift, RRVL executive director Isha Ambani said hyperlocal commerce has become a structural growth driver, with orders rising more than fourfold over the year.
Looking ahead to FY27, the company is betting on technology to deepen engagement. The focus, Ambani noted, will be on AI-led merchandising, sharper pricing strategies and disciplined execution turning scale into sustained customer value.
In short, the carts are fuller, the clicks are quicker, and the next phase looks less about reach and more about precision.
