e-commerce
Reliance Retail Q2 net profit climbs 1.3 per cent to Rs 2,836 crore
Mumbai: Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd has reported a modest increase in net profit for the second quarter of FY25, rising 1.3 per cent year-on-year to Rs 2,836 crore. However, the company faced a significant revenue decline of 3.5 per cent, with operating revenue falling to Rs 66,502 crore compared to Rs 68,937 crore in the same period last year.
The results reflect ongoing challenges in the retail sector, particularly due to subdued consumer demand in the fashion and lifestyle segments. Despite these hurdles, Reliance Retail’s EBITDA rose slightly to Rs 5,850 crore from Rs 5,830 crore in Q2 of the previous year, with margins improving by 30 basis points.
In a strategic move to bolster its market presence, Reliance Retail expanded aggressively by adding 464 new stores during the quarter, bringing its total to 18,946 across an operational area of 79.4 million square feet. Reliance Retail executive director, Isha Ambani emphasised the company’s commitment to innovation and customer engagement: “Reliance Retail continues to make investments in technology and infrastructure to build a strong foundation for future growth and maintain market leadership.”
During the quarter, Reliance Retail strengthened its portfolio by forging exclusive partnerships with Delta Galil to expand in lingerie and activewear, while launching ASOS in India. AJIO expanded its product catalogue by over 25 percent year-over-year, adding 1.8 million customers and introducing brands like H&M and Timberland. The youth-focused Yousta format surpassed 50 stores within a year, and Ajio Luxe saw a 28 percent increase in options, with its brand count exceeding 725.
JioMart’s growth extended across categories, with non-grocery segments, especially consumer electronics, driving a twofold increase in average order value. The jewellery segment launched nine new collections, contributing to higher average bill values, while the grocery business maintained steady growth, led by Smart Bazaar and Smart stores. The company also scaled up quick commerce through its store network, expanded the services business to 150 cities, and launched its first Armani Café as part of the premium brands initiative.
The merchant base for the company’s private label doubled, and the seller base grew by 46 percent, further expanding the product catalogue.
Foot traffic across all store formats surged by 14.2 per cent year-on-year, reaching over 297 million visits. The digital commerce segment also performed well, contributing 17 per cent of total revenue as Reliance Retail adapts to evolving consumer preferences.
Chairman Mukesh D. Ambani remarked on the company’s strategic direction: “The unique omni-channel retail model enables the business to service a wide range of requirements of a vast, heterogenous customer base.”
MUMBAI: From flights to tracks, Cleartrip is now trying to keep every journey on the same ticket. Cleartrip, part of Flipkart, has launched train ticket bookings through a partnership with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, marking its entry into India’s vast rail travel ecosystem.
The integration allows users to search, book and manage train journeys directly within the app, as the company pushes towards becoming a unified, multi-modal travel platform. The move plugs Cleartrip into one of the world’s largest transportation networks, where over 800 million reserved passengers travel annually, alongside a daily footfall of around 23 million across Indian Railways.
The offering includes bookings across routes nationwide, covering General and Tatkal quotas as per Ministry of Railways guidelines. Users can also access real-time seat availability, fare insights, PNR status tracking, berth preferences and digital payment options within a single interface.
The expansion reflects a broader shift in travel platforms from specialising in a single mode to stitching together end-to-end journeys. For Cleartrip, the bet is not just on scale, but on simplifying a system often seen as complex and fragmented.
Company executives said the focus is on embedding predictive intelligence and personalisation into the booking journey, aiming to make everything from discovery to post-booking support faster and more intuitive.
The train booking feature is currently live on the app, with plans to extend it to the web platform soon, signalling a push towards a seamless cross-platform experience.
In a country where railways move billions each year, the next battleground for travel apps may well be decided not in the skies, but on the tracks.
