Brands
Aditya Birla Fashion Q3: revenue up 8 per cent, loss widens to Rs 137 crore
Ebitda rises 13 per cent as store expansion continues
MUMBAI: Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited reported a wider consolidated net loss in the third quarter of FY26, weighed down by the impact of new labour codes, even as revenue and operating performance improved.
Net loss from continuing operations rose to Rs 137 crore in the December quarter, compared with Rs 103 crore a year earlier. Excluding the labour-code impact, the normalised loss stood at Rs 115 crore. Revenue from operations grew 8 per cent year on year to Rs 2,374 crore from Rs 2,201 crore in Q3 FY25.
Ebitda increased 13 per cent to Rs 370 crore, up from Rs 328 crore in the year-ago quarter, reflecting tighter cost control and a stronger mix. Revenue for the nine months ended December rose 10 per cent year on year to Rs 6,187 crore.
The ethnic wear portfolio delivered another strong quarter, growing 20 per cent on year and continuing its run of sustained double-digit expansion. The segment has now crossed an annualised sales scale of over Rs 2,000 crore. Digital-first platform TMRW posted 29 per cent year-on-year growth, while the luxury business grew 27 per cent, aided by the recently opened Galeries Lafayette store.
ABFRL added around 50 gross stores during the quarter, taking its total retail footprint to more than 7.7 million square feet.
Pantaloons reported quarterly sales of Rs 1,276 crore, reflecting the shift of festive demand into Q2 and the deferral of the end-of-season sale into Q4. Adjusted for these calendar effects, like-to-like growth stood at 3 per cent. The format opened six stores and closed three, ending the quarter with 406 outlets.
Ownd delivered a standout performance, posting 54 per cent year-on-year growth and expanding its network to 67 stores. The Collective and Mono Brands business grew 16 per cent, with improving profitability, and now operates 49 stores after adding three during the quarter.
In a regulatory filing, the company said its diversified portfolio across categories and price points provides a strong base for long-term growth. While investments in select businesses will continue, the focus remains on scaling operations, improving efficiency and strengthening profitability.
Brands
Eternal pumps Rs 450 crore into Blinkit as quick commerce race heats up
Fresh funds fuel Blinkit’s expansion as rivals Zepto and Instamart scale up
MUMBAI: Eternal has infused Rs 450 crore, into its quick commerce subsidiary Blinkit, marking its first capital injection into the company in 2026. The funding comes as competition in India’s fast-growing quick commerce market continues to intensify.
According to media reports, the capital infusion was approved by the board through a rights issue, with 2,799 equity shares allotted at an issue price of Rs 16,07,161 per share. The funds are expected to support Blinkit’s expansion, operational expenses and working capital needs as it scales operations across more cities.
The latest investment follows significant funding support from Eternal in 2025. The company invested Rs 500 crore in January, Rs 1,500 crore in February and Rs 600 crore in November, taking the total infusion last year to Rs 2,600 crore. The continued funding highlights Eternal’s focus on strengthening its quick commerce business.
Blinkit’s operations have grown rapidly alongside these investments. In the December quarter of FY25, the company reported revenue of Rs 1,399 crore, up from Rs 644 crore in the same period a year earlier. Gross order value also rose to Rs 7,798 crore during the quarter, reflecting strong demand for rapid delivery services.
However, profitability remains under pressure as the company continues to expand. Blinkit reported an adjusted ebitda loss of Rs 103 crore in the quarter, compared with a loss of Rs 8 crore in the previous quarter.
The funding comes at a time when competition in the quick commerce segment is increasing. Rival startup Zepto raised $450 million in October last year, while Swiggy raised around Rs 10,000 crore in December to strengthen investments in its quick commerce arm Instamart.
Earlier this year, Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa was elevated to group CEO of Eternal, succeeding Deepinder Goyal, reflecting the growing strategic importance of the quick commerce business within the company.
