Brands
Nespresso expands into India with Delhi flagship
MUMBAI: Coffee connoisseurs can cheer. Nespresso, the Nestlé-owned premium coffee brand, has established its first Indian retail presence with a boutique in Delhi’s Select Citywalk Mall, marking a significant step in the firm’s Asian expansion strategy.
The Swiss company, which pioneered the premium single-serve coffee segment, has entered a market traditionally dominated by tea consumption but where urban coffee culture has gained substantial momentum in recent years. The company had initially entered the Indian market in late 2024 through e-commerce channels before committing to this brick-and-mortar investment.
Nespresso chief executive Philipp Navratil, highlighted the importance of physical retail in the firm’s market development approach. “This boutique will help us bring Nespresso’s product range to Indian coffee consumers in an immersive environment,” he noted at the launch event. The company appears to be replicating its successful retail strategy from other emerging markets, where experiential shopping has proven effective in building brand loyalty.
The Delhi boutique follows Nespresso’s established retail formula: trained coffee specialists offer tastings and personalised recommendations in a carefully designed environment showcasing both the firm’s coffee varieties and its machine range. This high-touch approach has served the brand well in other markets where coffee consumption patterns are evolving.
For Nestlé, the parent company with an already substantial presence in India, this expansion represents a strategic move into the premium segment.
“Coffee culture in India is evolving rapidly,” observed Nestlé India chairman & managing director Suresh Narayanan. “This launch reflects our commitment to deliver premium experiences to Indian consumers.”
The company has appointed Thakral Innovations as its official distribution partner in India, covering all Nespresso products across retail channels. This partnership model has been successfully deployed by Nespresso in other markets where specialised distribution expertise is required.
Notably, Nespresso has maintained supply chain connections in India since 2011, sourcing high-quality coffee through its sustainability programme. The firm currently works with approximately 2,000 Indian coffee farmers through its AAA Sustainable Quality initiative, which focuses on improving quality, productivity and environmental practices.
The Indian premium coffee market has shown resilience and growth potential despite economic headwinds, with urban consumers increasingly willing to spend on premium food and beverage experiences. Nespresso’s entry pits it against established players including Starbucks, which has operated in India since 2012 through a partnership with Tata Consumer Products.
Nespresso, which achieved B Corp certification in 2022, currently operates in 93 markets worldwide with a retail network of 791 boutiques. Whether the company can successfully cultivate a significant market in a country where tea remains the dominant hot beverage will be a key test of its globalisation strategy and the evolving tastes of Indian consumers.
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.
