Brands
Reliance Consumer’s FMCG cart keeps filling up in a fast-moving Q3
MUMBAI: The FMCG aisle is getting busier and bigger at Reliance. Speaking during the earnings call, Reliance Consumer Products executive director Ketan Mody outlined a quarter where scale, speed and portfolio expansion defined performance.
From 1 December 2025, RCPL became a direct subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, and the shift showed immediate impact. The FMCG business added Rs 5,000 crore in revenue in Q3, taking year-to-date revenue to Rs 15,000 crore. Daily essentials emerged as the standout, growing 1.5 times year on year, while the Independence brand crossed the Rs 1,500 crore milestone.
Beverages continued to fizz, with double-digit market shares in key markets and the energy drinks portfolio touching Rs 1,000 crore during the year. Biscuits and confectionery gained traction through new category and market launches, while home care and personal care saw improved uptake across brands such as Enzo, Get Real and Glimmer. By the end of Q3, four RCPL brands had crossed Rs 1,000 crore in annual revenue.
Detailing the breadth of the portfolio, Mody pointed to chocolates and confectionery led by Ravalgaon, Toffeeman and Lotus, alongside growing momentum in snacks, staples and edible oils, particularly in Maharashtra. New demand was also building for differentiated offerings such as Maliban wafers and teatime biscuits.
Capacity expansion is moving at pace. RCPL plans to more than double beverage capacity this year, with high-speed lines across 12 states. Food parks are under development across multiple states, with work set to begin imminently, while a beverage plant in Kurnool is scheduled to be operational by March.
The quarter also saw strategic acquisitions strengthen the portfolio. RCPL completed a majority stake acquisition in Udhaiyam, bolstering its staples and pulses presence, particularly in Tamil Nadu. Global personal care brands including Brylcreem, Toni and Guy, Badedas and Matey were added, widening RCPL’s reach beyond food into grooming and children’s care.
New categories are also on the boil. RCPL entered the pet care segment, piloted in southern cities, and relaunched SIL, alongside a fresh foray into noodles across four cities, with a wider rollout planned next quarter.
As Mody’s commentary made clear, this was not just a quarter of numbers, but one of range with Reliance Consumer steadily stacking its shelves across food, home, personal and emerging categories, and doing so at scale.
Brands
6 in 10 face bias, 58 per cent delay care: India’s LGBTQIA+ health crisis
Study highlights bias in care and unsafe spaces shaping everyday choices
MUMBAI: A significant number of LGBTQIA+ women in India are putting off essential healthcare, with 58 per cent reporting delays or avoidance due to discrimination, according to a new study. The figure is the highest among five countries surveyed, pointing to deep-rooted systemic challenges.
The research, conducted by Kantar in partnership with DIVA Charitable Trust and The Curve Foundation, draws insights from over 3,200 LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary individuals globally. Released around Lesbian Visibility Week, the findings highlight how bias continues to shape access to care.
In India, 60 per cent of respondents said they had faced discrimination in healthcare settings, often feeling dismissed or not taken seriously by providers. This has led many to delay seeking treatment, underscoring how trust deficits in the system directly impact health decisions.
The study also reflects broader social realities. Instances of verbal or physical abuse were commonly reported across platforms such as social media, public transport and social venues, reinforcing a persistent sense of insecurity in everyday life.
At the same time, expectations from brands are evolving. In India, 78 per cent of respondents believe companies should actively contribute to advancing diversity and inclusion, signalling a growing demand for corporate accountability.
Kantar India HR head Mridul Shekhar said, “LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people remain underrepresented and overlooked. Their experiences are shaped by uneven access to care and systems not designed with them in mind. When people are invisible in data, they become invisible in decision-making.”
DIVA Charitable Trust executive director Lady Phyll added, “When people delay healthcare because they fear discrimination, we are no longer talking about symbolic inclusion. These are life decisions driven by the need to feel safe.”
The findings underline a stark reality. While awareness around inclusion is growing, bridging the gap between intent and lived experience remains an urgent priority.
