Brands
Urbn signs Kartik Aaryan as its brand ambassador
Mumbai: Urbn, the leading homegrown D2C charging solution brand has announced signing Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan as its brand ambassador. This move marks the next step in Urbn’s proposition of delivering the best charging solutions while remaining accessible and stylish to build a connection with users across all key markets. This partnership is more than just a collaboration; it’s a commitment from Urbn to push boundaries and ride the wave of innovation that aligns perfectly with the younger generation.
Urbn is known for its advanced technology and creative approach to seamlessly merging power solutions with our daily lives. Catering to the preferences of today’s youth, Urbn emphasises the need for on-the-go charging while staying in style. As the brand ambassador, Kartik is a true blend of creativity, perpetual energy, and spontaneous creation. With his unique and relatable personality, Kartik is the ideal representative for Urbn, amplifying the brand’s vision of making innovative and convenient products accessible to everyone. His vibrant and versatile persona will add charm to Urbn’s portfolio, extending across new product launches and campaigns. Additionally, Kartik will also be featured in a slew of commercials spread across Urbn’s social and digital media channels in coming months.
Aaryan said, “As someone who is living out of a suitcase, hopping from one set to another, the struggle for an on-the-go charging buddy is real. While I strive for excellence in films, Urbn is leading the way in India’s charging needs that ensures people like me do not get stuck with a dead phone and stay juiced up. I am all powered-up to join Urbn and look forward to being a part of their growth journey.”
Urbn CEO & founder Sagar Gwallani said, “Urbn and Kartik Aaryan together forge a power-packed combination for our brand. His unique personality, coupled with Urbn’s dynamic approach, creates a synergy that will not only strengthen the brand perception but also connect authentically with our tech-savvy Gen-Z audience. We look forward to powering up the future together and making Urbn the number one charging solutions brand in India.”
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.
