June 30, 2014: Reliance will be taking on smaller firms like localbanya.com and bigbasket.com by making its debut in the e-commerce business with Mumbai grocery venture. The company will be offering a wider range of goods other than which is being offered now online and is planning to offer express deliveries of fresh fruit and vegetables to homes in Mumbai. The online grocery store of Reliance would be run through a subsidiary initially. A pilot project was launched by Reliance a year ago wherein 10,000 employees have been buying home care and other products through the Reliance Fresh Project Direct website.
A spokesperson from Reliance Retail was quoted as saying, “Reliance Retail is looking at bringing a multi-channel shopping experience to the consumers in the coming year and e-commerce is integral to this.The potential of e-commerce combined with the network of physical store locations will therefore offer choice and convenience at a great value to the consumers.” He further quoted as saying, “RIL is working on a few specialised e-commerce ventures and a comprehensive marketplace model. Grocery, electronics and apparel will be the specialised sites.”
Reliance though would be selling grocery via online initially later on it would start selling consumer electronics including mobile phones. The focus of Reliance would be to bridge the last mile connect and to offer express deliveries. Reliance recently became the country’s largest retailer by revenue earlier this year by dislodging Future Group. Sales of Reliance rose by 34 per cent to 14,496 crore in the year ending March. The Mukesh Ambani owned company has 1,691 outlets in 146 cities with more than 12 million sq ft of space.
There are reports that Reliance would be venturing into the online space with a new brand name.
