Retail Sector

India’s automobile retail sector reported steady growth in August, supported by early festive season purchases, improving rural demand, and sustained momentum in passenger vehicle sales. Two-wheelers, which had been under pressure for several quarters, showed signs of revival, while commercial vehicles maintained stable performance. The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) noted that positive monsoon progress, easing inflation, and renewed consumer sentiment contributed to the uptick. However, supply chain pressures and cautious financing trends remain areas of concern.

Reliance Retail is aiming to sustain a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% over the next three years, signaling its confidence in India’s consumption story and expanding market potential. Speaking at a recent business forum, Isha Ambani, Director of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd., highlighted the company’s strategy to leverage technology, broaden its product offerings, and strengthen supply chains to consolidate its leadership in the sector.

Titan Company Ltd., a leading lifestyle conglomerate under the Tata Group, has strengthened its leadership framework by appointing Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indian Hotels Company Ltd. (IHCL), to its Board of Directors. Chhatwal, a seasoned hospitality veteran with extensive global experience, brings a strategic blend of brand management expertise and operational insight.

The revival of HMT Watches, once a household name in India, has resurfaced in policy discussions as Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, chaired a review meeting on its future prospects. Once celebrated as “India’s Timekeeper,” HMT lost market dominance following intense competition from global brands and technological disruptions in the 1990s and early 2000s. The latest review reflects a broader government push to assess the viability of legacy public-sector enterprises and explore opportunities for modernization.

Reliance Retail has delivered a strong financial performance for the first quarter of FY25, with its profit after tax climbing 28.3% year-on-year to Rs. 3,165 crore. The company also posted a significant increase in revenue, which rose to Rs. 81,090 crore, marking an 18.7% jump compared to the same period last year. The robust growth was driven by strong consumer demand across formats, strategic expansion in both digital and physical retail, and improved operating efficiencies.

In a significant strategic move, Titan Company has announced a sweeping management restructuring aimed at sharpening its operational focus and unlocking fresh growth avenues. The leadership shake-up underscores the firm’s ambition to streamline decision-making, nurture innovation, and position itself strongly amid evolving market dynamics. By aligning its top talent with emerging priorities across jewellery, watches, and eyewear, Titan seeks to deepen customer engagement and reinforce its stature as one of India’s most admired lifestyle companies.

Kiaasa Retail, a prominent player in India’s apparel and lifestyle segment, has formally filed draft papers with the capital markets regulator to initiate its Initial Public Offering (IPO). The proposed listing underscores the company’s strategy to bolster its financial foundation, drive expansion, and strengthen its retail footprint across the country. As consumer spending revives and organised retail gains momentum, Kiaasa’s IPO move signals confidence in India’s consumption story.

Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL) has strategically acquired a minority stake in UK-based FACEGYM, signaling its foray into the burgeoning facial fitness and skincare sector in India. This partnership seeks to blend FACEGYM’s innovative non-invasive facial workouts with Reliance’s omnichannel beauty platform, Tira, to create standalone studios and curated retail spaces in key Indian metros over the next five years.