Reliance Retail's quick commerce strategy fuels growth in Q2 FY26

Reliance Industries' retail arm, Reliance Retail, reported a robust performance in its second-quarter (Q2 FY26) earnings, with overall revenue growing 19 percent year-on-year, marking a seven-quarter high. This growth was significantly aided by a strategic pivot toward quick commerce (QC) and expansion across key categories. The company added 600 new dark stores during the quarter, bringing its total retail network, including physical stores, to over 3,000 locations.

Reliance's focus on quick commerce is already paying off, with the business segment seeing an increase in activity: average daily orders surged 42 percent sequentially and 200 percent year-on-year in Q2 FY26. The delivery network now serves over 5,000 pin codes, with most orders reaching customers within half an hour. The company's quick commerce strategy is designed to establish a strong foothold in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, where rivals like Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart have limited reach. According to a report by BNP Paribas, Reliance Retail is "uniquely positioned" to drive growth in large-assortment categories—such as fashion and electronics—in smaller towns.

The retail business saw strong demand across all major categories: grocery sales rose 23 percent, fashion and lifestyle increased 22 percent, and consumer electronics grew 18 percent. During the quarter, Reliance added 412 new stores (with a net addition of 229 after network optimisation), bringing its nationwide total to 19,821 stores and expanding its registered customer base to 369 million. BNP Paribas emphasised that Reliance's "bet on retail and dark stores will drive the growth in future."