RETAILERS ASSOCIATION OF INDIA
Reliance Industries Invests Rs 4,330 cr in Retail Unit in FY24
Reliance Industries invested Rs 4,330 crore into its flagship retail company, Reliance Retail, in the past fiscal year, a shift from previous reliance on debt funding. The investment, made through its subsidiary RRVL, included both equity and debt. Reliance Retail transferred its supply chain assets to RLWH at a valuation of Rs 8,000 crore. This move aims to unlock value from assets and improve cash flow, following recent investments by ADIA and KKR in RLWH.
RBI, ASEAN countries to create instant cross-border retail payments platform
The Reserve Bank of India and ASEAN nations are collaborating on "Project Nexus," aimed at establishing a platform for instant cross-border retail payments by linking fast payment systems. India joins Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand as founding members, with plans to expand globally by 2026, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs in international transactions.
RAI's Budget wishlist: Lower taxes for individuals, benefits on land rates, electricity
BUDGET EXPECTATIONS: The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has urged the Union Budget FY25 to focus on lowering individual taxes to boost demand and consumption. RAI's pre-Budget recommendations include low-cost financing, subsidies on land and electricity, and the adoption of supportive policies to strengthen the retail sector, which contributes 10% to India's GDP
Retailers report only 3% growth in sales in May
Retail businesses across regions have indicated growth in sales compared to May 2023, with South India showing the highest increase at 4%, followed by East and West India at 3% each, and North India at 2%.
Stop, thief! Retail giants are facing a new 'lifting' problem - not just from customers, but also staff & vendors
Indian retail faces increasing shrinkage issues due to thefts and errors, with Trent Ltd reporting a rise in shrinkage to 0.41% of sales in FY24. V-Mart Retail's shrinkage increased from 0.4% to 0.5% in the same period.
Indians get hooked on 10-minute grocery apps, squeezing small retailers
India's quick commerce boom is reshaping how Indians shop, with Swiggy leading the charge in the fast-paced delivery game. The SoftBank-backed company's grocery warehouse in a middle-class suburb of Mumbai operates with precision, aiming to deliver orders within 10 minutes. Swiggy's bikers, clad in bright orange T-shirts, race against time to collect and deliver packed grocery orders, with the warehouse manager emphasizing the need for speed in the entire process.
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Risk weighting slows unsecured loan growth
The growth of unsecured credit in India, including personal loans and credit card outstanding, slowed to 18% in April from 23% in November 2023. The Reserve Bank of India's risk weighting on such exposures aims to reduce delinquencies in the banking system.
As retail sales growth slow, retailers to cut deep discounts to drive profits
Retailers like Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, Arvind, and V-Mart are avoiding deep discounts to boost profits. Madura Fashion reduced discounts by 500 basis points in the previous fiscal year to drive profitable growth. Madura Fashion manages brands such as Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly and Peter England
Now, a 'Bank Clinic' to guide you on complaints
The Bank Clinic is an initiative by the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) to help customers address their grievances amid rapid expansion in technology and a series of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines on retail banking. A customer can fill out the details of her/his complaint, create a ticket, and receive a reply in five working days on the remedies available and information on what the RBI guidelines prescribe on that matter.
In-store mobile phone sales dry up on rising temperatures
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast severe heatwave conditions across ten states in North India since the middle of May with temperatures touching 50 degrees in some areas, with some respite expected from May 31.
Online bond platform companies set up industry body
The executive committee of the new body – called the OBPP Association of India – was formalized at a meeting on May 28 at the NSE’s office in Mumbai, with more than 20 of the 27 licensed OBPPs in attendance, the association said in a statement.
Retail cos, QSRs expand at slowest pace in 5 years
Retailers and quick-service restaurant chains in India experienced the slowest pace of store expansion in five years at 9%, with 33,219 stores as of March 31. In FY23, the number was 30,551, up 18% from the previous year. These companies added 2,700 stores, averaging 7 a day, but that's nearly half compared to 13 doors each day in FY23. Retail sales growth rate fell year-on-year every month in the previous fiscal, reflecting weak consumer sentiment across segments like apparel, footwear, and QSR.
Post-pandemic, Indians shopped...till they dropped (in FY24)
Pent-up demand post-Covid led to booming sales in athleisure wear and lifestyle products. Kumar Rajagopalan notes the unsustainable high growth post-pandemic and the impact on consumer spending.
Apple not the only company to grapple with cash payments in India; cash also figures prominently in car sales
With customers continuing to stream in with wads of notes to buy mobile phones or computers, payments for 7-9% of the American firm's sales in the two stores in India are made with cash, compared to less than 1% or even nil in its stores in the US or Europe, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Are concerns over F&O retail activity overblown?
Options turnover in the total F&O turnover has been calculated on the basis of the premium and not the strike value (which is used by NSE and BSE to calculate their turnover officially).
India's gold imports seen falling as record price prompts jewellery swaps
India's gold imports in 2024 may plummet by nearly 20% from the previous year due to record high prices driving consumers to swap old jewellery for new, according to the India Bullion and Jewellers Association. Rising prices have shifted buyers towards exchanging old ornaments, impacting jewellery demand more than investments.
Nexus REIT in talks to buy Marina Mall in Chennai
Nexus Select Trust in talks to acquire The Marina Mall in Chennai, developing a diverse portfolio with Grade-A malls in Hyderabad. Plans to double assets to 20M sq ft in 5 years, reflecting India's retail growth and mall consumption surge.
Traditional methods insufficient to control counterfeiting in luxury retail market: Qila
Luxury goods retail faces a $30 billion annual loss due to counterfeiting, prompting a shift to advanced technologies like blockchain and tokenization. These innovations ensure product authenticity and protect brand reputation. Blockchain tracks products from manufacture to sale, offering easy verification for consumers. Tokenization creates unique digital fingerprints for each product, enabling instant authenticity checks via QR codes or apps. Despite challenges in setting up infrastructure, these technologies promise to revolutionize the industry, enhancing transparency, building trust, and securing luxury goods' integrity.
Retailers cut stocks of impacted spice brands like MDH and Everest
About a third (32%) of retailers are limiting stocks of MDH and Everest branded packaged spices alleged to have contaminants exceeding permissible ethylene oxide levels, according to Kirana Club, which has 1.8 million kirana stores on its network.
FMCG demand most in five southern states: Discretionary or essential, sales go north in south
South India leads post-Covid demand recovery with increased FMCG sales, higher consumer spending, and more shopping trips in 2023, a Kantar report shows. Retail sales growth in the peninsula region outperforms the rest of India. The region's rapid recovery is fueled by a young workforce, new-age sectors, and robust manufacturing investment.
Tea major B&A Ltd ventures into retail segment
B&A Ltd, a prominent company in the tea industry, has ventured into retail with its 'Gatoonga' brand of black tea, marking its first entry into the retail segment in its century-long history. The brand was launched in Assam, with plans to expand across India gradually. The company, previously focused on tea manufacturing, processing, packaging, tourism, and broking, now includes retail branding as its fifth vertical. With 11 tea estates in upper Assam and a recent acquisition, B&A Ltd aims for pan-India growth, investing Rs 50 crore over the next seven years.
Retailers report 4% growth in sales in April 2024
Retail sales in April 2024 increased by 4% compared to April 2023, according to a survey by the Retailers Association of India. However, the retail sector is not experiencing double-digit growth, as customers are cautious on non-essential items and splurging on capital purchases. Sales across regions showed growth, with QSR, food & grocery, and jewellery categories experiencing significant growth.
Gold folio additions surge in April even as smart investors book profits
The assets under management (AUM) of gold ETFs rose by 43% YoY to a record Rs 32,789 crore while the total folio count reached 51 lakh, the data from Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) showed. The total inflow in the past 12 months was Rs 5,248 crore.
OnePlus announces to strengthen its partnership with JioMart Digital
OnePlus expands partnership with JioMart Digital to reach 2000+ Indian cities, focusing on tier 3/4 areas for wider retail access. Ranjeet Singh highlights successful collaboration. Challenges include boycott threats, delayed settlements, and low margins.
Retailers body to seek govt intervention on POCO's business practices
The South Indian Organised Retailers Association is planning to approach the central government regarding POCO's business practices, alleging that the brand avoids supplying phones to mainstream channels. ORA claims that POCO's approach minimizes spending by favoring online and "illegitimate" channels, neglecting consumer experience and employment generation. They assert that POCO's actions harm legitimate sales channels and government revenue, calling for swift action to ensure ethical business conduct.
Retailers report 8% growth in March 2024
Retail businesses across regions have indicated growth in sales as compared to March 2023 sales level with the highest in South India signaling a growth of 9%, while West India indicated a growth of 8% followed by North and East India signalling a growth of 7% and 6% respectively.
Retailers report 5% Y-o-Y growth in February
In February 2024, retail sales increased by 5%. Sports goods, footwear, and QSR showed growth. East India weakened, while CDIT products faced challenges. Middle-class consumers stretched budgets.
The experience turn: A good news and a bad news for Indian retailers
India's consumer landscape is shifting towards discretionary items and durables. A joint study by BCG and RAI reveals a projected $2 trillion retail market in next 10 years, positioning India as a bright spot among global economies with strong GDP growth and robust private consumption.
Reliance Industries in talks to bring British fashion retailer Primark to India
Primark has been a successful value-priced retailer and its global revenue has exploded in the last few years, aside from two Covid-hit years. Average prices are even cheaper than retailers such as H&M and Uniqlo. While China is the largest source country for Primark, India is second in the number of small to large factories that supply the company. Nearshoring is already embedded in Primark's supply chain strategy, and it can deliver goods from Indian suppliers directly to a local retail unit for cost control and flexibility while being responsive to local market needs.
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