Reliance Retail Targets One-Hour Grocery and FMCG Delivery

Synopsis: Reliance Retail launches a pilot for one-hour grocery and FMCG delivery in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, aiming to compete with quick commerce leaders. This service, integrated into the JioMart app, marks a shift towards hyperlocal delivery. Future plans include expanding this model to apparel and electronics, utilizing Reliance's store network and partnerships with local kirana stores.

Reliance Retail, the retail arm of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, has initiated a pilot program aimed at delivering groceries and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) within an hour. This service, currently available in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, marks a significant step towards enhancing customer convenience and competing with quick commerce giants like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto, which have set benchmarks with delivery times as low as 10 minutes.

The new service, integrated into the JioMart mobile application, is part of Reliance Retail's broader strategy to create a "hyperlocal delivery" system. This initiative comes after the company discontinued its previous quick-commerce pilot, JioMart Express, last year. According to reports, Reliance aims to further reduce the delivery window to 30-45 minutes as more stores and partners are integrated into the system.

Currently, Reliance Retail fulfills orders for daily essentials within 12 hours, extending up to three days in some cases. However, the company plans to leverage its extensive network of stores and warehouses, along with partnerships with local kirana stores through the JioMart Partner initiative, to expedite deliveries without significantly expanding its fleet of delivery personnel.

Moreover, Reliance has ambitious plans to extend its hyperlocal delivery model to include apparel and electronic items in the future, as part of its ongoing efforts to innovate and streamline its retail operations.