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20 stories for “ai”

Handwritten discount board and stacked plastic stools outside a small Indian retail shop at dusk

Opinion · Retail

Value retail’s festive tightrope looks thinner this year

Inflation absorption and quick-commerce frequency are testing the old low-price promise just as footfall peaks.

The Desk · 7 Oct · 4 min read

Open beauty product testers and mirrors on a clean white retail counter under soft spotlights

Ecommerce

Nykaa adds 14 stores to 338, clocks strong Q2 growth ahead of festive

Beauty and fashion both beat estimates; House of Nykaa brands and Nike drops keep the till busy while SuperStore scales.

Ananya Rao · 7 Oct · 4 min read

Closed glass-front convenience store with empty shelves visible through locked doors at dusk

Retail

Reliance Retail exits 7-Eleven after five years, shuts nearly 60 stores

Convenience format posted ₹90 crore loss on ₹92 crore revenue; kiranas and quick commerce left no room for the middle.

Meera Iyer · 7 Oct · 4 min read

Stacked grocery cartons and bulk packs on metal shelves in a large supermarket back aisle

Retail

DMart lifts store count to 518 as Q2 revenue rises 18.4% to ₹19,206 crore

Strong top line failed to calm investors worried about same-store growth and quick-commerce leakage; shares fell over 6%.

Meera Iyer · 7 Oct · 4 min read

Empty apparel racks and hanging tags under fluorescent lights in a large-format store aisle

Retail

Trent pushes Zudio past 1,000 stores as Q2 revenue hits ₹5,788 crore

Value format now dominates the network; merchants watch whether ticket sizes hold as competition thickens in tier-2.

Meera Iyer · 7 Oct · 4 min read

Handwritten discount board leaning against stacked grocery cartons in a quiet aisle

Opinion · Retail

Value retail’s festive tightrope looks thinner this year

Inflation absorption and quick-commerce frequency are testing the old low-price promise just as footfall peaks.

The Desk · 6 Oct · 4 min read

Modern empty fitting room with wall mirrors, bench and wall-mounted tablet under soft spotlights

Retail

Reliance Brands opens first Fabletics store in Delhi

Exclusive tie-up brings RFID fitting rooms and membership model to Indian activewear shoppers.

Meera Iyer · 6 Oct · 4 min read

Wide supermarket aisle with stacked grocery cartons and price tags under cool overhead lighting

Retail

DMart adds 15 stores to 518 but shares slide over 6 per cent

Strong top line failed to calm investors worried about same-store growth and quick-commerce leakage.

Meera Iyer · 6 Oct · 4 min read

Retail

Trent pushes Zudio past 1,000 stores as Q2 revenue hits ₹5,788 crore

Value format now dominates the network; merchants watch whether ticket sizes hold as competition thickens in tier-2.

Meera Iyer · 6 Oct · 4 min read

Empty retail construction site with scaffolding and stacked tiles under afternoon light

Opinion · Retail

Do big store bets still pay when dark stores multiply?

Listed retailers are funding aggressive offline expansion even as quick commerce densifies urban delivery. The P&L test arrives this festive season.

The Desk · 5 Oct · 4 min read

Retail

Reliance Brands opens Fabletics store in Delhi

US activewear label debuts at DLF Promenade with RFID fitting rooms; Mumbai outlet planned next under exclusive pact.

Meera Iyer · 5 Oct · 4 min read

Apparel racks and hanging garments in a brightly lit warehouse corner

Ecommerce

Nykaa Fashion offers six-month zero commission

Hidden Gems accelerator gives homegrown apparel brands free platform access plus marketing support ahead of festive listings.

Ananya Rao · 5 Oct · 4 min read

Wide supermarket aisle with stacked grocery cartons under fluorescent lights

Retail

DMart Q2 revenue rises 18.4% to ₹19,206 crore

Avenue Supermarts ends September with 518 stores as sequential sales climb 4.7%, keeping pressure on kirana margins in its core markets.

Meera Iyer · 5 Oct · 4 min read

Empty value-fashion store interior with clothing racks and bright overhead lights

Retail

BofA starts Trent coverage at Buy with ₹3,075 target

Zudio and Westside growth plus supply chain cited; value fashion keeps taking share.

Meera Iyer · 4 Oct · 4 min read

Retail

Lenskart adds French brand Le Petit Lunetier to 50 stores

First international label lands in owned doors and online; premium frames get fresh shelf space.

Meera Iyer · 4 Oct · 4 min read

Empty optical store interior with rows of spectacle frames on glass shelves

Ecommerce

Lenskart sets 31 October IPO, eyes ₹2,150 cr raise

Pre-IPO cheques from Damani family and SBI MF lock valuation path; store and tech spend next.

Ananya Rao · 4 Oct · 4 min read

Retail

DMart lifts Q2 revenue 18% to ₹19,206 cr, stores hit 518

Everyday low price holds volume as full results land 10 October; kiranas watch the till gap widen.

Meera Iyer · 4 Oct · 4 min read

Two parallel retail aisles one bright value racks one softer premium displays

Opinion · Retail

Will private-label department stores outrun value fashion this festive?

Trent’s Westside bet and Nykaa’s fee waiver both point to the same shopper: one who wants curated product without endless discounting.

The Desk · 3 Oct · 4 min read

Stacked snack cartons on a small wholesale counter with weighing scale

Supply Chain

D2C food brands widen offline trade as quick-commerce shelves fill

Dark-store space crunch before festive forces snacks and sweets makers onto B2B marketplaces and kirana-modern trade routes.

Farhan Qureshi · 3 Oct · 4 min read

Denim display wall inside a bright department store corner with hanging jeans

Retail

Ace Turtle seals 24 G-Star shop-in-shops with Shoppers Stop

Exclusive licensee rolls out SIS across metros and regional cities to grab footfall without waiting for standalone stores.

Meera Iyer · 3 Oct · 4 min read