What: Reliance Retail has expanded its quick commerce network by launching over 600 new dark stores across India to accelerate JioMart’s delivery capabilities.

Why it is important: Reliance Retail’s strategy reflects broader industry trends of integrating dark stores and omnichannel logistics to meet rising consumer expectations for convenience.

Reliance Retail has significantly strengthened its quick commerce operations by opening more than 600 new dark stores across India, supporting the rapid growth of its JioMart platform. These dark stores, strategically located in key urban and suburban areas, are designed to process online orders quickly and efficiently, enabling JioMart to offer deliveries in under 30 minutes. The company’s approach leverages its extensive physical footprint, now encompassing over 2,000 stores and covering more than 4,000 postcodes, providing a reach unmatched by competitors. JioMart’s service model includes instant delivery, scheduled delivery with a broader assortment, and a subscription-based option for daily essentials, catering to diverse consumer needs. This expansion positions Reliance Retail to compete more effectively with other quick commerce players such as Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket, as the demand for speed and convenience continues to reshape India’s retail landscape. The move underscores the importance of infrastructure and operational agility in meeting evolving customer expectations.

IADS Notes: Reliance Retail’s aggressive rollout of over 600 dark stores to support JioMart’s quick commerce ambitions is part of a wider transformation in India’s e-retail sector, which has reached $60 billion and is increasingly driven by rapid delivery models (Inside Retail, October 2025; Bain & Company, April 2025). The competitive environment is intensifying with Amazon’s entry and established players like Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart, making delivery speed a key differentiator (Fashion Network, December 2024). Indian malls and global retailers such as Walmart are also adapting by integrating dark stores and omnichannel logistics to enhance fulfillment efficiency and meet rising consumer expectations (ET Retail, August 2025; Retail Dive, June 2025).

Reliance Retail expands quick commerce network with 600 new dark stores