Markets/India/News

India news and analysis

23 January 2021
Reliance Retail plans to integrate its own e-commerce app JioMart into WhatsApp, within the next six months.  This would enable 400m users of India’s most popular messaging app to order food and grocery products, without having to switch to another platform. Integration challenges Flipkart and Amazon in India’s online retail market Customers can place their orders on JioMart by adding its W...
21 January 2021
To create a larger and more inclusive rewards ecosystem, Flipkart has recently introduced SuperCoin Pay.  It allows customers to checkout in physical stores through the rewards earned from Flipkart’s online platform.    Wider range of merchants to redeem rewards The launch of the SuperCoin rewards programme in 2019 has been a success, with over 10bn SuperCoins earned by millions of Flipkart...
16 January 2021
Reliance Retail will depart from its previous strategy of directly selling packaged grocery products.  Instead, its e-commerce platform JioMart will soon use Kirana stores as franchise partners to deliver non-perishable grocery items in India.  Kiranas will be leveraged for non-perishable items; Reliance Retail will fulfill perishable goods JioMart will utilise the existing inventory of the...
14 January 2021
As Metro continues its evolution as a company, we round up developments in Spain, France and Romania as it looks to strengthen its operations globally and in the specific countries. Metro to promote digital transformation with Wipro Metro and Wipro have announced a strategic digital and IT partnership ‘ to drive forward the transformation of the Group's IT and to concentrate more strongly i...
12 January 2021
Amazon has discontinued its Pantry delivery service in the US and India, as it looks to offer a clearer, simpler grocery proposition to customers. Launched in 2014 Amazon Prime Pantry launched in the US in 2014, enabling Prime members to order products including non-perishable food, alcohol, personal care and household items for delivery. The aim of the service was to allow shoppers to stoc...
08 January 2021
One of the most common questions I get asked by businesses, is how will my market develop over the next few years. While there remains uncertainty over what the next 12 months will look like, there is a strong sense of optimism that 2021 will be a year to rebuild, but also capitalise on the opportunities that have arisen in the ‘new normal’ across Asia. With this in mind, we have identified five ...
08 January 2021
The Delhi high court recently upheld the proposed merger of Future Retail Limited (FRL) with Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RNRL), following a challenge by Amazon.  It has also allowed Amazon to continue opposing the merger in appropriate legal forums. Delhi high court clears Future-Reliance deal According to the Delhi high court, the transaction between Future and Reliance did not viola...
17 November 2020
We review Walmart's third quarter performance and the outlook for the business as it prepares for the holiday trading period. Walmart's key numbers Walmart's total revenue in Q3 increased by 5.2% to $134.7bn Operating income increased 22.5% to $5.8bn Sales in its US stores increased by 6.2% to $88.4bn and by 8.3% to $15.8bn at Sam’s Club US comp store sales increased by 6.4%, wi...
17 November 2020
The divestment of 85% of its stake in Seiyu in Japan is the most recent of several retrenchments globally for Walmart. We look at how this move aligns with its international strategy and what it means for the business going forward. Last new market entry in 2011 With nine years having passed since Walmart’s last entry into a new market, its recent round of international divestments should c...
28 October 2020
As Metro Group expands in India and acquires a business in Portugal, we round up news from the cash and carry company. Metro acquires business in Portugal In Portugal, Metro has acquired the Aviludo Group, which it describes as the second largest food service distribution company in the country. Aviludo generated sales worth €152m in 2019 and services more than 13,500 HoReCa clients nationw...