Now, Mukesh Ambani looks to enter fast-food business

energy major Reliance Industries, India's most valued company that also runs supermarkets, plans to enter the fast-food business next year, the Economic Times reported on Monday. The company, controlled by Mukesh Ambani, India's richest man, is exploring a model on the lines of international chains McDonald's Corpand Dominos Pizza, with a standardised menu and delivery service, the newspaper said.Ambani has appointed Rishi Negi, chief operating officer of multiplex operator Fame India, to develop the quick service restaurant concept within 3-4 months, it said, citing two unnamed company executives. "The company is looking at anything suitable for Indian palate, be it Chinese, Italian or Indian cuisine," it quoted one executive as saying. Reliance has shortlisted Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore as the tentative locations to launch the business, it said. Its subsidiary Reliance Retail operates around 1,146 multi-brand outlets across the country through chains such as Reliance Fresh, Reliance Super and Reliance Mart, it said.

RIL’s retail operations may turn profitable

the retail operations of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), India's largest private-sector conglomerate, are likely to turn profitable by next year, a company official told DNA.

At its annual general meeting on Thursday, Reliance announced that consumer-oriented businesses like retail would become important growth drivers for the group over the next few years.

Reliance Retail currently generates revenues of more than Rs 7,600 crore but that's still just a little more than 2 percent of Reliance's annual turnover.Chairman Mukesh Ambani said Reliance Industries is investing aggressively in this business to strengthen its leadership position in the sector. "We are targeting growth of five to six times in existing revenues to achieve Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 crore over the next three to four years," he said.

He also said Reliance Retail would become one of RIL's important growth engines in the next few years, boasting one of the highest growth rates and earnings potential. Reliance Retail currently operates 1,300 stores across 18 states in two key formats: value (Reliance Fresh, Reliance Super and Reliance Mart) and speciality (Reliance Digital, Reliance Trends, and Reliance Footprint). The company is reported to be very optimistic about its latest format, Reliance Market, under which the first store was opened in Ahmedabad. Stores under this format, which partners with kiranas and other small shopkeepers, are expected to rise to 40 by the end of this year, according to the source who spoke to DNA. He hinted thatRIL might also enter the ready-to-eat segment and is contemplating a manufacturing facility as well.

Reliance merger gone bad, Britain's Chicken King to axe 1800 jobs

Reliance merger gone bad, Britain's Chicken King to axe 1800 jobs

 Reliance industries chief Mukesh Ambani's diktat banning all non-vegetarian products from his Reliance Retail chain has sent ripples in Britain. 

The move may be behind British-Indian businessman Ranjit Singh Boparan's announcement to axe around 1,800 jobs in the UK as part of a major restructuring of his food business empire. Boparan is known as the Chicken King in UK and runs 2 Sisters Food Group (2SFG), the third largest food company in UK. 

In October, Boparan announced it had swung from a full-year pre-tax profit of £42.5 million to a £33.5 million loss despite a 23% jump in sales to £2.9 billion. 

The Birmingham-based tycoon is planning to shut two sites and cut jobs to rein in costs. Industry sources say this could have been a result of the company's merger with Reliance a few months ago. 

Reliance had planned to run an exclusive chicken restaurant chain in India in partnership with a UK-based company. Thee chain was to be called "Chicken came First" and was expected to directly compete with KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). 

RIL went ahead and picked up a 45% equity stake in Two Sisters Foods India (TSFI). The balance 55% was held by 2SFG founded by Boparan. TSFI was to supply chilled and frozen foods to Reliance. 

But Ambani's plans to go veggie shutting down 100-odd Reliance Delight stores that sell a range of fresh and frozen meats and seafood might have hurt Boparan 

Ambani apparently took this decision after demands were made from his shareholders who claimed that Reliance's 'non-vegetarian' business hurt their religious sentiments. 

It is now looking at the closure of a site in Corby, Northamptonshire and a cake factory in Newport, South Wales. A further 230 jobs are expected to go in Coupar Angus near Dundee.