BENGALURU: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) retail segment - Reliance Retail is a tiny fraction of the revenue that India's largest private corporate reports. However, this segment has been growing consistently, quarter on quarter.

For FY-2015, the segment reported a revenue growth of 21.2 per cent to Rs 17,640 crore from Rs 14,556 crore in FY-2014. The segment’s earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) more than trebled (increased by 253.4 per cent) to Rs 417 crore in FY-2015 from Rs 118 crore in the previous year.

Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

Revenue in Q4-2015 grew 31.1 per cent to Rs 4,788 crore from Rs 3,653 crore in Q4-2014 and grew 2.2 per cent from Rs 4,686 crore in Q3-2015. PBIT in Q4-2015 more than quadrupled (increased by 333.3 per cent) to Rs 104 crore from Rs 24 crore in the year ago quarter, but declined 21.8 per cent from Rs 133 crore in the previous quarter.

RIL claims that it maintained the distinction of being India’s largest retailer. It says further that it consolidated its leadership position in all focus sectors. The company added 930 stores and nine lakh square feet of operating space in the year across the sectors. As on 31 March, 2015, Reliance Retail operated 2,621 stores across 200 cities, with over 1.25 crore square feet space.

The company says that Reliance Retail grew its presence through its partnerships with the likes of Marks & Spencer, Grand Vision and Payless Shoesource, which continued its pace of robust growth. Reliance Brands continued to make more luxury brands available to the Indian consumers by expanding presence through various partner brands.

Overall, though RIL consolidated revenue (turnover) decreased by 33.3 per cent to Rs 70,863 crore in Q4-2015 from Rs 1,06,208 crore in Q4-2014, its consolidated net profit increased by 8.5 per cent to Rs 6,381 crore from Rs 5881 crore in Q4-2014.

RIL achieved a turnover of Rs 3,88,494 crore for FY-2015, a decrease of 13 per cent, as compared to Rs 446,339 crore in the previous year. The company says the decline in turnover reflects sharp fall in crude oil prices during the second half of the year. However, profit after tax was higher by 4.8 per cent at Rs 23,566 crore as against Rs 22,493 crore in the previous year.

Company speak:

RIL chairman and managing director Mukesh D. Ambani said, “FY 2015 has been a very successful and important year for Reliance. In a time when the collapse of crude oil prices unsettled the hydrocarbons markets, our refining business delivered record earnings. The earnings power demonstrated by our hydrocarbon businesses in this environment validates our philosophy of investing in world-scale, cost competitive assets, cutting-edge technology and the talent of people. This year we also made giant strides in our quest to sustain Reliance’s growth momentum with the highest-ever capital investment into our hydrocarbon business and our next-generation digital services initiative. Our organized retail business maintained its high growth trajectory with a wider pan-India footprint. Particularly gratifying, we achieved this, while maintaining our track-record of adhering to highest standards of safety and operational excellence.”