Earlier this year, Reliance Industries had moved to convert Reliance Consumer Products into its direct subsidiary, until then an arm of Reliance Retail. This was a part of Mukesh Ambani's plans to scale up the fast-moving consumer goods business targeting Rs 1 lakh crore revenue in five years.
The energy-to-retail conglomerate is taking rapid steps in that direction: One brand, one acquisition at a time.
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On Thursday, Reliance Consumer Products said it has acquired a majority stake in Udhaiyams Agro Foods Private Limited. Udhaiyams has been a popular brand in Tamil Nadu with a presence in categories like rice, spices, snacks and idly batter among other things. The move comes just a couple of days after RCPL announced the relaunch of the 75-year-old brand Sil, introducing it's new portfolio across noodles, jams, sauces and spreads.
The acquisition of Udhaiyams reaffirms its commitment to the company’s core philosophy of promoting India’s heritage and legacy brands, RCPL said in a statement. Under the joint venture agreement, RCPL will hold a majority stake in Udhaiyams, while erstwhile owners will hold a minority stake.
"We are very excited to announce this joint venture, as it further strengthens RCPL’s presence in the branded staples space. This initiative also reaffirms our commitment to offering global-quality products to consumers at affordable price points, while promoting India’s legacy," said T. Krishnakumar, director, RCPL.
He expressed confidence that Udhaiyam could soon scale up to a national brand and satisfy consumers across India, just as it has earned the trust of millions in Tamil Nadu over decades.
The partnership with RCPL opens up new opportunities for the brand, said S. Sudhakar, managing director of Udhaiyams.
RCPL has several FMCG brands of its own like Independence, Good Life and Snactac. At the same time, it has also acquired several local FMCG brands like Campa, Sosyo and Lotus Chocolates as well as inked partnerships to bring global brands like Sri Lankan biscuit brand Maliban and Alan's Bugles as it takes on FMCG giants Nestle and Hindustan Unilever.
Earlier this week, it relaunched Sil a legacy brand it had acquired in January this year. Sil will be its flagship brand with which it aims to build a strong and accessible foods portfolio.
"RCPL, as a subsidiary of RIL, is a strategic move to create India’s largest FMCG company. RCPL’s phenomenal growth is guaranteed by the consumption boom in India, our world-class supply chain and advanced manufacturing capabilities,” Mukesh Ambani, the chairman and MD of RIL had said at the company's annual general meeting this year.
Separately, Isha Ambani, the director of Reliance Retail had pointed that the combination of a rising middle class and accelerating rural adoption marked an unmissable consumption opportunity. India’s consumer market is a $2 trillion high-growth opportunity, expanding at over 8 per cent annually and a strategic approach was needed to seize this opportunity, she had said.
RCPL had reported revenue of Rs 11,500 crore in the financial year-ended March 2025.
