Isha Ambani has just pulled off a major win in a game-changing moment for India’s beauty scene. She’s brought the celebrated Italian beauty brand Kiko Milano to Indian shores with a deal worth around INR 100 crore.
After months of negotiations, Reliance Retail has struck a deal to the Italian beauty brand, to India. Acquired from Italy’s Percassi Group and New Delhi’s DLF Brands Ltd., Kiko Milano has been present in the beauty scene since 1997 with its lineup of over 1,200 skincare and makeup products. With plans to open stores in major cities like Delhi, Pune, Mumbai and Lucknow, this acquisition not only marks a new era for Reliance Retail but also shakes up the Indian beauty market in a big way.
Since stepping into the spotlight at Reliance Retail, Isha Ambani has been on a roll, adding some impressive names to the company’s roster. Her recent picks include luxury powerhouses like Armani, Versace, Balenciaga and Boss. With the new addition of Kiko Milano to her portfolio, she is not just playing in the big leagues—she’s aiming to stir up competition against industry heavyweights like Tata’s Lakme, Nykaa and global giants such as Sephora and LVMH.
India’s beauty and personal care market, currently worth INR 1.3 lakh crore ($16 billion), is buzzing with growth. Isha Ambani’s moves and rapid expansion show that Reliance Retail is not just dipping its toes in this thriving sector, they’re diving in headfirst with blueprints to open 20 brand-new beauty stores across India.
Kiko cosmetics will be available not only on the Tira platform but also at the exclusive brand outlets. This dual approach ensures that Kiko’s presence will be felt both online and in key urban locations across India.
The Italian beauty brand is not the second international brand to join Reliance Retail, following their purchase of Sephora’s India operations from LVMH and Arvind Fashion in November 2023. It is also the third brand originally operated by DLF Brands to switch over to Reliance, joining Mothercare and Sunglass Hut.
Reliance Retail Ltd. (RRL) is a part of Reliance Retail Ventured Ltd. (RRVL), which oversees all of Reliance’s retail operations. With a vast network that includes more than 18,700 stores and an active digital presence, RRL covers everything from groceries and consumer electronics to fashion, lifestyle and pharmaceuticals.
In February 2023, Reliance Retail launched Tira, its new e-commerce platform. By April, they had also opened a flagship store in Jio World Drive in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complexe. And today, Tira has grown to include 12 stores across India.
