Reliance Retail acquires consumer durables brand Kelvinator for nearly Rs 160 Cr
Reliance Retail had earlier used the Kelvinator brand under license from Electrolux Home Products Inc. The brand offers a range of products, including refrigerators, air conditioners, air coolers and washing machines in India.
Reliance Retail has acquired consumer durables brand Kelvinator from the Electrolux Group, which pegged the transaction value at SEK 180 million (nearly Rs 160 crore), as the country's largest retailer seeks to accelerate growth in the rapidly expanding premium home appliances market across India.
Reliance Retail had earlier used the Kelvinator brand under license from Electrolux Home Products Inc. The brand offers a range of products, including refrigerators, air conditioners, air coolers and washing machines in India.
"The acquisition of Kelvinator marks a pivotal moment, enabling us to significantly broaden our offering of trusted global innovations to Indian consumers. This is powerfully supported by our unmatched scale, comprehensive service capabilities, and market-leading distribution network," Reliance Retail Ventures executive director Isha M Ambani said in a statement.
She further said, "This is powerfully supported by our unmatched scale, comprehensive service capabilities, and market-leading distribution network."
While Reliance Retail did not disclose the value of the acquisition, Electrolux Group in its interim report for Q2 2025 said "its operating income included a positive effect from the divestment of the Kelvinator trademark portfolio in India of SEK 180 million", and it had net sales of SEK 31,276 million in the quarter.
Reliance Retail said the acquisition of the Kelvinator brand is poised to significantly amplify the company's leadership in India's fast-growing consumer durables sector.
According to a joint report by EY and CII, India is the fastest-growing major market for consumer durables in the world and is expected to become the fourth-largest by 2027, with a projected market size to reach Rs 3 lakh crore by fiscal year 2029.
As per Crisil Ratings, the total industry size for the consumer durable segment (TV, refrigerator, AC and washing machine) is estimated at around Rs 1.17 lakh crore in fiscal 2025. The total volume is estimated at 47 million units.
The company said that by integrating Kelvinator's rich legacy of innovation with Reliance Retail's expansive retail network, the company is set to unlock substantial consumer value and accelerate growth in the rapidly expanding premium home appliances market across India.
This synergy will ensure that high-quality, globally benchmarked products are accessible to every Indian household, enhancing their daily lives, it added.
For over a century, Kelvinator pioneered electric refrigeration for home use globally. In India, it achieved iconic status in the 1970s and 80s with its memorable tagline, 'The Coolest One' and continues to be revered for its cutting-edge technology, superior performance, enduring quality, and exceptional value, the statement added.
With Kelvinator now firmly integrated into its formidable ecosystem, Reliance Retail is strategically positioned to accelerate category growth, deepen consumer engagement, and unlock substantial long-term opportunities within India's dynamic consumer durables market, the company said.
Reliance Retail has in the past boldly acquired legacy brands such as Campa Cola, in the consumer space and relaunched successfully in the market. An original American brand Kelvinator, which changed many hands before Sweden's Electrolux acquired it, is the latest to join the list.
Edited by Kanishk Singh