JioMart
Company History
JioMart History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 2019 in Navi Mumbai, India
When was JioMart founded?
JioMart was founded in 2019 in Navi Mumbai, India by Mukesh Ambani, making it 7 years old.
- Founded
- 2019
- Founding place
- Navi Mumbai, India
- Founders
- Mukesh Ambani
- Headquarters today
- Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Milestones documented
- 9 (2019–2026)
- Current CEO
- Sandeep Varaganti
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Pilot launch in Navi Mumbai, Kalyan and Thane |
| 2020 | Meta invests in Jio; nationwide rollout |
| 2020 | Acquired Netmeds |
| 2021 | Acquired Milkbasket |
| 2022 | End-to-end shopping on WhatsApp |
| 2022 | Acquired Dunzo (minority stake) |
| 2023 | Regulator clears Metro Cash & Carry India purchase |
| 2024 | Shift to hyperlocal quick delivery |
| 2026 | 3,100+ stores and 5,100+ PIN codes |
- Where was JioMart founded?
- JioMart was founded in Navi Mumbai, India in 2019.
- Who founded JioMart?
- JioMart was founded by Mukesh Ambani.
- When did JioMart start?
- JioMart was founded in 2019.
- How old is JioMart?
- JioMart is 7 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Mukesh Ambani announced the idea at Reliance's 2019 AGM: link Reliance Retail's supply chain with millions of small kirana shops and with Jio's mobile users. JioMart soft-launched in December 2019 in Navi Mumbai, Kalyan and Thane. In April 2020 Facebook (now Meta) agreed to invest ₹43,574 crore (about $5.7 billion) for a 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms, with a plan to connect JioMart to WhatsApp. A month later, during India's COVID-19 lockdown, JioMart opened in roughly 200 cities, selling groceries when many shoppers could not visit stores.
Founders
Mukesh Ambani
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, announced JioMart at Reliance's 2019 AGM as a way to connect Reliance Retail's supply chain with Jio's mobile users and India's neighbourhood kirana shops. The platform piloted in December 2019 and went national in May 2020. Ambani also brokered Meta's 2020 investment in Jio Platforms, which led to JioMart ordering inside WhatsApp, and in 2026 framed Reliance's consumer ambition as building India's most inclusive consumer ecosystem. Mukesh Ambani was born in 1957.
Key Milestones
Pilot launch in Navi Mumbai, Kalyan and Thane
Reliance Retail began JioMart grocery ordering in three towns near Mumbai in December 2019.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMeta invests in Jio; nationwide rollout
Facebook agreed to invest ~$5.05 billion (₹43,574 crore) in Jio Platforms in April; JioMart opened in about 200 cities in May.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquired Netmeds
JioMart acquired Netmeds for $83 million. Reliance Retail bought a majority stake in Netmeds operator Vitalic Health for ~$71.9 million (₹620 crore) in August 2020 to add online pharmacy.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquired Milkbasket
JioMart acquired Milkbasket. Reliance Retail acquired subscription milk and grocery delivery startup Milkbasket in 2021 to add daily morning delivery.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgEnd-to-end shopping on WhatsApp
At the 2022 AGM, Reliance and Meta launched JioMart browsing, cart and payment inside WhatsApp.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquired Dunzo (minority stake)
JioMart acquired Dunzo (minority stake) for $200 million.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRegulator clears Metro Cash & Carry India purchase
India's competition regulator approved Reliance Retail's purchase of Metro Cash & Carry India on March 14, 2023. The ~$331 million (₹2,850 crore) deal, signed in December 2022, covered 31 wholesale distribution centres for the retail group that runs JioMart.
Source: pib.gov.inShift to hyperlocal quick delivery
JioMart began delivering grocery orders in about 30 minutes from nearby Reliance stores.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com3,100+ stores and 5,100+ PIN codes
At the June 2026 AGM, JioMart's network spanned 1,200+ cities; daily orders were up 3.6x year-on-year.
Source: livemint.comMajor Acquisitions
Milkbasket
2021Reliance Retail acquired subscription milk and grocery delivery startup Milkbasket in 2021 to add daily morning delivery.
Dunzo (minority stake)
2022Reliance Retail invested $200 million for a 25.8% stake in Dunzo in January 2022 to add hyperlocal delivery capacity.
Netmeds
2020Reliance Retail bought a majority stake in Netmeds operator Vitalic Health for ~$71.9 million (₹620 crore) in August 2020 to add online pharmacy.
Keep researching JioMart
JioMart Company History FAQ
What are the historic milestones in the evolution of JioMart from 2019 to today?
Key milestones: announcement at the 2019 Reliance AGM, pilot in Navi Mumbai, Kalyan and Thane (December 2019), rollout to about 200 cities (May 2020), WhatsApp shopping with Meta (2022), hyperlocal store-based delivery (2024) and a network of 3,100+ stores across 5,100+ PIN codes (June 2026).
How did the COVID-19 pandemic accelerate JioMart's nationwide expansion in 2020?
During 2020 pandemic lockdowns, when traditional supply chains were severely disrupted, JioMart stepped in as an essential public lifeline, delivering food and daily necessities to millions of households across 200+ cities within weeks of launch.
What was the global significance of the 2022 launch of end-to-end shopping on WhatsApp?
At the 2022 Reliance AGM, Mark Zuckerberg and Mukesh Ambani unveiled the world's first complete e-commerce experience on WhatsApp, allowing Indian consumers to browse catalogs, add items to a digital cart, and pay via UPI without leaving the chat.
How did JioMart transition from a pure grocery app into a comprehensive horizontal marketplace?
Starting in 2022 to 2023, JioMart expanded beyond groceries to onboard consumer electronics from Reliance Digital, fashion from Trends and AJIO, beauty, home appliances, and thousands of independent third-party sellers.
How many PIN codes does JioMart cover in 2026?
Its hyperlocal network reached 5,100+ PIN codes across 1,200+ cities by June 2026, served from 3,100+ stores.
What was the impact of the 2023 to 2024 'Independence' FMCG brand national rollout?
Reliance launched its 'Independence' consumer brand across multiple Indian states, utilizing JioMart as the primary digital distribution channel to deliver affordable cooking oils, packaged flours, and grains to millions of families.
What is JioMart's long-term vision for Indian commerce over the next decade?
JioMart envisions remaining India's most trusted, affordable, and inclusive digital commerce destination, powering India's journey toward a multi-trillion-dollar digital economy through advanced AI, local Kirana empowerment, and leading customer value.
How did JioMart start?
JioMart was officially launched in May 2020 (during the absolute height of the global pandemic) by Reliance Retail, a subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani's massive Reliance Industries. Backed by staggering billions in capital, it was launched as a highly aggressive "O2O" (Online-to-Offline) platform designed specifically to destroy the duopoly of Amazon India and Walmart's Flipkart.
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