From Hamleys to Armani: Scaling Brands in India

Sumeet Yadav, Head of Reliance Brands Limited, on luxury retail, global partnerships and what international brands need to understand about India.

How do global brands enter, adapt and scale in India?

In this episode of The Retail Podcast, we sit down with Sumeet Yadav, Head of Reliance Brands Limited, just before his keynote at NRF APAC 2026 in Singapore.

Reliance Brands Limited sits at the centre of India’s global luxury and lifestyle retail ecosystem, with partnerships spanning fashion, lifestyle, eyewear, toys, home, and food and beverage. Its portfolio connects high luxury, premium lifestyle, family retail and scaled consumer experiences.

This conversation explores the leadership, operating discipline and market understanding required to bring international brands into India and build them for long-term relevance.

In this episode, we cover:

• How global brands enter and grow in India

• The role of Reliance Brands Limited in India’s luxury and lifestyle market

• Building international brand partnerships at scale

• Premium retail, lifestyle retail and consumer evolution in India

• Lessons from brands including Hamleys, Mothercare, Diesel, Superdry, Brooks Brothers, Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta, Valentino and Tiffany & Co.

• Sumeet Yadav’s leadership journey across Reliance Brands, Hamleys Global, Nando’s, Tommy Hilfiger India and Ford

• NRF APAC 2026 and the future of retail in Asia Pacific

Sumeet Yadav is a founding member of Reliance Brands Limited and a member of its central leadership team. He has helped shape the launch and scale of major international franchises in India and has also led Hamleys Global during its international expansion.

Whether you are a retailer, brand leader, founder, investor or operator thinking about India, this episode offers a rare look at the mechanics behind building global brands for Indian consumers.

Subscribe to The Retail Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping the future of retail, brands, commerce and consumer behaviour.

Links:

Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumeet-yadav-8a48a87

Reliance Brands / Reliance Retail: https://relianceretail.com/partner-brands.html

NRF APAC 2026: https://nrfbigshowapac.nrf.com/speakers/sumeet_yadav__

Podcast website: www.theretailpodcast.com

Newsletter: www.retailnews.ai