Tuesday, February 10, 2026
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Start following Kiara Advani’s simple yet powerful morning ritual for glowing skin

Have you ever stopped to marvel at Kiara Advani’s radiant and flawless skin? In the exquisite glamour that is Bollywood, Kiara Advani stands out not just for her acting genius but also for her luminous and healthy skin. Amidst the overwhelming myriad of options surfaced by the beauty industry, this simple yet transformative ritual is not only a fad, but the cornerstone of her radiance.

 

The secret might be simpler than you think. It’s not a gruelling workout or a 10-step skincare routine; it’s a simple cup of warm water, with a slice of lemon in it. Kiara’s morning habit of indulging in warm water infused with the zest of fresh lemons has become a conscious choice rooted in her approach to holistic well-being. The actress recommends this refreshing elixir not only for its skin-enhancing benefits but also for the multiple benefits it has in improving your overall health and vitality.  

 

Hansa Yogendra, Director of The Yoga Institute in one of her videos on the health benefits of lemons mentioned, “Drinking one glass of lemon water every day in the morning will benefit you for a lifetime”.  Her claim can further be supported by a research published in the Journal of Science and Technology which reveals that “It is a healthy appetiser and helps to treat diseases with digestive aids. Lemon does not disclose any adverse effects, according to literature, but it is used all over the world as a traditional medicine”. Vitamin C, which is abundantly present in lemons, fights toxins and increases collagen production in the body, both of which help in treating acne as well as tightening the skin and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. While lemons are famously known for their Vitamin C component, not many people are aware of their Potassium-rich skin, which is an important mineral for nervous stimulation as well as maintaining blood pressure. Here are a few more benefits of adding lemon water to your everyday diet:- 

  • Immediately soothes muscle cramps
  • Peptin in lemons makes us feel fuller, thereby, helping in weight loss
  • Boosts immunity by stimulating the production of White Blood Cells in the body
  • Removal of kidney stones 
  • The lemon peel when infused in water for 30 minutes, activates its bioactive compounds which boost immunity and prevent our bodies from cellular damage
  • It also helps in the release of digestive enzymes which help in better absorption of nutrients

 

This simple kitchen hack has proudly made its way into the celebrity wellness circuit. Not only Kiara Advani but also Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, Kriti Sanon, and Malaika Arora have this one drink in common at the break of dawn.

Here are 3 ways, you can incorporate the lemon water glow into your morning routine:- 

  1. Warm ginger lemon tea- Boil a glass of water with crushed ginger. When its done, squeeze a lemon into your glass and have it warm. To enjoy it in place of your morning tea, you may add a teaspoon of honey to it.

2. Ginger lemon shot – Take an inch of ginger root, and one squeezed lemon. Add enough water to blend it (3-4 tablespoons) in a blender, and have it as a morning shot.

3. Lemon-infused detox water- Cut up slices of one lemon and add it to your water bottle. Have 1-2 glasses of lemon water in the morning, and keep having the rest throughout the day. 

While lemon water offers a myriad of health benefits, it’s crucial to exercise moderation. One lemon a day is a healthy limit, and people with gastroesophageal reflux disease should be cautious about excessive lemon juice intake. As with any dietary rituals, balance is key to ensuring you enjoy the advantages without overdoing it. 

ACPL Exports Launches D2C Silver Jewellery Brand TrueSilver, Plans 100 Stores and ₹250 Crore Revenue

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ACPL Exports, a long established silver jewellery manufacturer and exporter based in Agra, has entered the direct to consumer space with the launch of its own brand, TrueSilver. The move marks the company’s shift from a largely export driven business to building a consumer facing retail brand with an omnichannel footprint in India and overseas markets.

The company has set an initial revenue target of ₹100 crore for TrueSilver in the near term and aims to scale the brand to ₹250 crore within the next two to three years. Retail expansion will play a central role in this plan, with ACPL targeting up to 100 exclusive brand outlets across key Indian cities. The brand’s leadership expects the consumer business to account for 30 to 40 per cent of the group’s overall revenue over time.

TrueSilver has launched with a catalogue of nearly 900 designs across women, men and children, with women’s jewellery forming more than 80 per cent of the range. The focus is on daily wear silver jewellery backed by certified purity, modern styling and pricing positioned for regular purchase. Online price points currently range from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000, while average ticket sizes in physical stores are expected to move towards ₹7,000 to ₹8,000 as the retail network expands.

The brand has adopted a digital first approach in its opening phase and is live on its own website as well as leading marketplaces such as Amazon India and Myntra. Physical stores are being planned initially in metro markets including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. Each store will span around 700 to 800 square feet with an estimated investment of about ₹50 lakh per outlet. The company expects individual stores to reach operating break even within four months.

ACPL Exports currently ships to more than 37 countries, with nearly half of its export revenue coming from the United States. TrueSilver is also expected to explore international markets such as the US, UK and UAE as the brand scales its retail presence.

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Edible Oil Markets Enter Prolonged Volatility Phase as Trade, Biofuel Pressures Reshape Pricing

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Global edible oil markets have entered a phase of sustained or “structural” volatility, driven by shifting trade dynamics, biofuel mandates, and constrained supply growth, according to Sudhakar Desai, president of the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA).

Speaking at the UOB Kay Hian Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Desai said geopolitical realignments have altered global trade corridors, compressing arbitrage opportunities and increasing the transmission of energy prices, currency movements, and policy shocks into edible oil markets. As a result, even small changes in duties, mandates, or trade flows are now triggering outsized price movements across the supply chain.

Providing a global outlook, Desai said production of the four major vegetable oils is estimated at 208.4 million tonnes in the 2025–26 season, only marginally higher year-on-year. While output of palm oil and rapeseed oil is expected to rise, sunflower oil production remains constrained, keeping global supply balances tight. This limited growth, he noted, leaves markets vulnerable to weather disruptions and policy changes, intensifying competition between oils and leading to unstable price spreads. Sunflower oil continues to command a premium in global markets.

Biofuel mandates have emerged as a key structural driver of prices. Indonesia’s biodiesel programme alone absorbs around 14 million tonnes of palm oil annually, while biofuel policies in the United States continue to anchor global soybean oil price expectations. Desai said edible oils are increasingly functioning as energy-linked strategic inputs rather than purely food commodities, raising the price floor and strengthening their correlation with crude oil and policy cycles.

India’s domestic edible oil production is projected at 9.6 million tonnes in the 2025–26 oil year, covering only about 40% of national consumption. This reinforces the country’s dependence on imports estimated at around 16.7 million tonnes. Of this, palm oil imports are expected to account for 8–8.5 million tonnes, soybean oil 5–5.5 million tonnes, sunflower oil 2.8–3 million tonnes, with around 200,000 tonnes of other oils, including zero-duty imports routed through Nepal.

Desai said India’s import basket remains highly sensitive to inter-oil price differentials, particularly between palm and soybean oil. A shift of just $50–60 per tonne in price spreads can lead to large-scale reallocation of import volumes, highlighting the lack of stickiness at the bulk oil level. Palm oil imports have already declined from more than 10 million tonnes in 2021–22 to around 8 million tonnes, as sustained premiums and competition from soybean and sunflower oil alter market share dynamics. Refining margins, he added, remain under pressure, limiting demand momentum.

On trade policy, Desai said recently concluded free trade agreements and bilateral arrangements with partners such as the United States, the European Union, Australia, the UAE, and SAFTA members have become integral to pricing and sourcing decisions. These agreements directly influence landed cost structures, arbitrage flows, and refining economics. He added that further clarity on potential tariff concessions or quota mechanisms for US soybean oil would provide additional market direction.

Sharing his price outlook, Desai projected Malaysia’s palm oil production at 19.9 million tonnes, compared with 20.2 million tonnes last year, and Indonesia’s output at 51.8 million tonnes, up slightly from 51.2 million tonnes. Slow progress in replanting in both countries is likely to keep near-term supplies tight, supporting prices until March 2026. However, sustained premiums over soybean oil are expected to cap palm and sunflower oil consumption in India. Benchmark palm oil prices are likely to remain range-bound but policy-driven, with trading expected in the 4,000–4,400 range during April–June and 4,200–4,600 during July–September. Sunflower oil prices are expected to stay elevated until the next production cycle.

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Udaan Cuts Losses Sharply in FY25 as Revenue Slides After Strategic Pullback

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B2B e-commerce firm Udaan reported a sharp reduction in losses for the financial year ended March 31, 2025, even as its revenue declined following an exit from select business verticals, according to its latest financial disclosures.

For FY25, Udaan’s consolidated revenue stood at ₹4,561.4 crore, down from ₹5,706.6 crore in FY24, marking a year-on-year contraction of nearly 20%. The decline in topline reflects the company’s portfolio rationalisation efforts as it scaled back operations in non-core segments.

Despite the revenue drop, the company made significant progress on profitability. Udaan’s consolidated loss narrowed by nearly 37% to ₹1,055.4 crore in FY25, compared with a loss of ₹1,674.1 crore in the previous year. This translates into an improvement of over ₹618 crore year-on-year.

The reduction in losses was supported by lower expenses across multiple cost heads, including purchases of traded goods, employee costs, finance charges, and other operating expenses. The company has been tightening costs while reworking its operating structure to improve efficiency.

Commenting on the performance, Vishnu Menon, senior vice president–strategy at Udaan, said FY25 marked an important step in the company’s journey towards sustainable growth. He noted that the transition to a regional cluster-based operating model over the past six quarters helped reduce core EBITDA burn by around 40%, even as the company exited select verticals as part of a broader portfolio realignment.

Udaan has been restructuring its business to focus on fewer, stronger regional clusters, a move it says has improved unit economics and operational discipline. The company believes this model has strengthened its operating foundation and positioned it for more resilient growth.

In terms of fundraising, Udaan raised $114 million in Series G equity funding in June last year from M&G Investments and Lightspeed Venture Partners, providing it with additional capital to support its restructuring and long-term strategy.

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Top Clean Label Food Brands in India FY26: The Whole Truth, Farmley and Country Delight Drive Q Commerce Growth

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India’s clean label food segment has moved beyond a niche audience and is now seeing strong demand across metros and fast growing urban centres. In FY25 and the first part of FY26, brands built around simple ingredients and transparent labels recorded sharp growth, supported largely by quick commerce platforms such as Zepto, Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart. Industry trackers note that instant delivery has turned healthier snacks and staples into everyday purchases rather than occasional buys.

Among the fastest scaling names, The Whole Truth has built momentum in protein bars, chocolates and breakfast formats. The company reported revenue of about ₹216 crore in FY25, almost doubling year on year, with a large share of orders coming from quick commerce and repeat customers. Farmley has also emerged as a major player in clean label snacking, led by makhana, nuts and seed mixes. The brand closed FY25 with revenue near ₹394 crore and expanded distribution across modern trade and over 20,000 retail outlets, while improving unit economics.

Country Delight continues to anchor the clean label dairy category through a full stack sourcing and delivery model. With FY24 revenue estimated at around ₹1,380 crore, the brand is tracking toward the ₹1,800 to ₹2,000 crore range in FY25, driven by milk, ghee and fresh produce. Faster delivery models are now being tested to align with changing consumer expectations around freshness.

Yoga Bar, backed by ITC, reported FY25 revenue of roughly ₹202 crore and is gaining share beyond large cities through wider retail reach. Slurrp Farm, focused on millet based foods for children and families, closed FY25 at about ₹96 crore in revenue and is seeing rising demand through instant delivery platforms.

While growth is strong, most clean label brands continue to prioritise scale over margins due to high marketing spends and platform fees. Analysts expect the next phase to be defined by tighter cost control as competition from large FMCG players intensifies.

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Tamannaah Bhatia Named Mysore Sandal Brand Face as KSDL Targets ₹5,000 Crore Turnover by 2030

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Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited has appointed actor Tamannaah Bhatia as the brand ambassador for Mysore Sandal and its wider product portfolio, marking a renewed push to expand the state owned company’s reach beyond southern markets. The association will begin from February 10, alongside the relaunch of Mysore Sandal soap with refreshed packaging aimed at younger consumers.

The government backed enterprise expects its turnover to reach about ₹2,000 crore in 2025 to 26 and has outlined a longer term goal of scaling annual revenue to ₹5,000 crore by 2030. Officials said the brand partnership is part of a broader marketing reset designed to raise visibility in large northern and central Indian markets, where the company’s presence remains limited compared to the south.

KSDL currently manufactures 57 products across soaps, detergents and personal care categories, ranging from its flagship sandalwood soap to hand wash, talcum powder, shower gels, incense and packaged drinking water. The company reported record production in the last month across all three of its divisions, driven by higher plant utilisation under a three shift operating model.

Alongside marketing investments, KSDL is adding capacity through upcoming production units in Vijayapura and Dabaspet. Export revenue, estimated at ₹25 to ₹30 crore annually, is also set for expansion, with the company exploring distribution in Europe and West Asia while stepping up outreach to the Indian diaspora.

Founded more than a century ago with the backing of the Mysuru royal family and industrial leaders of the time, KSDL has leaned on its heritage brand for decades. The new campaign signals a sharper focus on contemporary branding and national scale. Tamannaah Bhatia will feature in advertising and retail promotions for two years and will not endorse competing soap brands during this period.

Company executives said the refreshed strategy combines higher production throughput, tighter control on counterfeit products and sustained marketing to lift volumes in high growth urban centres such as Delhi and across central India.

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Twirtles Debuts Superpuffs, Claims First-Mover Spot in India’s Protein Chips with Vitamin Fortification

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Healthy snacking startup Twirtles has entered the functional foods space with the launch of Superpuffs, a new line it is positioning as India’s first protein chips fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. The product was unveiled at a formal industry event attended by retail partners, food entrepreneurs and health sector stakeholders, signalling the brand’s push beyond conventional snack formats into nutrition-led offerings.

The launch was marked by Padma Shri awardee Dr Arvind Lal, Executive Chairman of Dr Lal PathLabs, who inaugurated the product at the event. The presence of diagnostics and nutrition leaders highlighted Twirtles’ intent to anchor the new range in science-backed formulation rather than lifestyle marketing alone.

Superpuffs has been developed to address a widening gap in everyday snacking, where taste-forward products dominate shelves but nutritional value remains limited. Each variant is fortified with a tailored blend of vitamins and minerals, alongside higher protein content, to help tackle common micronutrient shortfalls observed in urban diets. The company said it has focused on keeping ingredient lists simple and transparent, as clean label preferences gain ground among label-reading consumers.

According to Twirtles, the product is the result of an extended in-house research and development process involving multiple formulation trials to stabilise protein levels and micronutrients without compromising texture or flavour. Achieving this balance in puffed snacks has traditionally been difficult due to processing constraints and taste fatigue associated with fortified products.

Co founders Arjun Veer Singh and Pawanjot Singh said the brand is building Superpuffs as a long-term category bet rather than a limited innovation drop. Twirtles currently sells chips and makhana-based snacks and sees protein chips as a natural extension of its everyday snacking portfolio.

Industry observers note that protein chips remain a small but emerging segment in India, often limited by premium pricing and narrow flavour choices. Twirtles plans to roll out Superpuffs across key metros through modern trade and online platforms in the coming months, as it looks to scale distribution and expand into adjacent healthy snacking categories.

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Invogue Secures ₹2 Crore Funding on Shark Tank India to Accelerate Shapewear Expansion

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Bengaluru based shapewear startup Invogue has raised ₹2 crore on Shark Tank India Season 5, marking its first external funding since launch and setting the stage for its next phase of growth. The two year old brand, founded in 2023 by entrepreneur Maadhav Saxena and later joined by co founder Ragini, is building a portfolio of performance led shapewear designed for Indian body types and everyday wear needs.

Invogue entered the market at a time when organised players in shapewear were still limited in India. The company focused on fit, fabric engineering and compression performance while keeping customer acquisition costs in check. Since inception, the brand has served over 80,000 customers across India, catering to use cases spanning ethnic outfits and western silhouettes.

The ₹2 crore investment was made by Aman Gupta on the show. The capital will be deployed to strengthen supply chain capacity, widen the product range and support distribution across digital channels and physical retail touchpoints. The founders said the funding will also be used to build deeper manufacturing partnerships and improve inventory planning as volumes scale.

Invogue plans to expand beyond core shapewear into sculpted bras, innerwear, tummy tuckers and swimwear over the coming quarters. The company is also preparing to build an omnichannel presence, with pilots planned across select offline formats alongside its existing online sales channels. As part of its brand building push, Invogue recently partnered with Malaika Arora for a digital campaign aimed at increasing awareness among urban women shoppers.

Industry observers note that demand for functional innerwear and shapewear in India is rising as consumers seek comfort driven solutions that work across long workdays and social settings. With fresh capital in hand, Invogue is positioning itself to scale in a category that remains fragmented and under penetrated.

The founders said the focus in the next phase will remain on product performance and customer feedback led design, as the brand looks to grow from a niche shapewear label into a broader foundation wear player across categories.

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Myntra Appoints Former Google Leader Pramod Adiddam as CTO to Strengthen Tech Roadmap

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Myntra has named Pramod Adiddam as its new Chief Technology Officer, bringing in a seasoned global technology leader to steer the platform’s engineering and digital architecture as the business scales its fashion, beauty and lifestyle marketplace in India. The appointment comes at a time when the company is deepening its focus on platform reliability, faster innovation cycles and sharper personalisation across customer touchpoints.

In his new role, Adiddam will lead Myntra’s end to end technology charter, covering core commerce systems, data platforms, cloud infrastructure and emerging technology initiatives. The company said his mandate includes strengthening platform resilience to handle peak traffic, improving speed to market for new features and building capabilities that support expanding seller, creator and brand ecosystems.

Adiddam brings over 20 years of experience in building large consumer internet platforms. Prior to joining Myntra, he held senior engineering leadership roles at Google and Instacart, where he worked on high scale marketplace systems, platform engineering and product innovation across multiple geographies. His career includes designing systems that support millions of daily users, managing global teams and driving technology programs linked to revenue growth and customer engagement.

Myntra said the leadership addition adds depth to its technical bench as the platform continues to invest in personalisation, discovery tools and creator led commerce. The company has been expanding its technology investments to support rapid category growth, especially in beauty, which has emerged as one of its fastest growing verticals.

Commenting on the appointment, Myntra CEO Nandita Sinha said the platform’s ability to deliver a smooth and reliable shopping experience at scale is closely tied to the strength of its technology foundations. She added that Adiddam’s experience in running global consumer platforms will support Myntra’s next phase of growth.

Adiddam will report to the CEO and work closely with product, data and business teams to advance Myntra’s long term technology priorities.

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Dr. Doodley Raises ₹30 Crore to Expand 24×7 Pet Hospitals Across Tier I Cities

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Bengaluru based pet healthcare startup Dr. Doodley has secured ₹30 crore in pre Series A funding to accelerate the rollout of its hospital network and deepen clinical capabilities as demand for organised veterinary care rises in urban India. The round includes ₹20 crore in equity and ₹10 crore in debt. Equity investment was led by V3 Ventures, with participation from Campus Fund and the Thackersey Family Office. The round also saw backing from angel investors Yatin Shah and Karan Bhagat of 360 ONE Wealth, along with Gautam Dalmia, managing director of Dalmia Bharat Group.

Founded in 2023 by Utsav Bisaria and Yash Jayprakash Ladda, Dr. Doodley operates a hybrid care model that combines vet at home services with round the clock multispecialty hospitals. The company currently runs three facilities in Bengaluru at Jayanagar, Yelahanka and Whitefield, supported by a team of about 35 veterinarians. Its hospitals offer diagnostics such as X ray, ultrasound and blood tests, along with surgery and inpatient care backed by continuous monitoring. Clinical protocols are standardised across centres, with specialist access in surgery, gynaecology and internal medicine.

The fresh capital will be used to expand hospital capacity and prepare for entry into new markets. Over the next year, Dr. Doodley plans to open four more hospitals in Bellandur, Indiranagar, Rajajinagar and North Bengaluru, taking the network to seven facilities. The company aims to treat more than 100,000 pets during this period and grow its veterinary team to over 100 doctors.

The startup also plans to introduce 30 minute vet at home services and roll out a flat ₹10,000 surgery pricing model across procedures. Over the past year, Dr. Doodley said it handled more than 30,000 pet consultations and performed over 1,000 surgeries. The company operates in a fast growing pet care market alongside organised players such as Wiggles, Supertails, Vetic and Petzzco.

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Luckin Coffee Debuts Premium Origin Flagship in Shenzhen as China’s Coffee Rivalry Heats Up

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Luckin Coffee has opened its first premium Origin flagship store in Shenzhen, stepping into higher priced specialty coffee and taking direct aim at Starbucks’ Reserve format as competition sharpens in China’s urban café market. The launch marks a clear shift for Luckin, which built scale through compact, app led outlets known for low priced drinks and fast delivery.

The two level flagship sits in one of Shenzhen’s busiest commercial districts near the Hong Kong border. Unlike Luckin’s usual pricing of roughly one to two dollars for core beverages, the new store offers a curated menu of specialty brews such as pour over and cold brew, positioned for customers willing to pay more for sourcing stories and in store experience.

Luckin said the Origin concept focuses on traceable beans and brewing methods. The flagship highlights coffee sourced from Brazil, Ethiopia and Yunnan in southwest China, reflecting a growing interest among Chinese consumers in origin specific flavours. Early social media posts from local platforms show long queues during the soft launch period in late January, with reported wait times stretching beyond an hour, pointing to strong initial curiosity around the premium format.

The move comes as China’s coffee market grows more crowded. Starbucks set the tone for premium café experiences with its Reserve Roastery in Shanghai in 2017, but faces sustained pressure from fast expanding domestic chains and boutique cafés. Luckin reported revenue of about $1.55 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, up nearly 48 percent year on year, underlining its scale advantage. The company crossed the 29,000 store mark globally by the end of September and has positioned the Shenzhen opening as part of its milestone march toward 30,000 outlets.

Starbucks, which runs just over 8,000 stores in China, is reshaping its local business through a proposed stake sale to Boyu Capital, valuing its China unit at roughly $13 billion including future licensing income.

By pairing premium storytelling with its vast retail footprint, Luckin is signalling an ambition to compete across price tiers. If the Shenzhen model delivers steady volumes, similar flagships are likely to follow in Shanghai, Beijing and other large cities, adding pressure on established premium players to defend both share and brand loyalty.

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