Rashmika Mandanna Joins Crocs as Its New Face in India, Bringing a Bold Splash of Personality to the Brand

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May 1, 2025

Image of Crocs. — Rashmika Mandanna Joins Crocs as Its New Face in India, Bringing a Bold Splash of Personality to the Brand

Crocs has found its newest muse in Rashmika Mandanna. The American casual footwear brand has tapped the popular Indian actress as its first-ever brand ambassador from India, signaling a deeper push into the country’s booming fashion-forward market.

With this collaboration, Crocs isn’t just slapping a celebrity face on its ads—it’s tapping into Mandanna’s nationwide appeal to make bolder moves across India’s diverse regions. Known for her lively persona and strong connect with Gen Z and millennials, Rashmika is expected to help Crocs land deeper in the hearts (and wardrobes) of young Indian consumers.

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The partnership kicks off with a new campaign titled ‘Your Crocs. Your Story. Your World’, which puts the spotlight on the brand’s iconic Classics range and customizable Jibbitz™ charms. The campaign champions self-expression, urging wearers to make their pair of Crocs a canvas for their quirks, hobbies, and obsessions.

“Crocs is more than just footwear for me—it’s fun, it’s free, and it’s unapologetically expressive,” said Rashmika. “From my love of Korean snacks to sunflowers and all things vibrant, I’m excited to wear my personality, quite literally, on my feet.”

This new chapter for Crocs will span across digital platforms, social media, in-store activations, and curated experiences designed to bring the campaign to life—making sure you won’t miss it, no matter where you shop.

Yann Le Bozec, who leads international marketing at Crocs, said, “Rashmika brings an infectious energy and realness that mirrors what Crocs stands for. Her popularity with India’s youth is unmatched, and she’s the perfect person to take our message of self-expression further.”

Crocs has been a familiar name in India for years. The brand first entered the country in 2008 through a partnership with Metro Brands Ltd., which started by stocking Crocs in its multi-brand stores. By 2015, Metro Brands expanded its role via a retail license agreement to distribute Crocs more widely.

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In early 2024, Dubai-based retail giant Apparel Group came on board as Crocs’ exclusive licensee for the northern and eastern parts of India, signaling fresh ambition to capture new corners of the country.

Alia Bhatt’s Ed-a-Mamma Grows Retail Footprint with First Southern India Store—Sustainable Kidswear Now in Bengaluru

Retail & Ecommerce

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May 1, 2025

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Image of eda mamma. — Alia Bhatt’s Ed-a-Mamma Grows Retail Footprint with First Southern India Store—Sustainable Kidswear Now in Bengaluru

Sustainable kidswear label Ed-a-Mamma, co-founded by actor and entrepreneur Alia Bhatt, has just made its Southern debut with a brand-new store in Bengaluru. Nestled inside the Mall of Asia, this is the brand’s fourth physical location in India—and its very first in this part of the country.

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Backed by Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. (RRVL), Ed-a-Mamma has grown from a small passion project into a conscious lifestyle label that now offers everything from organic kidswear and maternity fashion to eco-friendly toys and books.

Reflecting on the new milestone, Bhatt shared, “Opening our first store in Bengaluru feels personal. We started with a simple idea—to create kinder clothes for kids and the planet. This store brings that vision to life in a way I’ve always imagined.”

Spread across 805 square feet, the outlet was built using sustainable design elements like reclaimed wood and eco-conscious finishes. True to its ethos, the space blends fun and function while keeping the planet in mind.

On the shelves, shoppers will find clothing for newborns to teens (0–14 years), all crafted from natural fabrics and finished without plastic-based trims. There’s also maternity wear, cuddly plush toys, hand-crafted dolls made from upcycled fabric, and lifestyle products like hair accessories, bedding, backpacks, and curated gift boxes. A wooden toy range is expected to launch soon.

Each clothing item for kids also comes with a seed ball pouch, nudging young shoppers to take the first step toward planting a tree—a small gesture with a bigger message.

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Since its 2020 launch, Ed-a-Mamma has steadily evolved into a broader movement around sustainable living. The 2023 tie-up with Reliance Retail has helped fast-track the brand’s retail presence and scale its message across India.

Costa Coffee Bets Big on India: 50 Stores a Year, 200+ Locations, and a Shot at Cracking the Top-5 Global Markets

Growth

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May 1, 2025

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Image of Costa Coffee — Costa Coffee Bets Big on India: 50 Stores a Year, 200+ Locations, and a Shot at Cracking the Top-5 Global Markets

India’s coffee culture is heating up—and Costa Coffee wants a front-row seat. The British coffee chain, owned by Coca-Cola, is stepping on the gas in India with plans to open around 50 new outlets annually. The goal? To make India one of its top five markets worldwide within the next five years.

“We’re in it for the long haul,” said Philippe Schaillee, Global CEO of Costa Coffee, during a visit to India on Wednesday. “We’re not chasing aggressive store counts for the sake of it. We’re focused on expanding steadily, with the right locations and the right experience.”

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Costa currently runs more than 200 cafés across the country through its local partner, Devyani International Ltd (DIL). This year also marks the brand’s 20th anniversary in India—a market that Schaillee believes is on the verge of a coffee boom.

“Right now, fewer than 50 million people in India are willing to pay extra for good coffee—but that number is growing fast, well into double-digit percentages,” he said. “It’s this shift that makes India so exciting for us.”

While India sits within Costa’s top 20 global markets today, it’s quickly climbing the ranks. The company is zeroing in on metro cities to fuel its expansion, while also exploring new types of locations—from flagship cafés on high streets to highway fuel stops and shopping malls.

Globally, the UK remains Costa’s biggest market, followed by China, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. But India is where the future growth action is, especially as younger consumers move from chai to cappuccinos.

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Costa faces stiff competition here—not just from global heavyweights like Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and McCafe, but also from fast-growing Indian brands like Blue Tokai, Third Wave Coffee, Barista, and a reinvigorated Café Coffee Day.

KOKUYO Eyes $3.5 Billion Ambition with HNI Office India Buyout: Japanese Giant Deepens Bet on Indian Market

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May 1, 2025

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Image of kokuyo — KOKUYO Eyes $3.5 Billion Ambition with HNI Office India Buyout: Japanese Giant Deepens Bet on Indian Market

Japanese stationery and office furniture major KOKUYO Co., Ltd. is making a bigger bet on India. The Tokyo-listed company has signed an agreement to acquire HNI Office India, the local arm of US-based HNI Corporation.

While the deal amount hasn’t been disclosed, this move is part of KOKUYO’s broader plan to push past $3.5 billion in net sales by 2030.

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Already familiar to Indian consumers through its long-standing partnership with Camlin, KOKUYO is no stranger to the market. The company employs over 7,600 people across Asia and has been steadily building its footprint in the region.

By bringing HNI Office India into its fold, KOKUYO is looking to strengthen both its product range and manufacturing base in the country. HNI India, known for its premium office furniture and strong design-led approach, is expected to slot in well with KOKUYO’s growth ambitions—especially in expanding its presence in other Asian markets.

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“This move is not just about scale—it’s about sharpening our edge in innovation, production, and customer reach,” said a company representative in a statement.

With this acquisition, KOKUYO is signaling a clear intention: India is more than just another market—it’s a key piece in its Asia growth strategy.

Returns Are Bleeding Fashion Brands—Here’s How TechnoSport Cut Its Rate to 4% While Mashroo Fights 60% COD Losses

E-Commerce

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May 1, 2025

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Image-of-technosport — Returns Are Bleeding Fashion Brands—Here’s How TechnoSport Cut Its Rate to 4% While Mashroo Fights 60% COD Losses

India’s fashion retail scene has long been a place where keeping customers happy often meant bending over backwards—even if it hurt the bottom line. But lately, a quiet shift is happening. Brands are no longer willing to treat returns as just another cost of doing business.

With returns eating deeper into margins, especially for fashion players, many are starting to say: enough is enough. From scrappy D2C newcomers to seasoned luxury labels, companies are introducing tighter return rules and smarter tech tools to plug the leaks—though not without concern about upsetting their most loyal buyers.

“The Indian shopper expects flexible return options, and for the most part, we’re okay with that,” said Anil Pradhan, Business Head at Tiruppur-based TechnoSport. “But when a small chunk of customers repeatedly misuse the system, it begins to take a toll.”

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It’s a tricky balancing act—keeping things convenient without losing control—and brands are now making tough calls.

D2C Startups Push Back

At TechnoSport, returns have dropped to about 4%, thanks in part to AI tools that monitor buying behavior. “We use automation to flag accounts that show unusual return activity. In some cases, we tweak the shopping experience—offer better size recommendations or put limits on returns,” said Pradhan.

For Mumbai-based label Mashroo, the challenge is more intense. Co-founder Junaid Khan pointed out that cash-on-delivery returns make up nearly 60% of all returns—while prepaid orders rarely come back.

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“Every time a COD order is returned, we lose on logistics, time, and inventory. It’s incredibly wasteful,” Khan said. In response, Mashroo has moved to an exchange-only policy. No returns—just size or preference swaps, and the customer pays for the shipping. It’s not always a hit, but it’s working. Add-ons like partial prepayments, captcha verification, and confirmation calls have helped reduce misuse, especially in smaller cities.

GIVA Hits 200-Store Mark with Star-Studded Launch in Bengaluru

Growth

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April 30, 2025

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Image of giva — GIVA Hits 200-Store Mark with Star-Studded Launch in Bengaluru

Indian jewellery brand GIVA just hit a major milestone—its 200th store, unveiled at Forum South Mall in Bengaluru with a touch of glamour, thanks to Bollywood actor Karisma Kapoor, who did the honors.

This new store isn’t just another pin on the map—it reflects the brand’s ambitious retail play. GIVA, which started its offline journey only a couple of years ago, is now making serious inroads into both metro and emerging cities.

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“We’re thrilled to open our 200th outlet right here in Bengaluru, where our retail story began,” said Ishendra Agarwal, Founder of GIVA. “This isn’t just about store count—it’s about creating a connected, on-ground and online shopping experience for today’s consumers.”

The brand is setting its sights high, with plans to grow to 700 stores across 60 cities in the next three years. That roadmap includes deeper expansion into tier II markets, while continuing to build dominance in metro and tier I locations.

GIVA entered the offline space in 2022 with its first exclusive store in Bengaluru. Since then, the company has quickly expanded its footprint across India and even into Sri Lanka, becoming one of the country’s largest direct-to-consumer (D2C) jewellery brands.

Based in Bengaluru, GIVA caters to men, women, and children, with a product line that spans silver, gold, and lab-grown diamonds—combining traditional elegance with modern-day accessibility.

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With momentum on its side and a growing fan base, GIVA isn’t just selling jewellery—it’s shaping how India shops for it.

Thums Up Powers Coca-Cola’s India Surge: 10%+ Volume Growth, 100K Digital Retailers Added, and Big Mahakumbh Push

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April 30, 2025

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Image of thums up. — Thums Up Powers Coca-Cola’s India Surge: 10%+ Volume Growth, 100K Digital Retailers Added, and Big Mahakumbh Push

India is proving to be a fizzy goldmine for The Coca-Cola Company. In its latest quarterly update, the beverage giant reported double-digit volume growth in the Indian market for Q1 2025, thanks largely to the enduring popularity of homegrown icon Thums Up and the flagship Coca-Cola brand.

The Atlanta-based company credited India, China, and Brazil for much of the lift in global performance, with the trio helping Coca-Cola clock a 2% growth in global unit case volume for the quarter ending March 28.

“In India, our flagship Coca-Cola and Thums Up are driving strong momentum, pushing us into double-digit volume gains for the quarter,” the company shared in its earnings release.

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One standout moment for Coca-Cola India this quarter was its massive brand activation at the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj—a first-of-its-kind move that gave the company visibility on a cultural stage few other brands can claim.

On the company’s investor call, Chairman and CEO James Quincey pointed to India as a standout performer. “India continues to shine with impressive volume growth across both global and local brands,” he said.

Quincey also noted the expansion of Coca-Cola’s footprint, highlighting that its system in India had:

Added 350,000 new retail outlets
Increased cooler installations
Onboarded 100,000 new users to its digital B2B platforms
Grown household penetration

Despite this upbeat picture, not every segment sparkled. India saw a drop in sales for non-alcoholic ready-to-drink (NARTD) beverages, a category that includes juices, energy drinks, and dairy-based alternatives. The company acknowledged that gains in countries like the Philippines and Japan were offset by volume dips in Indonesia and India.

Still, India remains a crucial player for Coca-Cola—its fifth-largest market globally—and continues to be a growth engine, especially in traditional soft drinks.

Across the Asia Pacific region, which includes India, unit case volumes rose by 6%, driven by demand across categories. However, there was a caveat: Coca-Cola’s net operating revenue in Asia Pacific fell by 4.05% to USD 1.42 billion, impacted by currency fluctuations and pricing dynamics.

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In a market as competitive—and thirsty—as India, Coca-Cola seems to be doing more than just keeping up. It’s charging ahead, cooler by cooler.

Nestasia Brings Delhivery’s Sahil Barua on Board to Turbocharge Growth and Gear Up for IPO Run

Business

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April 30, 2025

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Image of nestasia — Nestasia Brings Delhivery’s Sahil Barua on Board to Turbocharge Growth and Gear Up for IPO Run

Home and lifestyle label Nestasia has brought on Sahil Barua, co-founder and CEO of logistics powerhouse Delhivery, as the newest member of its board of directors.

The move signals a new phase for Nestasia, as it gears up for aggressive growth and lays the groundwork for what could eventually be a stock market debut. Barua’s addition to the board isn’t just a high-profile name drop—it’s a calculated step toward operational scale, smarter distribution, and tighter backend systems.

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Barua, known for transforming Delhivery from a scrappy startup into one of India’s top logistics giants, comes with a solid pedigree—an engineering degree from NIT Surathkal, an MBA from IIM Bangalore, and a consulting stint at Bain & Company. His experience navigating the logistical labyrinth of Indian commerce is expected to help Nestasia streamline and scale like never before.

“Sahil’s track record isn’t just impressive—it’s inspiring,” said Anurag Agrawal, co-founder of Nestasia. “He’s built a company from scratch that redefined how goods move across India. That kind of clarity and execution is exactly what we need as we grow our footprint and ambition.”

Founded in 2019 by Aditi Murarka and Anurag Agrawal, Nestasia has quietly built a catalogue of over 7,000 SKUs, spanning eight categories—from stylish serveware to statement home décor. The brand serves a mix of individual consumers and large hospitality clients, counting names like Taj Hotels, JW Marriott, and Prestige Group among its customers.

2024 saw the launch of seven exclusive stores in six cities—a clear indication of its offline ambitions. By the end of 2025, the brand plans to triple that number, targeting 30 physical outlets while also beefing up its presence across e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms.

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With Barua’s logistical brain now in the mix, Nestasia looks poised to move faster, think bigger, and maybe—just maybe—get IPO-ready sooner than expected.

Mumbai’s Malaki Bags Rs 5.7 Crore to Sparkle Across India—Backed by Venture Catalysts, Maarc Ventures & Dadachanji Family

INVESTMENTS

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April 30, 2025

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Image of malaki — Mumbai’s Malaki Bags Rs 5.7 Crore to Sparkle Across India—Backed by Venture Catalysts, Maarc Ventures & Dadachanji Family

Mumbai-based Malaki, a premium beverage company known for its stylish and health-forward drinks, has secured Rs 5.7 crore in a seed funding round. The investment was spearheaded by Venture Catalysts, with backing from Maarc Ventures and the Dadachanji Family Office.

After gaining widespread recognition through its appearance on Shark Tank India, the brand is gearing up for its next phase of growth. The fresh funds will help Malaki scale up its presence in key Indian cities like Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaipur. The brand also plans to deepen its reach on quick-commerce platforms and expand its footprint in high-end hotels and restaurants.

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Founded in 2020 by brothers Mohit and Ashish Bhatia, Malaki has carved out a space for itself in India’s evolving beverage scene. Its range—which includes tonic waters, sparkling waters, alkaline waters, and ginger ales—is packaged in distinctive glass bottles that reflect the brand’s clean design and eco-friendly values. A standout element is its patented Crystal Bottle, which has become something of a signature for the brand.

“Malaki was created because we felt Indian consumers were ready for something more elevated—something thoughtful, world-class, and proudly Indian,” said Mohit Bhatia. “We’re not trying to copy global trends—we want to lead with our own vision and create products worth celebrating.”

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The brand is already stocked in over 500 premium hospitality locations and boasts partnerships with names like Singapore Airlines, Ritz Carlton, and Hyatt across cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Goa. Its expansion plan is aimed at connecting with the new wave of Indian consumers who value both health and good design.

Gurugram-Based Storytelling Startup Mugafi Raises $3 Million to Fuel AI Innovation and Creative Growth

INVESTMENTS

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April 29, 2025

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Image of mugafi. — Gurugram-Based Storytelling Startup Mugafi Raises $3 Million to Fuel AI Innovation and Creative Growth

Mugafi, a fast-emerging creative tech company headquartered in Gurugram, has secured $3 million in seed funding to supercharge its AI-driven storytelling platform. The investment round drew participation from a dynamic mix of backers, including StartupXseed, Auxano, MarsshotVC (founded by the Razorpay team), BeyondVP, and WeFounderCircle.

This fresh capital injection will help Mugafi sharpen its proprietary AI tools, grow its footprint into untapped markets, and bring aboard high-calibre talent to accelerate its next phase of growth.

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At the heart of Mugafi’s offering is a mission to transform how stories are created and shared. Geared towards creators in the media and entertainment space, the platform equips users with a suite of AI tools designed to streamline and elevate the storytelling process. Its flagship product, VED, functions like a creative partner for screenwriters, lyricists, filmmakers, and content creators—offering support with everything from building story arcs to sculpting characters and fine-tuning dialogue.

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But Mugafi goes beyond tools. It also acts as a bridge between emerging talent and industry veterans, creating a collaborative ecosystem where writers, musicians, and other creatives can connect, co-create, and get discovered.

With artificial intelligence fast becoming a force in creative industries, Mugafi aims to stay ahead of the curve by building tech that empowers rather than replaces human imagination. The company’s next chapter will focus on enhancing its core technology, expanding its user base, and unlocking new monetization avenues for creators—while positioning itself as a go-to destination for storytelling in the age of AI.

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