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Corby Spirit and Wine expands market presence with acquisition of Ace Beverage Group, strengthening its position in the RTD category

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Corby Spirit and Wine
Corby Spirit and Wine, a company majority owned by Pernod Ricard, holds the position of Canada's second-largest marketer and distributor of spirits and wines

Corby Spirit and Wine, a prominent manufacturer and distributor of spirits and imported wines, has successfully purchased 90% of the outstanding shares of Ace Beverage Group. The acquisition was finalized for a total of CAD 148.5 million (approximately $111.21 million). This significant transaction further strengthens Corby Spirit and Wine’s position in the industry as it expands its portfolio and market presence through the integration of Ace Beverage Group.

Corby Spirit and Wine, a company majority owned by Pernod Ricard, holds the position of Canada’s second-largest marketer and distributor of spirits and wines.

Ace, a prominent alcoholic beverage company in Canada, is recognized for its leadership in the better-for-you category. The company’s flagship brand, Cottage Springs, holds the distinction of being the top ready-to-drink (RTD) brand in Ontario. Among its popular offerings are Cottage Springs Vodka Soda, Vodka Water, and Tequila Soda. Ace’s portfolio also features other notable brands such as Ace Hill, Cabana Coast, and Liberty Village.

According to Corby Spirit and Wine, the acquisition of Ace Beverage Group is expected to bring substantial expansion to Corby’s portfolio within the rapidly growing ready-to-drink (RTD) category. The company anticipates that the Ace team will contribute a profound comprehension of the category and its consumers, as well as innovation capabilities. This strategic move is poised to enhance Corby’s presence and market position in the RTD sector, providing significant scale to its product offerings.

Nicolas Krantz, Corby’s President and CEO, said, “We are extremely excited to partner with Ace and become one of the leading RTD players in Canada, as we believe the combined strength of our companies and people will unlock new opportunities…We look forward to welcoming them to Corby and are excited about the benefits this acquisition will create for our consumers, customers, and shareholders.”

He continued, “Corby’s sustained growth, as well as Pernod Ricard’s, relies on our ability to bring even more exciting choices to our consumers, by continually expanding into new and promising categories. RTDs are one such category and we are excited to partner with such visionary entrepreneurs to further develop our rich portfolio of RTDs now made up of ABG, Corby and Pernod Ricard brands.”

Corby Spirit and Wine anticipates that the acquisition will yield highly positive results, proving to be “highly accretive” to its overall business. By adding an asset-light, low capital expenditure (capex) business to its portfolio, the Canadian company aims to enhance its growth profile while maintaining strong margins, low leverage, and the ability to return capital to its shareholders. This transaction presents an opportunity for Corby Spirit and Wine to further strengthen its financial position and maximize value for its investors.

Ace Beverage Group’s Co-Founder, Cam McDonald, added, “We are thrilled to join Corby, and are extremely proud of Ace’s journey and accomplishments to date. As we begin this next chapter, we believe the significant joined expertise, experience and resources will help our businesses to take the next step in our shared ambition of continuing to develop industry-leading beverages for consumers.”

The remaining 10% ownership stake in Ace Beverage Group will primarily be retained by specific founders of Ace. Corby Spirit and Wine has secured a pathway to complete ownership of Ace through a series of two call options on the remaining shares, which can be exercised in 2025 and 2028. To finance the transaction, Corby will utilize its existing cash reserves and obtain financing amounting to CAD 120 million (approximately $89.86 million) from its majority shareholder, Pernod Ricard. This funding arrangement ensures Corby’s ability to execute the acquisition while maintaining its strong financial position.

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Foodomarket raises £9.5 Million in Series A funding for expansion into UK and US markets, led by Alven Capital

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foodomarket
(Representative Image)

Foodomarket, a digital marketplace catering specifically to the needs of the hospitality industry, has successfully secured £9.5 million in a Series A funding round. The funds obtained will be utilized to fuel the company’s expansion efforts.

European venture capital firm Alven Capital has spearheaded the latest funding round, propelling the company’s official launch in the UK and facilitating its expansion beyond London, while also enabling its entry into the US market. Originating in France, the company successfully conducted a year-long trial in the UK, during which it garnered the support of 500 restaurants in London.

In addition to the aforementioned purposes, Foodomarket intends to utilize the raised funds for the development and launch of its upcoming app and website. Furthermore, the company aims to bolster its local teams in various markets, with the ultimate goal of delivering a personalized and customized experience to its valued customers.

The company presents itself as an inclusive and transparent digital marketplace, welcoming sellers who meet “stringent criteria” to showcase their products. Buyers can assess quality and price to make informed decisions, while Foodomarket takes care of payment processing and ensures supplier satisfaction.

Foodomarket announced a remarkable three-fold growth in 2022, highlighting a remarkable 92% rate of repeat business on its platform. The company asserts that purchasing through their marketplace offers a cost advantage of 15% compared to traditional distributors. Moreover, sellers benefit from access to a vast network of buyers, mitigating the risk of unsold inventory and reducing food waste.

With a combined experience of over 20 years in the industry, Co-Founders Eric Nivoix and Matthieu Boivent have a proven track record of creating successful B2B marketplaces. They have successfully launched and operated multiple online platforms in various industries, showcasing their deep understanding and expertise in building thriving digital marketplaces.

Nivoix said that the funding round has been a “major moment” in Foodomarket’s evolution, commenting: “When we set out, our aim was to mend a broken, outdated system and generate opportunity for entrepreneurs and small business owners”.

He added, “Our impressive performance in France shows we’re doing something right and launching our offering in the UK was the logical next step. We can’t wait to hit the ground running.”

According to Rodolphe Menegaux, a partner at Alven, the B2B marketplace model is revolutionizing and digitizing the operations of stakeholders within this value chain. His statement underscores the transformative impact of B2B marketplaces, which are fundamentally changing the way business is conducted in the industry.

“The depth of the market enables us to envisage building a leading international player and bringing ever greater value to our partners and customers,” Menegaux commented.

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Novotel Hyderabad Airport announces Mayank Uniyal as Director of Sales and Marketing, elevating growth prospects

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Mayank Uniyal
Mayank Uniyal's primary responsibility will be to lead the sales and marketing strategy for the hotel, ensuring its continued success in the market.

Novotel Hyderabad Airport is thrilled to announce the appointment of Mayank Uniyal as the Director of Sales and Marketing. With an impressive 20 years of experience in the industry, Mayank brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role. His primary responsibility will be to lead the sales and marketing strategy for the hotel, ensuring its continued success in the market.

He began his professional career in 2001 with Quality Inn Residency Hotel. Since then, he has had the privilege of working with reputable brands such as Radisson, InterContinental Hotels Group, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and many more.

Uniyal stands out as a driven and goal-oriented individual, widely acknowledged for his exceptional abilities in formulating, guiding, and actualizing corporate objectives. He takes proactive measures to identify and resolve issues, successfully reversing unfavorable sales patterns, managing costs, and maximizing profits. Uniyal’s unwavering motivation and outcome-driven mindset make him an invaluable professional.

In his upcoming role, his main focus will revolve around elevating the sales, marketing, and revenue performance of the hotel. He will assume responsibility for setting corporate objectives, creating both short-term and long-term budgets, and formulating comprehensive business plans to attain these objectives. Additionally, he will oversee customer operations, striving to achieve and maintain delivery and service quality standards, ultimately ensuring utmost customer satisfaction.

Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts is a renowned brand that provides destination hotels designed to offer a perfect balance of comfort and rejuvenation, allowing guests to pause and savor the meaningful moments in life. With a diverse range of hotels, suites, and resorts, the brand caters to both business and leisure travelers. These accommodations feature spacious and adaptable rooms with an intuitive design, ensuring a seamless stay experience. Guests can enjoy round-the-clock catering options with nutritious choices, dedicated meeting spaces, attentive and proactive staff, designated family zones for young guests, versatile lobbies, and accessible fitness centers. With over 530 locations across more than 60 countries, Novotel is a key component of Accor, a leading global hospitality group that operates over 5,200 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues in 110 countries.

Sukhbir Singh, General Manager of Novotel Hyderabad Airport, said, “We are excited to onboard Mr. Mayank Uniyal to the Novotel family. Uniyal’s experience in sales and marketing, coupled with his strong leadership skills and outcome-oriented mindset, make him an invaluable asset to our team. His presence will contribute significantly to the continuous enhancement of our renowned hospitality and further strengthen the exceptional service we are known for.”

Before joining Novotel Hyderabad Airport, Mr. Uniyal held the position of Director of Sales and Marketing at Radisson Blu Plaza Hyderabad Banjara Hills. During his tenure, he achieved a significant improvement in the GDS (Global Distribution System) business mix, increasing it from 3% to 4.5%. This accomplishment was a result of his strategic approach in securing the right RFP (Request for Proposal) accounts and investing in GDS marketing initiatives. Furthermore, he successfully led the implementation of a cross-selling brand program in the West cluster, achieving outstanding performance within the region.

Hailing from Hyderabad, Mayank’s upbringing is deeply rooted in the city. He received his primary education at Sri Aurobindo International High School, followed by his intermediate education at Ideal Junior College. Mayank further honed his skills in the field of Hotel Management by completing his degree at Anwar-ul-loom College of Hotel Management.

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ONDC experiences remarkable surge in retail orders, crosses 30,000 milestone despite reduced incentives

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ondc
ONDC (Representative Image)

According to insiders, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) witnessed a significant surge in retail orders last weekend, reaching an impressive milestone of 30,000. This achievement is noteworthy considering the recent reduction in government-backed incentives for consumers and network participants. Currently, the majority of retail orders on the platform are focused on the food and beverages category, with a smaller volume pertaining to groceries.

Read More: ONDC revamps incentive structure, imposes INR 100 limit on discounts for participants

“As ONDC has restructured its incentive schemes and brought down its subsidy payout per order, various buyer apps and seller apps like Paytm, Magicpin and others have begun working together to figure out how to give their own marketing push and discounts to generate demand,” said an industry source.

“Typically, the network players raise the level of discounts on weekends to attract new users. This helps in pushing up the average number of daily retail orders in the following week… Also, ONDC has been pushing network participants to do more to be able to achieve the goal of 100,000 daily retail orders,” he added.

At the time of publishing, there had been no response from ONDC and Paytm regarding the matter. Magicpin, on the other hand, declined to provide any comment.

During recent weeks, the daily retail orders have consistently stayed within the range of 9,000 to 10,000, with a notable decline in discounts offered on the network. The previous peak occurred on May 8, when the order volume exceeded 25,000 for the first time.

During that period, ONDC faced criticism from industry observers and analysts who believed that the discounting system was not viable in the long term. This concern was particularly directed towards a government-supported initiative aiming to establish fair competition among buyers and sellers.

Ever since the updated incentive scheme took effect on June 1st, buyers are now entitled to receive discounts on a maximum of five transactions per month. Previously, buyers could enjoy discounts on up to three orders per day, but the total number of discounted orders was limited to 30 in total.

Furthermore, there has been a change in the maximum incentive spend per order, which is now limited to INR 100, whereas it was previously around INR 125. It is important to note that the total discounts applied to all prices should not surpass 50 percent of the total order value.

“ONDC, being a recently established concept, offers limited support to network participants during an initial period to give a boost to the network. In accordance with this approach, we are assisting network participants such as seller and buyer apps by providing incentives up to a specific threshold for activities like seller onboarding and transaction stimulation,” stated T Koshy, ONDC chief, in a statement last month.

During the peak of the high incentive regime implemented by ONDC, we observed that prices of food items on the platform were consistently 5 percent to 25 percent lower compared to popular food delivery platforms like Zomato and Swiggy. This significant price difference sparked a debate on whether ONDC had the potential to disrupt the duopoly established by these two venture-funded unicorns.

Read More: ONDC sparks price war, threatens Zomato and Swiggy dominance in food delivery space

According to another source, Magicpin, backed by Zomato, has experienced substantial growth and currently serves as a focal point for processing 30,000 orders per day on the network. Magicpin plays multiple roles within the ecosystem, serving as a technology service provider to buyer apps, a logistics aggregator, as well as operating as both a buyer and seller platform on the network.

In the meantime, ONDC has informed network participants to prepare for an upcoming initiative known as Super Saver Sunday, starting from June 18. This initiative, strategically timed to coincide with Father’s Day, aims to boost demand on the network.

Read More: How to use ONDC – The affordable food delivery app that’s creating waves against Swiggy and Zomato

With the support of the government, ONDC aims to counter the monopolistic control of major players in the e-commerce and food delivery sectors such as Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, and Zomato. Its primary objective is to prevent the dominance of a few large platforms in these industries.

Through the network, the government aims to achieve a significant increase in e-commerce penetration within the country. The goal is to reach a penetration rate of 25 percent within the next two years, connecting 900 million buyers and 1.2 million sellers through the network, resulting in a projected gross merchandise value of $48 billion.

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Zomato under fire for ‘Casteist’ ad on World Environment Day; Legal notice issued

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Zomato, the popular food delivery platform, has received a notice from the National Commission for Scheduled Castes regarding the representation of a Dalit character in one of its advertising campaigns. In Zomato’s advertisement for World Environment Day, actor Aditya Lakhia, known for his portrayal of the character ‘Kachra’ in the 2001 movie ‘Lagaan’, was featured. The advertisement establishes a connection between the character Kachra and the Hindi word for garbage, ‘kachra’. It was broadcasted on June 5, coinciding with World Environment Day.

Following widespread criticism on social media, the company decided to remove the video, acknowledging that it had “unintentionally” caused harm to certain communities.

Read More: Zomato faces controversy over ad featuring ‘Lagaan’ character as recycled waste, takes down video

“Unintentionally, we may have hurt the sentiments of certain communities and individuals. We have taken down the video,” the company said.

In response to the incident, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has expressed its intention to conduct an investigation into the matter. Additionally, they have issued a notice to Deepinder Goyal, the Founder of Zomato.

“In case the commission does not receive reply from you within stipulated time, the commission may issue summons for your appearance in person,” the notice to Zomato founder read.

The advertisement, which runs for nearly two minutes, features actor Aditya Lakhia portraying various objects such as a lamp, paper, paperweight, watering can, and different types of jackets. The accompanying text highlights the quantity of recycled ‘kachra’ (garbage) used in the production of each item.

In the movie ‘Lagaan’, the character Kachra is portrayed as disabled and marginalized by his fellow villagers until he is chosen to join the team. Eventually, he plays a crucial role in leading his team to an unexpected triumph.

The inclusion of the character in the ad campaign aimed to raise awareness about food waste and shed light on the challenges experienced by marginalized communities in society.

Contrary to resonating with the audience, the campaign received significant backlash on social media, with users criticizing it as being tone-deaf.

The food delivery company has previously faced marketing missteps, finding itself on the unfavorable side of public perception.

In 2017, the company launched an outdoor advertising campaign in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, which depicted Hindi expletives “MC, BC” as abbreviations for mac n’ cheese and butter chicken. This campaign sparked controversy and drew criticism from the public.

In 2022, Zomato decided to remove an advertisement that featured actor Hrithik Roshan, where he was depicted as having a strong desire for a traditional Indian food platter, known as a “thali,” in Ujjain. The ad suggested that he ordered the thali from the famous religious site “Mahakal.”

Following objections from the priests of the renowned Mahakaleshwar temple in Madhya Pradesh, the advertisement faced allegations of offending Hindu sentiments, prompting demands for its withdrawal. In response, the Madhya Pradesh Home Minister, Narottam Mishra, instructed the police to investigate the controversy.

Afterwards, the company issued an apology, clarifying that the reference to “Mahakal” was intended for a restaurant and not in relation to the temple.

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Winni Cakes & More reports exponential growth of 74% YoY in FY 2022-23, opens 125 stores across India

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Winnicakes
During FY 2020-21, the company operated 92 stores, which experienced a substantial increase to 177 stores in FY 2021-22. (Representative Image)

Winni Cakes & More, a company based in Panchkula, has revealed its remarkable performance in the financial year 2022-23. According to their recent press release, they achieved an impressive year-on-year growth of 74% in gross merchandise value (GMV). The company’s expansion efforts were also noteworthy, as they successfully opened 125 new stores in tier-2 and tier-3 cities throughout the year. As a result, their GMV for FY 2022-2023 reached an impressive figure of INR 335 crore, a substantial increase from the previous year’s INR 192 crore in FY 2021-22.

During FY 2020-21, the company operated 92 stores, which experienced a substantial increase to 177 stores in FY 2021-22. At present, the company’s retail footprint has expanded even further, with over 300 stores located across 25 states and five union territories.

Sujeet Kumar Mishra, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Winni & Winni Cakes & More, said, “Now, we have 300+ operational stores in almost 168 cities of India, and we are emerging as ‘the best quality neighbourhood bakery’ in the mass premium brand segment which has a wide range of quality product offerings that used to be available only in metros & tier-1 cities.”

“Our YoY growth speaks a lot about our increasing popularity. I am truly happy that Winni Cakes & More is not just filling the gaps in the supply chain, but we have also given employment opportunities to 2000+ families through our outlet stores,” Mishra added.

Winni Cakes & More, situated in Panchkula, is the bakery retail branch of Winni, an online gifting platform. As per the latest announcement, Winni has an extensive network of more than 3,000 vendors spanning across over 700 cities. Additionally, it operates over 300 franchises with delivery capacity in more than 40 countries, which includes the United States, the Middle East, and South East Asia.

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Sunflower oil prices plummet as Ukraine ships massive stockpile to India

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oil
Prices of sunflower oil are now hovering around INR 110-120 for one litre pouch at the retail end, while soybean oil is at INR 130 per litre. (Representative Image)

Sunflower oil prices have witnessed a significant decline, surpassing a 10% drop below the prices of soybean oil. FMCG giants such as Adani Wilmar, Gemini Edibles & Fats India, and Tirupati Agritrade have attributed this price disparity to the influx of sunflower oil from Ukraine into the Indian market. The surplus supply of Ukrainian sunflower oil has exerted downward pressure on its prices, resulting in the current market situation.

According to reports, Ukraine is currently exporting a significant amount of wheat in the global market. Analysts have stated that this development could potentially affect the wheat prices in India, which have experienced a notable increase of 10-11% over the past two months.

Experts have pointed out that although wheat prices are expected to stabilize, the same cannot be said for rice prices. Recent data indicates that rice prices have surged by 15% in the last two weeks due to an unsatisfactory rabi rice crop in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.

“Prices of sunflower oil are now hovering around INR 110-120 for one litre pouch at the retail end, while soybean oil is at INR 130 per litre,” said Angshu Mallick, Managing Director, Adani Wilmar. “Ukraine is pushing a lot of sunflower oil into India to offload its stock. We are expecting healthy demand for sunflower oil as prices are on the lower side.”

To meet its domestic demand, India imports approximately 2-2.5 million tonnes of sunflower oil on an annual basis.

Pradeep Chowdhry, Managing Director of Gemini Edibles & Fats India, said prices of all oils are on the lower side and, therefore, the demand remains strong. “International supply of all oils is in a comfortable position,” he said.

According to Mallick, the prices of wheat have witnessed a 10% increase over the course of the past two months.

“But if Ukraine starts offloading wheat in the world market, then prices globally will come down. This will have an impact on domestic wheat prices as well,” he said.

Wheat is currently being traded at INR 2,500 per quintal in Delhi. Despite a larger wheat crop compared to the previous year, the availability of wheat during the peak harvest season was limited, resulting in price escalation. As per the agriculture ministry’s third advance estimate, wheat production is projected to reach a record high of 112.7 million tonnes, reflecting a 4.6% year-on-year growth.

Suraj Agarwal, CEO, Tirupati Agritrade, which sells rice under the brand name RiceVilla, said the production of the common variety of non-basmati thick rice has been less during this year’s rabi season. “Prices of this variety have gone up 20% in the last fortnight. This has also put an upward pressure on other varieties of rice, the prices of which have gone up 15%,” he said.

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From wretched hangovers to pure bliss: Falhari’s game-changing remedy is revolutionizing the way we recover!

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falharihangoverbliss

Hangovers are not merely a result of a night of overindulgence; they are a testament to the body’s struggle to cope with the toxic effects of alcohol. As alcohol is consumed, it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, affecting various organs and systems within the body. The liver, for instance, works diligently to metabolize alcohol and remove toxins from the system, but it can only process a limited amount at a time. This leads to a buildup of toxic byproducts in the body, resulting in the classic symptoms associated with a hangover.

The aftermath of excessive drinking can manifest in a multitude of ways, each causing its fair share of discomfort.For years, individuals suffering from hangovers have sought solace in a variety of remedies, ranging from time-tested folk cures to over-the-counter medications. However, many of these methods provide only temporary relief, failing to address the root causes of a hangover. Enter Falhari’s groundbreaking remedy, poised to revolutionize the way we recover from a night of excess.

Falhari is an Fruit-based D2C startup, which made its Shark Tank India appearance during the Season 1, and they focus on serving delicious and nutritious fruits to everyone, no matter where they are, through Delivery Platforms like Swiggy and Zomato!

Falhari offers a wide range of fruit items like fruits based salads to smoothies to lassi to yogurts, all proving that fruit recipes can be twisted and interesting as well, and the best part, this is all vegan, nutritious and chemical free, so not just your taste buds, your entire body will thank you for it. Falhari is currently available in Delhi, Gurgaon and Bengaluru. So why wait? Just #GoFalhari already! 

Falhari’s Hangover Bliss

Falhari’s Hangover Bliss is a vibrant bowl filled with a medley of fresh and delicious fruits, perfectly complemented by crisp greens and a tangy dressing. It’s a feast for the eyes and a treat for your body and soul. 

True to its name, Hangover Bliss, each element of this salad comes together to provide relief and transfer you from the state of hangover to the state of bliss. 

Elements like potassium-rich bananas, play a crucial role in replenishing electrolytes lost during alcohol consumption, helping to combat dehydration and muscle cramps. They provide a natural energy boost, helping to alleviate fatigue and restore vitality.

Kiwi, with its high vitamin C content, is a superhero in this salad. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that aids in detoxification and supports liver function—perfect for combatting the toxins that contribute to hangover symptoms. Its refreshing taste adds a zing of flavor to the salad.

Dates, often referred to as nature’s candy, are not only a sweet addition to the Hangover Bliss Salad but also offer numerous health benefits. They are packed with essential minerals like magnesium and potassium, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and alleviate muscle tension, both of which can be disrupted during a hangover.

Watermelon, known for its hydrating properties, is a must-have in this salad. With its high water content and natural electrolytes, it helps quench your thirst and rehydrate your body. Plus, it adds a burst of juicy sweetness that complements the other ingredients perfectly.

Fresh mint leaves add a refreshing twist to the salad while providing soothing properties to ease nausea and calm an upset stomach. Mint’s natural aroma and cool taste provide a rejuvenating experience that complements the other ingredients perfectly.

Lemon, a citrus powerhouse, is the secret weapon in the dressing. Its high vitamin C content aids in detoxification, boosts immunity, and helps alkalize the body, assisting in the recovery process. The tangy flavor of lemon adds a zesty kick to the salad, tantalizing your taste buds.

And finally, the base of this incredible creation is none other than hydrating coconut water. Packed with electrolytes and minerals, it helps replenish essential nutrients and balances hydration levels, relieving that parched feeling often experienced during a hangover.

Falhari’s Hangover Bliss Salad is not only a savior for those nursing a hangover but also a delightful treat for everyone. The combination of these thoughtfully chosen ingredients not only provides relief but also offers a burst of flavors and textures that will leave you craving more. It’s a guilt-free indulgence that nourishes your body and lifts your spirits, ensuring you’re ready to embrace the day with a refreshed and revitalized outlook.

So, whether you’re recovering from a night of celebration or simply seeking a delicious and healthy option, Falhari’s Hangover Bliss Salad is your go-to choice. Dive into this tantalizing creation and experience the transformative power of nature’s bounty, leaving your hangover behind and indulging in pure bliss.

So, if you are dreading the heavy drinking you were indulge in last night, check this out now: 

From:  Swiggy; Zomato- Falhari’s Hangover Bliss

Price: INR 400

Allergen Information: Nuts

Nutritional Content: Energy 317.95kcal | carbs 66.62g | total lipid fats 4.10g | protein 4.30g

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Wheat stockholding limits introduced by Indian government for the first time in 15 years

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wheat
Wheat (Representative Image)

In a significant move, the Indian government has implemented stockholding limits on wheat, marking the first time in 15 years. This measure, which came into effect immediately, aims to address the escalating prices of this crucial commodity. The restrictions will remain in place until March 2024, serving as a proactive step towards containing the situation.

As part of the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS), the government has made a decision to release 1.5 million tonnes of wheat from the central pool to bulk consumers and traders. This initiative, implemented in the first phase, aims to facilitate the availability of wheat in the open market.

Sanjeev Chopra, Food Secretary, said, “There has been an uptick in wheat prices in the past month. There has been an increase of close to 8 per cent at mandi level. Though wholesale and retail prices have not gone up that much, the government has imposed stock limit on wheat.”

Effective until March 31, 2024, a stock limit has been enforced on traders, wholesalers, retailers, major chain retailers, and processors.

Regarding the reduction of wheat import duty, the Secretary affirmed that there are no intentions to modify the policy, citing the abundance of domestic supplies. Furthermore, the ban on wheat exports will remain in place.

“The country has enough stock of wheat. Farmers and traders are holding the stock and there are also unscrupulous elements holding the stock. We are not looking at import as enough stock available in the country,” he said.

In addition to wheat, the government has made the decision to release rice through the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS). The specific quantity of rice to be offloaded will be determined at a later stage, the official added.

The official also said that there is no proposal to allow further export of sugar.

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Unlock the secrets to crafting the perfect iced tea – 6 expert tips that will keep you cool all summer long! 

iced tea

When the summer heat becomes unbearable, there’s nothing quite as refreshing as a tall glass of iced tea. This timeless beverage has been enjoyed for centuries, and its versatility allows for a wide variety of flavors and combinations. However, making the perfect iced tea can be a bit tricky. To help you master the art of crafting the ultimate summer brew, we’ve gathered six expert tips that will keep you cool and satisfied all season long. From choosing high-quality tea to adding the perfect amount of sweeteners, these tips will ensure that your iced tea is nothing short of perfection.

  • Choose High-Quality Tea

The first step to crafting the perfect iced tea is selecting high-quality tea leaves. Whether you prefer black, green, or herbal tea, opt for loose leaf tea or high-quality tea bags. Loose leaf tea provides a fuller flavor profile and allows for better control over the brewing process. If you choose tea bags, make sure they contain whole leaves rather than broken pieces. High-quality tea will result in a more enjoyable and flavorful iced tea experience.

  • Use Quality Spring or Filtered Water

The quality of water used to brew your tea can significantly impact the taste. Avoid using tap water, as it may contain impurities that can affect the flavor. Instead, opt for quality spring water or filtered water to ensure a clean and pure taste. Using the right water will allow the natural flavors of the tea to shine through and provide a more satisfying iced tea experience.

  • Don’t Steep Tea in Boiling Hot Water

One common mistake when making iced tea is steeping the tea in boiling hot water. While hot water is necessary to extract the flavors from the tea leaves, using boiling water can result in a bitter taste. Instead, bring the water to a boil and then let it cool for a minute or two before pouring it over the tea leaves. This slight drop in temperature will prevent the tea from becoming overly bitter and will result in a smoother and more balanced flavor.

  • Don’t Steep for Too Long

Steeping tea for too long can lead to a bitter and astringent taste. The ideal steeping time will vary depending on the type of tea you are using, so it’s essential to follow the instructions on the packaging. As a general guideline, black tea should be steeped for 3 to 5 minutes, green tea for 2 to 3 minutes, and herbal tea for 5 to 7 minutes. Oversteeping can be avoided by setting a timer and removing the tea bags or straining the leaves promptly.

  • Add the Sweeteners When the Tea Is Warm

Sweetening your iced tea is a matter of personal preference, but adding sweeteners while the tea is warm is the key to achieving a well-blended and evenly sweetened beverage. When the tea is warm, the sweeteners dissolve more easily, ensuring that each sip is perfectly sweetened. Start by adding a small amount of sugar, honey, or any preferred sweetener and adjust according to your taste preferences. Stir the sweeteners until fully dissolved before proceeding to the next step.

  • Bring the Tea to Room Temperature Before Refrigeration

After sweetening the tea, allow it to cool to room temperature before refrigerating. Putting hot or warm tea directly into the refrigerator can result in cloudiness and a less appealing appearance. Allowing the tea to cool naturally before refrigeration will help maintain its clarity and ensure a visually appealing presentation. Once the tea has reached room temperature, transfer it to a pitcher and refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hours to chill.

Final Thoughts:

Crafting the perfect iced tea requires attention to detail and an understanding of the key factors that contribute to its flavor. By choosing high-quality tea, using quality water, adjusting the steeping time, adding sweeteners when the tea is warm, allowing the tea to cool to room temperature before refrigeration, and following a simple recipe, you can unlock the secrets to a refreshing and satisfying summer brew. With these expert tips and a little experimentation, you’ll be able to create iced tea that will keep you cool and refreshed all summer long. So, grab your favorite tea, gather the ingredients, and start brewing your perfect glass of iced tea today!

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