Priced Differently Based on Your Phone? CCPA Targets Ola and Uber Over Alleged Unfair Trade Practices

Retail & Ecommerce

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January 24, 2025

Image of ola — Priced Differently Based on Your Phone? CCPA Targets Ola and Uber Over Alleged Unfair Trade Practices

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued notices to Ola and Uber after receiving complaints about alleged unfair trade practices related to fare discrepancies.

Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi revealed that the two ride-hailing companies are being scrutinized for allegedly charging different fares depending on whether users book rides through an Android or iPhone. He took to X (formerly Twitter) to label this practice as a “prima facie unfair trade practice” and a violation of consumer rights.

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The issue came to light after several commuters reported that identical rides appeared to cost more on iPhones compared to Android devices. A report by The Times of India highlighted cases in Chennai, where users noticed consistent price differences for the same routes and times across the two platforms. While there’s no concrete evidence that the companies deliberately engage in such differential pricing, the complaints have prompted the Department of Consumer Affairs to demand an explanation from both firms.

Screenshots shared by users on social media added fuel to the fire, with many showing that the same Uber Auto ride was priced higher on an iPhone. One customer even mentioned that he now asks his daughter to book rides on her Android phone to avoid paying inflated fares. This sparked a wave of similar accounts online, suggesting that the issue may be more widespread than initially thought.

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Minister Joshi reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting consumer interests, emphasizing “zero tolerance for consumer exploitation.” He confirmed that the CCPA has formally requested a response from Ola and Uber, urging them to provide transparency around their fare-setting mechanisms.

Manu Bhaker Joins Hands with Dabur Khajurprash to Champion Women’s Health and Immunity

A&M

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January 24, 2025

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Image of dabur — Manu Bhaker Joins Hands with Dabur Khajurprash to Champion Women’s Health and Immunity

Dabur India has brought on board Double Olympic medallist and star shooter Manu Bhaker as the face of its product, Dabur Khajurprash. To mark this partnership, the brand has launched a comprehensive media campaign to highlight the benefits of Dabur Khajurprash, focusing on its role in combating iron deficiency, maintaining healthy haemoglobin levels, and boosting immunity among Indian women.

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Rajeev John, Executive Vice President at Dabur India, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, saying, “We’re thrilled to have Manu Bhaker join the Dabur family as the brand ambassador for Dabur Khajurprash. Her strong, confident personality and remarkable achievements resonate with the values our brand stands for. We’re confident this partnership will deepen our connection with consumers and further strengthen the brand.”

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Amit Garg, General Manager of Marketing at Dabur India, highlighted the pressing issue of anaemia among women in the country, stating, “Nearly 50% of adult women in India suffer from anaemia, often experiencing symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, and pale skin, which stem from iron deficiency. With Dabur Khajurprash, we aim to address this widespread concern. Made from premium dates and infused with over 40 Ayurvedic herbs, it’s not just delicious but also packed with health benefits. By partnering with Manu Bhaker, we hope to inspire women across India to take charge of their health and tackle the challenges posed by iron deficiency.”

Good Glamm Group Faces Second Round of Layoffs Amid Strategy Questions

Business

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January 24, 2025

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Image of good glamm — Good Glamm Group Faces Second Round of Layoffs Amid Strategy Questions

The Good Glamm Group, known for its content-to-commerce model, has made headlines once again with a second wave of layoffs, affecting around 150 employees across various departments, from fresh recruits to senior team leads. This round of job cuts follows the company’s recent acquisition of Sirona, which is now in the process of being sold. This move marks the second time in a year that Good Glamm has faced significant employee reductions, prompting concerns about its strategic direction moving forward. Industry sources have revealed that entire teams, including those focused on new product development, have been dissolved.

The company has not publicly addressed the layoffs but provided clarification on employee salaries, noting that 85% of staff received their pay on time this month. However, 15% experienced a 2-3 week delay, which has since been rectified. In its statement, Good Glamm also revealed it’s in talks for a fresh round of equity fundraising and the sale of some of its brands, with an expected resolution in the next three weeks.

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Good Glamm’s financial struggles have been apparent for some time. In October 2024, Moneycontrol reported that the company, backed by Warburg Pincus, was looking to sell off several of its brands, including Organic Harvest, The Moms Co, and Sirona. These sales come as the company faces a cash crunch and seeks capital to keep operations afloat. On January 2, 2025, during a company-wide town hall, employees were warned about potential delays in salary payments due to the holiday season, followed by the layoff announcements.

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Insiders suggest that Good Glamm’s acquisition strategy, which has involved purchasing a variety of women-oriented businesses, has lacked clear direction. This has led to a growing perception that the company is focusing more on expanding without proper planning, possibly to avoid becoming “big and broke.” Critics online have voiced their frustrations, with one commenter pointing out that Good Glamm’s approach seemed haphazard, acquiring anything and everything, including a Facebook group with 50k+ members and even Twinkle Khanna’s Tweak, without a coherent strategy behind it.

Ashutosh Sharma’s Frozen Chutney: Bringing Authentic Taste to Street Food Stalls

Food & Beverage

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January 24, 2025

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Image of frozen chutney — Ashutosh Sharma’s Frozen Chutney: Bringing Authentic Taste to Street Food Stalls

Ashutosh Sharma, the Commercial Director of Foodservice, recently shared an exciting announcement on LinkedIn regarding the launch of a new product aimed at enhancing the offerings of street food vendors and caterers. The company is introducing a pure, authentic frozen green and mint chutney designed specifically for chaat vendors, samosa sellers, tikki stalls, kebab and chaap corners, as well as wedding caterers. This new product promises to deliver both convenience and high-quality chutney while preserving the true, fresh flavors that are essential to Indian cuisine.

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The chutney is crafted using traditional recipes, ensuring it maintains the authentic taste that pairs perfectly with a variety of street foods. Made with fresh, high-quality herbs and spices, the product adheres to the highest standards of flavor and quality. The frozen format provides the added benefit of easy storage and quick preparation, which allows vendors to serve their customers with minimal delay while keeping the flavor intact. Additionally, the chutney is produced in a modern facility that follows strict hygiene protocols, ensuring that safety and cleanliness are prioritized.

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This frozen green and mint chutney will be available in various packaging sizes, tailored to meet the needs of different street food vendors. For more details on how to purchase this product, interested parties can reach out to the company directly.

Swiggy Partners with Rishabh Pant to Co-Own Mumbai Pickle Power in World Pickleball League

Business

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January 24, 2025

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Image of rishab pant — Swiggy Partners with Rishabh Pant to Co-Own Mumbai Pickle Power in World Pickleball League

Swiggy has teamed up with Indian cricket sensation Rishabh Pant to co-own the Mumbai Pickle Power franchise ahead of the debut season of the World Pickleball League (WPBL), India’s first official global franchise-based pickleball competition. This collaboration marks Swiggy’s entry into the fast-growing sport and highlights its aim to back emerging trends and connect with audiences in new, meaningful ways.

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Rohit Kapoor, CEO of Swiggy’s Food Marketplace, expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying, “Pickleball already has a fun and dynamic vibe, making it perfect for families to enjoy together. And with Rishabh Pant joining forces with us? The game just got a whole lot more exciting! As co-owners of Mumbai Pickle Power, we’re not just here to win; we want to create joyful moments, inspire future players, and make pickleball a household name in India. Rishabh’s energy and our vision to embrace new trends make this partnership one to watch. Let’s bring some real power to pickleball!”

Sharing his enthusiasm, Rishabh Pant said, “Pickleball’s energy is infectious, and I’ve personally fallen in love with the sport. Joining forces with Swiggy to invest in the World Pickleball League felt like the perfect opportunity to take the game to new heights. Together, we aim to amplify the excitement and make pickleball a go-to sport for Indians.”

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Globally, pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports due to its simplicity, fast pace, and appeal to people of all ages. In India, it’s quickly gaining traction as a recreational and lifestyle activity, and the partnership between Swiggy and Rishabh Pant is set to further accelerate its popularity in the coming years.

Zomato Faces Market Share Decline as Swiggy and Zepto Lead in Ultra-Fast Delivery: Report

Quick Commerce

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January 24, 2025

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Imge of quick commerce — omato Faces Market Share Decline as Swiggy and Zepto Lead in Ultra-Fast Delivery: Report

Zomato appears to be losing ground in the food delivery space, as its competitors have moved more quickly to scale up their ultra-fast delivery services. According to a research note by ICICI Securities, rivals have gained momentum in the growing 10-15 minute delivery niche, leaving the Gurugram-based company trailing.

Zomato has recently launched a 15-minute food delivery service on its main app and introduced a standalone 10-minute food delivery app, Bistro, under its quick commerce subsidiary Blinkit. However, these efforts face stiff competition from Swiggy’s Bolt and Snacc, Zepto Cafe, and emerging players like Accel-backed Swish.

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While Zomato reported strong growth in its quick commerce arm during the October-December quarter, its core food delivery business experienced a noticeable slowdown. Gross order value (GOV) for food delivery grew 17% year-on-year during the quarter, down from 21% growth in the July-September period. ICICI Securities pointed out that the company may have ceded some market share as competitors expanded their ultra-fast delivery services more aggressively.

Though the research note didn’t specify Zomato’s exact market share for the quarter, earlier earnings reports indicated that the company held a 57% share of food delivery GOV in the July-September period, compared to Swiggy’s 43%. However, Zomato’s user base saw a dip, with monthly transacting customers slipping to 20.3 million from 20.5 million in the previous quarter.

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Zomato’s management acknowledged the slowdown but attributed it to weaker demand. The company maintained its long-term goal of achieving 20% annual growth in food delivery. The report by ICICI Securities, however, suggested that the rapid scaling of 10-15 minute delivery services by competitors likely contributed to Zomato’s weaker performance.

The impact of these challenges was reflected in the stock market, where Zomato shares dropped nearly 11% on Tuesday, closing at Rs. 214.65. The decline came after the company reported a sharp drop in net profit, partly due to increased spending and quicker-than-expected expansion in Blinkit.

Despite these setbacks, Zomato sought to downplay the effect of ultra-fast deliveries on its main food delivery business. In an analyst call, CFO Akshant Goyal said the 10-15 minute delivery segment is still in its infancy and hasn’t had a significant impact on Zomato’s operations.

Meanwhile, competitors like Swiggy are making strides. The company’s 15-minute Bolt service now accounts for over 5% of its total food delivery order volumes, with Bolt operating in more than 400 cities as of December.

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal remained optimistic about the potential of ultra-fast delivery to drive future demand. In a letter to shareholders, he pointed out that shorter delivery times have historically boosted demand for restaurant food. Goyal expressed confidence that scaling 10-15 minute deliveries would yield similar results over time, contributing to the platform’s long-term growth.

Bewakoof Opens First Store in Pune, Expanding Its D2C Footprint Beyond E-Commerce

Retail & Ecommerce

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January 24, 2025

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Image of bewakoof — Bewakoof Opens First Store in Pune, Expanding Its D2C Footprint Beyond E-Commerce

Bewakoof, the popular direct-to-consumer fashion and lifestyle brand, has unveiled its first-ever physical store in Pune, located at Amanora Mall. The new store offers a wide selection of fashion essentials such as t-shirts, casual wear, and accessories, bringing the brand’s signature style to a broader audience.

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“We’re excited to have Bewakoof join us at Amanora Mall, marking their first store in Pune,” shared Surjit Singh Rajpurohit, CEO of Amanora Mall. “This partnership underscores our focus on fostering the growth of dynamic D2C brands and providing our shoppers with a carefully curated retail experience.”

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In addition to Bewakoof, the mall is home to several other D2C brands, such as NewMe, Odette, Mokobara, Bonkers Corner, Snitch, Tokyo Talkies, and Highlander, enhancing its appeal as a hub for innovative retail experiences.

Founded in 2012 by IIT graduates Prabhakaran Singh and Siddharth Munot, Bewakoof initially made its mark as an online-first brand, offering a variety of clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. The opening of its physical store marks a significant step in expanding its reach beyond the digital space.

Shoppers Stop Reports 37% Profit Growth in Q3 FY24, Driven by Strong Premium and Beauty Sales

Growth

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January 24, 2025

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Image of shoppers-stopper — Shoppers Stop Reports 37% Profit Growth in Q3 FY24, Driven by Strong Premium and Beauty Sales

Shoppers Stop Ltd., the prominent department store chain, has reported a notable 37% increase in its consolidated net profit, reaching Rs 49 crore for the third quarter ending 31 December 2024. This marks an improvement from Rs 35 crore in the same period last year.

The company’s revenue for the quarter amounted to Rs 1,311 crore, up from Rs 1,207 crore in the previous year’s third quarter. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) also saw a rise, standing at Rs 262 crore compared to Rs 219 crore in Q3 FY24.

Kavindra Mishra, Managing Director and CEO of Shoppers Stop, expressed optimism about the results, noting, “We are pleased with our performance this quarter. Despite challenges like inflation and a dip in consumer spending, we achieved a solid 9% growth in volume-led revenue and 4% like-for-like (LFL) growth.”

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Mishra highlighted that premium categories were a significant contributor, accounting for 64% of total revenue. The company’s strategic efforts are focused on boosting the profitability of its private brands, which generated Rs 186 crore in sales, making up 12% of total sales and 18% of apparel sales.

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The beauty segment performed well with Rs 268 crore in sales, reflecting a 3% year-on-year increase, driven by a strong 14% growth in fragrances. Additionally, Global SS Beauty Brands Ltd. saw a remarkable 26% growth, recording Rs 78 crore in sales for the quarter.

Aditya Birla Fashion Plans Major Fundraise of Over Rs 2,300 Crore

INVESTMENTS

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January 24, 2025

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Image of aditiya birla — Aditya Birla Fashion Plans Major Fundraise of Over Rs 2,300 Crore

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. (ABFRL) announced on Wednesday that its board has approved a plan to raise a total of Rs 2,378.75 crore through a combination of promoter and market funding.

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The proposal includes the issuance of up to 4.08 crore shares with a face value of Rs 10 each at a price of Rs 317.45 per share, which will generate Rs 1,297.50 crore for Pilani Investment and Industries Corporation, a promoter group entity. In addition, up to 3.96 crore shares, priced at Rs 272.37 per share, will be offered to Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs), totaling Rs 1,081.25 crore.

The QIBs involved in this fundraising include prominent investors such as Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund, Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Commingled Pool, Fidelity Blue Chip Growth K6 Fund, Fidelity Series Blue Chip Growth Fund, and FIAM Target Date Blue Chip Growth Commingled Pool.

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To formalize this, the ABFRL board has scheduled an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) for February 13, 2025, to seek approval for the proposed fundraise.

At the time of reporting, ABFRL shares were trading at Rs 270.20 on the NSE, showing a modest increase of 0.04% from the previous day’s close.

Bengaluru Fashion Scene Gets a Boost: Soch Apparels Opens New Store in Electronic City

Retail & Ecommerce

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January 24, 2025

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Image of soch — Bengaluru Fashion Scene Gets a Boost: Soch Apparels Opens New Store in Electronic City

Soch Apparels, a brand known for its elegant occasion wear, has expanded its presence in Bengaluru with the opening of a new store in the city’s Electronic City area. Located within the newly launched M5 Ecity Mall, this 1,200 sq. ft. outlet adds to the brand’s growing footprint.

Vinay Chatlani, Co-founder and CEO of Soch Apparels, expressed his excitement about the new store: “We are thrilled to bring Soch’s signature style and sophistication to even more fashion-conscious women in Bengaluru. After almost 20 years since we opened our first store in Koramangala, we continue to be grateful for the warm support from the city and remain committed to offering a memorable shopping experience.”

The new store showcases the full range of Soch products, including sarees, kurtas, lehengas, churidar sets, fusion wear, and dresses.

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Founded in 2005 in Bengaluru, Soch now operates over 175 stores across 70 cities in India. The brand’s retail strategy blends standalone stores with online channels, shop-in-shop locations, and major e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Myntra, and Ajio.

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In addition to its domestic expansion, Soch recently opened its first international store in Brampton, Canada, and has plans to extend its reach to the USA, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Mauritius, the Middle East, and the UK in the near future.

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