Medusa Beverages Raises ₹56 Crore in Series A Funding Led by Amal N Parikh and Ashwin Kedia

Food & Beverage

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January 24, 2025

Image of medusan beverage — Medusa Beverages Raises ₹56 Crore in Series A Funding Led by Amal N Parikh and Ashwin Kedia

Delhi-based craft beer company Medusa Beverages has raised ₹56 crore (approximately $6.5 million) in a Series A funding round. The round was co-led by Amal N Parikh, managing director of Ohm Stock Broker, and Ashwin Kedia, co-founder of Alchemy Capital Management. Other notable investors include Ramesh Damani, Crest Opportunities, and a network of high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) from Singapore, the UK, and the UAE.

The fresh capital will be used to ramp up Medusa’s operations, forge new distribution partnerships, and strengthen its footprint across India. Founder and CEO Avneet Singh announced plans to expand into key markets such as Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Singh commented, “This funding gives us the resources to grow aggressively, diversify our product offerings, and deepen our presence in strategic regions.”

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Founded in 2017 by Avneet Singh, Medusa Beverages is a homegrown craft beer brand that has quickly gained a strong foothold in the market. The company offers three unique beer variants and has made its products available in 7,000 retail outlets across seven states, including Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh. Prior to this funding round, Medusa had secured ₹13 crore in total funding.

The beer industry in India has seen significant investor interest recently, as brands look to tap into the growing demand for alcoholic beverages. Last year, Delhi-based Proost Beer raised ₹30 crore (around $3.5 million) to enhance its supply chain and expand its product portfolio. Similarly, Goa-based Latambarcem Brewers (LB Brewers) raised ₹12.5 crore ($1.5 million) to boost its manufacturing capacity, strengthen marketing efforts, and expand its market presence.

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With this new investment, Medusa Beverages aims to not only increase its distribution reach but also cement its position as one of the leading players in India’s craft beer market. The funding signals growing confidence in the country’s alcohol sector and the potential for homegrown brands to scale nationally.

Festive Boost Propels Reliance Retail to 10% Profit Growth and ₹90,333 Crore in Revenue

Growth

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January 24, 2025

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Image of reliance retail — Festive Boost Propels Reliance Retail to 10% Profit Growth and ₹90,333 Crore in Revenue

Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. (RRVL), the retail division of Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, has reported a solid financial performance for the December quarter, marking an 8.75% increase in gross revenue, which reached ₹90,333 crore. Profit after tax (PAT) rose by 10%, totaling ₹3,458 crore, a boost driven by strong festive demand.

In the same quarter of the previous year, the company posted gross revenue of ₹83,063 crore and PAT of ₹3,145 crore, according to a regulatory filing from Reliance Industries Ltd. The company’s operating revenue for the quarter was ₹79,595 crore, up 7% from ₹74,373 crore last year.

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Digital and new-age commerce channels now contribute to 18% of the company’s total revenue, reflecting Reliance Retail’s focus on expanding its digital presence and adapting to evolving consumer behaviors.

The company also saw its pre-tax profit (EBITDA) rise 9.45%, reaching ₹6,828 crore for the quarter. This growth was fueled by productivity improvements and increased customer engagement, particularly during the festive period, through fresh product launches and promotional activities.

In terms of expansion, Reliance Retail opened 779 new stores, bringing its total to 19,102 across 77.4 million square feet of operational space.

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Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, commented on the results, noting, “The retail business performed exceptionally well, benefiting from a resurgence in consumption during the festive season. Our deep understanding of customer preferences and needs allows us to offer the right products at the right time through the right channels, continually enhancing the shopping experience. With customer-centric innovation as a core focus, Reliance Retail is constantly expanding its reach and product offerings to meet diverse consumer demands.”

Desmond D’Souza Joins Coca-Cola India as C&CL Head to Drive Growth and Customer Engagement

Business

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January 23, 2025

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Image-of-coca-cola — Desmond D’Souza Joins Coca-Cola India as C&CL Head to Drive Growth and Customer Engagement

Desmond D’Souza, with his extensive experience and forward-thinking approach in the FMCG sector, is set to play a pivotal role in advancing our goals at Coca‑Cola India Southwest Asia. His leadership expertise and deep understanding of market trends make him the ideal fit for driving customer satisfaction and elevating our commercial strategies. “We’re excited to have someone of Desmond’s caliber join us, as his experience will be crucial in guiding us towards sustained growth,” said Sanket Ray, President, Coca‑Cola India Southwest Asia.

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In his new position, D’Souza will oversee the C&CL function across INSWA, where his focus will be on accelerating value growth, enhancing partnerships, and shaping strategies for long-term commercial success.

Before joining Coca‑Cola, Desmond served as Vice President of Sales at Mondelez, where he played an instrumental role in driving the company’s growth through strategic footprint expansion, digital innovations in sales, and the development of new commercial capabilities. He also held leadership roles at PepsiCo, focusing on transformative initiatives and sales strategies. At Zomato, he contributed to the company’s subscription model, further showcasing his versatility across industries.

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Desmond holds an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University.

The Organic World Expands in Mysore: A New Chapter for Nimida Group’s Grocery Chain

Business

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January 23, 2025

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Image of organi world — The Organic World Expands in Mysore: A New Chapter for Nimida Group’s Grocery Chain

The Organic World (TOW), a popular South Indian grocery chain and the flagship brand of Nimida Group, has made its foray into Mysore as part of its expansion plans in Karnataka. The company has opened two stores in the city, one in Ramakrishna Nagar and the other in Vijayanagar.

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Gaurav Manchanda, Founder of Nimida Group, expressed his excitement about the launch, saying, “Mysore, with its strong cultural roots and increasing shift towards chemical-free living, was an ideal location for us to grow beyond the metro cities. By opening stores here, we hope to offer local families access to healthy, curated products that align with their values.”

TOW’s growth strategy includes opening more outlets in cities like Pune, Coimbatore, Chennai, and Delhi. These will include a mix of company-owned and franchise-operated stores, all situated in strategic locations to best serve their customer base.

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Founded in 2017, TOW now operates 24 stores in Bengaluru, Mysore, and Hyderabad, offering a wide selection of nearly 3,000 products across food, grocery, personal care, and home care categories. The Bengaluru-based company has set an ambitious target to hit a revenue of ₹100 crore by FY25, a significant increase from ₹35 crore in FY24, as shared by Manchanda in a previous interview with IndiaRetailing.

Deepak Agarwal Returns to LinkedIn as Chief AI Officer to Lead Next Wave of Innovation

Business

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January 23, 2025

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Image of deepak agarwal — Deepak Agarwal Returns to LinkedIn as Chief AI Officer to Lead Next Wave of Innovation Deepak Agarwal has rejoined LinkedIn as its Chief AI Officer, marking his return to the professional networking platform after several years. “I’m excited to announce that I’m back at LinkedIn as the company’s Chief AI Officer. This is my second chapter leading AI at LinkedIn. During my previous tenure as VP of AI, I worked with an incredible team to build innovative, large-scale AI systems that still power many of LinkedIn’s current AI efforts,” Agarwal shared in a LinkedIn post. With over 24 years of experience in artificial intelligence, Agarwal has held key roles at companies like Pinterest and Yahoo, bringing a wealth of expertise to LinkedIn. During his earlier stint at the company, he served as VP of Engineering and Artificial Intelligence for nearly eight years. This announcement comes shortly after the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) advised LinkedIn influencers to adhere to disclosure norms when promoting brands or services. Unlike other social media platforms, LinkedIn lacks built-in tools for such disclosures, requiring influencers to manually include terms like “Ad” or “Partnership” in their posts. Continue Exploring: NONSTOP launches first flagship store in Mumbai, offering mobility and wellness solutions LinkedIn has evolved far beyond being just a job-seeking platform. With features like professional networking, work updates, newsletters, online courses, and official announcements, it has become a hub for knowledge-sharing and career development. In July 2024, the platform even ventured into India’s short-form video market, signaling its ambition to tap into new growth opportunities. Continue Exploring: The End of a Retail Era: Neville Noronha Checks Out, Anshul Asawa Checks In The tech industry has seen several notable appointments recently. For example, IndiaMART InterMESH Limited brought on entrepreneur Manish Vij as an independent director and promoted its legal head, Manoj Bhargava, to a full-time director role. Similarly, Zetwerk, an IPO-bound B2B marketplace, appointed Vadim Yakubov as the CEO of its US subsidiary, Unimacts, to strengthen its foothold in the American market. With Agarwal’s return, LinkedIn aims to further enhance its AI-driven innovations and maintain its position as a leader in professional networking and digital engagement.

Deepak Agarwal has rejoined LinkedIn as its Chief AI Officer, marking his return to the professional networking platform after several years.

“I’m excited to announce that I’m back at LinkedIn as the company’s Chief AI Officer. This is my second chapter leading AI at LinkedIn. During my previous tenure as VP of AI, I worked with an incredible team to build innovative, large-scale AI systems that still power many of LinkedIn’s current AI efforts,” Agarwal shared in a LinkedIn post.

With over 24 years of experience in artificial intelligence, Agarwal has held key roles at companies like Pinterest and Yahoo, bringing a wealth of expertise to LinkedIn. During his earlier stint at the company, he served as VP of Engineering and Artificial Intelligence for nearly eight years.

This announcement comes shortly after the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) advised LinkedIn influencers to adhere to disclosure norms when promoting brands or services. Unlike other social media platforms, LinkedIn lacks built-in tools for such disclosures, requiring influencers to manually include terms like “Ad” or “Partnership” in their posts.

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LinkedIn has evolved far beyond being just a job-seeking platform. With features like professional networking, work updates, newsletters, online courses, and official announcements, it has become a hub for knowledge-sharing and career development. In July 2024, the platform even ventured into India’s short-form video market, signaling its ambition to tap into new growth opportunities.

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The tech industry has seen several notable appointments recently. For example, IndiaMART InterMESH Limited brought on entrepreneur Manish Vij as an independent director and promoted its legal head, Manoj Bhargava, to a full-time director role. Similarly, Zetwerk, an IPO-bound B2B marketplace, appointed Vadim Yakubov as the CEO of its US subsidiary, Unimacts, to strengthen its foothold in the American market.

With Agarwal’s return, LinkedIn aims to further enhance its AI-driven innovations and maintain its position as a leader in professional networking and digital engagement.

Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal Addresses Restaurant Partners’ Concerns Over 10-Minute Delivery Model

Quick Commerce

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January 23, 2025

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Image of deepinder goyal — Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal Addresses Restaurant Partners’ Concerns Over 10-Minute Delivery Model

As tensions rise between restaurateurs and food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy over the introduction of 10-minute food delivery services, Zomato’s cofounder and CEO, Deepinder Goyal, has reached out to address the concerns of its restaurant partners.

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In an open letter, Goyal emphasized that Zomato has no plans to compete with the restaurants it collaborates with. He clarified that their new venture, Bistro, is not a private label or a Zomato-owned kitchen. “Zomato, as a restaurant aggregator, will never compete with its own partners. Unlike platforms like Amazon that sell their own private labels, we’ve stayed true to this commitment by not opening physical restaurants or using Zomato as a distribution channel for any of our own kitchens,” he explained.

This clarification comes amidst reports that the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) is considering legal action against Zomato and Swiggy for allegedly infringing on restaurant operations. The NRAI claims that services like Zomato Everyday and Swiggy Daily, which rely on company-owned private kitchens, are encroaching on their territory.

Goyal sought to reassure restaurant owners that Bistro is not a threat to their business. He highlighted that even if Bistro were to grow to 1,000 outlets, it would represent only 0.5% of the total food delivery market. “Scaling Bistro isn’t the main objective. The goal is to explore a sustainable business model that restaurants themselves can adopt. India’s out-of-home food consumption market has significant room for growth, and innovative models like Bistro can attract new customers, benefiting the entire restaurant ecosystem,” he added.

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He also acknowledged that the expertise of running a restaurant lies with the restaurateurs, not with Zomato. According to Goyal, the 10-minute delivery segment won’t dominate the market but will exist as one of many service models. He further assured stakeholders that Bistro would operate as a standalone app, completely separate from Zomato, and would not have access to restaurant data that could create an unfair advantage.

By addressing these concerns, Goyal hopes to maintain trust with restaurant partners while positioning Bistro as a complementary addition to the industry, rather than a competitor.

Zomato, Blinkit, and Zepto Drive Logistics Revolution: How 3PL Providers Are Reshaping Warehousing and Quick Deliveries

Quick Commerce

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January 23, 2025

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Image of quick commerce — Zomato, Blinkit, and Zepto Drive Logistics Revolution: How 3PL Providers Are Reshaping Warehousing and Quick Deliveries

In 2024, third-party logistics (3PL) providers solidified their dominance in India’s industrial and warehousing sector, leasing a staggering 8.6 million square feet—vastly outpacing the 900,000 square feet taken up by e-commerce players. According to data from Colliers, the 3PL sector contributed 33% of Grade A space leasing, largely driven by booming industries like engineering and electronics.

“The explosive growth of e-commerce has paved the way for well-funded 3PL ventures. For D2C brands, the promise of quick deliveries through Q-commerce has significantly streamlined cash flow management,” said Madhusudhan G, Chairman and Managing Director of Sumadhura Group, which has recently leased large spaces to prominent 3PL companies.

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The Rise of Zomato Logistics and Q-Commerce Partnerships

Delivery platforms such as Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto are increasingly relying on 3PL providers to meet the surging demand for faster deliveries. For instance, Zomato has introduced logistics solutions to optimize delivery efficiency. Meanwhile, key players like Delhivery, Shadowfax, and Ecom Express are expanding their fleets, and established giants like Blue Dart and Safexpress are ramping up urban networks by incorporating innovations like dark stores and advanced last-mile solutions.

Cutting Costs in E-Commerce Logistics

A growing number of e-commerce platforms are outsourcing their logistics to 3PL providers, a move aimed at reducing operational complexities and achieving cost efficiency. This trend is especially pronounced in urban markets, where quick commerce (Q-commerce) enables brands to scale efficiently across categories like FMCG, apparel, and electronics.

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Blinkit and Zepto’s Expanding Ecosystems

Platforms like Blinkit and Zepto are no longer limited to delivering essentials. These companies are now diversifying into categories such as electronics and appliances, making partnerships with 3PL providers essential for maintaining speedy urban deliveries. To meet this demand, 3PL firms are building expansive networks of small urban fulfillment nodes—up to 100 in Tier I cities alone—creating an efficient infrastructure for the growing needs of quick commerce.

As 3PL providers continue to scale their operations and optimize delivery models, they are playing a critical role in reshaping India’s logistics landscape, ensuring faster and more efficient delivery for consumers across industries.

India’s Quick Commerce Boom: 5,500 Dark Stores by FY26 and a $40 Billion Market by FY28

Quick Commerce

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January 23, 2025

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India’s quick commerce sector is poised for massive growth, with HSBC predicting 5,000 to 5,500 dark stores by the 2025-26 fiscal year. By 2027-28, the industry is projected to achieve a gross order value of $35–$40 billion, according to HSBC’s latest report.

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Leading players like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy’s Instamart have been expanding at breakneck speed. Blinkit, Zomato’s quick commerce arm, added 216 stores in a single quarter and now operates over 1,000 stores as of the December 2024 quarter. The company aims to double its network to 2,000 stores by the end of the fiscal year. Zepto, with 850 stores currently, is on track to surpass the 1,000-store milestone this year, while Swiggy’s Instamart is expected to hit 1,000 stores soon as well.

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However, HSBC suggests this expansion frenzy may be reaching its limits. “Once Zepto and others hit the 1,000-store mark, the focus will likely shift to capacity optimisation rather than aggressive growth,” the brokerage noted in its report. Blinkit and Swiggy are also expected to ease their rapid expansion plans.

By the close of FY25, HSBC estimates that the sector will have sufficient store capacity to meet projected demand through FY28. This shift from expansion to operational efficiency is expected to help companies prioritise profitability and streamline their operations.

Zeelab Pharmacy Secures $2.4M Funding to Expand Retail Network and Launch 60-Minute Delivery

INVESTMENTS

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January 23, 2025

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Image of zeelab — Zeelab Pharmacy Secures $2.4M Funding to Expand Retail Network and Launch 60-Minute Delivery

Delhi-based healthcare startup Zeelab Pharmacy has raised $2.4 million (approximately ₹21.7 crore) in its first funding round, led by OTP Ventures. The company plans to use the funds to expand its retail footprint and enhance its 60-minute medicine delivery service across both metro and non-metro cities.

Founded in 2020 by Rohit Mukul, Zeelab Pharmacy operates through a network of over 2,500 stores to source medicines, focusing on making healthcare more accessible and convenient. The company has ambitious plans to scale its operations further, particularly in Tier-II cities.

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“This investment will be a key driver for our growth strategy, allowing us to strengthen our retail presence, improve delivery infrastructure, and solidify our omnichannel model. We are confident that this partnership will help us build a more inclusive and accessible healthcare ecosystem in India,” Mukul stated.

Zeelab competes with established players like PharmEasy, Medkart, Apollo Pharmacy, and Netmeds in the highly competitive healthcare and pharmacy sector.

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The healthcare space has seen significant activity recently. Just days ago, four cofounders of online pharmacy giant PharmEasy — Dharmil Sheth, Dhaval Shah, Hardik Dedhia, and Harsh Parekh — stepped down from their executive roles. Meanwhile, in August last year, healthcare financing startup HealthCRED raised $1.2 million in seed funding, co-led by Antler India, TRTL VC, and iSeedVC.

Zeelab’s efforts to expand its services and innovate in the healthcare delivery space position it as a notable player in this growing market, particularly as demand for quick and efficient access to medicines continues to rise.

Amazon Set to Launch Tez in India, Partnering with Cocoblu Retail for Fast Deliveries

Quick Commerce

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January 23, 2025

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Image of amazon — Amazon Set to Launch Tez in India, Partnering with Cocoblu Retail for Fast Deliveries

Amazon is gearing up to introduce its quick commerce service, Tez, in India, having already launched a pilot program with its Bengaluru-based staff. Recent reports indicate that Cocoblu Retail, Amazon’s largest seller in the country, is playing a key role in this venture by establishing a new division, Cocoblu Quick Commerce, aimed at expediting deliveries.

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According to filings with the Registrar of Companies (RoC), Cocoblu’s parent company, Rattan India, has shifted its business focus from wholesale to retail, rebranding an existing entity to support quick commerce efforts.

With Cocoblu’s strong partnership and impressive sales volume on Amazon, the company is positioned to be a crucial ally in scaling Tez across the Indian market. This collaboration will provide Amazon with much-needed infrastructure and expertise to compete in the rapidly growing quick commerce space.

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As Tez enters the market, it will initially focus on delivering groceries and essentials, starting with products from leading consumer brands sold by Cocoblu Retail. This move comes as Amazon looks to catch up with other quick commerce players like Flipkart Minutes, Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, who have already made significant strides in the sector.

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