K-Beauty Hits the Mall: TIRTIR’s Retail Leap is the Glow-Up You Didn’t Know You Needed

Retail & Ecommerce

By

-

January 13, 2025

Image of reput.ai — K-Beauty Hits the Mall: TIRTIR’s Retail Leap is the Glow-Up You Didn’t Know You Needed

TIRTIR, the Korean skincare and makeup brand, has made its offline retail debut in India through a partnership with Reliance Retail’s Tira, the company’s omnichannel beauty platform. The brand’s products are now available at select Tira stores, including prominent locations like Jio World Drive (Mumbai), DLF Avenue (Vasant Kunj, Delhi), Mall of Asia (Bengaluru), and both Infiniti Mall locations in Mumbai (Andheri and Malad).

Founded in 2015 by Lee Yoo Bin in Seoul, South Korea, TIRTIR quickly rose to prominence, particularly on TikTok’s BeautyTok, where it gained a following for its makeup tutorials, reviews, and skincare hacks. The brand specializes in makeup, skincare, and haircare products, bringing innovation to the beauty industry.

Continue Exploring: Fair And Handsome Gets a Makeover: Emami Unveils ‘Smart And Handsome’ with Kartik Aaryan

After making an online entrance into India in December 2024, TIRTIR debuted its range on both Tira and Nykaa, offering popular items like its cushion foundation, milk skin toner, ceramic milk ampoule, and makeup setting spray.

Reliance Retail’s Tira, launched in February 2023 as an e-commerce platform, expanded its reach with a flagship store opening at Jio World Drive in Mumbai by April of the same year. Now, Tira operates over 13 stores across India.

Continue Exploring: Ethics Over Earnings: Blinkit’s Albinder Dhindsa Takes a Stand Against Data Games

Korean beauty has seen a surge in demand in India thanks to its cutting-edge products and focus on personalized skincare. TIRTIR joins a growing list of Korean brands, including The Face Shop, Dr. Jart+, Cosrx, Skin1004, and Mizon, which have made their way into the Indian market, both online and offline.

Tracking Carbon Emissions and Supply Chains: RePut.ai Raises $1M in Pre-Seed Round”

Business

By

Online Desk

-

January 13, 2025

0

Anuj Bishnoi, the cofounder of Morning Cart (which was acquired by BigBasket), has made his next big move by launching a new B2B SaaS venture called RePut.ai. The Bengaluru-based startup, which emerged from stealth mode, has successfully raised nearly $1 million (INR 8.6 crore) in its Pre-seed funding round, led by GrowthCap Ventures.

The round also attracted several angel investors, including BigBasket cofounder Vipul Parekh, TableSprint’s Abhijeet Kumar, and Deloitte India partner Vishal Jain.

Continue Exploring: Ethics Over Earnings: Blinkit’s Albinder Dhindsa Takes a Stand Against Data Games

Founded in April 2024 by Bishnoi, alongside Rohit Mahatma and Amit Bishnoi, RePut.ai specializes in using AI and blockchain technology to provide advanced supply chain management solutions for businesses. The platform offers features like real-time product tracking, supplier watchlists, and procurement analytics. But its standout feature is the ability to track carbon emissions throughout the supply chain, positioning RePut.ai as a leader in climate tech innovation. The startup also provides businesses with access to a verified recycling network, making it a strong advocate for sustainability.

The freshly raised funds will be used to enhance RePut.ai’s technology, expand its team, and drive its global growth plans. According to Prateek Agarwal, founder and general partner of GrowthCap Ventures, RePut.ai is helping to reshape supply chain transparency, combining profitability with sustainability to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Continue Exploring: Fair And Handsome Gets a Makeover: Emami Unveils ‘Smart And Handsome’ with Kartik Aaryan

This move comes amid a wave of seasoned entrepreneurs launching new ventures. Just recently, Amod Malviya, cofounder of B2B marketplace Udaan, also unveiled his latest startup, Pre6.

HUL Decides to Scoop Out Ice Cream Biz into New Subsidiary Kwality Wall’s

Business

By

Online Desk

-

January 13, 2025

0

Image of kwality walls — HUL Decides to Scoop Out Ice Cream Biz into New Subsidiary Kwality Wall’s

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) announced the creation of a new subsidiary, Kwality Wall’s (India) Ltd (KWIL), as part of its plan to spin off its ice cream division. The new entity will house the company’s popular ice cream brands such as Kwality Wall’s, Cornetto, and Magnum.

Continue Exploring: Ethics Over Earnings: Blinkit’s Albinder Dhindsa Takes a Stand Against Data Games

This move, which is currently under review by the HUL board, aims to streamline the business by separating the ice cream segment from HUL’s other operations. As per the plan, HUL will retain full ownership of the new subsidiary, holding 100% of its share capital.

The decision to demerge was finalized after a board meeting on November 25, 2024. Shareholders of HUL will receive shares in the new ice cream company, based on their current stake in HUL. This follows a recommendation from an Independent Committee set up by the company earlier in September. The committee highlighted that the ice cream business operates under a different model—one that requires specialized cold-chain infrastructure and has a unique distribution setup—making it challenging to align with the broader HUL operations.

Continue Exploring: Fair And Handsome Gets a Makeover: Emami Unveils ‘Smart And Handsome’ with Kartik Aaryan

With the demerger underway, the ice cream business is set to become an independent, publicly listed company, which will open new avenues for growth and operational focus.

Pop-Culture Trendsetter The Souled Store Eyes Global Markets, Starting with Dubai

Retail & Ecommerce

By

Online Desk

-

January 13, 2025

0

The Souled Store, a homegrown brand known for its pop-culture-inspired apparel and accessories, is all set to make its debut in international markets this year, with the Middle East being its first stop.

The company plans to leverage its direct-to-consumer (D2C) model through an online platform offering products tailored to the tastes of local shoppers. Additionally, they will collaborate with regional e-commerce platforms to enhance their reach and make shopping more convenient for customers.

Continue Exploring: Fair And Handsome Gets a Makeover: Emami Unveils ‘Smart And Handsome’ with Kartik Aaryan

Harsh Lal, co-founder of The Souled Store, shared that the brand is eyeing key Middle Eastern cities like Dubai for its first physical stores. “We’re considering opening 3-5 offline stores in high-traffic locations in Dubai and have already pinpointed potential sites,” he said. The goal is to strategically place these stores in areas with strong demand for lifestyle and pop-culture products.

Continue Exploring: Ethics Over Earnings: Blinkit’s Albinder Dhindsa Takes a Stand Against Data Games

Once the brand has established itself in the Middle East, the next step will be expanding to Western markets, particularly Europe and the US. Lal revealed that the brand is planning to open its first international offline store within the next six to seven months as part of a pilot project. If successful, the company anticipates that international markets could contribute up to 40%-50% of its business within the next three to four years.

UPI Wars: PhonePe Rockets Past $140 Billion, Leaving Google Pay & Paytm in the Dust

Growth

By

Online Desk

-

January 13, 2025

0

Image of UPI — UPI Wars: PhonePe Rockets Past $140 Billion, Leaving Google Pay & Paytm in the Dust

PhonePe has firmly cemented its position at the top of India’s digital payments landscape, recording an impressive 798.4 crore UPI transactions in December 2024, a notable increase of 7.8% from 740.1 crore transactions in November.

The platform, owned by Walmart, handled transactions worth ₹11.76 lakh crore in December, up from ₹10.88 lakh crore the previous month. With over 47% of total UPI transactions and half of the overall transaction value, PhonePe continues to dominate the sector.

Continue Exploring: Fair And Handsome Gets a Makeover: Emami Unveils ‘Smart And Handsome’ with Kartik Aaryan

Trailing behind, Google Pay held 37.22% of the market in terms of UPI transaction volume. It processed 614 crore transactions in December, up from 573 crore in November, showcasing steady growth in user activity.

Paytm remained the third-largest UPI player, though its market share dipped slightly from 7.03% in November to 6.97% in December. Despite this, it saw a modest rise in transaction volume, hitting 115 crore transactions compared to 107 crore in the prior month.

Meanwhile, Navi, led by Sachin Bansal, continued its upward climb. The app’s market share edged up to 1.02% in December, with 20.25 crore transactions, up from 15.2 crore in November, signaling increasing adoption among users.

Continue Exploring: Ethics Over Earnings: Blinkit’s Albinder Dhindsa Takes a Stand Against Data Games

The UPI ecosystem as a whole reached new heights, clocking a record 1,673 crore transactions in December 2024, an 8.08% rise from November’s 1,548 crore. The value of these transactions also grew by 7.9%, hitting ₹23.25 lakh crore compared to ₹21.55 lakh crore the previous month, according to data from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

This growth has been fueled by continued support for the fintech sector. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently raised the wallet limit for UPI Lite

Puma Courts PV Sindhu: A $57M Partnership to Dominate India’s Badminton Boom

Business, Advertising

By

Online Desk

-

January 13, 2025

0

Image of puma — Puma Courts PV Sindhu: A $57M Partnership to Dominate India’s Badminton Boom

Indian badminton champion PV Sindhu has made history by becoming the first-ever badminton athlete to collaborate with Puma India. On January 13, the two-time Olympic medalist signed a multi-year deal with the German sportswear giant, marking a significant milestone in both her career and Puma’s expansion into badminton.

Continue Exploring: Ethics Over Earnings: Blinkit’s Albinder Dhindsa Takes a Stand Against Data Games

Sindhu, already a trailblazer as the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals, joins a distinguished list of Puma athletes, including cricket star Harmanpreet Kaur and football legend Neymar Jr. Through this partnership, Puma India aims to tap into the fast-growing badminton fanbase in India, which boasts 57 million followers.

This move into badminton is a strategic step for Puma, as it strengthens its foothold in India’s evolving sports market. With a focus on performance wear, Puma India expects this collaboration to drive growth and enhance its brand presence in the country, doubling its current pace.

Continue Exploring: Fair And Handsome Gets a Makeover: Emami Unveils ‘Smart And Handsome’ with Kartik Aaryan

The partnership will kick off during the India Open 2025 in New Delhi, where Sindhu will showcase the first fruits of this dynamic collaboration, paving the way for the future of badminton in India.

Boba Bhai’s ₹30 Cr Bet on K-Pop Burgers and Bubble Tea Takes the QSR World by Storm

Investors & Capital

By

Online Desk

-

January 13, 2025

0

Image of boba bhai — Boba Bhai’s ₹30 Cr Bet on K-Pop Burgers and Bubble Tea Takes the QSR World by Storm

Bengaluru-based QSR brand Boba Bhai, known for its bubble tea and unique food offerings, has raised ₹30 crore (approximately $3.4 million) in a Series A funding round led by 8i Ventures. The round also saw support from existing investors, including Titan Capital Winners Fund, Global Growth Capital, and DEVC, among others.

The fresh capital will be used to expand into new cities such as Pune and Ahmedabad, scale up operations, introduce Korean-inspired menu items, and create new sub-brands. With this latest round, Boba Bhai’s total funding now stands at ₹42.5 crore (around $4.9 million).

Continue Exploring: Ethics Over Earnings: Blinkit’s Albinder Dhindsa Takes a Stand Against Data Games

Founded in 2023 by Dhruv Kohli, Boba Bhai has quickly made a mark with its 45 bubble tea flavors and K-Pop-inspired burgers infused with an Indian twist. The startup operates in nine cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai, and plans to double its footprint by opening over 150 stores by the end of the year.

The company initially raised ₹12.5 crore in April 2024 from Titan Capital, Global Growth Capital UK, and a lineup of prominent investors such as V3 Ventures cofounder Arjun Vaidya, Warm Up Ventures, Razorpay’s founders’ fund Marsshot VC, Mamaearth cofounder Varun Alagh, and PeerCheque.

Continue Exploring: Fair And Handsome Gets a Makeover: Emami Unveils ‘Smart And Handsome’ with Kartik Aaryan

In its first six months, Boba Bhai achieved revenues of ₹8 crore, a testament to its rapid growth. Founder Dhruv Kohli attributed the success to the brand’s focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction.

“Over the past nine months, we’ve experienced remarkable growth, which reflects our dedication to delivering unique and high-quality experiences to our customers. With the backing of our investors, we’re excited to scale further, introduce new products, and establish Boba Bhai as the top choice for India’s next generation of QSR consumers,” Kohli said.

Blue Tokai’s Bold Brews, Swiggy’s Lightning Speed – Coffee Just Got Quick!

Quick Commerce

By

Online Desk

-

January 13, 2025

0

Image of swiggy — Blue Tokai’s Bold Brews, Swiggy’s Lightning Speed – Coffee Just Got Quick!

Swiggy has teamed up with Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters to bring premium coffee options directly to your doorstep through its SNACC app. With a promise to deliver your favorite brew in as little as 15 minutes, this new partnership is set to elevate your coffee break.

Continue Exploring: Fair And Handsome Gets a Makeover: Emami Unveils ‘Smart And Handsome’ with Kartik Aaryan

Users can now enjoy a selection of Blue Tokai’s finest drinks, including Americano, Cappuccino, Flat White, Iced Americano, Latte, and even a Vietnamese-inspired Iced Coffee, all available via SNACC.

“This is only the start,” said Satheesh Raman, Business Head of SNACC. “We’re committed to partnering with brands that share our vision of delivering top-quality products to our customers and expanding our ecosystem.”

SNACC, Swiggy’s standalone app, focuses on delivering food and beverages in 10 minutes or less. This is Swiggy’s second major push into the rapid delivery game, following the launch of Bolt in October 2024. The market has become highly competitive, with players like Zomato, Blinkit, and Zepto all making bold moves.

Raman emphasized that in today’s fast-paced world, customers crave quick, easy, and hassle-free solutions to their needs. After revolutionizing food delivery with Swiggy and Bolt, SNACC aims to make daily life even more convenient, positioning itself as the go-to app for quick snacks, beverages, and healthy options.

Continue Exploring: Ethics Over Earnings: Blinkit’s Albinder Dhindsa Takes a Stand Against Data Games

Shivam Shahi, Co-Founder and COO of Blue Tokai, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We know that coffee lovers want speed, convenience, and quality. With SNACC, we’re excited to meet those needs and enhance the experience for today’s fast-moving customers.”

The End of a Retail Era: Neville Noronha Checks Out, Anshul Asawa Checks In

Retail & Ecommerce

By

Online Desk

-

January 13, 2025

0

Image of DMart — The End of a Retail Era: Neville Noronha Checks Out, Anshul Asawa Checks In

DMart’s long-serving Managing Director and CEO, Neville Noronha, will step down from his role in January 2026, parent company Avenue Supermarts announced in a stock exchange filing on Saturday.

Noronha, who has been with the company since 2004, decided not to renew his contract, bringing an end to a remarkable journey of over two decades with the retail giant.

Continue Exploring: Fair And Handsome Gets a Makeover: Emami Unveils ‘Smart And Handsome’ with Kartik Aaryan

Reflecting on his tenure, Noronha said, “It has been an incredible privilege to serve this business. I am deeply thankful to the early leadership team, especially those who believed in the DMart vision and stood by it for years.”

Sharing his thoughts on the company’s future, Noronha added, “DMart has a long runway for growth if we continue to prioritize simplicity, cost efficiency, employee satisfaction, and delivering unmatched value to our customers. Staying true to these principles will keep the business relevant for decades to come.”

Continue Exploring: Ethics Over Earnings: Blinkit’s Albinder Dhindsa Takes a Stand Against Data Games

C.B. Bhave, Chairman of Avenue Supermarts, praised Noronha’s leadership, saying, “Neville was a visionary leader who never lost sight of the details. For him, growth and profitability were not goals in themselves but outcomes of a business rooted in fairness, efficiency, and a relentless focus on customer value.”

Fizzing Up Leadership: Nitin Bhandari Joins PepsiCo as Beverages Head

Business

By

Online Desk

-

January 13, 2025

0

Image of pepsico — Fizzing Up Leadership: Nitin Bhandari Joins PepsiCo as Beverages Head

Nitin Bhandari, a long-time executive at PepsiCo India, has been appointed to lead the company’s beverages division in India and South Asia.

He will take over the reins from George Kovoor, who is set to retire on March 31, 2025, after announcing his decision in December 2024.

Continue Exploring: Ethics Over Earnings: Blinkit’s Albinder Dhindsa Takes a Stand Against Data Games

PepsiCo India, the maker of popular drinks like Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Tropicana, confirmed the leadership change. “George Kovoor has decided to retire from PepsiCo, effective March 31, 2025, to explore other opportunities. Nitin Bhandari will step in as the general manager for beverages in India and South Asia,” a company representative shared with ET.

Continue Exploring: Fair And Handsome Gets a Makeover: Emami Unveils ‘Smart And Handsome’ with Kartik Aaryan

The leadership shift comes as the soft drinks industry faces heightened competition, particularly with summer just around the corner. While PepsiCo’s bottling operations in India are handled by its franchisee partner, Varun Beverages Ltd (VBL), rival Coca-Cola is gearing up for its next phase of expansion. In a major move last month, the Jubilant Bhartia Group acquired a 40% stake in Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), Coca-Cola India’s bottling partner, for ₹12,500 crore.

NewsHub

Continue Exploring: Ethics Over Earnings: Blinkit’s Albinder Dhindsa Takes a Stand Against Data Games