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From Office Chairs to Motorbikes: Magicpin’s Leadership Delivers Smiles This New Year’s Eve

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From Office Chairs to Motorbikes: Magicpin’s Leadership Delivers Smiles This New Year’s Eve

On New Year’s Eve, the leadership team at Magicpin, led by CEO Anshoo Sharma, swapped their usual office attire for helmets and leather jackets, hitting the streets on bikes to deliver food orders to customers across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

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Magicpin Comes Up With a Fascinating Event

In a post on social media, Magicpin shared the excitement of their team’s hands-on approach: “While some are behind closed doors in warm offices or strategy rooms, we’re out there on the ground, delivering smiles from 2024 straight into 2025! It’s the busiest night of the year, and our leadership is joining our delivery partners for the hustle.”

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A photo posted by the company showed CEO Anshoo Sharma alongside key team members, including Naman Mawandia, Suyash Jaiswal, Vinod Jain, Indrajit Nair, and Tarun Kumar, as they geared up for their unique night of delivery.

Magicpin Ventures into Fresh Sectors 

In addition to their festive spirit, Magicpin recently expanded into quick commerce with the launch of magicNow, a new food delivery service. Initially teaming up with over 2,000 food brands and 1,000 merchants, magicNow benefits from Magicpin’s logistics arm, Velocity, which consolidates third-party services like Shadowfax, Dunzo, Rapido, and OLA under one roof. This move is designed to streamline logistics for the company and its partners.

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Who Needs a Date When You Have Zomato? 4,940 Search for ‘Girlfriend’ in 2024”

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Who Needs a Date When You Have Zomato? 4,940 Search for ‘Girlfriend’ in 2024”

Zomato’s annual customer insights report for 2024 brought to light some quirky yet fascinating trends, revealing the diversity of its users’ searches and ordering habits. 

Among the unexpected findings, nearly 5,000 people typed “girlfriend” into the search bar, while just 40 users searched for “dulhan” — a surprising glimpse into the varied reasons behind food orders.

Delhi NCR Comes on Top

Delhi-NCR dominates, but Mumbai’s spending edges ahead

In terms of sheer volume, Delhi-NCR emerged as the leader, with a massive 12.4 crore orders in 2024, outpacing the combined total of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, which together accounted for around 10 crore orders. Bengaluru showed impressive numbers, placing 30 lakh more orders than Mumbai. However, it was Mumbai that outspent Bengaluru, tipping an additional Rs 3 crore.

Continue Exploring: Indian Retailers See Slower-Than-Expected Festive Growth at 7%

Busiest and slowest days

May 12 proved to be Zomato’s busiest day, with an astounding 34.8 lakh orders flooding in. In contrast, January 29 saw the fewest orders, with just 16.8 lakh placed, offering a glimpse into the seasonal fluctuations in food delivery demand.

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A New Year’s Eve boom

New Year’s Eve marked a peak in demand across quick-commerce platforms like Zomato, Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto. Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa took to X to announce that they had already surpassed their total orders from the previous NYE by 5 p.m. that day, noting record-high orders, tips, and delivery speed, showcasing the skyrocketing demand for on-demand deliveries during the holiday season.

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Ather’s IPO: Ola, Your Electric Competition Just Got Stronger!

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Ather’s IPO: Ola, Your Electric Competition Just Got Stronger!

Ather Energy, a leading name in India’s electric two-wheeler market, has received the go-ahead from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to move forward with its highly anticipated Initial Public Offering (IPO). 

This marks a significant milestone for the company, positioning it to become the second major electric vehicle manufacturer to list on Indian stock exchanges, following in the footsteps of Ola Electric earlier this year.

Company Poised to Raise a Huge Amount 

The company’s IPO is expected to raise around ₹4,500 crore, with ₹3,100 crore from the issuance of new equity shares and the remaining portion coming from the sale of 2.2 crore shares by existing stakeholders, including promoters and investors.

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Ather is targeting a valuation of approximately $2.5 billion, nearly double its worth from August, when it secured $71 million in a funding round led by the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).

Where Would the IPO Money be Invested? 

Proceeds from the IPO will be used to establish a new electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Maharashtra, reduce the company’s debt, and fund further research, development, and marketing efforts. 

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Despite a slight dip in revenue—around 1.7% year-on-year, with ₹1,753 crore in consolidated revenue for the 2024 financial year—Ather remains optimistic about India’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle market and its future growth prospects.

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Kunal Kamra vs Blinkit CEO: The Fight Over Gig Worker Wages

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Kunal Kamra vs Blinkit CEO: The Fight Over Gig Worker Wages

Comedian Kunal Kamra has taken aim at the rapid-growth quick-commerce industry in India, accusing its leaders of exploiting gig workers for profit. 

On December 31, Kamra called out Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa on X (formerly Twitter), pressing him for transparency about the wages paid to delivery workers in 2024. “Could you share data on the average wages you paid your delivery partners this year?” Kamra wrote.

Kamra Asks Tough Questions 

His comment came in response to Dhindsa’s celebratory post showcasing Blinkit’s New Year’s Eve sales figures, which included items like 122,356 packs of condoms, 45,531 bottles of water, and 22,322 units of Partysmart—highlighting the scale of deliveries made during the festivities.

Continue Exploring: Indian Retailers See Slower-Than-Expected Festive Growth at 7%

Starting 2025 on a provocative note, Kamra chose to critique what he sees as the exploitative practices underlying the quick-commerce boom. “As we enjoy the ease of quick deliveries, my first tweet of the year is about their darker realities,” he wrote. According to Kamra, the industry doesn’t create meaningful jobs but instead thrives on the labor of underpaid gig workers.

Kamra’s Dig at Blinkit and Other Like Platforms

He likened platform founders to “landlords without land,” accusing them of masking worker exploitation as freedom while failing to pay fair wages. “There’s no creativity or real innovation here,” Kamra claimed. “They sell the illusion of freedom to people who can’t afford it, all while offering wages that don’t match their dreams.”

Continue Exploring: ITC Hotels Strengthens Delhi-NCR Presence with New Welcomhotel Opening

Kamra also raised concerns about how these companies profit from the vast amounts of data generated by workers, likening the practice to extracting oil without compensating those who produce it. “They’re profiting off data as if it’s oil, but they refuse to pay for the oil fields,” he wrote, warning that regulatory action could eventually bring them to account.

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ITC Hotels Strengthens Delhi-NCR Presence with New Welcomhotel Opening

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ITC Hotels Strengthens Delhi-NCR Presence with New Welcomhotel Opening

ITC Hotels is expanding its footprint in Delhi with the launch of a new Welcomhotel along the Delhi-Gurugram highway. 

This latest addition features 81 rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, a bar, and a sprawling 35,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space. Guests can also unwind at the swimming pool, fitness center, and spa.

A Strategic Location

Located strategically with excellent visibility from the Delhi-Gurgaon highway, the hotel offers easy access to both business and leisure travelers. Situated just 5 kilometers from Indira Gandhi International Airport and only 2.5 kilometers from Gurugram’s Cyber Hub, the Welcomhotel promises guests quick connectivity to Delhi, Gurugram, and the broader National Capital Region (NCR).

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ITC Hotels Adds Yet Another Feather to Its Cap!

The opening of Welcomhotel Delhi adds another gem to ITC Hotels’ growing portfolio in the region, marking a notable milestone for the brand. 

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Speaking about the expansion, Anil Chadha, Chief Executive of ITC Hotels, shared, “This launch enhances our presence in Delhi-NCR, bringing the total number of ITC Hotels in the region to 10. The unique location of the property combined with our unmatched meeting and banquet facilities will make Welcomhotel Delhi a preferred choice for both business and social events.”

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Indian Retailers See Slower-Than-Expected Festive Growth at 7%

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Indian Retailers See Slower-Than-Expected Festive Growth at 7%

India’s retail sales recorded a 7% increase during the festive season from October 7 to December 1, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, as revealed by the Retailers Association of India (RAI) in its latest Retail Business Survey. 

West India led the charge with an 8% rise, while North, South, and East India saw a 7% increase each.

Top Performers Across Categories 

Among product categories, food and grocery emerged as the top performer with a 14% growth, followed by quick service restaurants at 10%, jewellery at 9%, and consumer durables, electronics, and apparel at 7%. Other categories like footwear and beauty saw modest growth, while furniture lagged behind with a minimal increase.

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RAI CEO Kumar Rajagopalan noted that while the 7% growth during the festive season was promising, it fell short of the anticipated 10%. He highlighted that subdued consumption throughout the year pushed retailers to rely on promotions to drive sales. Rising operational costs, inflation, and limited spending by the lower middle-class segment remain significant challenges for the retail industry.

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Hope for a Better 2025!

Despite these hurdles, Rajagopalan expressed hope for stronger growth in 2025, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a steady growth trajectory to ensure profitability. As the apex body of retailers in India, RAI continues to work towards creating a favorable environment for the modern retail sector to thrive.

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Golden Arches Reach Gangtok: McDonald’s Opens First Restaurant in Sikkim

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Golden Arches Reach Gangtok: McDonald’s Opens First Restaurant in Sikkim

McDonald’s has officially launched its first outlet in Gangtok, Sikkim, located at West Point Mall. Spanning 2,240 sq. ft., the restaurant can accommodate up to 116 guests, marking a significant milestone for the global fast-food giant in the Northeast.

Top Executive Shares his Comments 

“We are excited to bring McDonald’s to Gangtok, a city full of energy and potential. This opening is part of our mission to make McDonald’s accessible to more customers across the Northeast. We’re looking forward to delighting the people of Gangtok with our diverse menu and welcoming dining experience,” said Rajeev Ranjan, Managing Director of McDonald’s India – North and East.

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The launch event saw the presence of Bhoj Raj Rai, Sikkim’s Minister for Urban Development, who emphasized the significance of this addition to the region’s growing economy.

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Key Details of the Enterprise 

McDonald’s India – North and East operates under Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. and employs over 5,500 individuals across 190 locations. Through initiatives like the McDonald’s for Youth program, the company aims to create meaningful employment opportunities, targeting support for 2,000 individuals from underprivileged backgrounds by 2025. The chain also continues to invest heavily in employee training to ensure exceptional service and quality for its millions of annual customers.

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Blue Tokai Opens New Café in Faridabad, Strengthening North India Presence

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Blue Tokai Opens New Café in Faridabad, Strengthening North India Presence

Blue Tokai, the Gurugram-based specialty coffee brand, has expanded its presence in North India with the opening of a new café in Faridabad. 

New Cafe Boasts Amazing Attractions 

Located at the bustling World Street by Omaxe, the café spans 1,300 sq. ft. and promises to bring the brand’s signature coffee experience to the area.

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“We are delighted to have Blue Tokai Café join World Street by Omaxe,” said Jatin Goel, Executive Director of Omaxe Group. “Their presence adds to the diverse culinary experiences available here, and we’re excited about the value it will bring to the region.”

The Story of the Gurugram Based Company 

Founded in 2013 by husband-wife duo Matt Chitharanjan and Namrata Asthana, Blue Tokai began as a small coffee roastery and has since grown into a leading name in India’s coffee industry. 

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The company, supported by A91 Partners and Deepika Padukone’s Ka Enterprises, now operates 4 roasteries and over 110 cafés across major cities, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. It has also extended its footprint internationally with operations in Japan.

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Swiggy Aims to Onboard 100,000 Women Delivery Partners by 2030

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Swiggy Aims to Onboard 100,000 Women Delivery Partners by 2030

Swiggy, the popular food delivery platform, announced plans to onboard at least 100,000 women delivery partners by 2030. 

The company also revealed it has partnered with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) to launch a financial literacy program aimed at educating delivery partners, with a special focus on empowering women in the workforce.

Swiggy’s Great New Initiative 

The MoU was signed during an event attended by Swiggy’s MD and Group CEO Sriharsha Majety, NSE MD and CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan, and banker Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. During the event, ten women delivery executives who completed the highest number of orders in 2024 were honored, each receiving a cheque of Rs 11,000.

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Majety highlighted the significance of the initiative, recalling Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s earlier remark that the visibility of women running businesses, particularly in sectors like food and beverage, reduces crime and promotes stability. He emphasized that having more women on the streets as delivery partners sends a similarly positive signal. Swiggy is committed to reaching the goal of 100,000 women delivery partners by 2030, with continuous support through new policies and initiatives.

Key Details of the Programme 

The financial literacy program, in collaboration with NSE, will offer interactive sessions conducted by Sebi-certified trainers. Topics covered will include budgeting, investment strategies, debt management, and understanding capital markets. The training will be accessible through audiovisual content on Swiggy’s partner app, the DE app, making it easily available to delivery partners.

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Chauhan remarked that this partnership reflects the shared goal of empowering gig workers, especially women, by providing them with the financial knowledge needed to build long-term financial security and independence.

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TIGC Celebrates Expansion into Kerala with Grand Opening in Kochi

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TIGC Celebrates Expansion into Kerala with Grand Opening in Kochi

The Indian Garage Co. (TIGC), a popular menswear brand, has expanded into Kerala with its new store in Lulu Mall, Kochi. This marks the brand’s third physical retail outlet in India.

“We’re excited to announce the opening of our third store at the iconic Lulu Mall in Kochi, marking our first venture into Kerala,” the brand shared in a LinkedIn post, along with images of the store. The store was inaugurated by Shibu Philips, Director of Shopping Malls, Lulu Group India.

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Key Details of the New Store

Alongside its flagship menswear line, the Kochi store will feature TIGC’s womenswear collection, FreeHand, and its plus-size fashion brand, HardSoda.

After establishing a solid online presence for over a decade, TIGC ventured into offline retail in October. The brand’s first physical store, located on Brigade Road in Bengaluru, spans 3,000 square feet and is situated in one of the city’s busiest shopping areas. Just earlier this month, TIGC opened a second store in Vanasthalipuram, Hyderabad.

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The Company’s Long Term Plans

Looking ahead, the company plans to open 80 to 100 more stores across India in the next three to five years, as noted by Alka Dembla, Head of Retail at TIGC, in a past interview.

Founded in 2012 by Anant Tanted with just four people, TIGC now boasts a workforce of about 400 employees. In FY 2024, the brand achieved a revenue of Rs 400 crore and has set its sights on reaching Rs 600 crore by the end of FY 2025.

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