KFC introduces ‘Lickable Wrapping Paper’, sets new standard for food brands!

-

November 29, 2024

Can Zomato's $1Bn fundraise outpace competitors in the q-commerce race?

Zomato has raised INR 8,500 Cr (around $1 Bn) through its first qualified institutional placement (QIP), with the aim of expanding its quick commerce business Blinkit and supporting other key growth initiatives.

Zomato allocates shares at price of INR 252

The QIP, launched on November 25 and closed on November 28, allocated about 33.64 Cr equity shares to qualified institutional buyers at an issue price of INR 252.62 apiece.

Continue Exploring: India’s food processing boom: A game-changer for FMCG hiring in 2025-26

The pricing represents a discount of 5% to the QIP floor price of INR 265.91 a share, and a discount of almost 12% from the stock’s previous close. Zomato plans to utilize the funds raised from the QIP to support its growth initiatives, including setting up and running operations of dark stores and warehouses, advertising, marketing, and branding initiatives, and strengthening its tech stack.

Of the total proceeds from the QIP, INR 2,137 Cr will be directed towards setting up and running operations of dark stores and warehouses. Further, Zomato plans to utilise INR 2,492 Cr towards advertising, marketing and branding initiatives across its businesses. The foodtech giant plans to invest INR 1,769 Cr to strengthen its tech stack, including cloud infrastructure and software. The additional capital will likely also help Zomato scale its going-out or District vertical.

Zomato’s founder Deepinder Goyal had previously stated that the company needed additional capital because of “the competition landscape and much larger scale of our business today.” This comes at a time when Zomato is facing fierce competition from Swiggy, Zepto, and BigBasket in the rapid delivery segment.

Continue Exploring: E-commerce emerges as top sales channel for FMCG, what does new study have to say?

Zepto secures $350 million from local investors

In the previous week, Zepto raised an additional $350 million from local investors. Over the past five months, they have secured more than $1.3 billion in funding.

Furthermore, it’s been reported that Zomato plans to ask the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to limit its foreign investments to 49% after its recent funding. By doing this, Zomato aims to gain majority domestic ownership, which would allow its quick commerce division, Blinkit, to manage its own inventory in India.

Currently, foreign-owned companies in India can’t own the inventory they sell and can only operate marketplaces.

Transforming the Alco-Bev landscape in India : PAIL’s INR 1000 Cr expansion plans

Food & Beverage

By

-

November 29, 2024

Image of piccadily agro industries — Transforming the Alco-Bev landscape in India : PAIL's INR 1000 Cr expansion plans

Piccadily Agro Industries Limited (PAIL) has announced a INR 1,000 crore expansion plan to support its flagship brands and fuel the creation of innovative products across new spirit categories.

PAIL to introduce state-of-the-art visitor centre at Indri, Haryana

The plan includes the launch of a state-of-the-art visitor centre at Indri, Haryana, aimed at whisky tourists and connoisseurs. This move is part of PAIL’s ambitious growth strategy to create more awareness around single malts.

Continue Exploring: Good Glamm co-founder Naiyya Saggi initiates entry into consumer electronics

Meanwhile, Siddhartha Sharma, Promoter, Piccadily Agro Industries, says the Indian alco-bev industry has emerged as one of the world’s most dynamic markets, driven by rising disposable incomes, evolving consumer preferences, and a growing appreciation for premium spirits.

“We are witnessing a remarkable shift as Indian consumers increasingly gravitate towards premium craft spirits, particularly in categories like single malts and aged rum. This evolution has created an unprecedented opportunity for Indian producers to not just serve the domestic market but to take their place among global industry leaders,” he states.

Further, PAIL plans to establish its first international distillery in Portavadie, Scotland, which elevates the stature of the Indian alco-bev industry to an all-new level, according to Sharma. The Portavadie site will feature a world-class visitor centre, offering whisky enthusiasts and connoisseurs insights into the art of Scotch whisky making. “This initiative marks our long-term goal of becoming an international alco-bev company and reinforces our vision of reshaping the perception of Indian alco-bev brands on the world stage,” Sharma states.

Continue Exploring: India’s food processing boom: A game-changer for FMCG hiring in 2025-26

The expansions are expected to be completed over the next 24 months, with phase 1 of the total expansion at Indri plant of malt and ethanol reaching completion in early 2025. PAIL plans to expand its production capabilities, increasing total capacity to 250 kilo litres per day (KLPD) of its distillery Indri, Haryana.

Additionally, the company plans to expand its warehousing infrastructure to accommodate over 1,00,000 barrels. Other highlights of the expansion include setting up a green field distillery in district Mahasamund in Chhattisgarh.

PAIL registers 63.45% YoY revenue growth

Reportedly, PAIL’s Q2 FY25 results showed a revenue growth of 63.45% year-over-year (YoY), while EBITDA grew by 74.45%. PAIL is a publicly listed company on the BSE, operating primarily in two business segments: distillery and sugar. Its manufacturing facility at Indri, spread across 168 acres, is equipped with advanced technology to produce a diverse range of products.

Bollywood Actor Malaika Arora launches restaurant chain Scarlett House

Hotels & Restaurants

By

-

November 29, 2024

Image of scarlett house — Bollywood Actor Malaika Arora launches restaurant chain Scarlett House

Malaika Arora and restaurateur Dhaval Udeshi have launched Scarlett House, an exclusive restaurant chain that marries British Old-World Charm with Indian elements.

Scarlett House at Mumbai’s Bandra Pali

Nestled in a 90-year-old bungalow in Bandra’s Pali Village, Scarlett House is designed to feel like home, with a focus on clean eating and wellness. “Food brings people closer; it’s about love, not just calories,” Arora shared.

Continue Exploring: Meena Bazaar partners with AI retail platforms for tech-driven growth

Notably the restaurant is a collaboration between Arora, Udeshi, her son Arhaan Khan, and Malaya Nagpal. With over 20 hospitality projects under his belt, Udeshi wanted to create a dining experience that blends homey comfort with culinary adventure. The menu, which evolves through the day, features global cuisine made with local ingredients. Highlights include a water bar, cocktail bar, and a retail section with products from small-batch vendors.

The 45-cover restaurant spans two levels. The lower floor houses a coffee bar, wine and cheese room, retail area, and seating. The upper level offers an attic-like space with vintage wallpaper, a cocktail bar, live sushi bar, and a reading corner.

Continue Exploring: Good Glamm co-founder Naiyya Saggi initiates entry into consumer electronics

Malaika Arora’s restaurants opens in December

Meanwhile, Scarlett House officially opens in December 2024 and aims to capture the post-pandemic shift in the F&B industry, where diners seek comprehensive experiences beyond just food. Investors Afsana and Amit Verma highlighted this trend, emphasizing Scarlett House’s potential to fill a gap in the Indian market.

Swiggy Instamart turns viral onion plea into flash sale sensation. Find out how!

Marketing & Branding

By

-

November 29, 2024

Image of swiggy — Swiggy Instamart turns viral onion plea into flash sale sensation. Find out how!

A Delhi man’s humorous request for extra onions with his food order on Swiggy went viral, prompting a surprise response from the company.

The user’s request, which was shared on Reddit, read, “Onions bhot costly hai, main nahi kharid sakta” (Onions are very expensive, I can’t buy them). The post quickly gained traction, with nearly 4,000 likes and 138 comments.

Continue Exploring: India’s food processing boom: A game-changer for FMCG hiring in 2025-26

Swiggy’s limited-time 1-hour flash sale

Responding to the viral plea, Swiggy Instamart decided to step in and offer a solution. The platform launched a limited-time 1-hour flash sale on onions, offering the essential kitchen staple at just INR 39. The sale, which took place between 7-8 pm, brought relief to Delhi NCR residents who could now stock up on onions without worrying about the skyrocketing prices.

Swiggy’s Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, Phani Kishan Addepalli, tweeted about the sale, saying, “Was browsing Reddit and came across this post about a Swiggy customer trying to save on the rising price of onions by sweetly asking the restaurant to send some extra onions. We feel your pain man. Just for you, we’re launching a flash sale today! Onions at INR 39 in Delhi NCR from 7-8 pm. Stock up.” The tweet quickly caught the attention of many users, who flooded social media platforms with their witty takes and shared experiences of struggling with the rising cost of onions.

Continue Exploring: Meena Bazaar partners with AI retail platforms for tech-driven growth

India’s food processing boom: A game-changer for FMCG hiring in 2025-26

FMCG

By

-

November 29, 2024

Image of FMCG Product — India's food processing boom: A game-changer for FMCG hiring in 2025-26

The size of India’s food processing industry is anticipated to double by 2025-26, sparking a remarkable uptick in hiring within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.

FMCG’s hiring surges to 32%

According to a report by TeamLease EdTech, hiring intent for freshers in the FMCG sector increased to 32% in the second half of 2024, up from 27% in the first half of the year.

Continue Exploring: Meena Bazaar partners with AI retail platforms for tech-driven growth

Reportedly, the growth in hiring is linked to the expansion of the food processing industry, which is projected to grow from $263 billion in 2019-20 to $535 billion by 2025-26, with an annual growth rate of 12.6%. This growth has enabled deeper penetration into rural and semi-urban markets, generating employment opportunities in key product segments such as dairy, RTE foods, frozen meat, and snacks.

FMCG hiring driven by semi-urban market expansion – Edtech

“The rise in demand for fresh talent in FMCG can clearly be attributed to deeper expansion in rural and semi-urban markets, fueled by the rapid growth of India’s food processing industry,” said Shantanu Rooj, founder and CEO, TeamLease Edtech. The report highlights that FMCG companies are focusing on hiring freshers with expertise in market insights, retail distribution, and regional consumer behavior to support their expansion into untapped markets.

Continue Exploring: British cosmetic, skincare brand The Body Shop unveils India-inspired collection

Further, the report also notes that specific job roles are seeing high hiring intent in various cities. For example, food engineers have a hiring intent of 41% in Bengaluru, logistics coordinators 39% in Delhi, supply and distribution chain positions 37% in Hyderabad, and brand management trainees 34% in Bengaluru.

The survey was conducted across 526 small, medium, and large companies in 18 industries and covered 14 geographical areas, including metros, tier-1, and tier-2 cities.

Meena Bazaar partners with AI retail platforms for tech-driven growth

Retail & Ecommerce

By

-

November 28, 2024

Image of meena bazaar — Meena Bazaar partners with AI retail platforms for tech-driven growth

Delhi-based ethnic wear retailer Meena Bazaar has partnered with AI-powered retail intelligence platform Sociometrik and real estate firm Agprop to integrate AI into its operations.

Meena Bazaar to foresee revenue, optimal retail site via AI

This partnership will enable Meena Bazaar to leverage AI for data-driven site selection, using city-wide heatmaps with socioeconomic and demographic insights. This includes identifying optimal retail clusters, forecasting revenue with machine learning, and aligning requirements with property listings.

Continue Exploring: Good Glamm co-founder Naiyya Saggi initiates entry into consumer electronics

“This collaboration is all about AI-driven retail expansion, combining decades of legacy with cutting-edge technology and data science to scale like never before,” said Shivek Aggarwal, founder of Agprop in a social media post. “From smarter store locations to enhanced customer insights, this partnership is the blueprint for the next era of retail growth.”

Meena Bazaar aims 250 outlets by 2025

Meena Bazaar was established in 1970, by Suresh and Vishnu Manglani. The brand specializes in ethnic wear staples including lehengas, kurta sets, sarees, and suits. The company began as a small store in Chandni Chowk selling printed sarees and today, it has over 70 stores across India and the United States. Meena Bazaar is aiming to have more than 250 exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) in operation by 2025.

Continue Exploring: E-commerce emerges as top sales channel for FMCG, what does new study have to say?

British cosmetic, skincare brand The Body Shop unveils India-inspired collection

D2C

By

-

November 28, 2024

Image of the body shop — British cosmetic, skincare brand The Body Shop unveils India-inspired collection

The Body Shop has launched a new campaign to celebrate its first-ever India-inspired collection, The India Edit.

‘Only in India, for You’

The campaign, anchored by the tagline “Only in India, for You,” is a tribute to Indian youth, cultural richness, and the beauty of inclusivity. The centerpiece of the campaign is a visually captivating video that takes viewers on a journey through the richness of Indian beauty, individuality, and self-expression.

Continue Exploring: Zomato taps into upcoming ‘Pushpa 2’ hype, offers movie tickets on District

In line with The Body Shop’s ethical values, the video features four curated collections – Lotus, Hibiscus, Pomegranate, and Black Grape – each inspired by traditional Indian ingredients. The cast of the campaign features models from diverse backgrounds and identities, embodying the multifaceted beauty of India.

Campaign inspired by India’s cultural heritage

Further, the campaign features a custom-designed artistic backdrop by an illustrator, bursting with vibrant colors and intricate patterns inspired by India’s cultural heritage.

Continue Exploring: Mamaearth’s parent Honasa Consumer shares surge 10%, reversing last week’s plunge

Meanwhile, the campaign has been rolled out across various platforms, including in-store displays, social media, and digital channels. The Body Shop has always been synonymous with ethical beauty, and The India Edit is no different. With IFRA-certified fragrances and a focus on India’s unique natural treasures, the collection exemplifies the brand’s dedication to ethical and thoughtful beauty.

E-commerce emerges as top sales channel for FMCG, what does new study have to say?

FMCG

By

-

November 28, 2024

Over 60% of FMCG companies now see e-commerce as their key sales platform, with nearly 75% of mid-sized firms favoring it as their primary sales channel. Emerging manufacturers are growing 1.5 times faster in ecommerce than the average in categories like noodles, refined oil, biscuits, coffee, and packaged atta, according to a recent study by NielsenIQ.

Consumers are opting e-commerce, driving traction – NIQ

“Indian businesses are recognizing the growing importance of digital as a significant operational channel and are now crafting targeted strategies to win in this space. Consumers are embracing the unique benefits of ecommerce, driving increased traction for brands from emerging manufacturers across key FMCG categories,” said Pallavi Suresh, executive director – emerging brands at NIQ India. She added that these varied channel preferences across business sizes signal a broader retail shift in India and underscore the critical role of omnichannel strategies.

Continue Exploring: Good Glamm co-founder Naiyya Saggi initiates entry into consumer electronics

Further, the report noted that convenience stores have seen high penetration in India at 48%, compared to the global average of 18%. Large companies are leveraging this channel the most (58%), followed by medium-sized companies (54%). The report stated that while traditional channels remain important for large enterprises, online and convenience stores now dominate the landscape for small and medium businesses.

Ready-to-eat products tops with 52% surge

According to NIQ’s market measurement, the fastest-growing categories in 2024 till September are ready-to-eat products with a 52% increase, salty snacks and refined edible oils both growing by 41%, biscuits witnessing a 40% rise, and packaged atta growing by 39%.

Continue Exploring: FMCG rebound expected amid urban market sluggishness: Industry Leader

Additionally, the report highlighted the impact of inflation on businesses, with 75% of large businesses, 67% of medium-sized ones, and 66% of small businesses facing pricing pressures. To combat inflation, businesses are adopting various strategies, including diversifying distribution channels, focusing on cost management, replacing materials with cost-effective alternatives, and increasing investment in distribution.

Good Glamm co-founder Naiyya Saggi initiates entry into consumer electronics

D2C

By

-

November 28, 2024