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Bollywood Actor Malaika Arora launches restaurant chain Scarlett House

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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.

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

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Online Desk
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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

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

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Online Desk
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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.

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

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Ashutosh Dubey
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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?

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

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Ashutosh Dubey
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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.

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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.

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

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

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.

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

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

The Good Glamm Group’s co-founder Naiyya Saggi is reportedly exploring her second entrepreneurship journey with a new venture in the consumer electronics retail space.

Naiyya Saggi new exploration, know why!

Saggi had joined The Good Glamm Group as a cofounder after Mumbai-based parenting platform BabyChakra, which she founded, was acquired by the group in an equity swap deal in 2021.

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

According to Mint, citing people close to the matter, “Saggi is no longer operationally involved in running Good Glamm. Though she will continue to hold equity in the group, she will start another business.” The report added that discussions are on with some of the investors. 

Established in 2021 by Darpan Sanghvi, Priyanka Gill, and Saggi, The Good Glamm Group is a privately held company that operates in the cosmetics and personal care, media, and influencers industries.

The Good Glamm Group owns or has partnerships with several D2C brands, including Sirona, The Moms Co, Organica Harvest, St. Botanica, and Wyn Beauty, among others. Last year, Gill left the company to join early-stage venture firm Kalaari Capital.

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

Good Glamm acquires The Moms Co. 

Recently, the group completed a 100% acquisition of D2C mom and baby care brand The Moms Co. Additionally, the company had raised its stake in The Moms Co from 75% to 90% in March 2023, resulting in partial exits of Moms Co cofounders and complete exits for investors like DSG Capital and Saama Capital.

Earlier this year, the group’s chief executive of D2C vertical The Good Brands Co, Sukhleen Aneja departed from the startup. The Good Glamm Group’s financials show a net loss of INR 917 Cr in FY23, up 153% from the INR 362.5 Cr it incurred in FY22. The startup’s revenue increased 2.8X in FY23, with operating revenue standing at INR 603 Cr, up 185% year-over-year.

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FMCG rebound expected amid urban market sluggishness: Industry Leader

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Ashutosh Dubey
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FMCG rebound expected amid urban market sluggishness: Industry Leader

Marico CEO Saugata Gupta has expressed optimism about the rebound of urban consumer spending in India, despite the current slump.

Marico CEO expects growth from upcoming quarters

According to Gupta, high food prices driven by food inflation are causing a temporary dip in urban demand for packaged consumer goods. However, he expects this trend to reverse in the next one or two quarters as food inflation stabilizes.

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

“Whenever there are bouts of high food inflation, people tend to titrate or downgrade on FMCG consumption. That’s what we are witnessing but this will smoothen out soon. In a quarter or two, things should be much better with respect to urban consumption as we expect inflation to stabilise soon,” Gupta said to ET.

Gupta noted that lower and middle-income urban households are most affected by rising food costs, while higher-income consumers remain unaffected. However, Marico’s premium brands, like Plix and True Elements, continue to perform well. These brands, along with other food and personal care products, make up 21% of Marico’s revenue, up from 6% in 2020.

Top end of the market is not impacted –  Saugata Gupta, Marico

“Foods, premium personal care and digital business contribute about 21% to our top line (revenue). This part of the business was only 6% in 2020 and has been immune to any urban slowdown. The top end of the market is not impacted,” Gupta explained.

Continue Exploring: Quick commerce growth: 91% awareness among Indian users, Gen Z driving trends

According to NielsenIQ data, rural consumption of packaged goods grew 6% in the last quarter, outpacing urban growth of 2.8%. Gupta attributes this to rising rural incomes. He believes the long-term growth potential for consumer packaged goods remains strong. Marico is expanding its food and premium personal care offerings to cater to changing consumer preferences.

“In food, the runway for growth is huge because in India, the penetration of packaged food is low. Today, people want to stay healthy and look good and these are the important growth drivers in India today,” Gupta stated.

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

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Ashutosh Dubey
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Zomato taps into upcoming 'Pushpa 2' hype, offers movie tickets on District

Food tech giant Zomato is leveraging the buzz around the upcoming movie ‘Pushpa 2‘ to showcase its unique ecosystem synergies through District, its dining and entertainment bookings app.

Blinkit’s minimum cart value for movie vouchers

This move gives its quick-commerce arm Blinkit an edge over its rivals. Ahead of the film’s December 5 release, Blinkit has launched a strategic promotion in select cities and pincodes, offering movie vouchers that can be redeemed for tickets to the Allu Arjun-starrer.

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Customers can access the movie vouchers on orders that meet a minimum cart value on Blinkit. These vouchers can be redeemed during checkout on the District app once ticket bookings open. Zomato launched District earlier this month after acquiring Paytm’s ticketing business. The app works alongside Zomato’s dine-out feature, combining dining and entertainment bookings on a single platform.

Zomato’s District, edge over rival Swiggy

“Swiggy integrated BookMyShow recently but due to District, users will see more integration between Blinkit, Zomato and District between events, movies and food and grocery delivery businesses,” says Satish Meena, Founder at Datum Intelligence. The expansion into quick commerce through Blinkit and the launch of District for ‘going out’ activities reflect Zomato’s strategy to grow beyond its core food delivery business.

Continue Exploring: Oceanic Foods settles receipt with SEBI related to LODR rules

Such integrations could give Blinkit an advantage over quick-commerce rivals Zepto and Instamart. While Swiggy has previously offered pop-ups and BookMyShow collaborations for select events, it hasn’t extended these partnerships to its quick commerce platform. Blinkit’s offer includes a INR 200 voucher on purchases worth INR 999, encouraging customers to increase their cart value.

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Quick commerce growth: 91% awareness among Indian users, Gen Z driving trends

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Ashutosh Dubey
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Quick commerce growth: 91% awareness among Indian users, Gen Z driving trends

A recent study commissioned by Meta has revealed that nearly 91% of internet users in India are aware of quick commerce platforms, indicating a widespread awareness of these services. 

The study, which surveyed over 2,500 internet users between 16 and 64 years of age across India, found that the majority of active users are using these platforms on a weekly basis.

Grocery, personal care leads the segment on Q-comm

Reportedly, Gen Z is leading the adoption of quick commerce, with 87% of Gen Z respondents saying that they have discovered new products or brands via Meta platforms. Grocery and personal care products have the highest association with Quick Commerce Services, but there is also an increasing adoption of more niche categories such as hair care, skincare, and health and wellness.

Almost 57% of quick commerce users are spending more on high-demand categories like groceries, personal care items, and food delivery. Gen Z users are leading the adoption of niche categories such as wellness, sportswear, and pet supplies. “With 67% of non-awares/non-users expressing interest in using QCS in the future, Meta is well-positioned to promote QCS to these groups,” said Arun Srinivas, Director and Head (India), Ads Business, Meta.

Two Key takeaways from Meta study on Q-comm

Meanwhile, the study also found that nearly 86% of respondents said they discover new Quick Commerce brands or products via Meta platforms, which are enabled and powered by AI. Meta platforms drive higher conversion rates, having the highest click-through and purchase rates across its channels. “As we exit 2024, the two key trends that stand out in the e-commerce space are around the rise of Quick Commerce and the continued acceleration of online shopping in tier-2 and tier-3 markets,” added Srinivas.

Additionally, the study also noted that social media is the top channel for shoppers in tier-2 and tier-3 markets to find new products or brands. Nearly 30% of respondents said they have purchased a product on a quick commerce platform recommended by an influencer. Fashion, food, beauty, and mobiles are the top categories purchased online in tier-2 and tier-3 towns.

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