BigBasket Gets Rs 200 Crore Debt Injection from DBS Bank to Boost Quick Grocery Infrastructure

Quick Commerce

November 21, 2025

BigBasket, India’s leading online grocery platform, has raised Rs 200 crore in debt from Singapore-based DBS Bank, according to a recent filing with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The funds are earmarked for the expansion and upkeep of dark stores and for general corporate purposes, signaling the company’s intent to strengthen its quick-commerce infrastructure.

The company’s board has approved the issuance of 20,000 non-convertible debentures, each valued at Rs 1 lakh, with an 18-month tenure offering an annual interest rate of 8.2 percent. The move comes amid heightened competition in India’s rapid grocery delivery sector, dominated by Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, which together control roughly 80 to 85 percent of the market.

BigBasket, which pivoted from traditional slotted deliveries to a 10-minute delivery model through its BB Now service, has been actively exploring fresh funding options to maintain its operational edge. In FY25, the company’s B2C revenue fell marginally by 3 percent to Rs 7,673 crore, while losses surged to Rs 1,851 crore from Rs 1,267 crore the previous year.

The Tata Group, which acquired a majority stake in BigBasket in 2021 by buying out Alibaba’s holding, continues to oversee the platform, holding more than 65 percent. Other investors include Mirae Asset Venture and the UK’s CDC Group, now British International Investment. Reports indicate that BigBasket’s founders are gradually transitioning from day-to-day operations to mentorship roles, aligning with Tata’s long-term strategy for the platform.

Industry analysts note that while BigBasket faces stiff competition from well-funded quick-commerce rivals, investments in dark stores and infrastructure could enhance delivery efficiency and customer reach. Last month, Zepto secured $450 million in a mix of primary and secondary funding, highlighting the ongoing capital inflows in India’s fast-evolving instant grocery delivery market.

Marmite, Colman’s, Bovril Could Be Sold as Unilever Pushes Premium Personal Care Strategy

Food

SnackTeam

November 21, 2025

Unilever is exploring the sale of several iconic British food brands, including Marmite, Colman’s, and Bovril, as part of a broader strategy to focus on higher-margin beauty and wellbeing products. According to sources familiar with the discussions, the move is aimed at streamlining the company’s portfolio and accelerating its turnaround under new CEO Fernando Fernandez, who took charge in February. Pot Noodle, another historic British brand, is expected to remain with Unilever.

The potential divestment would mark one of Unilever’s most significant sales under Fernandez’s leadership. The package, which includes Marmite’s century-old yeast-based spread, Colman’s mustard, and Bovril beef extract, generates estimated revenues of around £200 million ($261 million). The brands have been part of Unilever’s portfolio for more than two decades, with production consolidated at Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, after Colman’s manufacturing moved from Norwich in 2020.

This shift aligns with industry trends, as global consumer goods giants such as Nestle and Kraft Heinz have been actively reviewing non-core assets. Nestle, for instance, is selling its water business and evaluating underperforming vitamin brands, while Kraft Heinz has been restructuring its food portfolio.

Unilever’s focus is increasingly on marketing its top-performing “power brands,” including Dove, Axe, and Hellmann’s, where margins and growth potential are higher. The company has already divested The Vegetarian Butcher to Netherlands-based Vivera and personal care brand Kate Somerville to Rare Beauty Brands earlier this year. Analysts say the sale of Marmite, Colman’s, and Bovril would be consistent with Unilever’s ongoing effort to prioritize premium, high-growth segments over traditional mass-market food products.

The potential deal comes as global food brands navigate inflationary pressures, supply chain challenges, and evolving consumer preferences. With an estimated $1 billion to $1.5 billion worth of European non-core food brands under review, Unilever’s strategy underscores its pivot toward sectors with higher profitability and growth prospects, while maintaining its focus on global brand recognition and premiumization.

Zomato Prepares Landmark Agreement That Could Return Customer Ownership To Restaurants And Shake Up India’s Food Delivery Power Balance

Quick Commerce

SnackTeam

November 21, 2025

Zomato is preparing to make one of its most talked about changes in recent years. The company is close to reaching an agreement with the National Restaurants Association of India that will allow restaurants to finally access customer information that has long been held tightly by food delivery platforms. This move has been requested for almost a decade and has often been the centre of heated conversations between restaurant owners and platform leaders.

The idea behind the shift is simple. Restaurants want to know who their customers are, what they order, how frequently they return and how they can build a direct relationship with them. For years they have argued that the delivery platforms have enjoyed an unfair advantage by keeping this information completely in house. According to the association president Sagar Daryani, the talks with Zomato have reached an advanced stage and both sides are willing to find common ground.

The association has also begun early conversations with Swiggy. Although these talks are still at a starting point, many restaurant owners believe that if Zomato opens the door, Swiggy will not want to be left behind. The restaurant community expects that this shift could reshape how loyalty, marketing and customer retention work within the food delivery market in India.

If the agreement comes through, it may encourage many restaurant brands to rethink how they engage customers. Some industry watchers believe it could even reduce the tension that has existed between restaurants and delivery platforms. For customers, the change may lead to better personal communication from their favourite eateries, more relevant offers and a smoother experience.

While the exact structure of data sharing has not been finalised, the willingness to move forward is being seen as a major step toward a healthier relationship between the two sides.

New BuyBuyCart App Bridges Kirana Stores and Quick-Commerce for Faster Grocery Access

Quick Commerce

SnackTeam

November 21, 2025

BuyBuyCart has unveiled a new mobile application, “BuyBuyCart Grocery in Minutes,” as part of its ongoing push to integrate traditional kirana stores into a technology-driven retail network. The launch reflects the company’s strategy to compete in an increasingly digital grocery ecosystem, dominated by quick-commerce platforms, while supporting the local retail infrastructure.

The app connects customers directly to nearby BuyBuyCart franchise outlets, which act both as retail stores and distribution hubs. Using geo-tagging, the platform enables hyperlocal access to inventory, ensuring rapid delivery and real-time stock management. Orders are processed at the respective outlet, giving store owners direct oversight of fulfilment and inventory levels.

Designed to mirror BuyBuyCart’s offline model, the app operates on a zero-commission and zero-delivery-fee basis, a feature aimed at enhancing participation from tier 2 and tier 3 city retailers. The platform currently supports a range of digital payment options and provides promotional codes to attract early adopters.

Looking ahead, the company plans to integrate AI-driven product recommendations, voice-assisted ordering, subscription-based grocery delivery, loyalty programs, and cashback offers to enhance user engagement. These features aim to bring traditional stores closer to modern e-commerce capabilities without the operational complexities faced by many small retailers.

“Our goal is to create a seamless bridge between local kirana stores and India’s digital-first consumers,” said Ashish Pandey, director and co-founder of BuyBuyCart. “By combining hyperlocal delivery, technology-enabled management, and a franchise-led distribution model, we’re empowering entrepreneurs while improving convenience for customers across our markets.”

Since its inception, BuyBuyCart has focused on strengthening the presence of franchise stores in key urban and semi-urban markets. The new app is expected to accelerate digital adoption, expand reach, and position the company as a key player in India’s evolving grocery landscape.

Tilaknagar Industries Targets Premium Whisky Consumers with Launch of Seven Islands Pure Malt at INR 5,200

Beverages

SnackTeam

November 21, 2025

Tilaknagar Industries has made a significant move in India’s high-growth spirits market with the launch of Seven Islands Pure Malt Whisky, marking its entry into the premium whisky segment. The company announced the rollout on Thursday, positioning the new label as a pure malt expression created from a blend of Indian and Scottish single malts.

The launch comes at a time when whisky continues to dominate India’s alcohol industry by a large margin. Data from IWSR shows whisky accounted for nearly 66 percent of total spirits consumption in the country in 2024. The momentum has continued through this year, with Indian whisky volumes rising 7 percent in the first half of 2025 to cross 130 million cases. Analysts attribute the surge to rising premiumisation, evolving consumer tastes and the increasing global recognition of Indian-made whiskies.

Amit Dahanukar, Chairman and Managing Director of Tilaknagar Industries, said the expansion into premium whisky aligns with the company’s long-term vision of strengthening its presence across the alcoholic beverages spectrum. He noted that whisky’s commanding position within India’s spirits consumption landscape made it a strategic and inevitable step for the 90-year-old company. The launch follows closely after TI’s acquisition of the Imperial Blue whisky brand earlier this year.

Seven Islands is crafted from four single malts sourced from regions spanning both India and Scotland. The malts come from the Himalayan foothills, the Vindhyan ranges, Scotland’s Speyside and the Lowlands. The whisky undergoes ageing in a combination of tropical Indian conditions and traditional Scottish influences, shaping a layered flavour profile. It carries a natural golden hue and is characterised by notes of tropical fruit, dried nuts, French and American oak, gentle spice and light smoke. The bottle references the historic seven islands that formed Mumbai through nautical-themed design details.

Seven Islands Pure Malt Whisky is bottled at 42.8 percent ABV and will be available in a 750 ml format priced at INR 5,200 in Maharashtra.

Amul Targets Mainstream Israeli Consumers, to Launch Multiple Dairy Products Soon

Dairy

SnackTeam

November 21, 2025

India’s largest dairy cooperative Amul is preparing a significant expansion of its export portfolio in Israel, aiming to tap both the Indian diaspora and local Israeli consumers. The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, which owns the Amul brand, presently ships ghee to Israel and is now working on approvals needed to introduce a broader range of dairy products.

GCMMF Managing Director Jayen Mehta said the cooperative is in the process of securing Kosher certification. The approval is essential for food products to be sold widely in Israel, where dietary practices guided by Jewish law influence large sections of the consumer market. Mehta is part of a sixty-member Indian delegation travelling with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

Speaking to PTI, Mehta said the company sees strong potential beyond the traditional diaspora-focused demand. He added that the next phase of expansion will push products aimed at mainstream consumption. According to him, certification involves inspection of production and handling processes to ensure full compliance with standards expected for locally consumed dairy.

Mehta also pointed to growing cooperation between India and Israel in agriculture, especially in livestock management. India is the world’s largest producer of milk, but productivity per animal remains significantly below global benchmarks. He noted that Israeli expertise in precision feeding, artificial insemination and farm management systems can support Indian dairy farmers in improving yields.

The Amul leadership is exploring partnerships that can strengthen productivity in arid and semi-arid regions of India, where access to technology remains limited. Discussions during the visit are expected to include collaborations in research and training.

The possible expansion of Amul’s product basket in Israel comes at a time when demand for high-quality dairy is increasing. The cooperative believes that a wider export presence can complement domestic growth and reinforce the brand’s global positioning.

Handpickd Rolls Out Dairy Products and New App Interface, Targets Purity and Usability in India’s Fresh Market

Quick Commerce
Business

SnackTeam

November 21, 2025

Fresh commerce startup Handpickd has expanded into the dairy segment, marking its first major category addition since raising 15 million dollars in its Series A funding round in September. The company has introduced three products in its initial rollout, including fresh paneer, white butter and dahi, all positioned as preservative-free and produced in controlled short-cycle environments. The announcement was made on Thursday.

The Gurugram-based company said the move responds to increasing consumer anxiety about adulteration and processing in the fragmented dairy supply chain, which is largely dominated by unorganized vendors with limited transparency. Founder and Chief Executive Officer Anant Goel said Handpickd intends to build trust through shorter sourcing distances, rapid turnaround from production to delivery and minimal handling.

Handpickd’s retail model operates without dark stores or central storage facilities and follows a zero-stock format, meaning products are picked and moved in real time rather than held in inventory. The company said this approach aligns with the expectations of customers seeking farm-fresh products and greater clarity on origin.

Alongside the dairy launch, the startup unveiled a redesigned version of its mobile application featuring a new dual-view interface. A Grid View has been added to complement the widely recognized Spiral View format that the platform has been known for since its inception. The additional view was built to improve ease of browsing for senior shoppers and for users who are less comfortable navigating digital marketplaces. The company said early tests showed improved discovery rates and fewer drop-offs.

Handpickd has been expanding steadily in the fresh category through deeper inventory across produce and prepared foods, with specialty offerings such as ripeness selection for fruit and an assortment of microgreens. The company said its near-term plan is to build penetration through category additions and enhanced technology rather than aggressive geographic expansion.

Deepika Padukone Leads Bisleri’s Youth-Focused #DrinkItUp 2.0 Campaign

SnackTeam

November 19, 2025

Bisleri International has rolled out a new chapter of its flagship communication property with the launch of the #DrinkItUp 2.0 campaign, fronted once again by global star Deepika Padukone. The refreshed brand film positions Bisleri as more than a hydration label, presenting it instead as a symbol of youthful energy, pop-culture relevance and everyday celebration.

The film introduces a carnival-like setting where colour, music and movement come together in a high-tempo visual narrative. In the centre of the action is the brand’s instantly recognisable Bisleri truck, redesigned for the film as a music console that sets the mood for the campaign. The creative direction leans heavily into the idea of hydration as a lifestyle expression rather than a simple functional choice, aiming to resonate with younger consumers who seek personality in the products they engage with.

Jayanti Khan Chauhan, Vice-Chairperson at Bisleri International, said the new campaign reflects the brand’s evolving relationship with its audience. She noted that Bisleri wants to underline freshness, confidence and style as attributes closely tied to its identity while keeping purity and trust at the core. She added that Deepika Padukone’s association brings credibility and widespread appeal, helping the brand speak to a generation that values both authenticity and flair.

Padukone echoed this sentiment, describing the campaign as a lively representation of how today’s consumers balance wellness with self-expression. She said Bisleri continues to make hydration feel relevant, contemporary and aspirational.

Tushar Malhotra, Director of Sales and Marketing at Bisleri International, said the rollout strengthens the company’s strategy of maintaining leadership in the packaged water category. The campaign will be promoted across digital platforms, television, cinema, outdoor media and the brand’s extensive retail network, which includes nearly four lakh trade partners.

The film was developed in collaboration with Zero Fifty Media Works, Bisleri’s in-house creative division and director Uzer Khan, with GroupM overseeing partnerships.

Mumbai-Based Circle Raises Funding to Expand AI-Powered C2C Platform Across India

funding

SnackTeam

November 19, 2025

Circle, a new platform for trading pre-owned goods, has closed its pre-seed funding round led by Titan Capital, with participation from Myntra co-founder Raveen Sastry. Founded earlier this year by Ankit Misra and Chirag Kataruka, Circle aims to transform India’s resale market through a technology-driven, trust-first approach.

The platform leverages artificial intelligence to verify product listings, grade conditions, suggest pricing, and manage catalog matching, while providing doorstep logistics and secure payment flows. This model is designed to address long-standing challenges in the resale ecosystem, such as fraudulent listings, incomplete product information, and inconsistent transaction experiences.

According to Titan Capital, India’s pre-owned market, a key component of the circular economy, is estimated at around Rs 1.6 lakh crore. Despite over 70 million Indians participating in used-goods transactions each month, resale remains fragmented, with convenience and reliability lagging behind primary e-commerce. Titan Capital said Circle’s full-stack model could unlock one of the largest consumer opportunities of the decade by making transactions more transparent and trustworthy.

Since its soft launch in August, Circle has onboarded over 17,000 users in Bengaluru, with early traction in electronics, furniture, appliances, and home goods. The Rs 3.4 crore raised will primarily be used to enhance the AI verification system and deepen category coverage, particularly in electronics and household items. The startup plans to focus on these core segments over the next year, with expansion into additional cities slated for the following year.

“Our goal is simple,” said Chirag Kataruka, Co-founder of Circle. “We want buying pre-owned to feel as safe and seamless as purchasing new products, while unlocking savings for buyers and income for sellers.”

With a growing emphasis on circular economy solutions and AI-enabled verification, Circle positions itself as a credible player aiming to redefine trust and convenience in India’s resale market.

Deepinder Goyal’s Temple Wearable Tracks Cerebral Blood Flow, Targets Longevity and Wellness

Health & Wellness

SnackTeam

November 19, 2025

Deepinder Goyal, founder of food-tech giant Zomato, is testing a new frontier in health technology with a brain-flow wearable, sparking interest in a potential venture named Temple. The device, worn near the temple area of the head, measures cerebral blood flow in real time—a biomarker increasingly linked to ageing, cognition, and longevity.

Temple’s online presence is minimal, featuring only a “Coming Soon” message and the line: “The future of health starts where no one’s looking. Inside your brain.” Goyal has described the company as “small” and “cute,” noting that it is “nothing compared to Eternal,” his broader health and wellness initiative.

The wearable gained public attention when Goyal was photographed at a Feeding India event alongside Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa, wearing the device. It was later confirmed by Goyal that this experimental prototype had been in use for a year under Continue Research, his personal biological research initiative.

Continue Research recently introduced the Gravity Ageing Hypothesis, which proposes that gravity can reduce cerebral blood flow by up to 17 percent in upright posture, potentially contributing to age-related cognitive decline. The research suggests that inversions, where the head is positioned below the heart, may help restore healthy blood flow, with passive inversions possibly more effective than active techniques like yoga.

Preliminary tests by Goyal’s team showed that using inversion tables for ten minutes a day over six weeks improved average brain flow by seven percent, potentially offsetting a decade of age-related decline.

Goyal emphasized that the device is not being launched as a commercial gimmick. “Temple is going to be a small cute company, if at all. We didn’t cook up the Gravity Ageing Hypothesis to sell Temple,” he said. He added that the wearable could address a growing global need for tools that support brain health, regardless of whether the Gravity Ageing Hypothesis is fully validated.

Last month, Goyal announced a $25 million fund for Continue Research to accelerate experiments in health and wellness, signaling a long-term commitment to scientific exploration in the field.

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