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Funskool India expands toy range ahead of festive season

By
M Haziq Pandit
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0
Funskool toy

Funskool India, a leading player in the toy manufacturing sector, has launched a new range of toys and games in the Indian retail market, perfectly timed for the upcoming festive season. This͏͏ collection͏͏ is͏͏ designed͏͏ for͏͏ infants,͏͏ preschoolers,͏͏ and͏͏ older͏͏ children,͏͏ featuring͏͏ a͏͏ variety͏͏ of͏͏ products͏͏ across͏͏ popular͏͏ categories͏͏ like͏͏ Giggles,͏͏ Collectibles,͏͏ Board͏͏ Games,͏͏ Puzzles,͏͏ and͏͏ Fundough.

Diverse͏͏ Range͏͏ for͏͏ All͏͏ Ages:

The͏͏ new͏͏ toy͏͏ lineup͏͏ features͏͏ the͏͏ Pour͏͏ and͏͏ Play͏͏ Octopus,͏͏ Junior͏͏ Chef’s͏͏ Playset,͏͏ and͏͏ Dish͏͏ Set͏͏ from͏͏ the͏͏ Giggles͏͏ brand,͏͏ along͏͏ with͏͏ Colour͏͏ Clash͏͏ Launchers͏͏ under͏͏ Collectibles,͏͏ Country͏͏ Games͏͏ within͏͏ Board͏͏ Games,͏͏ and͏͏ Murder͏͏ Mystery͏͏ puzzles.͏͏ Additionally,͏͏ the͏͏ Fundough͏͏ brand͏͏ introduces͏͏ Sofdough͏͏ for͏͏ imaginative͏͏ play.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Toys ‘R’͏͏ Us͏͏ bets͏͏ big͏͏ on͏͏ Indian͏͏ market,͏͏ eyes͏͏ top͏͏ five͏͏ position͏͏ within͏͏ 4-5͏͏ years

R.͏͏ Jeswant,͏͏ CEO͏͏ of͏͏ Funskool͏͏ India͏͏ Ltd,͏͏ stated,͏͏ “We͏͏ are͏͏ thrilled͏͏ to͏͏ launch͏͏ our͏͏ latest͏͏ range͏͏ of͏͏ exciting͏͏ toys͏͏ and͏͏ games͏͏ just͏͏ as͏͏ the͏͏ country͏͏ prepares͏͏ for͏͏ a͏͏ series͏͏ of͏͏ festivals.͏͏ Our͏͏ R&D͏͏ team͏͏ excels͏͏ at͏͏ creating͏͏ products͏͏ that͏͏ prioritise͏͏ the͏͏ holistic͏͏ development͏͏ of͏͏ children,͏͏ and͏͏ these͏͏ new͏͏ offerings͏͏ are͏͏ so͏͏ unique͏͏ and͏͏ innovative͏͏ that͏͏ both͏͏ children͏͏ and͏͏ parents͏͏ will͏͏ adore͏͏ them.͏͏ We͏͏ aim͏͏ for͏͏ children͏͏ to͏͏ grow͏͏ with͏͏ our͏͏ brand,͏͏ with͏͏ products͏͏ suitable͏͏ for͏͏ ages͏͏ 18͏͏ months͏͏ and͏͏ up.”

Among͏͏ the͏͏ new͏͏ releases,͏͏ the͏͏ Pour͏͏ and͏͏ Play͏͏ Octopus͏͏ offers͏͏ a͏͏ delightful͏͏ bath͏͏ time͏͏ experience,͏͏ while͏͏ the͏͏ Junior͏͏ Chef’s͏͏ Playset͏͏ equips͏͏ young͏͏ chefs͏͏ for͏͏ imaginative͏͏ role͏͏ play͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ kitchen.͏͏ The͏͏ Dish͏͏ Set͏͏ features͏͏ 24͏͏ vibrant͏͏ pieces͏͏ that͏͏ encourage͏͏ fine͏͏ motor͏͏ skill͏͏ development.͏͏ For͏͏ outdoor͏͏ fun,͏͏ the͏͏ Colour͏͏ Clash͏͏ Atomic͏͏ Launcher͏͏ allows͏͏ children͏͏ to͏͏ load͏͏ rockets͏͏ with͏͏ chalk͏͏ powder͏͏ for͏͏ colorful͏͏ play.͏͏ The͏͏ Country͏͏ Games͏͏ card͏͏ set͏͏ teaches͏͏ kids͏͏ about͏͏ countries,͏͏ flags,͏͏ and͏͏ capitals,͏͏ and͏͏ the͏͏ Murder͏͏ Mystery͏͏ puzzles͏͏ present͏͏ older͏͏ children͏͏ with͏͏ intricate͏͏ 1000-piece͏͏ challenges.

Availability͏͏ and͏͏ Pricing͏͏ of͏͏ Funskool Toys:

These͏͏ toys͏͏ are͏͏ priced͏͏ from͏͏ INR͏͏ 60͏͏ to͏͏ INR͏͏ 1,649͏͏ and͏͏ are͏͏ available͏͏ at͏͏ major͏͏ toy͏͏ retailers͏͏ throughout͏͏ India,͏͏ as͏͏ well͏͏ as͏͏ online͏͏ on͏͏ e-commerce͏͏ platforms.͏͏ Funskool͏͏ India’s͏͏ new͏͏ range͏͏ aims͏͏ to͏͏ deliver͏͏ a͏͏ diverse͏͏ and͏͏ engaging͏͏ experience͏͏ for͏͏ children͏͏ while͏͏ enhancing͏͏ its͏͏ presence͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ Indian͏͏ retail͏͏ sector.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Swiggy͏͏ Instamart͏͏ partners͏͏ with͏͏ Hamleys͏͏ to͏͏ deliver͏͏ toys in͏͏ just͏͏ 10͏͏ minutes

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Merrill Pereyra steps down as Pizza Hut MD; Rohan Pewekar to take charge

By
M Haziq Pandit
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0
Merrill Pereyra Pizza Hut Rohan Pewekar

Errill Pereyra has resigned from his position as Managing Director of Pizza Hut India,͏͏ sharing͏͏ the͏͏ news͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ LinkedIn͏͏ post͏͏ on͏͏ Monday.

Rohan Pewekar Appointed͏͏ as͏͏ New͏͏ Managing͏͏ Director:

The͏͏ brand͏͏ recently͏͏ appointed͏͏ Rohan͏͏ Pewekar͏͏ as͏͏ the͏͏ new͏͏ Managing͏͏ Director,͏͏ succeeding͏͏ Pereyra.͏͏ Over͏͏ the͏͏ past͏͏ five͏͏ years,͏͏ Pereyra͏͏ has͏͏ led͏͏ Pizza͏͏ Hut’s͏͏ growth͏͏ and͏͏ expansion͏͏ across͏͏ the͏͏ subcontinent͏͏ from͏͏ its͏͏ headquarters͏͏ in͏͏ Gurgaon.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Yum!͏͏ Brands͏͏ appoints͏͏ Rohan Pewekar as͏͏ Managing͏͏ Director͏͏ for͏͏ Pizza Hut Indian͏͏ subcontinent

“I͏͏ am͏͏ confident͏͏ that͏͏ the͏͏ brand͏͏ is͏͏ in͏͏ excellent͏͏ hands͏͏ with͏͏ Rohan͏͏ Pewekar͏͏ as͏͏ the͏͏ new͏͏ Managing͏͏ Director.͏͏ His͏͏ innovation͏͏ and͏͏ passion͏͏ will͏͏ help͏͏ drive͏͏ the͏͏ brand͏͏ forward,”͏͏ Pereyra͏͏ stated͏͏ in͏͏ his͏͏ LinkedIn͏͏ post.

Prior͏͏ to͏͏ his͏͏ tenure͏͏ at͏͏ Pizza͏͏ Hut,͏͏ Pereyra͏͏ served͏͏ as͏͏ the͏͏ Executive͏͏ Director͏͏ and͏͏ CEO͏͏ of͏͏ QSR͏͏ Brands͏͏ (M)͏͏ Holdings,͏͏ a͏͏ subsidiary͏͏ of͏͏ CVC͏͏ Capital͏͏ Partners,͏͏ EPF,͏͏ and͏͏ Johor͏͏ Corporation,͏͏ which͏͏ plays͏͏ a͏͏ leading͏͏ role͏͏ in͏͏ Malaysia’s͏͏ rapidly͏͏ growing͏͏ retail͏͏ food͏͏ industry.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Pizza Hut ramps͏͏ up͏͏ expansion͏͏ in͏͏ India,͏͏ targets͏͏ younger͏͏ demographic͏͏ with͏͏ new͏͏ menu͏͏ offerings

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BharatPe integrates ONDC to offer food ordering and delivery services

By
M Haziq Pandit
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0
BharatPe ONDC

Days after rebranding its Postpe app to BharatPe, the fintech giant has integrated the government-backed Open Network For Digital Commerce (ONDC) to enable food ordering and delivery for͏͏ its͏͏ users͏͏ through͏͏ the͏͏ app.

Access͏͏ to͏͏ 1.4͏͏ Lakh͏͏ Restaurants͏͏ in͏͏ 400+͏͏ Cities:

According͏͏ to͏͏ BharatPe’s͏͏ statement,͏͏ users͏͏ will͏͏ have͏͏ access͏͏ to͏͏ over͏͏ 1.4͏͏ lakh͏͏ restaurants͏͏ across͏͏ more͏͏ than͏͏ 400͏͏ cities͏͏ listed͏͏ on͏͏ ONDC͏͏ through͏͏ the͏͏ BharatPe͏͏ app.͏͏ They͏͏ will͏͏ also͏͏ be͏͏ able͏͏ to͏͏ track͏͏ their͏͏ orders͏͏ in͏͏ real͏͏ time.

The͏͏ company͏͏ further͏͏ stated͏͏ that͏͏ the͏͏ integration͏͏ will͏͏ benefit͏͏ approximately͏͏ 15͏͏ million͏͏ customers͏͏ by͏͏ removing͏͏ the͏͏ need͏͏ to͏͏ maintain͏͏ multiple͏͏ apps͏͏ on͏͏ their͏͏ phones.

“We͏͏ are͏͏ thrilled͏͏ to͏͏ join͏͏ the͏͏ ONDC͏͏ ecosystem,͏͏ enabling͏͏ our͏͏ users͏͏ to͏͏ order͏͏ and͏͏ have͏͏ food͏͏ delivered͏͏ through͏͏ our͏͏ BharatPe͏͏ app.͏͏ This͏͏ aligns͏͏ perfectly͏͏ with͏͏ our͏͏ mission͏͏ to͏͏ support͏͏ the͏͏ growth͏͏ of͏͏ local͏͏ businesses,”͏͏ said͏͏ BharatPe͏͏ CEO͏͏ Nalin͏͏ Negi.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Suniel͏͏ Shetty-backed͏͏ WAAYU͏͏ joins͏͏ ONDC,͏͏ aims͏͏ to͏͏ boost͏͏ restaurant͏͏ orders͏͏ with͏͏ zero-commission͏͏ model

BharatPe Strengthens͏͏ Super͏͏ App͏͏ with͏͏ UPI͏͏ and͏͏ E-Commerce:

This͏͏ development͏͏ is͏͏ in͏͏ line͏͏ with͏͏ BharatPe’s͏͏ vision͏͏ to͏͏ become͏͏ a͏͏ comprehensive͏͏ one-stop͏͏ solution͏͏ for͏͏ all͏͏ services.

For͏͏ example,͏͏ a͏͏ few͏͏ days͏͏ ago,͏͏ BharatPe,͏͏ in͏͏ collaboration͏͏ with͏͏ Unity͏͏ Bank,͏͏ entered͏͏ the͏͏ consumer͏͏ payment͏͏ space͏͏ by͏͏ launching͏͏ its͏͏ UPI͏͏ third-party͏͏ application͏͏ provider͏͏ (TPAP)͏͏ service.

Following͏͏ the͏͏ rebranding͏͏ of͏͏ its͏͏ PostPe͏͏ BNPL͏͏ (Buy͏͏ Now͏͏ Pay͏͏ Later)͏͏ app͏͏ to͏͏ BharatPe,͏͏ the͏͏ company͏͏ also͏͏ launched͏͏ UPI͏͏ Lite,͏͏ enabling͏͏ customers͏͏ to͏͏ preload͏͏ an͏͏ online͏͏ wallet͏͏ and͏͏ make͏͏ transactions͏͏ up͏͏ to͏͏ INR͏͏ 500͏͏ for͏͏ both͏͏ P2P͏͏ and͏͏ P2M͏͏ payments͏͏ without͏͏ requiring͏͏ a͏͏ UPI͏͏ PIN.

Regarding͏͏ BharatPe’s͏͏ e-commerce͏͏ strategy,͏͏ the͏͏ company͏͏ has͏͏ introduced͏͏ an͏͏ e-commerce͏͏ section͏͏ where͏͏ it͏͏ currently͏͏ offers͏͏ vouchers͏͏ for͏͏ Amazon,͏͏ HealthifyMe,͏͏ ixigo,͏͏ Nykaa,͏͏ Zomato,͏͏ and͏͏ various͏͏ modern͏͏ retail͏͏ and͏͏ D2C͏͏ brands,͏͏ in͏͏ addition͏͏ to͏͏ UPI͏͏ payments.

With͏͏ this͏͏ food͏͏ ordering͏͏ and͏͏ delivery͏͏ feature,͏͏ BharatPe͏͏ further͏͏ enhances͏͏ its͏͏ Super͏͏ App͏͏ capabilities.

As͏͏ BharatPe͏͏ continues͏͏ to͏͏ expand͏͏ its͏͏ app’s͏͏ offerings,͏͏ it͏͏ also͏͏ increased͏͏ its͏͏ stake͏͏ in͏͏ its͏͏ non-banking͏͏ financial͏͏ company͏͏ (NBFC)͏͏ Trillion͏͏ Loans͏͏ last͏͏ month͏͏ with͏͏ an͏͏ investment͏͏ of͏͏ $8-9͏͏ million.͏͏ The͏͏ company͏͏ aims͏͏ to͏͏ fully͏͏ acquire͏͏ Trillion͏͏ Loans.

This͏͏ investment͏͏ came͏͏ as͏͏ BharatPe͏͏ secured͏͏ debt͏͏ funding͏͏ of͏͏ INR͏͏ 85͏͏ crore͏͏ (approximately͏͏ $10.1͏͏ million)͏͏ from͏͏ Trifecta͏͏ Venture͏͏ and͏͏ InnoVen͏͏ Capital͏͏ through͏͏ the͏͏ issuance͏͏ of͏͏ non-convertible͏͏ debentures͏͏ (NCDs).

Revenue͏͏ Grows͏͏ Despite͏͏ FY23͏͏ Loss͏͏ Expansion:

BharatPe’s͏͏ net͏͏ loss͏͏ widened͏͏ to͏͏ INR͏͏ 926.9͏͏ crore͏͏ in͏͏ FY23,͏͏ a͏͏ 12%͏͏ increase͏͏ from͏͏ INR͏͏ 828.6͏͏ crore͏͏ in͏͏ FY21.͏͏ However,͏͏ revenue͏͏ from͏͏ operations͏͏ surged͏͏ 125%,͏͏ reaching͏͏ INR͏͏ 1,028.9͏͏ crore͏͏ in͏͏ FY23,͏͏ up͏͏ from͏͏ INR͏͏ 456.8͏͏ crore͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ previous͏͏ fiscal͏͏ year.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Ordering͏͏ via͏͏ food delivery aggregators͏͏ costs͏͏ INR͏͏ 9,000-11,000͏͏ Cr͏͏ annually:͏͏ Report

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Zomato shares soar to all-time high of INR 298.05 amid broader market rally

By
M Haziq Pandit
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0
Zomato

Foodtech giant Zomato‘s shares continued͏͏ their͏͏ four-day͏͏ winning͏͏ streak,͏͏ rising͏͏ over͏͏ 2%͏͏ in͏͏ early͏͏ trading͏͏ on͏͏ September͏͏ 23͏͏ to͏͏ reach͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ all-time͏͏ high͏͏ of͏͏ INR͏͏ 298.05͏͏ each͏͏ on͏͏ the͏͏ BSE.

While͏͏ the͏͏ stock͏͏ surged͏͏ as͏͏ much͏͏ as͏͏ 2.5%͏͏ to͏͏ reach͏͏ a͏͏ lifetime͏͏ intraday͏͏ peak,͏͏ it͏͏ later͏͏ trimmed͏͏ some͏͏ gains.͏͏ By͏͏ 3:01͏͏ PM,͏͏ it͏͏ was͏͏ trading͏͏ at͏͏ INR͏͏ 294.75͏͏ on͏͏ the͏͏ BSE,͏͏ up͏͏ 1.4%͏͏ from͏͏ the͏͏ previous͏͏ close.

Market͏͏ Rally͏͏ Fuels͏͏ Stock͏͏ Surge:

The͏͏ rise͏͏ in͏͏ Zomato’s͏͏ share͏͏ prices͏͏ was͏͏ driven͏͏ by͏͏ a͏͏ rally͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ broader͏͏ market,͏͏ with͏͏ both͏͏ the͏͏ Sensex͏͏ and͏͏ Nifty͏͏ 50͏͏ reaching͏͏ their͏͏ respective͏͏ all-time͏͏ intraday͏͏ highs.

The͏͏ 30-share͏͏ BSE͏͏ Sensex͏͏ rose͏͏ over͏͏ 0.44%͏͏ to͏͏ reach͏͏ an͏͏ all-time͏͏ intraday͏͏ high͏͏ of͏͏ 84,922.72,͏͏ while͏͏ the͏͏ NSE͏͏ Nifty͏͏ 50͏͏ gained͏͏ 0.57%͏͏ to͏͏ hit͏͏ its͏͏ lifetime͏͏ intraday͏͏ peak͏͏ of͏͏ 25,936.90.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Zomato shares͏͏ hit͏͏ all-time͏͏ High͏͏ of͏͏ INR͏͏ 290.50͏͏ amid͏͏ broader͏͏ market͏͏ rally

The͏͏ record-breaking͏͏ rally͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ broader͏͏ market͏͏ followed͏͏ the͏͏ US͏͏ Federal͏͏ Reserve’s͏͏ decision͏͏ to͏͏ cut͏͏ interest͏͏ rates͏͏ by͏͏ half͏͏ a͏͏ percentage͏͏ point͏͏ for͏͏ the͏͏ first͏͏ time͏͏ in͏͏ four͏͏ years,͏͏ bringing͏͏ the͏͏ rates͏͏ down͏͏ to͏͏ approximately͏͏ 4.9%.

JP͏͏ Morgan͏͏ Raises͏͏ Target͏͏ Price͏͏ for͏͏ Zomato:

Notably,͏͏ brokerage͏͏ firm͏͏ JP͏͏ Morgan͏͏ recently͏͏ reaffirmed͏͏ its͏͏ “overweight”͏͏ rating͏͏ on͏͏ Zomato,͏͏ increasing͏͏ its͏͏ target͏͏ price͏͏ to͏͏ INR͏͏ 340͏͏ per͏͏ share͏͏ from͏͏ INR͏͏ 208.͏͏ This͏͏ suggests͏͏ an͏͏ upside͏͏ potential͏͏ of͏͏ nearly͏͏ 17%͏͏ based͏͏ on͏͏ the͏͏ stock’s͏͏ previous͏͏ close.

Shares͏͏ of͏͏ Zomato͏͏ have͏͏ surged͏͏ nearly͏͏ 140%͏͏ year-to-date,͏͏ driven͏͏ by͏͏ the͏͏ company’s͏͏ improving͏͏ profitability͏͏ and͏͏ the͏͏ introduction͏͏ of͏͏ several͏͏ appealing͏͏ features,͏͏ including͏͏ group͏͏ ordering͏͏ and͏͏ ticket͏͏ rescheduling,͏͏ among͏͏ others.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Zomato shares͏͏ surge͏͏ 7.7%͏͏ after͏͏ JP͏͏ Morgan͏͏ raises͏͏ target͏͏ price͏͏ to͏͏ INR͏͏ 340

Impressive͏͏ Q1͏͏ FY25͏͏ Financial͏͏ Performance:

Zomato’s͏͏ profit͏͏ soared͏͏ to͏͏ INR͏͏ 253͏͏ crore͏͏ in͏͏ Q1͏͏ FY25,͏͏ up͏͏ from͏͏ INR͏͏ 2͏͏ crore͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ same͏͏ quarter͏͏ last͏͏ year.͏͏ Revenue͏͏ from͏͏ operations͏͏ also͏͏ increased͏͏ by͏͏ 74%͏͏ to͏͏ INR͏͏ 4,206͏͏ crore,͏͏ compared͏͏ to͏͏ INR͏͏ 2,416͏͏ crore͏͏ in͏͏ Q1͏͏ FY24.

Conversely,͏͏ Zomato͏͏ has͏͏ been͏͏ facing͏͏ growing͏͏ pressure͏͏ from͏͏ GST͏͏ authorities͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ country.͏͏ Last͏͏ week,͏͏ the͏͏ West͏͏ Bengal͏͏ GST͏͏ authorities͏͏ issued͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ goods͏͏ and͏͏ services͏͏ tax͏͏ (GST)͏͏ demand͏͏ and͏͏ penalty͏͏ order͏͏ exceeding͏͏ INR͏͏ 17.70͏͏ crore.

That͏͏ same͏͏ month,͏͏ the͏͏ foodtech͏͏ giant͏͏ received͏͏ a͏͏ GST͏͏ notice͏͏ amounting͏͏ to͏͏ INR͏͏ 9.85͏͏ crore͏͏ from͏͏ the͏͏ Assistant͏͏ Commissioner͏͏ of͏͏ Revenue,͏͏ Government͏͏ of͏͏ West͏͏ Bengal.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Zomato’s͏͏ net͏͏ profit͏͏ jumps͏͏ multi-fold͏͏ to͏͏ INR͏͏ 253͏͏ Cr͏͏ in͏͏ Q1,͏͏ marks͏͏ fifth͏͏ consecutive͏͏ profitable͏͏ quarter

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Amazon raises commission rates for content creators ahead of festive sale

By
M Haziq Pandit
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0
Amazon

E-commerce platform Amazon has announced a rise in its standard commission rates for over 50,000 content creators across more than 20 sub-categories. The͏͏ new͏͏ structure͏͏ will͏͏ provide͏͏ creators͏͏ with͏͏ 1.5x͏͏ to͏͏ 2x͏͏ increased͏͏ earnings͏͏ across͏͏ various͏͏ product͏͏ categories,͏͏ including͏͏ popular͏͏ options͏͏ like͏͏ fashion,͏͏ beauty,͏͏ personal͏͏ care͏͏ appliances,͏͏ home͏͏ goods,͏͏ toys,͏͏ and͏͏ books.

“This͏͏ allows͏͏ creators͏͏ to͏͏ boost͏͏ their͏͏ earnings͏͏ during͏͏ the͏͏ peak͏͏ shopping͏͏ season͏͏ and͏͏ take͏͏ advantage͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ heightened͏͏ consumer͏͏ demand͏͏ during͏͏ the͏͏ Amazon͏͏ Great͏͏ Indian͏͏ Festival͏͏ (AGIF),”͏͏ the͏͏ company͏͏ stated.

The͏͏ Amazon͏͏ Great͏͏ Indian͏͏ Festival͏͏ will͏͏ begin͏͏ on͏͏ September͏͏ 27,͏͏ offering͏͏ Prime͏͏ members͏͏ 24-hour͏͏ early͏͏ access.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Flipkart,͏͏ Amazon to͏͏ kick͏͏ off͏͏ major͏͏ festive͏͏ sales͏͏ from͏͏ September͏͏ 26

Target-Linked͏͏ Incentives͏͏ Introduced͏͏ for͏͏ Creators:

In͏͏ addition͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ overall͏͏ increase͏͏ in͏͏ standard͏͏ commission͏͏ rates,͏͏ Amazon͏͏ has͏͏ also͏͏ introduced͏͏ target-linked͏͏ incentives͏͏ of͏͏ up͏͏ to͏͏ 10-15%͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ revenue͏͏ generated,͏͏ the͏͏ company͏͏ added.

As͏͏ part͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ Amazon͏͏ Live͏͏ program,͏͏ hundreds͏͏ of͏͏ creators͏͏ will͏͏ host͏͏ over͏͏ 1,500͏͏ live͏͏ streams͏͏ across͏͏ various͏͏ categories,͏͏ including͏͏ Mobiles,͏͏ Home͏͏ Appliances,͏͏ Home͏͏ Decor,͏͏ Fashion,͏͏ and͏͏ Beauty,͏͏ for͏͏ the͏͏ Amazon͏͏ Great͏͏ Indian͏͏ Festival͏͏ (AGIF),͏͏ the͏͏ company͏͏ stated.

Zahid͏͏ Khan,͏͏ Director͏͏ of͏͏ Shopping͏͏ Initiatives͏͏ for͏͏ India͏͏ and͏͏ Emerging͏͏ Markets͏͏ at͏͏ Amazon,͏͏ stated͏͏ that͏͏ this͏͏ enhanced͏͏ support͏͏ system͏͏ will͏͏ benefit͏͏ creators͏͏ while͏͏ also͏͏ providing͏͏ customers͏͏ with͏͏ a͏͏ more͏͏ engaging͏͏ and͏͏ rewarding͏͏ shopping͏͏ experience.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Amazon India͏͏ unveils͏͏ AI͏͏ chatbot͏͏ Rufus͏͏ ahead͏͏ of͏͏ Great͏͏ Indian͏͏ Festival͏͏ sale

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Kingdom of White expands with new stores in Bhubaneshwar, Indore, and Surat

By
M Haziq Pandit
-
0
Kingdom of White

Kingdom of White, India’s first all-white lifestyle brand, has unveiled the opening of three new stores in Bhubaneshwar, Indore, and Surat. This͏͏ expansion͏͏ marks͏͏ a͏͏ significant͏͏ milestone͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ brand’s͏͏ mission͏͏ to͏͏ share͏͏ its͏͏ signature͏͏ white͏͏ clothing,͏͏ emphasizing͏͏ the͏͏ elegance͏͏ and͏͏ simplicity͏͏ of͏͏ white͏͏ fashion͏͏ with͏͏ a͏͏ broader͏͏ audience.

Strategic͏͏ Locations͏͏:

The͏͏ new͏͏ stores͏͏ are͏͏ strategically͏͏ situated͏͏ in͏͏ Utkal͏͏ Galleria͏͏ Mall͏͏ (Bhubaneshwar),͏͏ C21͏͏ Mall͏͏ (Indore),͏͏ and͏͏ Ashirwad͏͏ High͏͏ Street͏͏ (Surat).͏͏ Each͏͏ location͏͏ will͏͏ feature͏͏ Kingdom͏͏ of͏͏ White’s͏͏ acclaimed͏͏ collection͏͏ of͏͏ premium͏͏ white͏͏ apparel,͏͏ including͏͏ shirts,͏͏ bottoms,͏͏ and͏͏ accessories,͏͏ all͏͏ meticulously͏͏ designed͏͏ for͏͏ style͏͏ and͏͏ comfort.

Vineet Haralalka,͏͏ CEO͏͏ of͏͏ Kingdom͏͏ of͏͏ White,͏͏ stated,͏͏ “Expanding͏͏ our͏͏ presence͏͏ to͏͏ Bhubaneshwar,͏͏ Indore,͏͏ and͏͏ Surat͏͏ is͏͏ an͏͏ exciting͏͏ milestone͏͏ for͏͏ us.͏͏ These͏͏ new͏͏ stores͏͏ reflect͏͏ our͏͏ dedication͏͏ to͏͏ sharing͏͏ the͏͏ simplicity͏͏ and͏͏ elegance͏͏ of͏͏ white͏͏ clothing͏͏ with͏͏ a͏͏ wider͏͏ audience.͏͏ We͏͏ are͏͏ excited͏͏ to͏͏ introduce͏͏ our͏͏ unique͏͏ offerings͏͏ and͏͏ provide͏͏ memorable͏͏ shopping͏͏ experiences͏͏ in͏͏ these͏͏ vibrant͏͏ cities.”

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Kingdom of White expands͏͏ its͏͏ retail͏͏ reach͏͏ with͏͏ a͏͏ new͏͏ premium͏͏ outlet͏͏ in͏͏ Pune

The͏͏ expansion͏͏ comes͏͏ as͏͏ Kingdom͏͏ of͏͏ White͏͏ continues͏͏ to͏͏ gain͏͏ popularity͏͏ for͏͏ its͏͏ premium,͏͏ sustainable,͏͏ and͏͏ versatile͏͏ styles.͏͏ The͏͏ new͏͏ stores͏͏ are͏͏ set͏͏ to͏͏ provide͏͏ customers͏͏ with͏͏ a͏͏ dynamic͏͏ shopping͏͏ experience,͏͏ showcasing͏͏ a͏͏ diverse͏͏ range͏͏ of͏͏ white͏͏ fashion͏͏ pieces͏͏ suitable͏͏ for͏͏ various͏͏ occasions,͏͏ from͏͏ casual͏͏ wear͏͏ to͏͏ elegant͏͏ ensembles.

The͏͏ brand’s͏͏ success͏͏ is͏͏ evident͏͏ in͏͏ its͏͏ expanding͏͏ online͏͏ presence͏͏ on͏͏ major͏͏ platforms͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ Ajio,͏͏ Myntra,͏͏ Flipkart,͏͏ and͏͏ Amazon.͏͏ Customers͏͏ across͏͏ India͏͏ can͏͏ now͏͏ explore͏͏ Kingdom͏͏ of͏͏ White’s͏͏ collections͏͏ both͏͏ in-store͏͏ and͏͏ online,͏͏ enhancing͏͏ accessibility͏͏ to͏͏ high-quality͏͏ white͏͏ fashion.

Kingdom͏͏ of͏͏ White͏͏ is͏͏ India’s͏͏ first͏͏ all-white͏͏ lifestyle͏͏ brand,͏͏ celebrated͏͏ for͏͏ its͏͏ timeless͏͏ and͏͏ elegant͏͏ styles͏͏ made͏͏ from͏͏ premium͏͏ fabrics.͏͏ The͏͏ brand͏͏ aims͏͏ to͏͏ make͏͏ white͏͏ a͏͏ wardrobe͏͏ essential,͏͏ providing͏͏ versatile,͏͏ high-quality͏͏ apparel͏͏ that͏͏ effortlessly͏͏ combines͏͏ simplicity͏͏ and͏͏ sophistication͏͏ for͏͏ any͏͏ occasion.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ India’s͏͏ apparel͏͏ retail͏͏ industry͏͏ to͏͏ continue͏͏ growing͏͏ with͏͏ rising͏͏ incomes͏͏ and͏͏ demand͏͏ for͏͏ affordable͏͏ fashion:͏͏ Centrum

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DeVANS boosts production capacity in Assam through strategic brewery partnership

By
M Haziq Pandit
-
0
DeVANS

DeVANS Modern Breweries, a leading player in India’s alcobev market, has expanded its retail operations nationwide through a new partnership with a prominent brewery in Assam. This͏͏ initiative͏͏ is͏͏ part͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ company’s͏͏ efforts͏͏ to͏͏ meet͏͏ rising͏͏ consumer͏͏ demand͏͏ and͏͏ builds͏͏ on͏͏ successful͏͏ collaborations͏͏ in͏͏ Arunachal͏͏ Pradesh,͏͏ Tamil͏͏ Nadu,͏͏ Jharkhand,͏͏ and͏͏ Uttar͏͏ Pradesh.͏͏ With͏͏ this͏͏ latest͏͏ agreement,͏͏ DeVANS͏͏ has͏͏ boosted͏͏ its͏͏ production͏͏ capacity͏͏ to͏͏ 190,600͏͏ KL,͏͏ allowing͏͏ for͏͏ the͏͏ annual͏͏ production͏͏ of͏͏ over͏͏ 1͏͏ million͏͏ additional͏͏ cases.

Prem Dewan,͏͏ CMD͏͏ of͏͏ DeVANS,͏͏ stated,͏͏ “Assam͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ vibrant͏͏ market͏͏ with͏͏ significant͏͏ growth͏͏ potential͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ brewing͏͏ industry.͏͏ Our͏͏ partnership͏͏ here͏͏ allows͏͏ us͏͏ to͏͏ effectively͏͏ serve͏͏ the͏͏ local͏͏ market͏͏ while͏͏ demonstrating͏͏ our͏͏ commitment͏͏ to͏͏ delivering͏͏ exceptional͏͏ quality͏͏ and͏͏ taste͏͏ to͏͏ consumers.”͏͏ He͏͏ further͏͏ emphasized͏͏ that͏͏ the͏͏ company’s͏͏ entry͏͏ into͏͏ Assam͏͏ marks͏͏ a͏͏ crucial͏͏ step͏͏ in͏͏ its͏͏ mission͏͏ to͏͏ offer͏͏ premium͏͏ beverages͏͏ throughout͏͏ India.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ DeVANS Modern Breweries boosts͏͏ production͏͏ with͏͏ new͏͏ partnership͏͏ in͏͏ Uttar͏͏ Pradesh

Product͏͏ Range͏͏ Expansion:

DeVANS,͏͏ renowned͏͏ for͏͏ its͏͏ popular͏͏ beer͏͏ brands͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ Godfather͏͏ and͏͏ Six͏͏ Fields,͏͏ is͏͏ set͏͏ to͏͏ broaden͏͏ its͏͏ product͏͏ range͏͏ with͏͏ the͏͏ launch͏͏ of͏͏ a͏͏ craft͏͏ gin͏͏ and͏͏ new͏͏ variations͏͏ of͏͏ its͏͏ single͏͏ malt͏͏ GianChand͏͏ whisky.͏͏ The͏͏ company͏͏ has͏͏ recently͏͏ ventured͏͏ into͏͏ the͏͏ premium͏͏ lager͏͏ segment,͏͏ introducing͏͏ two͏͏ unique͏͏ beers:͏͏ Six͏͏ Fields͏͏ Brute,͏͏ featuring͏͏ an͏͏ ABV͏͏ of͏͏ up͏͏ to͏͏ 8͏͏ percent,͏͏ and͏͏ Six͏͏ Fields͏͏ Pilsner,͏͏ with͏͏ an͏͏ ABV͏͏ of͏͏ up͏͏ to͏͏ 5͏͏ percent.

This͏͏ strategic͏͏ initiative͏͏ in͏͏ Assam͏͏ further͏͏ solidifies͏͏ DeVANS’͏͏ dedication͏͏ to͏͏ growth͏͏ and͏͏ innovation͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ Indian͏͏ retail͏͏ and͏͏ brewing͏͏ sectors.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ DeVANS expands͏͏ Six͏͏ Fields͏͏ beer͏͏ lineup͏͏ with͏͏ new͏͏ premium͏͏ lagers

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Amazon sees 35% sales growth in Tamil Nadu for premium products

By
M Haziq Pandit
-
0
Amazon

Tamil Nadu has seen a 35 per cent year-on-year growth, driven by strong demand for premium products, according to a company official from Amazon. Customers͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ state͏͏ are͏͏ increasingly͏͏ interested͏͏ in͏͏ high-end͏͏ consumer͏͏ electronics,͏͏ including͏͏ smartphones͏͏ priced͏͏ above͏͏ INR͏͏ 30,000͏͏ and͏͏ INR͏͏ 1͏͏ lakh,͏͏ double-door͏͏ refrigerators,͏͏ and͏͏ action͏͏ cameras,͏͏ among͏͏ other͏͏ items.

EMI͏͏ Options͏͏ Boost͏͏ Consumer͏͏ Purchases:

The͏͏ option͏͏ to͏͏ repay͏͏ purchases͏͏ through͏͏ convenient͏͏ easy-monthly-installments͏͏ (EMIs)͏͏ has͏͏ also͏͏ contributed͏͏ to͏͏ Tamil͏͏ Nadu’s͏͏ rapid͏͏ 35͏͏ per͏͏ cent͏͏ growth͏͏ rate,͏͏ said͏͏ Ranjit͏͏ Babu,͏͏ Director͏͏ of͏͏ Consumer͏͏ Electronics͏͏ at͏͏ Amazon͏͏ India.

“This͏͏ year͏͏ began͏͏ on͏͏ a͏͏ positive͏͏ note,͏͏ with͏͏ double-digit͏͏ growth͏͏ across͏͏ segments.͏͏ More͏͏ customers͏͏ are͏͏ choosing͏͏ to͏͏ shop͏͏ online.͏͏ Tamil͏͏ Nadu͏͏ has͏͏ registered͏͏ the͏͏ fastest͏͏ growth͏͏ rate͏͏ at͏͏ 35͏͏ per͏͏ cent͏͏ year-on-year,͏͏ compared͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ industry’s͏͏ single-digit͏͏ growth,”͏͏ he͏͏ said.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Amazon’s͏͏ home,͏͏ kitchen,͏͏ and͏͏ outdoors͏͏ category͏͏ sees͏͏ 25-27%͏͏ CAGR͏͏ over͏͏ three͏͏ years

Tier͏͏ II͏͏ and͏͏ III͏͏ Towns͏͏ Fuel͏͏ Expansion:

Babu͏͏ also͏͏ noted͏͏ that͏͏ the͏͏ company͏͏ has͏͏ been͏͏ seeing͏͏ strong͏͏ sales͏͏ from͏͏ Tier͏͏ II͏͏ and͏͏ III͏͏ towns͏͏ in͏͏ Tamil͏͏ Nadu.͏͏ “For͏͏ instance,͏͏ places͏͏ like͏͏ Salem,͏͏ Madurai,͏͏ and͏͏ Tiruchirappalli͏͏ are͏͏ making͏͏ significant͏͏ contributions.͏͏ We͏͏ are͏͏ serving͏͏ hundreds͏͏ of͏͏ pin͏͏ codes͏͏ across͏͏ the͏͏ state,”͏͏ he͏͏ said.

Company͏͏ officials͏͏ stated͏͏ that͏͏ Amazon͏͏ has͏͏ approximately͏͏ 16͏͏ lakh͏͏ sellers͏͏ across͏͏ India,͏͏ with͏͏ 95,000͏͏ based͏͏ in͏͏ Tamil͏͏ Nadu.

Babu͏͏ stated͏͏ that͏͏ purchases͏͏ made͏͏ through͏͏ EMI͏͏ options,͏͏ including͏͏ Amazon’s͏͏ Pay͏͏ Later,͏͏ have͏͏ been͏͏ growing͏͏ by͏͏ 45-55͏͏ per͏͏ cent͏͏ across͏͏ various͏͏ product͏͏ categories.

“There͏͏ are͏͏ numerous͏͏ ways͏͏ for͏͏ customers͏͏ to͏͏ upgrade,͏͏ and͏͏ we’re͏͏ highly͏͏ optimistic͏͏ about͏͏ premiumisation͏͏ across͏͏ categories͏͏ in͏͏ Tamil͏͏ Nadu.͏͏ Both͏͏ Tamil͏͏ Nadu͏͏ and͏͏ Chennai͏͏ have͏͏ emerged͏͏ as͏͏ key͏͏ regions͏͏ for͏͏ the͏͏ consumer͏͏ electronics͏͏ category͏͏ on͏͏ Amazon.in,”͏͏ he͏͏ said.

Upcoming͏͏ “Great͏͏ Indian͏͏ Festival”

Babu͏͏ and͏͏ other͏͏ senior͏͏ officials͏͏ were͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ city͏͏ to͏͏ announce͏͏ the͏͏ 30-day͏͏ sale͏͏ event,͏͏ “The͏͏ Great͏͏ Indian͏͏ Festival,”͏͏ set͏͏ to͏͏ kick͏͏ off͏͏ on͏͏ their͏͏ portal͏͏ from͏͏ September͏͏ 27.

“There͏͏ will͏͏ be͏͏ numerous͏͏ new͏͏ product͏͏ launches͏͏ during͏͏ the͏͏ Great͏͏ Indian͏͏ Festival,”͏͏ he͏͏ said,͏͏ adding͏͏ that͏͏ the͏͏ e-commerce͏͏ platform͏͏ has͏͏ already͏͏ seen͏͏ increased͏͏ demand͏͏ for͏͏ air͏͏ conditioners,͏͏ refrigerators,͏͏ headphones,͏͏ PC͏͏ accessories,͏͏ and͏͏ smartwatches͏͏ ahead͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ festive͏͏ season.

He͏͏ mentioned͏͏ that͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ smartphone͏͏ category,͏͏ Apple͏͏ iPhone,͏͏ Samsung,͏͏ and͏͏ OnePlus͏͏ have͏͏ been͏͏ the͏͏ most͏͏ popular͏͏ brands,͏͏ while͏͏ Sony͏͏ and͏͏ LG͏͏ were͏͏ the͏͏ top͏͏ choices͏͏ for͏͏ customers͏͏ purchasing͏͏ smart͏͏ TVs.

Babu͏͏ stated͏͏ that͏͏ the͏͏ company͏͏ has͏͏ launched͏͏ a͏͏ ‘Phone͏͏ Setup͏͏ Service,’͏͏ allowing͏͏ customers͏͏ to͏͏ receive͏͏ assistance͏͏ from͏͏ an͏͏ Amazon-appointed͏͏ professional͏͏ for͏͏ setting͏͏ up͏͏ their͏͏ smartphones,͏͏ including͏͏ installing͏͏ preferred͏͏ apps,͏͏ linking͏͏ email͏͏ addresses,͏͏ and͏͏ more.

The͏͏ “Phone͏͏ Setup͏͏ Service”͏͏ will͏͏ be͏͏ available͏͏ to͏͏ customers͏͏ for͏͏ an͏͏ additional͏͏ cost͏͏ of͏͏ INR͏͏ 120.͏͏ He͏͏ mentioned͏͏ that͏͏ this͏͏ service͏͏ will͏͏ be͏͏ expanded͏͏ to͏͏ over͏͏ 300͏͏ cities͏͏ across͏͏ India.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Amazon India͏͏ unveils͏͏ AI͏͏ chatbot͏͏ Rufus͏͏ ahead͏͏ of͏͏ Great͏͏ Indian͏͏ Festival͏͏ sale

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DGGI issues notices to food and beverage companies over trademark usage, demands INR 3,000 Cr in GST payments

By
M Haziq Pandit
-
0
food and beverage

The Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGI) has issued show cause notices to over a dozen food and beverage companies regarding͏͏ trademark͏͏ usage͏͏ by͏͏ their͏͏ franchises͏͏ and͏͏ outlets͏͏ in͏͏ states͏͏ where͏͏ they͏͏ do͏͏ not͏͏ have͏͏ registered͏͏ offices,͏͏ according͏͏ to͏͏ informed͏͏ sources.

INR͏͏ 3,000͏͏ Crore͏͏ Demand:

The͏͏ notices,͏͏ issued͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ first͏͏ week͏͏ of͏͏ August,͏͏ demand͏͏ approximately͏͏ INR͏͏ 3,000͏͏ crore͏͏ from͏͏ the͏͏ companies͏͏ for͏͏ the͏͏ period͏͏ beginning͏͏ July͏͏ 2017,͏͏ when͏͏ GST͏͏ was͏͏ introduced.͏͏ The͏͏ DGGI͏͏ states͏͏ that͏͏ franchises͏͏ and͏͏ outlets͏͏ located͏͏ outside͏͏ the͏͏ companies’͏͏ home͏͏ states͏͏ are͏͏ registered͏͏ separately͏͏ and͏͏ are͏͏ thus͏͏ obligated͏͏ to͏͏ pay͏͏ GST͏͏ on͏͏ trademark͏͏ usage.͏͏ “Tax͏͏ must͏͏ be͏͏ paid͏͏ for͏͏ the͏͏ use͏͏ of͏͏ trademark͏͏ services,”͏͏ a͏͏ senior͏͏ official͏͏ stated.

Although͏͏ the͏͏ franchise͏͏ holders͏͏ and͏͏ vendors͏͏ were͏͏ paying͏͏ fees͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ companies͏͏ for͏͏ brand͏͏ usage,͏͏ they͏͏ were͏͏ not͏͏ paying͏͏ GST͏͏ on͏͏ those͏͏ fees.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Investor͏͏ appetite͏͏ grows͏͏ for͏͏ homegrown͏͏ food and beverage startups͏͏ as͏͏ demand͏͏ skyrockets

Tax͏͏ Authorities͏͏ Classify͏͏ Brand͏͏ Use͏͏ as͏͏ Taxable͏͏ Supply:

As͏͏ per͏͏ Schedule͏͏ 1,͏͏ Entry͏͏ 2͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ Central͏͏ GST͏͏ legislation,͏͏ the͏͏ supply͏͏ of͏͏ goods͏͏ or͏͏ services͏͏ between͏͏ distinct͏͏ persons͏͏ (different͏͏ registrations͏͏ of͏͏ a͏͏ legal͏͏ entity)͏͏ is͏͏ regarded͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ taxable͏͏ supply,͏͏ even͏͏ if͏͏ provided͏͏ at͏͏ no͏͏ charge.

This͏͏ has͏͏ prompted͏͏ tax͏͏ authorities͏͏ to͏͏ classify͏͏ the͏͏ use͏͏ of͏͏ a͏͏ brand͏͏ by͏͏ a͏͏ branch͏͏ office͏͏ or͏͏ franchise͏͏ holder͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ different͏͏ state͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ service͏͏ provided͏͏ by͏͏ the͏͏ head͏͏ office.

“If͏͏ this͏͏ interpretation͏͏ is͏͏ adopted,͏͏ it͏͏ would͏͏ place͏͏ a͏͏ significant͏͏ burden͏͏ on͏͏ businesses͏͏ operating͏͏ across͏͏ multiple͏͏ jurisdictions,”͏͏ said͏͏ Saurabh͏͏ Agarwal,͏͏ a͏͏ partner͏͏ at͏͏ professional͏͏ services͏͏ network͏͏ EY.

Agarwal͏͏ added͏͏ that͏͏ it͏͏ could͏͏ also͏͏ result͏͏ in͏͏ excessive͏͏ additional͏͏ tax͏͏ costs͏͏ for͏͏ businesses͏͏ where͏͏ full͏͏ input͏͏ tax͏͏ credit͏͏ is͏͏ not͏͏ available.

The͏͏ GST͏͏ rate͏͏ is͏͏ set͏͏ at͏͏ 5%͏͏ for͏͏ non-air-conditioned͏͏ restaurants͏͏ and͏͏ 18%͏͏ for͏͏ air-conditioned͏͏ ones.͏͏ Restaurants͏͏ serving͏͏ alcoholic͏͏ beverages͏͏ are͏͏ also͏͏ subject͏͏ to͏͏ an͏͏ 18%͏͏ GST.

Experts͏͏ suggest͏͏ that͏͏ this͏͏ development͏͏ could͏͏ heighten͏͏ tax͏͏ complexities͏͏ for͏͏ the͏͏ industry͏͏ and͏͏ increase͏͏ their͏͏ tax͏͏ burden.

“The͏͏ main͏͏ issue͏͏ is͏͏ the͏͏ lack͏͏ of͏͏ a͏͏ formal͏͏ contractual͏͏ relationship͏͏ with͏͏ a͏͏ registered͏͏ place͏͏ of͏͏ business͏͏ in͏͏ another͏͏ state͏͏ for͏͏ the͏͏ supply͏͏ of͏͏ a͏͏ trademark͏͏ to͏͏ a͏͏ distinct͏͏ entity.͏͏ Without͏͏ such͏͏ a͏͏ contractual͏͏ relationship,͏͏ the͏͏ activity͏͏ is͏͏ not͏͏ subject͏͏ to͏͏ GST,”͏͏ explained͏͏ Abhishek͏͏ A͏͏ Rastogi,͏͏ founder͏͏ of͏͏ Rastogi͏͏ Chambers.

He͏͏ stated͏͏ that͏͏ there͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ clear͏͏ distinction͏͏ between͏͏ using͏͏ a͏͏ logo͏͏ for͏͏ identification͏͏ purposes͏͏ and͏͏ its͏͏ commercial͏͏ use͏͏ under͏͏ trademark͏͏ law.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Food and Beverage industry͏͏ shifts͏͏ away͏͏ from͏͏ plastic͏͏ packaging:͏͏ Tetra͏͏ Pak͏͏ study͏͏ reveals͏͏ growing͏͏ commitment͏͏ to͏͏ sustainability

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New ‘enabler’ startups emerge as quick commerce gains traction

By
M Haziq Pandit
-
0
quick commerce

A new wave of ‘enabler’ startups is reshaping India’s fast-growing quick commerce (Qcomm) ecosystem. This transformation is driven by the rapid expansion of hyperlocal startups, alongside the emergence of new companies, established e-commerce players,͏͏ and͏͏ innovative͏͏ brands͏͏ all͏͏ striving͏͏ to͏͏ reduce͏͏ delivery͏͏ times.

Investment͏͏ Opportunities͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ Growing͏͏ Sector:

Many͏͏ early-stage͏͏ venture͏͏ firms͏͏ are͏͏ actively͏͏ exploring͏͏ investment͏͏ opportunities͏͏ in͏͏ this͏͏ rapidly͏͏ growing͏͏ sector.

“There͏͏ are͏͏ certainly͏͏ overlaps͏͏ with͏͏ e-commerce,͏͏ and͏͏ some͏͏ existing͏͏ enabling͏͏ technologies͏͏ can͏͏ support͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce.͏͏ However,͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ often͏͏ needs͏͏ its͏͏ own͏͏ unique͏͏ enablers,”͏͏ said͏͏ Kunal͏͏ Bahl,͏͏ cofounder͏͏ of͏͏ Titan͏͏ Capital͏͏ and͏͏ AceVector͏͏ Group,͏͏ which͏͏ operates͏͏ Snapdeal͏͏ and͏͏ Unicommerce.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Quick commerce set͏͏ to͏͏ drive͏͏ India’s͏͏ gross͏͏ order͏͏ value͏͏ to͏͏ USD͏͏ 10͏͏ Bn͏͏ by͏͏ FY26

Emerging͏͏ Platforms͏͏ and͏͏ Market͏͏ Dynamics:

Bahl͏͏ mentioned͏͏ that͏͏ Titan͏͏ Capital͏͏ has͏͏ invested͏͏ in͏͏ Blitz,͏͏ a͏͏ startup͏͏ developing͏͏ a͏͏ third-party͏͏ dark͏͏ store͏͏ network͏͏ to͏͏ aid͏͏ brands͏͏ in͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce.͏͏ The͏͏ firm͏͏ has͏͏ also͏͏ assessed͏͏ startups͏͏ in͏͏ areas͏͏ like͏͏ solutions͏͏ enabling͏͏ order͏͏ management͏͏ across͏͏ various͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ platforms.

Gurugram-based͏͏ startup͏͏ Zippee,͏͏ which͏͏ recently͏͏ secured͏͏ funding,͏͏ facilitates͏͏ two-hour͏͏ and͏͏ same-day͏͏ deliveries͏͏ for͏͏ over͏͏ 140͏͏ established͏͏ and͏͏ new-age͏͏ brands͏͏ like͏͏ Frido,͏͏ Ultrahuman,͏͏ and͏͏ Haldiram’s.͏͏ The͏͏ company͏͏ provides͏͏ access͏͏ to͏͏ dark͏͏ stores͏͏ to͏͏ fulfil͏͏ orders͏͏ in͏͏ cities͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ New͏͏ Delhi,͏͏ Chennai,͏͏ Ludhiana,͏͏ and͏͏ Pune.

Other͏͏ emerging͏͏ platforms͏͏ are͏͏ beginning͏͏ to͏͏ cater͏͏ to͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ startups,͏͏ which͏͏ experts͏͏ believe͏͏ could͏͏ present͏͏ challenges.͏͏ Bahl͏͏ noted͏͏ that͏͏ companies͏͏ developing͏͏ solutions͏͏ for͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ players͏͏ like͏͏ Blinkit͏͏ and͏͏ Zepto͏͏ may͏͏ encounter͏͏ difficulties͏͏ due͏͏ to͏͏ their͏͏ tech-native͏͏ nature.͏͏ He͏͏ added͏͏ that͏͏ “the͏͏ real͏͏ opportunity͏͏ lies͏͏ in͏͏ creating͏͏ products͏͏ for͏͏ brands͏͏ now͏͏ handling͏͏ orders͏͏ across͏͏ multiple͏͏ distribution͏͏ channels.”

A͏͏ senior͏͏ executive͏͏ at͏͏ one͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ largest͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ platforms͏͏ stated͏͏ that͏͏ although͏͏ new͏͏ entrants͏͏ are͏͏ providing͏͏ various͏͏ services͏͏ like͏͏ Software͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ Service͏͏ (SaaS),͏͏ logistics,͏͏ and͏͏ real͏͏ estate͏͏ solutions,͏͏ the͏͏ limited͏͏ addressable͏͏ market͏͏ of͏͏ 8-9͏͏ major͏͏ companies͏͏ could͏͏ pose͏͏ a͏͏ challenge͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ future.

Nitin͏͏ Sharma,͏͏ a͏͏ partner͏͏ at͏͏ early-stage͏͏ fund͏͏ Antler,͏͏ provided͏͏ a͏͏ nuanced͏͏ perspective͏͏ on͏͏ the͏͏ rise͏͏ of͏͏ these͏͏ ventures.͏͏ “There͏͏ are͏͏ two͏͏ contrasting͏͏ angles͏͏ to͏͏ consider͏͏ in͏͏ this͏͏ space,”͏͏ he͏͏ explained.͏͏ “On͏͏ one͏͏ hand,͏͏ the͏͏ growth͏͏ of͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ may͏͏ soon͏͏ necessitate͏͏ its͏͏ own͏͏ ‘enabler’͏͏ ecosystem͏͏ of͏͏ startups.͏͏ These͏͏ startups͏͏ will͏͏ assist͏͏ large͏͏ platforms͏͏ in͏͏ scaling͏͏ further͏͏ in͏͏ areas͏͏ like͏͏ inventory͏͏ management,͏͏ dark͏͏ store͏͏ operations,͏͏ and͏͏ last-mile͏͏ logistics.”

However,͏͏ Sharma͏͏ also͏͏ recognized͏͏ potential͏͏ challenges.͏͏ “The͏͏ future͏͏ of͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ in͏͏ non-metro͏͏ and͏͏ tier͏͏ I͏͏ markets͏͏ remains͏͏ uncertain.͏͏ Furthermore,͏͏ local͏͏ kiranas͏͏ and͏͏ general͏͏ trade͏͏ stores͏͏ will͏͏ need͏͏ to͏͏ adapt͏͏ to͏͏ retain͏͏ their͏͏ more͏͏ profitable͏͏ customers.”

Take͏͏ Mumbai-based͏͏ Dava͏͏ Ninja,͏͏ which͏͏ launched͏͏ in͏͏ April͏͏ to͏͏ facilitate͏͏ 60-minute͏͏ medicine͏͏ deliveries͏͏ for͏͏ pharmacies.͏͏ Although͏͏ it͏͏ lacks͏͏ its͏͏ own͏͏ delivery͏͏ fleet,͏͏ the͏͏ startup͏͏ helps͏͏ local͏͏ pharmacies͏͏ digitise͏͏ by͏͏ offering͏͏ an͏͏ app-based͏͏ ordering͏͏ service͏͏ that͏͏ aggregates͏͏ pharmacies͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ locality͏͏ and͏͏ routes͏͏ orders͏͏ based͏͏ on͏͏ location͏͏ and͏͏ inventory͏͏ data.͏͏ Currently,͏͏ its͏͏ operations͏͏ are͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ early͏͏ stages,͏͏ partnering͏͏ with͏͏ 20͏͏ pharmacies.

It’s͏͏ important͏͏ to͏͏ note͏͏ that͏͏ companies͏͏ supporting͏͏ the͏͏ digitisation͏͏ of͏͏ kirana͏͏ stores͏͏ have͏͏ existed͏͏ since͏͏ the͏͏ pandemic.

Vaibhav͏͏ Domkundwar,͏͏ CEO͏͏ of͏͏ Better͏͏ Capital,͏͏ which͏͏ has͏͏ invested͏͏ in͏͏ startups͏͏ like͏͏ Slice,͏͏ M2P,͏͏ and͏͏ Teachmint,͏͏ stated͏͏ that͏͏ his͏͏ fund͏͏ started͏͏ exploring͏͏ opportunities͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ fast͏͏ delivery͏͏ sector͏͏ three͏͏ years͏͏ ago͏͏ with͏͏ its͏͏ investment͏͏ in͏͏ Bengaluru-based͏͏ Yulu,͏͏ a͏͏ provider͏͏ of͏͏ low-speed͏͏ electric͏͏ two-wheeler͏͏ services.

“Over͏͏ the͏͏ past͏͏ 18͏͏ months,͏͏ it͏͏ became͏͏ evident͏͏ that͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ has͏͏ significant͏͏ potential͏͏ to͏͏ thrive͏͏ in͏͏ India,͏͏ despite͏͏ its͏͏ challenges͏͏ in͏͏ many͏͏ other͏͏ global͏͏ markets.͏͏ Once͏͏ we͏͏ recognised͏͏ that͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ is͏͏ here͏͏ to͏͏ stay,͏͏ we͏͏ shifted͏͏ our͏͏ focus͏͏ to͏͏ ‘what͏͏ else͏͏ will͏͏ be͏͏ built͏͏ around͏͏ it’͏͏ and͏͏ identified͏͏ vertical͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ promising͏͏ opportunity,”͏͏ said͏͏ Domkundwar.

To͏͏ capitalise͏͏ on͏͏ the͏͏ trend,͏͏ Better͏͏ Capital͏͏ led͏͏ a͏͏ $300,000͏͏ funding͏͏ round͏͏ for͏͏ Slikk,͏͏ a͏͏ Gen͏͏ Z-focused͏͏ app͏͏ that͏͏ provides͏͏ 60-minute͏͏ clothing͏͏ delivery.

E-commerce Giants͏͏ Adapting͏͏ to͏͏ Quick Commerce:

As͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ companies͏͏ broaden͏͏ their͏͏ product͏͏ offerings͏͏ to͏͏ include͏͏ luggage,͏͏ fashion,͏͏ toys,͏͏ and͏͏ electronics,͏͏ major͏͏ e-commerce͏͏ firms͏͏ are͏͏ speeding͏͏ up͏͏ their͏͏ delivery͏͏ timelines͏͏ to͏͏ meet͏͏ changing͏͏ consumer͏͏ expectations.

For͏͏ instance,͏͏ beauty͏͏ retailer͏͏ Nykaa͏͏ has͏͏ enhanced͏͏ its͏͏ express͏͏ delivery͏͏ service͏͏ in͏͏ major͏͏ cities,͏͏ while͏͏ Amazon͏͏ is͏͏ expanding͏͏ its͏͏ same-day͏͏ delivery͏͏ network͏͏ to͏͏ expedite͏͏ orders͏͏ for͏͏ Prime͏͏ members.͏͏ Tata-owned͏͏ BigBasket͏͏ plans͏͏ to͏͏ fully͏͏ transition͏͏ to͏͏ 10–30͏͏ minute͏͏ delivery,͏͏ as͏͏ reported͏͏ in͏͏ August,͏͏ and͏͏ Flipkart͏͏ launched͏͏ its͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ service,͏͏ ‘Minutes,’͏͏ in͏͏ Bengaluru͏͏ the͏͏ same͏͏ month.

Established͏͏ e-commerce͏͏ enablers͏͏ like͏͏ Unicommerce͏͏ have͏͏ developed͏͏ capabilities͏͏ that͏͏ allow͏͏ brands͏͏ to͏͏ streamline͏͏ selling͏͏ through͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce.͏͏ Third-party͏͏ logistics͏͏ providers͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ Delhivery͏͏ and͏͏ Xpressbees͏͏ are͏͏ also͏͏ broadening͏͏ their͏͏ services͏͏ to͏͏ support͏͏ quick͏͏ commerce͏͏ startups,͏͏ as͏͏ reported͏͏ in͏͏ June.͏͏ This͏͏ trend͏͏ will͏͏ heighten͏͏ competition͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ market͏͏ for͏͏ new͏͏ entrants.

Continue͏͏ Exploring:͏͏ Quick commerce players͏͏ ramp͏͏ up͏͏ 24×7͏͏ deliveries͏͏ to͏͏ meet͏͏ festive͏͏ season͏͏ demand

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