Mahashivratri Move: Swiggy Instamart Removes Non-Veg Items in 4 Cities, Delivers 40-City Mahaprasad from Kashi Vishwanath
On the occasion of Mahashivratri, Swiggy Instamart temporarily removed non-vegetarian items—including eggs, meat, and fish—from its delivery menu in select cities such as Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. While some cities saw these items return by the evening, the change sparked a debate among customers.
According to sources, the move was intended to honor religious sentiments, as Swiggy Instamart was exclusively delivering Tandool Mahaprasad Ladoos from the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple on the festival day. These sacred ladoos, usually offered at the temple, were made available for delivery across 40 cities, including regions in Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Goa, and Madhya Pradesh.
However, not everyone welcomed the decision. Several users took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express their displeasure, sharing screenshots showing the absence of non-vegetarian products on the app.
Addressing the initiative, Swiggy Instamart CEO Amitesh Jha stated, “Maha Shivratri is a time of deep devotion, and we are honored to help bring this spiritual experience to people’s homes. The Tandool Mahaprasad is deeply significant for devotees, and we wanted to make it easier for them to receive this sacred offering while ensuring its authenticity.”
While the temporary removal of non-veg items stirred mixed reactions, the quick commerce platform remained focused on its religious food delivery initiative for the festival.
Delhi High Court Slaps Amazon with $39 Million Penalty for Trademark Violation – Beverly Hills Polo Club Wins Big
An Indian court has ruled that an Amazon (AMZN.O) subsidiary must pay $39 million in damages for selling counterfeit “Beverly Hills Polo Club” (BHPC) branded apparel on its Indian marketplace, according to a court order issued on Wednesday.
Legal experts in India say this judgment is significant, as it marks one of the highest financial penalties imposed on a U.S.-based company in a trademark infringement case. The decision follows an earlier antitrust investigation that accused Amazon of favoring certain sellers on its platform—an allegation the company has denied.
The lawsuit was filed in 2020 by Lifestyle Equities, the owner of the BHPC horse logo, which claimed that Amazon’s Indian website was allowing the sale of clothing featuring a nearly identical design at lower prices. The Delhi High Court found that the infringing brand was owned by Amazon Technologies and sold directly through Amazon’s Indian platform.
Amazon’s Indian unit has denied any wrongdoing. Company representatives in both India and the U.S. did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on the ruling.
In an 85-page verdict, the Delhi High Court stated that the logo in question was “virtually indistinguishable” from the original. The ruling also pointed out that Amazon was fully aware of BHPC’s exclusive rights, given that it has faced litigation over the brand in multiple countries, including the UK. As a result, the court issued a permanent injunction preventing further infringement.
“This is possibly the largest damages award in an Indian trademark case,” said Aditya Gupta, a partner at India-based Ira Law. “The next challenge will be enforcing this ruling in the United States.”
Amazon has faced similar trademark disputes before. In 2019, Lifestyle Equities sued the company in London, leading to a ruling that Amazon had infringed UK trademarks by selling to British customers through its U.S. website. The company lost an appeal against that decision last year.
A 2021 Reuters investigation, based on internal Amazon documents, revealed that the company had deliberately copied popular products and manipulated search results to promote its own private-label brands in India.
Following the recent ruling, Praveen Khandelwal, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and secretary general of the Confederation of All India Traders, called on the Indian government to take action against Amazon’s “predatory” business practices.
“This judgment highlights the urgent need for e-commerce platforms to implement stricter trademark enforcement,” Khandelwal told Reuters.
In a separate case, India’s financial crime agency recently raided offices of several sellers operating on Amazon and Flipkart, investigating potential violations of foreign investment regulations.
Zouk Ropes in Kriti Sanon as Brand Ambassador to Fuel Growth, Eyes Bigger Share in India’s ₹5,000 Crore Handbag Market
Zouk, the direct-to-consumer lifestyle brand known for blending contemporary design with Indian craftsmanship, has brought Bollywood star Kriti Sanon on board as its brand ambassador. The partnership is a strategic move aimed at strengthening Zouk’s foothold in the handbag market while expanding its consumer reach.
“We see Kriti as the perfect fit for Zouk. Her admiration for Indian craftsmanship and her influence in the fashion space align seamlessly with our vision of creating functional yet stylish handbags,” said Pradeep Krishnakumar, Co-Founder of Zouk.
Sanon, known for her impeccable style, expressed her excitement about the collaboration. “Zouk’s designs immediately caught my attention. I love brands that have a story to tell, and Zouk does that beautifully by weaving Indian artistry into modern fashion. I’m thrilled to be part of this journey,” she said.
Founded in 2015 by IIM Ahmedabad alumni, Zouk has grown rapidly while maintaining a capital-efficient business model. The brand, which started with handbags, has now expanded into the travel segment, introducing backpacks and trolley bags to cater to the evolving needs of Indian consumers. With a customer base of over seven lakh across the country, Zouk also works with more than 1,000 artisans, reinforcing its commitment to homegrown craftsmanship.
As the brand continues to scale, Sanon’s association is expected to boost visibility and solidify Zouk’s position in the competitive fashion and accessories market.
Sharon Aggarwal’s Louvre Expands Big: Noida Gets 3,000 Sq. Ft. Showroom, Delhi NCR to Follow with 10,000 Sq. Ft. Flagship
Louvre, a rising name in luxury home furniture, has officially opened its first experience center at Great India Place Mall, Noida. With a strong focus on craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainability, the brand aims to transform how people shop for furniture by offering premium-quality products with a personalized touch.
Founded by Sharon Aggarwal, Louvre has built its reputation on designing and manufacturing high-end home furniture that seamlessly blends aesthetics with functionality. The brand’s commitment to precision engineering and cutting-edge technology ensures that every piece meets the highest standards of durability and design.
The newly launched 3,000 sq. ft. showroom in Noida offers customers an immersive experience, showcasing an extensive collection of finely crafted furniture pieces. Each product is manufactured at Louvre’s advanced facility in Kirti Nagar, Delhi, using state-of-the-art machinery and sustainable practices. The company takes pride in its ability to offer sophisticated furniture solutions at competitive prices without compromising on quality.
Beyond selling furniture, Louvre provides a range of services designed to enhance the customer experience. From expert consultations and customized solutions to professional delivery and seamless installation, the brand ensures that every aspect of the buying journey is smooth and hassle-free. Its architectural interior solutions also allow homeowners to revamp existing furniture with premium finishes, reducing the need for full replacements and minimizing environmental impact.
Louvre’s reach extends far beyond Noida, with a robust distribution network covering states from Jammu & Kashmir to Karnataka. The brand also partners with channel distributors, offering white-label manufacturing solutions to expand its footprint in the industry.
Buoyed by the success of its Noida experience center, Louvre is now setting its sights on an even bigger expansion. Plans are already in motion to launch a second and significantly larger showroom in Delhi NCR, spanning an impressive 10,000 sq. ft. In addition, the company is gearing up to open 20 more stores by the end of the year, solidifying its position as a leader in the luxury furniture market.
Prajakt Raut's Bold Call to Startups: Crack Big Problems, Chase Profitability, and Unlock Unstoppable Growth!
Prajakt Raut, renowned startup mentor and managing Partner at Caret Capital, shares exclusive insights on what truly defines a successful startup ecosystem and why founders must rethink their approach to building ventures. Known for his candid advice, Raut emphasized the importance of focusing on solving real-world problems, building sustainable business models, and maintaining profitability, rather than chasing vanity metrics or superficial growth.
Startups Must Prioritize Problem-Solving
“Startups should focus on solving real and meaningful problems,” said Raut. According to him, many entrepreneurs are lured by the glamor of launching a startup without fully understanding the issues they aim to address. This often results in unsustainable business models that struggle to deliver long-term value.
Raut believes a founder’s core priority should be deeply understanding their target market and designing solutions tailored to specific consumer needs. “Don’t build products for everyone; focus on a niche and excel there before scaling up,” he advises.
The Profitability Conundrum
Mr. Raut tried addressing the obsession with valuations over profitability, he highlighted how startups often prioritize raising funds rather than achieving break-even. “Founders should aim to build businesses that make money before chasing investments. Profitability is a better validation of a business model than external funding,” he stated.
He also noted that the startup ecosystem is maturing, with investors increasingly favoring companies demonstrating clear revenue streams and sustainable margins. “The era of growth-at-any-cost is over. Today, investors look for unit economics, cash flow management, and a founder’s ability to navigate market volatility,” he remarked.
The Role of Mentorship and Experience
He also stressed the need for startups to leverage mentorship and industry expertise. “Many founders make the mistake of isolating themselves. A good mentor can provide invaluable insights and help you avoid common pitfalls,” he shared. He also encouraged entrepreneurs to gain work experience before starting their ventures, as it equips them with practical knowledge and industry connections.
Measured Growth and Strategic Expansion
When asked about scaling businesses, Raut underscored the importance of measured growth. “Scaling too fast without a solid foundation can be disastrous. Focus on building strong operational systems, distribution channels, and customer relationships first,” he said. He also warned against over-diversification, suggesting that startups should establish themselves in their primary category before expanding into new markets or products.
A Vision for a Robust Startup Ecosystem
Raut’s broader vision includes fostering a startup ecosystem that encourages innovation, collaboration, and resilience. “India has immense potential, but we need to shift our mindset from merely copying global trends to building indigenous solutions tailored to our unique challenges,” he concluded.
With his thoughtful advice, Prajakt Raut continues to inspire entrepreneurs to build businesses that not only scale but also create lasting impact. His emphasis on solving real problems, achieving profitability, and growing strategically serves as a guiding light for the next generation of founders.
KesarCo’s Bold Bet: How Preety Agrawal & Rahul Sharma Built a ₹11 Cr Brand and Are Eyeing ₹25 Cr Next Year
KesarCo, founded in 2021 by Preety Agrawal and Rahul Sharma, has rapidly emerged as a notable name in India’s food sector. Operating as a bootstrapped venture, the brand specializes in grocery essentials and dry fruits, placing a strong emphasis on sourcing directly from farmers to ensure freshness and quality.
The company has built a seamless supply chain that oversees everything from raw material procurement to final distribution. With a network of over 5,000 farmers across the country, KesarCo maintains strict quality control at every step. It has also partnered with government agencies to guarantee consistency and reliability, ensuring that every product meets rigorous safety and quality standards before reaching consumers.
In FY 2023-24, KesarCo recorded ₹11 crore in revenue, and it has set its sights on a ₹25 crore target for the next fiscal year. To accelerate growth, the brand is gearing up to establish a physical retail presence in 2025, making its products more accessible to customers beyond online platforms. The company is also expanding its infrastructure, with plans to scale up its processing units from three to five and significantly increase its daily dispatch volume.
“Our mission is to bring naturally grown, high-quality agricultural products to consumers at fair prices, without compromising on standards,” said Agrawal.
To keep operations running efficiently as it scales, KesarCo leverages platforms like Shopify, Shiprocket, Unicommerce, Simpl, and Jira, optimizing logistics and backend workflows. With aggressive expansion plans and a strong supply chain in place, the company is poised for significant growth in the coming years.
Starbucks Cuts 1,100 Jobs Amid 2% Sales Decline—Can CEO Brian Niccol Save the Coffee Giant?
Starbucks is making major changes to its corporate structure, announcing plans to cut 1,100 corporate jobs in an effort to streamline operations and improve efficiency. CEO Brian Niccol outlined the decision in a company-wide letter on Monday, explaining that the move is intended to simplify workflows, speed up decision-making, and eliminate unnecessary complexity.
Employees affected by the layoffs will be informed by midday Tuesday, and the company is also scrapping several hundred vacant positions that were previously left unfilled. Niccol emphasized that the goal is to create a leaner, more accountable organization where teams can move faster and operate with greater clarity.
The restructuring primarily impacts Starbucks’ corporate offices, where roughly 16,000 employees work in various support roles. However, store-level positions, including baristas, warehouse staff, and roasting facility workers, will not be affected. Niccol made it clear that the company needs to cut through layers of bureaucracy that have slowed operations and decision-making.
Since taking over last year, Niccol has been focused on revitalizing Starbucks, which has struggled with slowing sales and operational inefficiencies. He has pushed for changes aimed at reducing customer wait times, improving store atmospheres, and refining the company’s menu offerings. Starbucks has also been testing new order management systems to better balance mobile, drive-thru, and in-store traffic.
The layoffs come after a difficult fiscal year for the coffee giant. Global same-store sales dropped 2% in the fiscal year ending September 29, with U.S. customers voicing frustration over higher prices and long lines. In China, where competition from low-cost rivals has intensified, Starbucks has been fighting to maintain its market share.
Niccol’s leadership has been marked by a push for efficiency and reinvention. By cutting corporate jobs and streamlining operations, he’s betting that Starbucks can regain its momentum and better position itself for long-term growth.
Flavored Milk, Frooti & Fizz: How Parle Agro’s ₹700 Cr Investment in MP Is Powering Its Beverage Empire
Parle Agro CEO Schauna Chauhan and Rasna Group Chairman Piruz Khambatta are gearing up for a scorching summer—not just in temperature, but in sales. Both industry leaders are banking on the seasonal demand surge to drive double-digit growth, buoyed by a perfect storm of high temperatures and back-to-back festivals like Holi and Ramadan.
Speaking at the Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit (MP GIS) 2025, Chauhan shared her optimism about the season ahead. “Everyone’s talking about the heat, but I’m not complaining. With the festival season lining up alongside peak summer demand, we’re expecting a strong, double-digit growth trajectory. The outlook is very positive,” she said.
Parle Agro, which has been operating in Madhya Pradesh for over 25 years, has already invested ₹650-700 crore in the state. The company’s Mandideep facility plays a crucial role in its expansion, producing household favorites like Frooti, Appy Fizz, and a growing portfolio of dairy products, including flavored milk and lassi. “Our plant in Madhya Pradesh is one of our most advanced. We’ve expanded our dairy operations significantly, and we have more products in the pipeline,” Chauhan added.
Khambatta echoed similar sentiments, attributing the strong demand forecast to an early onset of summer. “The heat is coming in fast, and for us, that means business. We’ve already started running out of stock, and we’re planning for double-digit growth. Holi, Ramadan, and the rising temperatures are all working in our favor,” he said.
With demand soaring, Rasna Group is now looking at further expansion, with Madhya Pradesh being a key focus for increased production capacity. “Scaling up is definitely on the cards, and MP is a strong contender for our next phase of growth,” Khambatta noted.
As temperatures rise, so do the stakes for India’s beverage giants, who are now racing to keep up with demand and capitalize on a summer season that promises to be hotter than ever.
Zomato Pumps ₹1,500 Cr More Into Blinkit, Taking Total Investment to ₹4,300 Cr – Can It Dominate Quick Commerce?
Zomato is doubling down on its quick commerce ambitions, pumping ₹1,500 crore into Blinkit as competition in the space heats up. This latest capital infusion, revealed in Blinkit’s recent regulatory filings, comes through a rights issue, with Zomato Limited subscribing to 7,612 equity shares. Each share, with a face value of ₹10, was issued at a steep premium of ₹19,70,171, bringing the total transaction value to ₹1,499.7 crore.
This isn’t Zomato’s first big bet on Blinkit. Just last month, the foodtech giant poured ₹500 crore into its quick commerce arm. With this latest funding round, Zomato’s total investment in Blinkit since its acquisition has surged to a massive ₹4,300 crore.
Despite the aggressive expansion, Blinkit’s financials have taken a hit. The company reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of ₹103 crore in Q3, a staggering 13-fold increase from the ₹8 crore loss in the previous quarter. The spike in losses is largely attributed to Blinkit’s rapid scale-up efforts and upfront investments.
One of Blinkit’s biggest milestones this quarter was surpassing 1,000 dark stores, adding 216 new locations in just three months. But the company isn’t stopping there. With this fresh capital, Blinkit is gunning to double its store count to 2,000 by December 2025, signaling an aggressive push to dominate India’s ultra-competitive quick commerce market.
How Nyra Kitchenware Won Over 2,00,000 Customers & Became India’s Hottest D2C Kitchen Brand
Sushank Arora, the founder and CEO of Nyra Kitchenware, has always been an entrepreneur at heart. His journey, however, wasn’t a direct path into the kitchenware industry. Before launching Nyra in 2020, he was deeply involved in various ventures, including a startup in Kanpur that eventually became redundant due to COVID-19. But business was in his blood—his family had been in the kitchenware industry for three generations.
Like many young professionals, Sushank initially wanted to carve his own path. His career took him to exciting places, from handling international media at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi to working with Doordarshan and an American multinational corporation. But his entrepreneurial spirit kept pulling him back.
In 2016, he founded Salons Nearby, an aggregator platform that connected users with top-tier salon brands like VLCC and Lakmé across 12 cities. This venture gave him valuable insights into consumer behavior, investor dynamics, and scaling a business. While the startup was successful, Sushank felt his learning curve wasn’t yet complete. It was after exiting this venture that he stumbled upon the booming D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) trend, which ultimately led him back to his roots—kitchenware.
Observing a Significant Gap in the Market
Sushank observed a gap in the market. Sitting in his family’s retail shop, he noticed that while people understood the health benefits of materials like brass and bronze, they lacked clarity on which utensils to cook, eat, and store food in. Given his deep familiarity with the industry, he realized there was an opportunity to educate consumers and build a brand that focused on both tradition and modern needs.
That’s how Nyra Kitchenware was born. The brand quickly gained traction, selling over 2 lakh (200,000) orders and becoming a top seller on Amazon. Recently, Nyra was also onboarded onto Myntra, JioMart, and Flipkart, expanding its digital footprint across major e-commerce platforms in India.
Focus on Quality, Functionality, and Trust
Sushank acknowledges that kitchenware isn’t a “sexy” business. Unlike fashion, where impulse buys are common, people don’t buy kitchen items without a clear purpose. His wife, for example, frequently buys shoes on a whim, but when it comes to utensils, purchases are need-based. This makes branding in the kitchenware space fundamentally different. Instead of glamour, it must focus on quality, functionality, and trust.
Understanding consumer behavior has been key to Nyra’s growth. Some buyers are drawn to fancy, modern innovations like triply cookware with honeycomb non-stick coatings, while others prefer the time-tested materials their ancestors used. Nyra caters to both segments by balancing tradition with innovation.
Scaling Beyond India
With strong success in the Indian market, Nyra Kitchenware is now setting its sights on expansion into other major marketplaces within India and internationally. The brand’s mission is to make high-quality, durable kitchenware accessible to consumers worldwide, blending traditional wisdom with modern functionality.
Sushank is determined to build a lasting brand, learning from past business failures like Nokia missing the smartphone revolution. He believes in staying ahead by adapting to market trends while staying true to Nyra’s core values. With India’s evolving e-commerce landscape and strong logistics networks, the brand is well-positioned for continued expansion.
For Sushank Arora, Nyra Kitchenware isn’t just a business—it’s a mission to bring knowledge and quality cookware into every home, ensuring that the traditions of the past meet the needs of the present.
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