The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has teamed up with the indigenous logistics platform Shiprocket to distribute the Prasad to devotees and seekers nationwide.
T. Koshy, MD and CEO of ONDC, an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), commented, “The presence of ISKCON’s ‘Maha Prasad’ on the ONDC network exemplifies the evolving digital commerce landscape, blending sacred traditions with contemporary convenience.”
Shiprocket has affirmed its commitment to providing a seamless and dependable delivery service, ensuring that devotees receive the Maha Prasad with the same reverence and sanctity experienced at ISKCON temples worldwide.
“In the realm of material perception, ‘Prasadam’ serves as both sustenance and remedy, silently leading us towards inner peace and contentment,” expressed Gauranga Das from ISKCON.
“The network advises to visit the Paytm and Mystore buyer apps on ONDC to place an order for Maha Prasad,” stated the network.
Established on December 31, 2021, ONDC has devised a facilitative model aimed at revolutionizing digital commerce, significantly enhancing the penetration of retail e-commerce throughout India.
During April, ONDC successfully facilitated 7.22 million transactions and onboarded over 5 lakh sellers.
Avantra by Trends, an ethnic wear brand under the vast umbrella of Reliance Retail, has inaugurated its 73rd retail outlet in Hyderabad, marking another milestone in its nationwide expansion, as announced by a company official on social media.
Situated at Aparna Neo Mall, Nallagandla, the recently unveiled store represents the seventh establishment of the brand in Hyderabad and the tenth within Telangana.
“Incredibly excited to unveil Avantra’s grand debut at Aparna Neo Mall, Nallagandla, Hyderabad. We’re committed to delivering an unparalleled shopping journey,” shared Sudhir Dnyanval, Head of Business Development at Avantra by Trends, in a post on LinkedIn.
The brand provides a wide array of products, encompassing sarees, lehengas, blouses, kurtas, dress materials, bridal collections, traditional jewelry, and accessories.
The retailer opened its 72nd store three months ago at LuLu Mall Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, following the launch of its 71st store at Phoenix Marketcity Mall, Kurla West, Mumbai.
Reliance Retail introduced Avantra by Trends in September 2021, establishing it as an exclusive concept store for sarees and women’s ethnic wear in Bengaluru.
Presently, the company operates in more than nine states, spanning Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh.
Established in 2006, Reliance Retail is an Indian retail company and a subsidiary of Reliance Industries. It offers a diverse range of products including food, grocery, jewelry, apparel, footwear, toys, home improvement items, electronics, and agricultural implements under different sub-brands. Together with other subsidiaries and affiliates of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL), it runs an integrated omni-channel network comprising over 18,836 stores.
The company possesses and manages fashion and lifestyle labels such as Reliance Trends, Trends Footwear, Reliance Jewels, Azorte, Centro, Fashion Factory, Yousta, and Ajio.
Ethnix by Raymond, a brand specializing in ethnic wear, is on a trajectory for rapid expansion, aiming to significantly boost its retail presence to 250 stores across India by the end of the fiscal year 2024-25, as stated by a senior company official.
Bidyut Bhanjdeo, the Chief Business Officer of Ethnix by Raymond, mentioned that the ethnic wear brand is targeting the launch of more than 130 stores this fiscal year. Their emphasis lies on regions with a dense presence of ethnic wear consumer brands, especially in tier 2 and 3 cities, constituting approximately 85 percent of the market.
During the previous fiscal year, the company opened 56 stores, bringing the total to 114 as of March 31st, 2024, according to a regulatory filing. Looking ahead, the main strategy for expanding the retail store network is through an asset-light franchise model.
Bhanjdeo mentioned that currently, approximately 20 percent of the stores are company-owned and company-operated, requiring significant capital expenditure. The rest are franchise-operated.
In discussing the brand’s investment strategies, he highlighted marketing, expanding the footprint, technology, and team building as the key pillars of the company’s investment focus.
He shared, “Our focus this year will be on significantly increasing investments in marketing campaigns. Cinema, being a significant medium for us, allows us to showcase brand ads on 700 screens across India.” Ethnix is also directing investments towards attracting young talent and improving its technology infrastructure.
Within the ethnic wear category, Ethnix by Raymond mostly serves the mainstream luxury market. Bhanjdeo stated that although the company intends to grow, there are no urgent plans to enter the women’s division in the next three to four years. Instead, strengthening the men’s segment and expanding into smaller markets continue to be the major priorities.
The ethnic wear market is undergoing a transition from being largely unorganized to becoming more organized.
Approximately 65% of the market is currently engaged in unorganised business activities. Nonetheless, a 15% increase in the organised sector’s share is predicted. While Ethnix’s share in this market is still in the single digits, organised companies are expected to capture half of the market by 2027, according to Bhanjdeo.
Although digital penetration in the ethnic wear segment lags behind offline sales due to the product’s nature, Ethnix maintains a strong omnichannel presence. “We’ve established a significant digital footprint through partnerships with influencers,” Bhanjdeo elaborated. Nonetheless, the core business remains centered around physical stores, with the digital strategy primarily focused on brand building rather than direct sales.
Ethnix by Raymond is aiming to double its sales every 2-3 years, with a vision of eventually running 450 stores, subject to market conditions and the impact of inflation. “Our aspiration is to sustain growth and secure a greater market share in the organized ethnic wear segment,” Bhanjdeo concluded.
MDH and Everest Spice Mixes (Representative Image)
Approximately one-third (32%) of retailers are restricting supplies of branded packaged spices suspected to contain contaminants, as reported by Kirana Club, a grocery retail networking platform with 1.8 million kirana stores in its network.
Hong Kong, Singapore, and Nepal have implemented restrictions on the sale of certain variants of spices from the MDH and Everest brands, claiming that they exceed the allowable level of ethylene oxide.
Anshul Gupta, the founder of Kirana Club, stated that despite the controversy, the overall sales of branded spices have been minimally affected.
“The issue hasn’t reached widespread awareness yet. Those who are informed tend to associate the problem with just two specific brands rather than the entire category,” Gupta said. He noted that some retailers are keeping limited stocks of the two affected brands until the situation settles.
Despite the growth of quick commerce, India’s estimated 12 million kirana, or neighborhood, stores still account for over three-fourths of annual sales of groceries, staples, and daily essentials.
Following the controversy over contaminants in spices, the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation, representing FMCG distributors, advised retailers to reduce their inventory of branded spices.
MDH and Everest did not respond to inquiries regarding retailers limiting their stocks.
Early last month, Hong Kong banned several variants of MDH and Everest spice powders. Around the same time, Singapore recalled certain Everest spice variants, citing levels of ethylene oxide exceeding permissible limits. Long-term exposure to this chemical is believed to pose a cancer risk.
Both companies refuted the allegations regarding the presence of ethylene oxide in their products.
In a statement, MDH reassured buyers and consumers that they do not utilize ethylene oxide at any stage of storing, processing, or packing their spices.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Everest asserted that their exports undergo clearance only upon receiving necessary approvals from the Spice Board of India. They emphasized that their products are both safe and of premium quality.
The spokesperson clarified that Everest’s products were not subjected to bans in either Hong Kong or Singapore. They explained that Singapore’s food safety authority referred to Hong Kong’s recall alert and requested the Singapore importer to recall and temporarily withhold the product for additional inspection. This, they emphasized, was a standard procedure and not a ban.
Meanwhile, the national food safety regulator is currently testing samples of all branded spices to identify any presence of ethylene oxide. In a related development, the Ministry of Commerce announced that the Spices Board has implemented measures to guarantee the safety and quality of Indian spice exports to Singapore and Hong Kong concerning ethylene oxide residue.
Celebrating World Bee Day on May 20th, Purabi Dairy, Assam’s largest dairy cooperative, has announced its target to sell over 4 tons of locally-produced honey this financial year.
In May of last year, the West Assam Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union Ltd (WAMUL) launched honey as part of its ‘Purabi’ brand, procured from local beekeepers in Assam. This natural honey is sourced from the Naba Milon Beekeepers and Producers Cooperative Society Ltd., Hajo (Kamrup), as part of the NDDB’s efforts to enhance honey production through cooperative initiatives in Assam. The aim is to promote sustainable beekeeping practices and advance honey production techniques in the region.
WAMUL sources the honey and markets it under the brand name Purabi Honey.
During the initial 10 months, Purabi Dairy sold over 1.2 tons of Purabi Honey, underscoring the preference for natural and locally-produced honey among consumers.
“WAMUL provided beekeeping training to our farmers, thereby establishing a new livelihood avenue for milk producers alongside our existing dairy value chain. The training initiative, coupled with the introduction of Purabi Honey, has allowed us to offer high-quality locally-produced natural honey to our customers while simultaneously boosting farmers’ earnings. It’s a mutually beneficial ecosystem for all,” stated S K Parida, General Manager of WAMUL.
“Our customers have consistently provided positive feedback, commending the rich, genuine flavor and the purity of Purabi Honey. Initially, they sampled the product by purchasing smaller packs, but now there is a growing demand for larger packs, prompting us to introduce the half-kilogram pack,” stated S M Hussain, Marketing Representative at WAMUL.
For a long time now, cinemas have offered more than just popcorn and cold drinks on their menus. Following their post-pandemic resurgence, cinemas have focused on enhancing the overall experience to entice audiences out of their homes, and it appears to be paying off. Last year, cinemas saw record attendance, with the box office surpassing INR 12,000 crore. Remarkably, in the first quarter of this year, some cinemas have reported higher revenue from food and beverage sales than from movie ticket sales.
An evening at the movies is transforming from navigating crowds to experiencing luxury. Ajay Bijli, MD of PVR INOX, shares, “At our luxury screens, food is served not by regular staff but by experts hired from the hospitality sector. I emphasize to my team the importance of delivering exceptional service to ensure moviegoers return.”
Yogesh Raizada, VP of Wave Cinemas, explains, “Integrating high-end restaurants, bars, and lounges with our screens is crucial for attracting moviegoers. They stay to socialize rather than just watch the movie and leave. This strategy has led to our food and beverage business not only thriving but also surpassing ticket sales.”
Bhuvnesh Mendiratta, COO of Miraj Cinemas, states, “Cinemas nationwide are striving to create environments where people want to linger, even if not for movies. However, the food must match the quality found outside, and the service must be impeccable.”
Exhibitors point out that cinema halls attract far more visitors than any restaurant, requiring staff to put in significantly more effort. An usher at a cinema chain notes, “People quickly forget a bad movie, but they remember bad food and avoid those places in the future. That’s why we focus on continually improving our cinema snacks without compromising on quality.”
Devang Sampat, CEO of Cinepolis India, previously mentioned, “High-end services are transforming the moviegoing experience. Cinemas now offer gourmet dishes crafted by expert chefs, which have become immensely popular with audiences.”
Ferrero Group has launched its first sugar candy, Tic Tac Chewy, at the 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo in Indianapolis, US.
Tic Tac Chewy marks Ferrero’s inaugural innovation tailored specifically for the US market, showcasing the company’s dedication to ongoing expansion. Available in two enticing variants, Fruit Adventure and Sour Adventure, each pack boasts a fusion of five vibrant fruity flavors: cherry, apple, orange, lemon, and grape.
Jim Klein, Ferrero USA’s chief customer officer, expressed, “In recent years, Ferrero has significantly bolstered its investment in North America, augmenting manufacturing and R&D capabilities, attracting top-tier talent, and fostering a culture of relentless product innovation. With captivating new offerings like Tic Tac Chewy, we are poised to sustain category growth and provide significant value to our retail collaborators.”
Tic Tac Chewy will hit the shelves starting in September at major retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, and Kroger, with nationwide availability anticipated by early 2025.
Ramsay’s Kitchen, helmed by renowned celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, has officially opened at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis in Missouri.
Located on the eighth floor, the new Ramsay’s Kitchen features a spacious layout, including a bar and lounge, a main dining room with a seasonal patio, two private dining rooms, and an outdoor RK Bar.
The restaurant can accommodate over 250 guests, offering a selection of Chef Ramsay’s signature dishes alongside new culinary creations.
Gordon Ramsay remarked, “St. Louis is an incredible foodie destination, rich with vibrant Midwest flavors and influences.”
“I’m thrilled to open my venture at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, a beautiful restaurant with stunning views of the Gateway Arch and the famous Mississippi River. It’s the ideal spot for family celebrations, date nights, and gatherings with friends.”
The menu at Ramsay’s Kitchen St. Louis features a selection of Chef Ramsay’s renowned dishes, including Beef Wellington, Crispy Skin Salmon, Fish and Chips, and Pan-Seared Scallops.
Starters include Parker Rolls, Tuna Tartare, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, and Chef Ramsay’s twist on a local favorite, STL Style Ribs.
Desserts feature British classics such as the signature Sticky Toffee Pudding and Strawberry Eton Mess.
Additionally, there are revamped variants of Vanilla Mascarpone Cheesecake and Chocolate Tart on the menu.
Alper Oztok, the general manager of Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, expressed, “The Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis team is delighted to welcome Chef Ramsay to St. Louis, and we’re eager for both locals and hotel guests to savor his internationally inspired menu.”
“Reflecting Chef Ramsay’s tireless pursuit of excellence, this restaurant delivers elevated cuisine within a refined setting. It serves as a superb addition to the hotel, injecting fresh creativity and innovation that enhances the overall guest experience.”
The restaurant’s design, envisioned by California-based AO, embraces a color palette of navy blue, sienna, and cream, incorporating decor elements that honor the local culture and landscapes of St. Louis.
The fondness for traditional sweets notably surpasses that for other dessert choices, with only 25% favoring chocolates, 10% for ice creams, and 20% for Western desserts like cakes.
“Our latest survey reveals a clear preference for traditional Indian sweets, which reflect our rich heritage & culinary traditions. While Indians like novelty, they also value familiarity. As a result, we’re focusing on classic sweets like mithai sundaes, shahi tukda, jalebi, and rabri,” explained Sanket S, co-founder of Scandalous Foods.
Additional findings from the survey reveal a shift towards healthier dessert preferences, indicating an increasing desire for options with reduced sugar content, incorporating healthier ingredients, and accommodating various dietary requirements, including vegan alternatives.
Established in August 2022, Scandalous Foods offers sweets with a shelf life of 6 months, conveniently packaged in single-serve sizes. While currently functioning as a business-to-business (B2B) enterprise, it aims to broaden its horizons by venturing into business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) markets.
Flipkart, a Walmart-owned e-commerce platform, has revamped its offerings for brands with the launch of an insights platform called IRIS.
IRIS, short for Insights and Research Intelligence System, purportedly assists homegrown direct-to-consumer (D2C) and new-age brands in gaining a deeper understanding of consumer behavior on the marketplace.
According to Flipkart, IRIS is set to furnish brands with comprehensive reports on user behavior insights, market trends, and industry-standard comparative analysis, aiding them in deciphering consumer perception of their brands.
Brands and sellers on the marketplace can utilize these reports to refine their marketing campaigns and improve customer engagement. Flipkart also asserts that data from IRIS will enable brands to expand their offline presence more efficiently.
Furthermore, the company announced the promotion of Sandeep Karwa, formerly the business head for fashion and softlines, as the new vice president leading Flipkart Ads. He assumed responsibility for the advertising vertical of the platform in January.
The e-commerce behemoth aims to capture a larger share of online ad spending from D2C brands. The company noted that retail media spending constitutes only 15%–20% of digital advertising expenditure in India, in contrast to 25%–30% in the US and 55%–60% in China.
The company claimed that digital advertising expenditure in India surged to over 25–30% in the first quarter of 2024. Despite this rapid growth, they emphasized that there is tremendous potential for further expansion.
This marks the second development this month for Flipkart, intended to strengthen its relationship with sellers. In May, the e-commerce giant revised its rate cards for sellers, removing collection and shipping charges and instead incorporating fixed and commission charges.
The debut of IRIS aligns with the company’s simultaneous plans to venture into the quick commerce vertical. The e-commerce giant has appointed Hemant Badri, Senior Vice President and Group Head of Supply Chain, as the head of the quick commerce business.
D2C brands are undoubtedly set to become a critical category for Flipkart in its quick commerce business, with IRIS expected to be extended to brands selling through this channel as well.
Regarding Flipkart IRIS, Karwa stated, “With Flipkart IRIS, our objective is to furnish brands with actionable insights regarding their business performance on Flipkart. By enabling brands to make strategic decisions supported by comprehensive data, the platform is positioned to unlock unprecedented growth opportunities for brands on the platform.”
Coincidentally, Flipkart is aiming to enhance its revenue streams and lower costs as it strives for profitability, in anticipation of a potential move towards public markets.
The company’s senior leadership has commenced internal discussions regarding relocating the company’s domicile to India. These plans are anticipated to gain momentum in the coming months as preparations for the IPO take shape.
Previously, Walmart International President and CEO Kath McLay stated that Flipkart is on a growth trajectory and the company is waiting for the opportune moment for its public debut.
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