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Nescafé unveils premium Espresso Concentrate Coffee for barista-style home brewing

Nescafé Espresso Concentrate Coffee
Nescafé Espresso Concentrate Coffee

In 2023, cold coffee accounted for 32% of out-of-home coffee consumption, representing one in every three cups. This sector is experiencing rapid growth within the coffee industry, witnessing a 15% surge in consumption over the past four years. Particularly, younger demographics have enthusiastically adopted the cold coffee trend. The proliferation of specialty coffee shops and cafes providing diverse cold coffee choices has significantly enhanced its accessibility and allure among consumers.

Responding to this burgeoning trend, Nescafé unveils its latest innovation: Nescafé Espresso Concentrate. Crafted to replicate the out-of-home cold coffee experience, this high-quality liquid coffee concentrate delivers barista-style personalized iced coffees directly to consumers’ homes.

Continue Exploring: Nestlé brings Nespresso to Indian market, customers to enjoy full selection by late 2024

Nescafé’s new Nescafé Espresso Concentrate offers consumers a customizable cold coffee experience right in their homes. With just a small shot of Espresso Concentrate, users can easily craft a creamy iced Latte by mixing it with milk, or opt for a robust Americano by adding it to water. For a unique twist, the concentrate can be blended with lemonade or juice for a refreshing beverage. Crafted from a blend of carefully selected coffee varieties, Nescafé ensures a premium quality product with a rich and bold taste. Best of all, no specialized equipment or barista skills are needed, making it an uncomplicated choice for coffee enthusiasts looking to enjoy barista-style drinks at home.

Philipp Navratil, head of Nestlé’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit, emphasized the significance of cold coffee among young consumers, stating, “We’ve observed that young coffee enthusiasts are increasingly drawn to cold brews. With Nescafé Espresso Concentrate, our aim is to tap into this expanding out-of-home cold coffee trend and make it accessible at home. We’re committed to delivering a premium cold coffee experience that is both high in quality and effortlessly customizable, providing consumers with a convenient and simple way to enjoy their favorite chilled beverages.”

Damien Tissot, head of Nestlé R&D for Coffee, elaborated, “At Nestlé, we’ve harnessed our cutting-edge coffee roasting and brewing technologies across various formats including roast and ground, soluble, ready-to-drink, and portioned coffee. With the development of Nescafé Espresso Concentrate, we’re extending our expertise to cater to the growing demand for delicious and convenient cold coffee experiences in the comfort of home.”

Presently, the Nescafé Espresso Concentrate is offered in two enticing flavors: Sweet Vanilla, adding a delightful touch of flavor to the coffee ritual, and Espresso Black, delivering a bold and intense coffee experience.

Continue Exploring: Nestle India sets sights on 6 Million touchpoints, focusing on volume growth

The Nescafé Espresso Concentrate is set to debut this month in selected Australian retailers, available in bottle format. Simultaneously, it will be introduced on e-commerce platforms in China, featuring single-serve pods for convenient pouring over milk, water, or juice. Expansion plans include making it accessible in markets globally over the forthcoming years.

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Pizza Hut appoints Carl Loredo as president of Pizza Hut U.S.

Carl Loredo
Carl Loredo

Juan Carlos “Carl” Loredo has been appointed as the president of Pizza Hut U.S., reporting directly to Aaron Powell, CEO of the Pizza Hut Division. Loredo will assume his new role on June 3.

Before his current appointment, Loredo held the position of global chief marketing officer at The Wendy’s Company, where he dedicated eight years of service. Prior to that, he served as the VP of Account Services at The Marketing Arm, a division of the Omnicom Media Group.

Continue Exploring: Pizza Hut ramps up expansion in India, targets younger demographic with new menu offerings

Carl has a proven track record of establishing brands for success and producing outcomes in extremely cutthroat markets. He joins Pizza Hut with this expertise. Powell stated in the release that “he is skilled at assisting brands in showing up in fresh and genuine ways at the ideal intersection of consumer need and culture.” “The Pizza Hut team is happy to welcome Carl, who brings with him a passion & focus that will drive us forward to the brand’s next era.”

“I love a good story, & Pizza Hut’s journey from a single outlet in Wichita, Kansas, to global cultural icon status is extremely inspiring,” Loredo stated in the statement. “Heading Pizza Hut’s U.S. business and contributing to the brand’s continued success for the upcoming consumer generation is an honour. To unleash the development potential of this formidable brand, I am excited to collaborate with Aaron and the leadership group, our top-tier franchisees, and our bright team members across the nation.”

Continue Exploring: Pizza Hut launches global bestseller Melts in India; marks entry into a new category in the Indian market

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Instacart teams up with Uber Eats to launch restaurant delivery service

Instacart
Instacart

Instacart, the grocery delivery service, has teamed up with Uber Eats to introduce an exciting addition for its customers: restaurant delivery.

San Francisco-based Instacart announced on Tuesday that its U.S. shoppers can expect to find a “Restaurants” section within the company’s app in the upcoming weeks. Deliveries for restaurant orders will be handled by Uber Eats drivers.

Instacart stated that its Instacart Plus members, who subscribe for $99 annually or $9.99 monthly to enjoy complimentary grocery deliveries on orders over $35, will now also receive free restaurant delivery for orders surpassing $35. Meanwhile, regular Instacart members will incur Uber Eats delivery fees.

Continue Exploring: Instacart and AWG strengthen partnership to offer same-day delivery to thousands of independent grocery stores

Instacart mentioned that it will receive an affiliate fee with each order placed through the partnership, although it refrained from disclosing any further financial specifics regarding the arrangement.

Instacart highlighted that the majority of Americans purchase groceries, whether online or in-store, at least once weekly. Additionally, over one-third of them opt for takeout or delivery at least once weekly, and Instacart aims to cater to this demand too.

This agreement will provide Instacart customers with additional advantages within the fiercely competitive grocery delivery sector. Presently, Instacart holds approximately 25% of the market share in the U.S., trailing behind Walmart, which commands 51%, as reported by YipitData, a market research firm.

Other delivery firms, such as DoorDash and Uber Eats itself, are also steadily expanding their presence within this market, albeit holding smaller portions.

Continue Exploring: Instacart Co-Founder Apoorva Mehta steps down from board post-IPO, retains largest share with $1.1 Billion fortune

Uber Eats expressed that the collaboration with Instacart would lead to an increased flow of customers to its restaurant affiliates, particularly in suburban areas, which constitute the primary user base for the grocery delivery service.

Prior to its initial public offering last summer, Instacart disclosed in its filings that it boasted 7.7 million monthly active users. However, neither company provided information regarding the overlap of customers between Instacart and Uber Eats.

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Analysts optimistic as FMCG shares surge up to 10%, hint at ‘start of a catch-up rally’

FMCG
(Representative Image)

The recent surge in shares of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies could mark the onset of sector outperformance over the next few months, experts suggest. They anticipate continued gains, even for investors entering the market at current levels.

On Tuesday, despite benchmark indices closing 0.5-0.6% lower, shares of Marico, Godrej Consumer Products, Hindustan Unilever, Dabur India, Emami, Britannia Industries, and Nestle India finished 2-10% higher.

Shrikant Chouhan, the head of equity research at Kotak Securities, noted, “For the first time in several quarters, companies are forecasting a business recovery in rural regions. This positive guidance is sparking a catch-up rally in the market.”

He also mentioned that the defensive characteristics of the sector, particularly in anticipation of the elections and the upcoming Budget, coupled with predictions of a normal monsoon, are contributing to its resilience.

Continue Exploring: Rural markets outpace urban consumption in FMCG growth for the first time in five quarters: NielsenIQ Report

Chouhan stated, “We anticipate outperformance from these companies for the next two quarters, driven by their positive guidance, expectations of a normal monsoon, and their implementation of price hikes.”

In the fiscal year 2023-24 (April-March), shares within the fast-moving consumer goods sector have lagged behind the broader market, with the Nifty FMCG index recording a gain of just under 18%, in contrast to the nearly 29% increase seen in the Nifty 50 index.

In fact, sector heavyweight HUL experienced a decrease of over 11% in its share value, while other key players such as Britannia, Emami, and Godrej Consumer Products have likewise shown weaker performance compared to benchmark indices.

Nirvi Ashar, an analyst at Religare Broking, remarked, “While markets were reaching new highs, FMCG stocks weren’t keeping pace. However, with optimistic management commentary emerging, momentum is now driving prices upward, leading to the gains we’re witnessing.”

Continue Exploring: FMCG firms eye volume growth rebound in FY25 with hopes pinned on lower inflation, favorable monsoon

She suggests a selective approach to stock picking and expresses optimism regarding shares of HUL, Godrej Consumer, and Marico. She perceives limited downside risk and foresees the potential for gains of up to 20-25% in HUL over a one-to-two-year timeframe. Additionally, she recommends purchasing Godrej Consumer during market dips.

While many anticipate these shares to outperform in the short term, Christy Mathai of Quantum AMC holds the view that the sector’s current valuation justifies caution for the long term.

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Tomato, Onion, and Potato keep thali prices up in April: Crisil Report

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Thali
(Representative Image)

The cost of home-cooked meals in April, compared with the previous year, was 8% higher due to increased prices of onions, tomatoes, and potatoes, as revealed by Crisil data released Wednesday.

In April, the price of a vegetarian thali was INR 27.4, showing a marginal increase from INR 27.3 in the preceding month.

Crisil observed that the rise in the cost of the vegetarian thali was influenced by significant increases in onion, tomato, and potato prices, with respective year-on-year surges of 41%, 40%, and 38%, attributed to a low base from the previous fiscal year. Reduced onion arrivals, stemming from a notable decline in rabi acreage, and damage to the potato crop in West Bengal were cited as primary factors driving the price escalation.

Crisil highlighted that decreased arrivals also contributed to double-digit inflation in rice and pulses during April.

Continue Exploring: Vegetarian thali prices surge 7% in March on onion, tomato, potato costs; non-veg thalis drop 7%: Crisil Report

Inflation in pulses has sustained double-digit figures for the past five months.

With vegetable inflation at 28%, food inflation remained stubbornly high at over 8% in March, despite consumer inflation dropping below 5% for the first time in five months.

Experts suggest that heatwave conditions are expected to maintain elevated vegetable prices throughout this quarter, thereby keeping food inflation at higher levels.

In April, the price of non-vegetarian thalis decreased by 4%, reaching INR 56.3.

“The dip in the price of the non-veg thali was due to 12% on-year decline in broiler prices on a high base of last fiscal,” Crisil said.

Sequentially, Crisil highlighted increased demand and rising input costs as factors leading to a 3% rise in non-vegetarian thali prices compared to March.

Continue Exploring: Erratic weather drives 10% increase in potato prices: Supply shortage felt nationwide

The Reserve Bank of India anticipates inflation to decrease to 4.5% in the fiscal year 2024-25.

The central bank is expected to maintain interest rates at its upcoming meeting next month, with experts suggesting the possibility of a rate cut only in the second half of the year.

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The Organic World sets sights on INR 100 Cr brand status by FY25 with aggressive expansion plans and private label growth

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The Organic World
The Organic World

The Organic World, a prominent grocery retailer, wrapped up the last fiscal year with earnings of INR 35 crore. Now, they’re setting their sights even higher, aiming to close this fiscal at INR 60 crore. Gaurav Manchanda, Founder and Director of Nimida Group (the parent company of The Organic World), shared that they’re determined to transform into a INR 100 crore brand by the end of FY 25.

Over the past years, the brand has consistently experienced month-on-month growth ranging from 2.5 to 5 percent. Each year concludes with an impressive 20-25 percent overall growth rate.

Manchanda remarked on the brand’s profitability, stating, “On a unit basis, we’ve achieved break-even, and our stores remain profitable. However, profitability at the head office level is still elusive.”

In order to fuel further growth, the brand intends to broaden its offline presence by entering new cities and delving deeper into its current markets.

Continue Exploring: Grocery retailer The Organic World to expand nationwide with 100 stores by 2025

Presently, the brand runs a total of 17 stores, comprising 13 company-owned and operated outlets, alongside 4 franchise stores. In the current fiscal year, it aims to inaugurate an additional 10 company-owned and operated stores, alongside 25 franchise stores.

“Our objective is to launch 100 stores within the next 18 months. We’re seeing significant interest from cities such as Hyderabad, with Chennai and Bengaluru close behind. Initially, our focus will be on these three cities, before gradually expanding into others like Coimbatore and Mysore,” he explained.

“Ultimately, our aim is to venture into metropolitan areas such as Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Delhi, and Gurgaon by 2026. However, at present, due to supply chain limitations, our focus is solely on South India,” he elaborated.

Of the 100 stores the brand aims to open, it plans for 75 to be franchise-operated and 25 to be company-owned and operated.

The bootstrapped brand has no intention of fueling expansion by raising funds; instead, it plans to finance it through internal accruals.

“The CAPEX required to establish a turnkey and operational company-owned and operated store amounts to INR 60 lakh. Spanning across 1,000-2,200 sq. ft., it offers 3,500 SKUs. In contrast, the CAPEX for a turnkey and operational franchise store is INR 20 lakh. Spanning across 500-800 sq. ft., it offers 2,500 SKUs,” he elaborated.

He mentioned, “For us, a substantial portion of our business is driven by 20-30 per cent of the SKUs, such as dairy, bakery, snacking, and staples.”

Continue Exploring: The Organic World expands its vegan portfolio with exciting new offerings to meet growing demand

Currently, the brand features three private labels across distinct categories: Happy Harvest Farms provides organic staples, WellBe offers snacking options, and Osh Life attends to consumers’ homecare needs.

“Moving forward, we aim to introduce additional private labels in categories such as personal care, vegan, and gluten-free products,” he emphasized.

WellBe can also be found in around 1,000 other retail outlets, including More Retail, Lulu’s, and Nature’s Basket, as well as The Organic World stores.

“Moving forward, our course of action involves introducing WellBe into the general trade market, prioritizing smaller pack sizes. Our aim is to achieve national distribution within the next 18 to 24 months,” he explained.

Currently, private labels account for 55 percent of the brand’s sales. Looking ahead, the brand aims to elevate the contribution of private labels to 65-70 percent.

Presently, offline retail accounts for 90 percent of the brand’s revenue, with the remaining 10 percent generated from online retail.

“We aim to achieve an 80/20 split soon by boosting our average basket size. Additionally, we will introduce our products on quick commerce platforms,” he emphasized.

The brand’s average basket size is INR 960.

Continue Exploring: The Organic World expands into sustainable personal care and hygiene market, unveils six innovative categories for Indian consumers

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Wahter achieves remarkable milestone, sells 2 Lac water bottles in Delhi-NCR within first month of launch

Wahter
Wahter

Wahter, the advertising and packaged drinking water brand from India, has made an impressive mark in just one month since its launch, selling 2 lac in the Delhi-NCR region. This achievement highlights Wahter’s dedication to transforming the advertising sector while also tackling the urgent issue of providing clean and affordable drinking water throughout India.

With its unique business model offering bottled drinking water at just INR 1 and INR 2, Wahter has swiftly captured the spotlight for its innovative approach. The market’s response to Wahter’s affordable bottled drinking water has been overwhelmingly positive, with exceptional sales performance and enthusiastic consumer feedback. Wahter is refilling its carts and strollers almost twice daily at every location, underscoring the high demand and popularity of the product. Moreover, consumers are excited to see their favorite brands featured on the bottles, adding to the allure of Wahter’s offerings.

Continue Exploring: At just INR 1 per bottle, Wahter shakes up India’s bottled water industry with game-changing approach

Wahter’s revenue model, driven by advertising, profoundly shapes brand preferences by providing economical advertising solutions with broad outreach. Unlike conventional advertising platforms, Wahter’s approach allows for precise targeting of marketing efforts, ensuring brands reach specific demographics and geographical areas accurately. Furthermore, Wahter grants access to prime high-traffic locations such as India Gate and Kartavya Path, typically inaccessible through conventional advertising channels. By leveraging Wahter’s bottles as mobile billboards, brands can benefit from sustained visibility as consumers carry the bottles during their daily routines.

Amitt Nenwani, Co-Founder of Wahter, stated, “Wahter’s ambition is to become the leading advertising medium for brands across all sectors. Over the next five years, our objective is to position Wahter as the preferred advertising platform for the top 100 brands, providing unmatched visibility and engagement opportunities to advertisers. Furthermore, consumers are keen to see their favorite brands showcased on our bottles.”

Continue Exploring: Wahter revolutionizes access to clean water in NCR with exclusive carts

As per Wahter, their collaboration with the Shoobhi Foundation (BoAt) demonstrated the platform’s efficacy by delivering the highest ROI in the industry. They achieved an ROI of approximately 18%, garnering over 12,000 scans from merely 65,000 bottles. Their campaign reached over 5 million viewers in Delhi-NCR, including demographics typically ignored by traditional advertising methods.

Looking ahead, Wahter aspires to expand its reach and impact by partnering with top brands across industries and becoming the go-to platform for advertising needs. The company remains dedicated to its core values of affordability, sustainability, and accessibility, shaping the future of advertising in India and beyond.

Continue Exploring: Wahter and Scrapbuddy join forces to recycle 10 Million PET bottles in Delhi-NCR 

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Kalamandir Jewellers appoints Shruti Haasan as its brand ambassador

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Shruti Haasan
Shruti Haasan

Kalamandir Jewellers has enlisted actress Shruti Haasan as its brand ambassador, marking a significant collaboration. Renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and expansive showroom network across various cities, Kalamandir Jewellers stands out as a prominent jewellery retailer in India.

Milan Shah, Director of Kalamandir Jewellers, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, “Welcoming Shruti Haasan, a beloved actress and a fashion influencer admired by fans worldwide, to our Kalamandir family fills us with joy. Her exceptional talent, impeccable style, and graceful demeanor perfectly resonate with the ethos of our brand, underscoring our dedication to elegance and heritage. I firmly believe that partnering with Shruti will not only captivate our customers but also craft unforgettable moments for them.”

Continue Exploring: Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan joins QUE eyewear as investor and brand ambassador

In response to the collaboration, Ms. Haasan expressed her delight, stating, “Embarking on this exciting journey with Kalamandir Jewellers fills me with joy. I strongly resonate with the brand’s emphasis on elegance and individuality. Being one of the most esteemed jewelry retail chains in the nation, partnering with them enables me to endorse these principles and encourage others to celebrate their distinct beauty.”

Teaming up with Shruti Haasan, the daughter of renowned actor Kamal Haasan and actress Sarika Thakur, will empower Kalamandir Jewellers to cultivate deeper consumer trust and foster stronger brand loyalty, enhancing its legacy spanning over 37 years.

From its humble beginnings in a 200 sq ft store in Kosamba, Surat district, Kalamandir has expanded significantly, establishing a robust retail footprint with showrooms in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vapi, Bharuch, and Kosamba, as well as at airports in Surat, Chennai, Varanasi, Udaipur, and Vadodara. Moreover, it has introduced renowned national jewellery brands such as Rishta, Kingly, Indo-Italia, Purusham, Platinum, and Sajdhaj ke.

Continue Exploring: Bengaluru-based jewellery marketplace Eternz secures $1.15M pre-seed funding led by Kae Capital

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Tata CLiQ expands pre-owned luxury offerings with Ziniosa partnership

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Tata CLiQ
Tata CLiQ

Tata CLiQ, the leading luxury lifestyle platform in India, has broadened its pre-owned category by partnering with Ziniosa. This latest addition enhances the platform’s offerings, which now include Pre-Owned Timeless Icons such as luxury handbags from top global brands.

With the vision of making distinctive and rare pre-owned items readily accessible to customers nationwide, the platform is set to team up with diverse partners to offer products spanning various categories. Through the inclusion of Ziniosa, the digital store will grant customers the chance to browse and purchase pre-owned luxury handbags from top-tier brands.

Continue Exploring: India’s luxury market surges as affluent buyers propel growth

“We’re excited to expand our range of Pre-Owned Timeless Icons by welcoming Ziniosa to the platform. This launch not only enriches our selection but also underscores our dedication to sustainability and ethical fashion. By considering pre-owned luxury, customers can enjoy exquisite designer bags while also supporting ecologically sustainable shopping practices. The positive response we’ve received for this category on the platform motivates us to expand and diversify our offerings further, aligning with the evolving needs of our customers as we remain at the forefront of pre-owned luxury,” stated Gopal Asthana, CEO of Tata CLiQ.

Ziniosa distinguishes itself through its dedication to eco-friendly alternatives and making luxury fashion accessible to all. As India’s pre-owned luxury market gains momentum, it leads the charge in reshaping consumers’ perceptions of sustainable fashion.

“We’re thrilled to introduce Ziniosa on Tata CLiQ Luxury. The global demand for pre-owned luxury handbags is substantial, and it’s steadily rising in India. Through this collaboration, we’re extending our reach, ensuring our wide range of pre-owned luxury handbags is accessible to people nationwide,” remarked Varun Ramani, Co-founder of Ziniosa. Adding to this sentiment, Ashri Jaiswal, Co-founder of Ziniosa, emphasized, “Customer satisfaction is paramount at Ziniosa. Each product undergoes rigorous quality and authentication checks before listing, and we provide an authenticity certificate with every order. We eagerly anticipate a fruitful partnership.”

Ziniosa brings forth an essence of refinement and sustainability by showcasing timeless designer bags crafted by the world’s most coveted luxury brands.

Continue Exploring: Swedish lifestyle brand Gaston Luga enters Indian market, teams up with Maison ID8 Brands for expansion

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United Breweries’ Q4 FY24 net profit surges five-fold to INR 80.15 Cr

United Breweries
United Breweries

United Breweries Ltd, a renowned beer manufacturer, has reported a surge in net profit to INR 80.15 crore for the January-March quarter of 2023-24, marking a more than five-fold increase from the corresponding period last year. This performance contrasts with the net profit of INR 13.05 crore reported during the April-March quarter of 2022-23, as stated in an exchange filing.

Revenue from operations increased by 17 percent to INR 4,788.68 crore in the final quarter of FY24, compared to INR 4,081.01 crore in the same quarter of the previous year.

Total expenses climbed to INR 4,705.38 crore in the quarter under review, up from INR 4,079.32 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The net profit for the complete fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2024, increased by 33 percent to INR 412.59 crore, compared to INR 308.10 crore in the preceding year.

Continue Exploring: United Breweries reports INR 85.34 Crore net profit in Q3 FY24; sees growth in premium segment

The filing stated that total income increased by 10.49 percent to INR 18,453.27 crore in FY24, compared to INR 16,700.52 crore in the previous year.

As per the filing, the company’s board also proposed a final dividend of INR 10 per share (1,000 percent) of the face value of INR 1 for the 2023-24 financial year. Subject to shareholders’ approval, the dividend is scheduled to be disbursed on or before August 30, 2024.

United Breweries shares concluded Tuesday’s trading session at Rs 2,001.75 per share on the BSE, marking a 0.96 percent increase.

“In Q4, volume surged by 10.9 percent, primarily propelled by the South and East regions,” stated United Breweries in a statement.

The premium segment experienced a 21 percent growth during the quarter, driven by robust performance of Kingfisher Ultra and Kingfisher Ultra Max, leading to continued expansion in premium volume for the company.

Continue Exploring: United Breweries unveils Heineken Silver Draught Beer, setting a new standard for crafted refreshment in India

The company asserted, “We remain committed to investing in our brands and capabilities alongside revenue management and cost-saving measures. Our capital expenditures for the year totaled INR 190 crore, primarily directed towards supply chain enhancements to accommodate future expansion.”

“Despite observing some inflationary softening starting from Q2, volatility is expected to persist. However, we maintain optimism regarding the industry’s long-term growth potential, fueled by rising disposable income, favorable demographics, and the trend towards premiumization,” it added.

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