Tata Digital Hands CEO Role to Sajith Sivanandan, Bets on His Google Payments Playbook to Counter Reliance, Amazon, Flipkart

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August 26, 2025

Image of tata digital — Tata Digital Hands CEO Role to Sajith Sivanandan, Bets on His Google Payments Playbook to Counter Reliance, Amazon, Flipkart

Tata Digital is preparing to bring in Sajith Sivanandan as its new chief executive officer, according to people familiar with the development, marking a significant leadership shift at the Tata Sons-owned ecommerce and services arm.

Sivanandan, who is currently president at Reliance Jio Mobile Digital Services, is expected to assume charge in the coming weeks. His appointment follows the exit of Naveen Tahilyani earlier this year and comes at a time when Tata Digital is reshaping its top deck and recalibrating strategy under the close watch of Tata Group chairman N Chandrasekaran, who recently took direct charge of operations amid the churn.

A seasoned technology leader, Sivanandan spent over a decade at Google, where he headed its payments business and the Next Billion Users initiative across India and Asia-Pacific. His work focused on expanding internet adoption and building digital payment ecosystems at scale, experience that Tata insiders believe will be critical as the group attempts to strengthen its position in one of India’s most competitive markets.

At Tata Digital, his mandate will be clear: sharpen the company’s play in ecommerce, quick commerce, and digital services, sectors dominated by global and domestic giants including Amazon, Walmart-owned Flipkart, and Reliance. The group has invested heavily in its Tata Neu super app, but uptake has been mixed, forcing multiple pivots and strategy resets.

The appointment is seen as an effort to bring stability and renewed focus after a series of leadership exits. For Sivanandan, the move represents a return to leading consumer-facing digital businesses, this time at the helm of one of India’s oldest conglomerates as it races to secure a meaningful share of the country’s digital economy.

Uniqlo Bets Big on India: Targets ₹3,000 Crore Sales by 2028 After Doubling Profits in FY25

Fashion

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August 26, 2025

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Image of uniqlo. — Uniqlo Bets Big on India: Targets ₹3,000 Crore Sales by 2028 After Doubling Profits in FY25

Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo has set its sights on tripling sales in India to ₹3,000 crore within the next three years, after crossing the ₹1,000-crore mark in FY25. The company, which entered India just five years ago, is now among the fastest-growing markets for parent group Fast Retailing, the world’s third-largest apparel maker.

Kenji Inoue, chief financial and operating officer of Uniqlo India, told ET that profitability is already keeping pace with the growth curve. Profit after tax more than doubled in FY25 to ₹178.4 crore, translating into a healthy 15 percent margin, while revenue jumped 44 percent year-on-year. “We would like to maintain this kind of high growth,” Inoue said.

To fuel the next phase, Uniqlo is expanding its physical footprint. The retailer currently operates 16 stores and is preparing to scale that to 30 in the near future. Store expansion is expected to be a key driver of revenue as Uniqlo deepens its presence beyond metro markets.

The company is also doubling down on local sourcing. Currently, 15 percent of its products are made in India. That figure is expected to rise to 30 percent as the brand works with domestic partners across categories, though certain products will still be imported due to raw material constraints. “We want to reach that number as early as possible,” Inoue said, while adding that sourcing will be carefully mapped to product feasibility.

India has become central to Fast Retailing’s global playbook. The Japanese giant has set an ambitious target of becoming a ¥10 trillion company, roughly $68 billion, up from around ¥3 trillion today. With India’s fashion market expanding rapidly, Uniqlo sees its local operations not just as a growth engine but as a testing ground for global ambitions.

Glasses in 10 Minutes: Blinkit Lenskart partnership promises eyewear breakthrough with quick delivery

A&M

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August 25, 2025

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The Blinkit Lenskart partnership is here, and it’s fast. Customers in seven Indian metros can now order powered glasses delivered in just 10 minutes, Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa announced.

The rollout covers Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Users select simple powers from -0.25 to -1.5 diopters and pick a frame color. No prescription is required, making it an entry-level eyewear service.

It’s a bold move as most eyewear purchases in India remain offline, with shoppers preferring to try frames first. The Blinkit Lenskart partnership focuses on speed and convenience, betting that consumer habits can be shifted by sheer access.

For Blinkit, it’s part of a larger move into high-margin categories. The company has already tested medicine delivery and recently overtook Zomato’s food delivery business in gross order value. With 1.8 million active users across 25 cities, it is expanding the scope of what can be delivered instantly.

If successful, the Blinkit Lenskart partnership could set a new model for eyewear retail. Now it’s moving from physical shops to instant digital orders. For Blinkit, it’s also about proving that quick commerce can extend far beyond food.

Packaged Food Brand No!ce Brings Authentic Recipes and Preservative-Free Bakery to Quick Commerce

A&M

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August 25, 2025

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No!ce packaged food — No!ce Brings Authentic Recipes, Artisanal Snacks, and Preservative-Free Bakery to Quick Commerce

In a crowded packaged food market, one brand is taking a different route quietly, but firmly. No!ce, a premium food brand rooted in authenticity, is partnering with over 40 local foodmakers to deliver more than 200 artisanal products across 13 categories. Everyday staples, festive specials, regional treasures, it’s all there. The aim is straightforward: to show that packaged food can still carry the warmth of home.

No!ce’s commitment is clear. Every item avoids palm oil, skips artificial colours, and cuts down on preservatives. Small-batch preparation ensures quality. Its standouts are fresh malai paneer, crisp banana chips, buttery cookies, coconut water, kaju katli. Then come the crowd-pullers like caramelized brioche, crustless sliced bread, chocolate ganache cookies, Punjabi lassi, rasgullas, French rochers, and Kashmir Valley honey. In short, a mix of tradition and trend, winning loyalty among urban buyers who expect more from packaged food.

The brand has also doubled down on authentic recipes that bring back long-lost flavours. Its fresh bakery section boasts sourdough, Japanese shokupan, French croissants, and an impressive collection of tea cakes and biscuits.

No!ce is equally focused on heritage Indian snacks. Achappam, Nipattu, Karam Gavvalu, and Jeera Masala soda are among the treats resurrected from near-extinction. The brand works with small entrepreneurs in Calicut, Mangalore, Sonipat, Karur, and Proddatur to preserve fragile, short-shelf-life foods that had vanished from shelves.

Global influences mix in, too. Alongside Himalayan farm honey and Lonavala chikki, there are Mexican tortilla chips. Besides mathri and aloo bhujia, you’ll find jackfruit crisps and badam chikki.

No!ce’s edge lies in freshness. Its paneer, pressed by hand in muslin cloth, delivers the kind of soft texture that mass-market brands rarely achieve. It is also the only premium food brand on quick-commerce apps offering preservative-free sweets, making it a festive favourite for households demanding purity.

Founder Royan Mody sums it up: “The packaged food space is noisy, but fresh, authentic snacking options are still limited. We wanted to revive forgotten Indian snacks and introduce modern favourites, but without shortcuts. Honest ingredients, authentic recipes, and quality, that’s all we stand for.”

Currently, the brand is live on Instamart across Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai.

Delhi High Court Restaurants Case Exposes Rampant Overcharging as Judges Slam Bottled Water Markups and Hidden Fees

A&M

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August 25, 2025

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Delhi High Court restaurants — Delhi High Court Restaurants Case Exposes Rampant Overcharging as Judges Slam Bottled Water Markups and Hidden Fees

The Delhi High Court bottled water case has put restaurants on the defensive. The court slammed associations for billing customers above MRP on packaged goods and then adding service charges. The bench called the practice “legally unjustifiable” and a possible abuse of consumer rights.

Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya pressed industry lawyers during hearings on service charge appeals. “If MRP is Rs 10, in what capacity are you charging Rs 100 for a bottle of water? And then on top of that, you impose a service charge?” he asked. The court questioned the authority behind such billing.

Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing restaurant groups, argued that service charges are contractual between diners and establishments. The bench disagreed. It pointed out that restaurants were effectively charging for food, ambience, and service but masking it at inflated rates.

The judges demanded why menus don’t show itemized splits such as Rs 20 for water, Rs 80 for ambience, and Rs 10 for service so customers know what they pay for. “Providing ambience is part of your services. You can’t mask it by charging above MRP,” the court said.

The Delhi HC bottled water case stems from a March 2025 order declaring service charges voluntary, not mandatory. The ruling held that adding such fees by default violated consumer rights. Restaurants appealed, but the bench has signaled strong skepticism.

The next hearing is set for September 22. Until then, the Delhi HC bottled water case makes one thing clear: inflated billing in restaurants is under strict judicial scrutiny.

Rapido vs Ola battle heats up as Uber CEO hails Rapido’s driver-friendly model and rapid market share growth

A&M

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August 25, 2025

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Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has revealed that the true battle in India is now Rapido vs Ola, not Uber vs Ola. In an interview to Nikhil Kamath on his podcast, he said, “Ola was our primary competitor. Now, the tougher competition in India is Rapido.”

The numbers explain why. Uber controls 50% of the ride-hailing market, Ola holds 30%, and Rapido has surged to 20%. Founded in 2015, Rapido began with bikes but now runs auto-rickshaws and cabs in 100+ cities. Its reach has turned it into India’s latest disruptor.

Rapido’s playbook is different. It charges drivers just 0 to 5% commission, compared to 18 to 22% on Ola and Uber. Subscription-based incentives have built loyalty while keeping fares affordable. The approach has struck especially well in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

By 2025, 2 million drivers were active monthly on the platform. Backed by a $200 million funding round, pushing valuation to $1.1 billion, Rapido also restarted bike taxi operations in Bengaluru after a court overturned the state’s ban.

Meanwhile, Ola has stumbled with glitches, high commission complaints, and problems in its EV business. Rapido filled the gap, drawing riders and drivers away.

The new landscape is clear: Rapido vs Ola defines the next stage of competition, with Uber still on top but watching closely. Rapido’s local-first model and driver-friendly economics are shifting India’s urban mobility game.

Costa Coffee sale could unlock fresh global opportunities as Coca-Cola and Lazard eye revival strategy despite challenges

A&M

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August 25, 2025

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Coca-Cola is weighing a Costa Coffee sale, reviewing strategic options for the British café chain. The company has brought in investment bank Lazard to examine alternatives, according to reports.

Discussions have already started. Sky News revealed that Coca-Cola has held early talks with several potential buyers, including private equity firms. Sources say indicative offers could land later this year. A deal is possible, but not guaranteed.

The move signals Coca-Cola’s willingness to reassess its coffee bet. While the process is early, insiders confirm that Lazard has been tasked with mapping scenarios for a potential Costa Coffee sale.

Coca-Cola acquired Costa in 2018, pitching it as a global counterweight to Starbucks and Nestlé. The deal gave it more than 4,000 outlets worldwide, including 2,700 in the UK and Ireland. Yet Costa has not matched expectations.

The numbers show the strain. In 2023, revenue rose 9% to £1.22 billion, but profit collapsed into a £9.6 million pre-tax loss, reversing a £245.9 million gain in 2022. High input costs, rising bean prices, and crowded high streets have eroded margins. Even small branches in Andover and Lyme Regis have shut.

Analysts warn the Costa Coffee sale may yield just £2 billion far below Coca-Cola’s purchase price. That reflects skepticism around consumer trends and Costa’s patchy performance. Still, its scale remains valuable, one of the few brands able to challenge Starbucks globally.

Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey has admitted the deal failed to deliver on the “original investment hypothesis.” He maintains that Costa still runs solidly day-to-day. Industry watchers see the rethink as part of a broader portfolio reset driven by inflation, health trends, and sustainability demands.

If a Costa Coffee sale happens, it could redraw the global café landscape. If not, Coca-Cola may attempt sweeping internal changes. Either way, the bold café experiment is at a decisive moment.

Harajuku Tokyo Café Raises ₹19 Crore from IAN, Samved VC to Expand from 7 Outlets to 90 Across 20 Cities by 2027

Growth

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August 25, 2025

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Image-of-harajuku-cafe. — Harajuku Tokyo Café Raises ₹19 Crore from IAN, Samved VC to Expand from 7 Outlets to 90 Across 20 Cities by 2027

Japanese dessert and dining chain Harajuku Tokyo Café has raised ₹19 crore in a seed funding round led by Indian Angel Network (IAN), with participation from Samved VC, LetsVenture and Capitar Ventures. The company, founded in 2021 by Gaurav Kanwar, plans to use the capital to accelerate its rollout across India’s metro and emerging markets.

Currently operating seven outlets in Delhi NCR and Mumbai, the brand has already clocked an annual recurring revenue of over ₹30 crore. With fresh backing, Harajuku Tokyo Café is aiming for a steep scale-up: 90 outlets across 20 cities and a revenue target of ₹200 crore by 2027. Letters of intent have already been signed for 15 new locations, including Ludhiana and Chandigarh, alongside further expansion in Delhi and Mumbai.

“The idea was always to make Japanese cuisine accessible and aspirational for Indian consumers,” said Gaurav Kanwar, Founder and CEO. “This funding milestone allows us to build a strong national footprint and deepen our category leadership.”

The fundraising comes at a time when India’s casual dining market is seeing strong investor appetite. According to industry reports, the segment is projected to grow at a double-digit CAGR through the decade, fuelled by rising disposable incomes and younger consumers seeking global food experiences.

IAN’s investment highlights the growing confidence in niche dining formats. Commenting on the deal, investors noted the café’s ability to blend international flavours with scalable unit economics, a rare mix in India’s food services market.

For Harajuku Tokyo Café, the next two years will be critical as it moves from a regional brand to a national chain. If execution aligns with ambition, the pastel-toned Japanese café could soon be a familiar sight in high streets and malls across India.

Flipkart Bets Big on Bharat Fashion: Launches ‘Fashion Spotlight’ to Onboard 500 D2C Brands by Year-End, Targets Tens of Thousands Ahead

E-Commerce

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August 25, 2025

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Image of flipkart. — Flipkart Bets Big on Bharat Fashion: Launches ‘Fashion Spotlight’ to Onboard 500 D2C Brands by Year-End, Targets Tens of Thousands Ahead

Flipkart has unveiled a new initiative, Fashion Spotlight, designed to accelerate the journey of emerging fashion labels in India’s booming digital market. The program, which goes live ahead of the upcoming festive season, is particularly focused on brands originating from tier 2 and 3 cities, where fashion entrepreneurs often struggle to scale despite consumer appetite.

Vijay Sharma, Senior Director at Flipkart Fashion, said the platform was created to bridge gaps that have historically kept small brands from reaching national scale. “Many of these founders innovate with fabrics, cuts and new use cases, but nine out of ten struggle because distribution and market feedback were missing. Spotlight addresses that gap,” he told ETRetail.

The initiative is aimed at early-stage direct-to-consumer labels and offers three distinct levers: curated discovery on Flipkart’s marketplace, ongoing product feedback, and guaranteed visibility to shoppers. Importantly, Flipkart is not asking for commissions or exclusivity, positioning the program as a low-barrier growth engine.

The company is starting with a limited group of brands, but plans rapid scale-up. By December, Flipkart expects Spotlight to host around 500 labels, with the long-term ambition of onboarding “tens of thousands.” This move comes at a time when the Indian fashion industry, valued at over $100 billion, is undergoing a shift from discount-driven shopping to trend-led discovery.

Flipkart Fashion itself has posted consistent double-digit growth over the past year, even as the wider retail environment slowed. One in three new customers on Flipkart is now entering through fashion categories, underscoring the vertical’s importance to the marketplace. Ethnic wear is expected to dominate festive sales, though growth in athleisure, footwear and travel wear is also strong.

Sharma added that Flipkart Minutes, the company’s quick-commerce service, is being integrated for fashion essentials, with kidswear already seeing traction.

Licious Chases Profitability Over Valuation, IPO Only by 2027-28 as Founders Double Down on Retail Expansion

Food

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August 25, 2025

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Image of licious — Licious Chases Profitability Over Valuation, IPO Only by 2027-28 as Founders Double Down on Retail Expansion

Meat and seafood brand Licious is taking a longer view on its market debut, with co-founders Abhay Hanjura and Vivek Gupta indicating that a public listing is now likely only in 2027-28. The company, backed by Temasek and valued at $1.5 billion in 2023, is prioritizing profitability and retail expansion before stepping into the capital markets.

Speaking at the ET Soonicorns Summit 2025, Hanjura said, “We are here for the long run. An IPO is not an end goal for us.” Gupta added that the company expects to turn profitable within the next six to eight months, on the back of 40 percent annual growth.

For FY24, the Bengaluru-based startup narrowed its net loss by 44 percent to ₹294 crore, even as revenue slipped 8 percent to ₹685 crore. The decline was attributed to the shutdown of distribution partners like Dunzo and reduced presence in modern trade channels.

The company now derives nearly 85 percent of its sales through its own website and app, with grocery and quick-commerce platforms accounting for the rest. The founders said they are deliberately deepening focus on owned channels while building an omnichannel strategy. Plans include opening 50 to 100 retail outlets this year and scaling to 500 offline stores across India over the next few years.

On valuation talk, Gupta was dismissive, calling the unicorn tag “a digression.” He said, “We didn’t start this company to become a unicorn. That label comes with unnecessary pressure.”

With more than 300 products and the challenge of short shelf lives, Licious continues to calibrate its partnerships with platforms like Swiggy, but the company’s immediate bet is clear: profitability first, public markets later.

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