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Gopal Snacks raises INR 194 Crore from anchor investors ahead of IPO launch

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Gopal Snacks
Gopal Snacks

Gopal Snacks Ltd announced that it secured INR 194 crore from anchor investors, just before launching its initial share sale. The Rajkot-based company has allotted 48.36 lakh equity shares to 19 funds at INR 401 apiece, which is also the upper end of the price band, according to a circular uploaded on BSE‘s website.

The participants in the anchor round include BofA Securities Europe SA, Bay Capital India Fund, ITI Mutual Fund, DSP Mutual Fund, Quant Mutual Fund, Edelweiss Mutual Fund, and HDFC Life Insurance Company.

The issue, with a price band of INR 381 to INR 401 per share, will open for subscription on March 6 and conclude on March 11.

The proposed initial public offering (IPO) is entirely an offer for sale (OFS) of equity shares by promoters and other selling shareholders.

Continue Exploring: Gopal Snacks sets IPO price band at INR 381-401 per share, subscription opens March 6

The OFS comprises the sale of shares by Bipinbhai Vithalbhai Hadvani, Gopal Agriproducts Private Ltd and Harsh Sureshkumar Shah.

Founded in 1999, Gopal Snacks is a fast-moving consumer goods company in India, offering namkeen, western snacks, and other products across India and internationally. As of September 2023, the namkeen makers’ products were sold in 10 states and 2 Union Territories and has a network of 3 depots and 617 distributors.

The company operates three manufacturing facilities– Rajkot and Modasa in Gujarat, and Nagpur in Maharashtra. Furthermore, it runs three ancillary manufacturing facilities that mostly produce besan, raw snack pellets, seasoning, and spices. These are mainly used internally to make finished products like namkeen, gathiya, and snack pellets.

The companies’ revenue from operations increased from INR 1,128.86 crore in fiscal 2021 to INR 1,394.65 crore in fiscal 2023 and profit grew from INR 21.12 crore in fiscal 2021 to INR 112.37 crore in fiscal 2023.

Half of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional investors, 35 per cent for retail investors and the remaining 15 per cent for non-institutional investors.

Investors can place bids starting from a minimum of 37 equity shares, with the option to bid in increments of 37 equity shares thereafter.

Intensive Fiscal Services, Axis Capital and JM Financial are the book-running lead managers to the IPO. The equity shares of the company are proposed to be listed on the BSE and NSE.

Continue Exploring: Gopal Snacks set to debut on stock market with INR 650 Crore IPO launch on March 6

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No rush to expand categories, grocery remains primary focus: BigBasket CEO Hari Menon

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Hari Menon, Co-Founder and CEO of BigBasket
Hari Menon, Co-Founder and CEO of BigBasket

BigBasket, the online supermarket owned by Tata Digital, emphasized that it isn’t in a hurry to expand its range of products. Its primary focus remains on groceries, despite the swift diversification into various categories by competitors like Blinkit (owned by Zomato) and Zepto, a Mumbai-based company.

“We evaluate new categories carefully and are very careful about entering segments beyond grocery… For now, we’ll remain a grocer and depending on the need we will keep adding categories as we go along,” said Hari Menon, cofounder and CEO of BigBasket.

It was reported on March 4 that Blinkit and Zepto are broadening their footprint by incorporating new categories such as fashion, beauty, electronics, and toys. They subsequently aim to roll out thousands of stock-keeping units (SKUs) within the next two months.

Continue Exploring: Quick commerce platforms Blinkit and Zepto expand into e-commerce, targeting fashion, beauty, electronics, and more

However, Menon stated that BigBasket will solely venture into adjacent categories to grocery, such as kitchen and home appliances.

He made these remarks during an event in Mumbai, where BigBasket unveiled a strategic collaboration with renowned chef and entrepreneur Sanjeev Kapoor to introduce a new frozen food brand called Precia. This brand will encompass three product categories: frozen vegetables, frozen snacks, and frozen sweets. The goal is to reach INR 100 crore in online sales by 2026.

Continue Exploring: BigBasket teams up with Chef Sanjeev Kapoor to introduce frozen foods brand ‘Precia’, targets INR 100 Crore in online sales by 2026

Discussing profitability, Menon mentioned that apart from its quick commerce arm BBNow, all other business segments are presently profitable. He also said that BBNow is expected to attain profitability within the next 6-7 months.

In FY23, BigBasket saw an 89% rise in losses for its business-to-consumer (B2C) arm, Innovative Retail Concepts, alongside a 5% growth in operating revenue. Similarly, its business-to-business (B2B) arm, Supermarket Grocery Supplies, experienced a 21% widening of losses.

Menon stated that in FY24, BigBasket is poised to achieve a growth rate exceeding 35%, surpassing the industry average.

Continue Exploring: BigBasket aims to turn profitable in 8 months; eyeing IPO in 2025

As previously reported, Tata Digital is considering integrating operational structures among its group assets, including BigBasket, the online pharmacy platform 1mg, and the online shopping site Tata Cliq, in a bid to streamline operations and improve market responsiveness. The strategy entails consolidating these individual apps under the Tata Neu umbrella.

BigBasket recently revamped its slotted delivery service to ‘supersaver’, committing to fulfilling orders within two hours and providing an extra 5% savings on various products.

Continue Exploring: BigBasket rebrands slotted delivery to ‘bigbasket supersaver’, targets 1-hour service for faster deliveries

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D2C brands biggest disruptions to FMCG players, says Marico Founder Harsh Mariwala

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Harsh Mariwala, the Founder of Marico
Harsh Mariwala, the Founder of Marico

Harsh Mariwala, the Founder of Marico, believes that Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brands are the primary disruptors of FMCG companies.

“Entry barriers in terms of distribution, and advertising have vanished with the emergence of e-commerce, and digital marketing making D2C brands the biggest disruption to FMCG companies. We have seen the emergence of many D2C brands. An FMCG company can look at it as an opportunity or from a threat angle,” Mariwala said.

He emphasized that technology serves as an additional disruption to FMCG companies.

“Technology is bringing in changes – whether AI, digital or robotics. Organisations will have to learn to deal with this and convert it into opportunities. Companies need to be agile, the organisation will have to deal with the challenges and have ways to predict opportunities in advance. During the Covid-19 pandemic, trends got accelerated. It is important for companies to know what is happening globally and bring it in advance to India,” he said.

Continue Exploring: Marico’s digital-first brands on track to achieve ‘meaningful profitability’ by 2027, CEO Saugata Gupta sets ambitious goal

Marico plans to acquire D2C brands that offer distinct products and align with the company’s overall strategy. Among the D2C brands already acquired by Marico are Beardo, Just Herbs, and True Elements.

“We have acquired D2C brands and also have our in-house brands. This has become a growth engine for us and a big opportunity. We have housed the brands at a different location with a different team, as the mindset required to build a D2C business is very different from traditional FMCG. We are scaling the D2C brands and devoting our energy to making them profitable,” he said.

Although demand in rural areas currently lags behind that of urban markets, an increase in demand is anticipated for this year.

“We are witnessing some pick-up, but it will be early to conclude. With the ban on electoral bonds, the spending may not be as high. We are hopeful that the monsoon will be good,” Mariwala added.

Continue Exploring: Britannia eyes diversification into chocolates, salty snacks, and fresh dairy through joint ventures, unveils aggressive growth strategy

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Culinary Art India’s 16th Edition to showcase excellence at AAHAR 2024

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Chef
(Representative Image)

The Indian Culinary Forum (ICF) has unveiled the 16th iteration of Culinary Art India (CAI), slated to coincide with the 38th edition of the AAHAR International Fair from March 7 to 11, 2024. This collaborative event, presented by ICF and orchestrated by “ITPO” and Hospitality First, under the technical stewardship of ICF, pledges to be a showcase of culinary ingenuity and mastery.

With the incorporation of new competition categories totaling 18, Culinary Art India 2024 is poised to draw in more than 500 participants at the national level. These competitors will include senior chefs and apprentices from all corners of India, engaging in a competition set on an internationally recognized platform. The primary aim of CAI remains steadfast: to furnish a professional arena where culinary experts can exhibit their individual and collective talents, ingenuity, and proficiency. Moreover, CAI seeks to promote learning, facilitate the exchange of experiences, foster partnerships, and encourage networking within a competitive framework.

Davinder Kumar, president of ICF, expressed his excitement, stating, “We are proud to present the expanded lineup of competition categories for Culinary Art India 2024. This event is not just a competition but a celebration of culinary artistry and skill. In today’s world where new technologies have accelerated the way we live, communicate & eat, Culinary Art India provides a platform to demonstrate culinary skills and adapt to evolving trends in the hospitality industry.”

Continue Exploring: From Gochujang to Parmesan: Kerry unveils 2024 Taste Charts mapping culinary trends

Vivek Saggar, general secretary, ICF said, “Indian Culinary Forum’s mission is to encourage and inspire junior chefs through training and competition, to raise the culinary standards in India, and to serve as a platform to leverage the development of Indian culture and cuisine on a global scale. ICF’s dedication to fostering excellence in the culinary profession is evident in events like Culinary Art India, where chefs can learn, compete, and inspire each other. We look forward to witnessing the creativity and talent of all participants as they compete on this prestigious stage.”

With a grand total of 18 categories, this competition will showcase an array of culinary talents and specialties. Participants will demonstrate their skills in crafting 3-Tier Wedding Cakes, Artistic Pastry Showpieces, Artistic Bakery Showpieces, Fruit & Vegetable Carving, Plated Appetizers, Petit Fours or Pralines, Three-Course Set Dinner Menus, Desserts, Authentic Indian Regional Cuisine, Contemporary Sushi Platters, Live Cooking Competitions (2 Courses in 45 Minutes), One-Dish Rice Creations, Enthusiastic Hobby Cooks, Egg Benedicts, Chocolate Mania, Cake Decorating with “Dress the Cake,” Mocktail Crafting, and Live Sandwich Making.

The culinary competition will be assessed by WACS-certified jurors hailing from both India and overseas. Serving as this year’s jury chairperson is Chef Gautam Sethi, Cluster Chef at Accor Group of Hotels in Phuket, Thailand. Assisting him as the organizing secretary is the renowned Chef Arvind Rai.

Continue Exploring: How Millennials, with a Global Palate, Are Reshaping the Culinary Landscape

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Zepto Pass hits 1 Million subscribers within a week of launch

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Zepto
Zepto

Zepto, the quick-commerce unicorn, stated that its membership programme Zepto Pass has attracted one million sign-ups within one week of its launch.

Taking to social media platform X, chief executive officer Aadit Palicha said, “The energy at Zepto feels just like the early days, and I’ve never been more excited about our company’s momentum and strength of execution.”

The membership, priced at INR 99 per month, provides unlimited free deliveries for orders worth INR 99 or more, along with discounts of up to 20% based on the order value.

According to sources familiar with the matter, certain users are eligible for discounts on orders exceeding INR 299, while for others, the threshold stands at INR 699. Additionally, it’s noted that the company is extending this service to select users at an introductory rate of INR 19.

With the launch of ‘Pass’, Zepto has become the second quick commerce firm to offer subscription benefits, following Swiggy Instamart. In contrast, Zomato does not extend benefits from its Gold subscription to its quick commerce service Blinkit.

Continue Exploring: Zepto launches Zepto Pass membership program for all users, offering exclusive benefits

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Tiger Pacific Capital acquires 4% stake in B9 Beverages, sets stage for potential IPO

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Bira 91
Bira 91

Tiger Pacific Capital, a private equity fund, has purchased nearly 4% of B9 Beverages, the manufacturer of Bira 91 beer and the proprietor of The Beer Cafe pub chain, for $25 million (around INR 207 crore). According to company executives familiar with the matter, this acquisition serves as a preliminary step toward the company’s intended stock market listing.

“The combination of strategic partners and blue chip financial sponsors spread across Japan, New York and India make our cap table unique,” said Ankur Jain, chief executive of B9 Beverages.

“It enables the company to leverage strengths, capital pools and business opportunities in all relevant geographies.” He declined to comment on IPO plans. “This is the first investor on B9 Beverages’ cap table from a crossover fund,” said an executive aware of the development. “The investment is focused on strengthening B9’s capital base and tapping into new investor bases focused on pre-IPO companies and listed securities.” This aligns with reports from December last year regarding B9 Beverages’ intention to secure $50 million in funding.

Continue Exploring: B9 Beverages gears up for INR 400 Crore funding round to drive business expansion

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Antfin Singapore mulls selling 2% stake in Zomato for INR 2,800 Cr amid surging share prices

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Zomato
Zomato

Amidst a notable surge in Zomato‘s share prices, China’s Ant Group‘s arm, Antfin Singapore Holdings, is reportedly considering selling off up to a 2% stake in the foodtech giant.

According to a CNBC-Awaaz report, the investor aims to sell 17.64 crore shares in a block deal at a price of INR 159.4 per share. This would value the entire transaction at INR 2,800 crore.

As per Zomato’s shareholding pattern at the end of December quarter of 2023, Antfin Singapore held a 6.42% stake in the Deepinder Goyal-led company.

The latest development comes after Zomato shares surged to an all-time high of INR 175.5 during intraday trading on Monday (March 4). While the stock has been on an uptrend since April 2023, it received a major boost after the foodtech major reported its third consecutive profitable quarter in Q3 FY24.

Continue Exploring: Zomato’s shares reach record high of INR 175.5 amidst bullish market sentiment

In the December quarter of 2023, the startup witnessed a remarkable 283% quarter-on-quarter surge in consolidated profit after tax (PAT), reaching INR 138 crore. Furthermore, operating revenue rose from INR 2,848 crore in Q2 FY24 to INR 3,288 crore.

After the release of the results, brokerage firms such as Jefferies, Nuvama, and Kotak increased their price targets (PT) for Zomato stock.

Continue Exploring: Zomato reports third consecutive profitable quarter with INR 138 Cr PAT in Q3 FY24

With its strengthening financials, Zomato’s shares have surged over threefold in the past year and are currently trading nearly 35% higher year to date. Consequently, several major investors have been divesting their holdings in the company in recent months to capitalize on profits.

In December, SoftBank sold 9.35 crore shares of the foodtech giant Zomato in a block deal valued at INR 1,127 crore. Following this, in January, Societe Generale divested over 86.5 lakh shares of Zomato in a block deal. Additionally, Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund disposed of 4.5 crore shares of Zomato through an open market transaction in the same month.

Zomato’s shares concluded yesterday’s trading session at INR 166.05 on the BSE, marking a decrease of 2.18%.

Continue Exploring: Zomato’s strong Q3 performance spurs brokerage firms to boost price targets; Blinkit expansion drives optimism

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The Face Shop enlists Bollywood star Khushi Kapoor as brand ambassador for Indian market, targeting Gen Z audience

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Khushi Kapoor
Bollywood actress Khushi Kapoor

The Face Shop, a Seoul-based skincare and cosmetics company, has announced Bollywood actress Khushi Kapoor as the first-ever face of the brand in India, as stated in a release by the company on Tuesday.

The company eyes Kapoor’s Gen Z appeal and popularity among young audiences, the release added.

“I am honoured and thrilled to be chosen as the face of The Face Shop. As an actor, skincare is an essential part of my daily routine, with long hours on set, coupled with shoots and meetings, I always seek out extra hydration and nourishment to my skin,” said Khushi Kapoor.

Continue Exploring: Orion India appoints Palak Tiwari as brand ambassador for Turtle Chips

“We are thrilled to welcome Khushi Kapoor to The Face Shop family,” said a spokesperson at The Face Shop.

With roots dating back nearly two decades, The Face Shop boasts a network of over 3000 stores spanning 35 countries. In India, the brand has established itself across offline and online channels, operating its own direct-to-consumer (D2C) websites and e-commerce platforms. Additionally, it distributes its products in over 60 Nykaa stores, as indicated on its official website.

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Fenty Beauty by Rihanna set to make Indian debut through Nykaa partnership

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Fenty Beauty

Cosmetics brand Fenty Beauty by Barbadian singer and businesswoman Rihanna will enter the Indian market with fashion and beauty retailer Nykaa, the Mumbai-based company said in a press release on Tuesday.

The beauty brand will be making its debut on the Nykaa Cross-Border store on 7 March 2024. Nykaa will offer a line-up of Fenty Beauty’s products including the foundation, highlighter, lip gloss and more.

“We are thrilled to begin our partnership with one of the most innovative and disruptive beauty brands in the world, Fenty Beauty. The brand’s ethos of diversity and inclusivity is a perfect fit for Nykaa’s mission of democratizing beauty for all Indians,” said Anchit Nayar, executive director of Nykaa Beauty.

Founded in 2017 under the leadership of chief executive officer Rihanna, the global makeup brand is a partnership between the renowned singer and the French multinational conglomerate LVMH.

Continue Exploring: Shift in Indian beauty market: Fairness creams witness first decline as demand swells for radiance and hydration products

“Fenty Beauty was created so that people everywhere would be included. Expanding to India is so exciting because the more people that can feel beautiful, recognized and empowered, no matter their ethnicity, culture, skin tone or style the better,” said Rihanna.

The products can be ordered from the Nykaa app via the Cross Border Store with a shipping fee of INR 500. Orders will be delivered directly to consumers within 5-7 days, post successful photo ID and address proof verification.

Founded in 2012 by Indian entrepreneur Falguni Nayar, as a digital-first omni-channel beauty platform, Nykaa currently has over 165 retail stores in formats like Nykaa Luxe, Nykaa On Trend and Nykaa Kiosks.

Since its launch, Nykaa has expanded its product categories by introducing online platforms Nykaa Fashion, Nykaa Man and Superstore and it offers a selection of products from over 6,200 brands through its digital platforms and stores.

Continue Exploring: Bollywood star Sonakshi Sinha’s Soezi nail brand launches first offline store in Pune

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BigBasket aims to turn profitable in 8 months; eyeing IPO in 2025

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BigBasket
BigBasket

BigBasket, the Tata group-owned online grocer, is eyeing to come out with an initial public offering in 2025 after turning profitable, a top official said on Tuesday.

The Bengaluru-based company, a part of Tata Digital, will turn profitable in another 6-8 months, once the newly launched ‘BB Now’ vertical starts making money, its co-founder and chief executive Hari Menon said.

When asked about plans for an IPO, he said, “We will probably have it in 2025. But we are leaving it to the Tatas, there cannot be anybody better to guide us and advise us on that.”

He hinted that the issue will include both primary and secondary share sales, but did not share any more details.

Continue Exploring: BigBasket teams up with Chef Sanjeev Kapoor to introduce frozen foods brand ‘Precia’, targets INR 100 Crore in online sales by 2026

He stated that the business necessitates capital for continuous investments, which will be sourced from the Tata Group leading up to the IPO. He further added that the majority of these investments will be directed towards technology, marketing, and personnel.

The company, which competes with similar offerings from Amazon and Flipkart, is targeting to close FY24 with a revenue growth of 30-35% over the previous fiscal, with a topline of about INR 12,000 crore, Menon said.

On profitability, he said the enterprise will turn profitable once the newly launched BB Now under which it delivers products in 10 minutes turns profitable, which is in the next 6-8 months, Menon said, adding that the older business lines including slotted and BB Daily are in the black.

He said it is easier for the new business to turn profitable because the back end is common across the three business lines.

At present, over 70% of its revenues come from the slotted business, while the relatively newer BB Daily, under which it delivers items like milk early in the morning, and BB Now, account for the remaining 30%, Menon said.

The company does not have any plans of entering the broader e-commerce space, unlike its competition, Menon said, adding that it will concentrate on the kitchen-related space and continue being a grocer.

It is currently piloting a concept of having an offline presence to try out the omnichannel format, Menon said.

Over 36% of its current sales come from private labels, Menon said, adding that it is aiming to take the higher margin business’ contribution to 40-45% in the next two years.

It, however, does not have any plans of having a strategy of selling its private labels from offline outlets.

When asked about the traffic coming from the Tatas’ super app, Menon declined to comment. He also declined to comment on working under Tata Digital’s new chief executive and managing director Naveen Tahilyani, saying these are still early days of working with him.

When asked about some reports before the takeover of the company by Tatas, which stated that he would be leaving the company after some time, Menon said there were no such plans.

Earlier, BigBasket launched a line of frozen foods in a tie-up with celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor to tap an estimated $1.5 billion opportunity.

Menon said it is targeting sales of up to INR 150 crore from the line christened “Precia” by 2026, and will be focusing on marketing the products, which also include items like momos and desserts.

Continue Exploring: BigBasket rebrands slotted delivery to ‘bigbasket supersaver’, targets 1-hour service for faster deliveries

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