Swiggy & IRCTC join forces to offer food delivery service on trains

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March 5, 2024

Swiggy, the food delivery platform, has announced a partnership with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp (IRCTC) to deliver pre-ordered meals to travelers at four major railway stations in India. This move follows the footsteps of rival Zomato, which already offers a similar service.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Swiggy is set to commence delivering food from its vast network of restaurants to passengers on specific trains. Initially, this service will be available at Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, and Vijayawada stations. Plans are underway to extend this service to an additional 59 stations nationwide in the upcoming weeks.

“One of the challenges encountered by travellers during extended journeys is the paucity of diverse culinary options. Through this integration, passengers aboard designated trains now have the option to savour good-quality, warm meals delivered right to their seats, thereby transforming their travel into a convenient and delightful culinary experience,” Swiggy said in a statement announcing the partnership.

Continue Exploring: Zomato partners with IRCTC to launch meal reservation for railway travelers

Annually, the Indian Railways facilitates transportation for more than 8 billion passengers. In October of last year, it unveiled a parallel collaboration with competitor Zomato, initially focusing on railway stations in New Delhi, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Varanasi.

The pre-ordered meals will be delivered via IRCTC’s e-catering portal.

“At IRCTC our focus has always been to explore new ways to make train journeys comfortable and convenient for the billions of passengers aboard the Indian railways every year. This partnership with Swiggy will bring more convenience and food options to our passengers, making their journeys more memorable,” said Sanjay Kumar Jain, chairman and managing director, IRCTC.

Rohit Kapoor, CEO of Swiggy’s Food Marketplace, described the venture as an exploratory move, highlighting the company’s dedication to enhancing consumer experience through a diverse array of food options.

Regarding a potential collaboration with Swiggy Instamart, the company’s quick commerce service, Kapoor mentioned that while they haven’t actively considered it, he finds the concept intriguing.

Travelers interested in utilizing Swiggy’s food delivery service can simply input their PNR on the IRCTC app and choose their desired station for meal delivery.

Swiggy connects consumers with more than 280,000 restaurant partners across numerous cities. Additionally, its quick commerce grocery service, Instamart, operates in over 25 cities.

Kapoor expressed optimism about receiving a positive response from both passengers and restaurant operators along these routes. This enthusiasm may lead Swiggy to expand the service to additional stations and routes in the future.

IRCTC offers catering, hospitality, packaged drinking water, online ticketing, and travel and tourism services throughout India.

Through its e-catering services division, IRCTC recorded 1.48 billion meals booked in the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2023. As per its annual report for the year, the service was accessible at around 338 stations, with an average of 40,669 meals booked per day.

Additionally, IRCTC provides static catering services, encompassing offline food amenities such as refreshment rooms, food plazas, fast-food units, and more, located on railway platforms.

In the fiscal year 2023, IRCTC recorded revenues of INR 3,541.47 crore, with a net profit of INR 1,005.88 crore.

Continue Exploring: IRCTC expands its footprint, ventures into non-railway catering business

Swizzle secures seed funding to fuel expansion and disrupt Indian beverage industry

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March 5, 2024

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Swizzle, the trailblazing Made-in-India mocktail provider, has secured an undisclosed sum in seed funding from a consortium of angel investors, spearheaded by current investor Mrs. Monika Rao. Dr. Akshay Singhal, Founder & CEO of Log9 Materials, along with new investors Mr. Deepak Gambhir and Sri Harsha Thota, participated in this equity-based seed investment round.

The startup, having previously raised funds in 2022, utilized the proceeds for product development and achieving product-market fit. With this recent round, Swizzle has now amassed a cumulative funding of over INR 1 Cr. Co-Founders Vrinda Singhal and Deepender Singh expressed their excitement about this funding round, highlighting its importance in propelling Swizzle’s mission to revolutionize the Indian beverage industry.

“We are super excited to announce our latest seed fundraise, which marks a pivotal milestone in Swizzle’s journey, and catalyses our mission of revolutionizing the beverage industry in India,” said Vrinda Singhal and Deepender Singh, Co-Founders of Swizzle.

The funding will play a crucial role in expanding Swizzle’s presence in both B2C and B2B segments. The goal is to be accessible in over 1000 locations by August 2024, reaching new cities and bolstering the distribution network. The co-founders outlined their plan to implement effective marketing and go-to-market strategies for accelerated growth, aiming to become the preferred choice for beverage enthusiasts across India.

Continue Exploring: A-Listers Spice Up Their Portfolios with Bold Bets on India’s Booming F&B Startups

Lead Investor Ms. Monika Rao commented, “Swizzle has demonstrated a unique ability to innovate and bring to market a range of high-quality mixers. Their revamped hip and cool branding and packaging will help them scale and acquire the upwardly mobile young customer base across Tier 1 cities.”

Renowned for its natural beverages crafted from authentic fruits and herbs, Swizzle experienced an impressive 210% growth in FY 2023. The startup is set to attain its forecasted revenue of INR 15 Crore by the end of FY 2025. Swizzle’s assortment of ready-to-drink (RTD) mocktails, featuring diverse flavors and boasting 100% vegan ingredients, are retailed through its website and prominent e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, JioMart, Flipkart, and Swiggy-Mini.

Continue Exploring: Inflection Point Ventures to spearhead O’ Be Cocktails Pre-Series A fundraiser

In the retail realm, Swizzle has earned recognition across more than 350 locations in Bengaluru, encompassing vending machines, Nature Basket stores, MRP outlets, and supermarkets. The startup is committed to accelerating its offline retail expansion, targeting over 3000 locations by the close of the current fiscal year, with the objective of serving up to 5 lakh mocktails per month. Swizzle also has plans to venture into Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, and Chennai, tapping into the HoReCa and QSR segments.

Continue Exploring: India’s rising cocktail culture: Niche bars thrive beyond metros, offering unique concepts and flavors

FSSAI verifies authentic cheese in McDonald’s India; Westlife Foodworld addresses concerns amid FDA scrutiny

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March 5, 2024

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The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has officially verified that McDonald’s India exclusively employs authentic cheese, as stated by Westlife Foodworld in a stock exchange notification on Tuesday.

“The verification confirms the brand’s assertion that it uses 100% Real Cheese and that it does not use any cheese analogues or substitutes in any of its products,” the company said.

Additionally, Westlife reported that the west and south zones of McDonald’s India have received test results from an NABL-accredited laboratory, affirming the utilization of 100% authentic cheese throughout their product range.

Westlife Foodworld stands as the largest franchisee of McDonald’s in India, managing a network of McDonald’s outlets primarily in the western and southern regions of the country. With operations spanning across Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, and Puducherry, it oversees nearly 380 units spread across 62 cities.

Westlife Foodworld drew attention recently when reports surfaced that one of its outlets in Maharashtra allegedly substituted real cheese with alternatives in burgers and nuggets. Subsequently, the state government announced an inspection.

“We are planning to check all outlets of McDonald’s,” Abhimanyu Kale, the FDA chief told Reuters. “We will also take action on other well-known and frequently visited global fast-food chain outlets,” he added, but declined to identify the brands being targeted.

Continue Exploring: Maharashtra launches statewide fast-food chain inspections after McDonald’s cheese controversy

Saurabh Kalra, the Managing Director of Westlife, the company responsible for overseeing McDonald’s operations in the west and south of India, has responded to concerns raised by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Kalra confirmed the company’s willingness to cooperate with any inspections, emphasizing McDonald’s commitment to upholding the “highest standards.”

Following FDA action, the license of a McDonald’s outlet in Ahmednagar was temporarily suspended, resulting in the removal of the term “cheese” from several menu items. However, the suspension of the license was subsequently lifted.

Continue Exploring: McDonald’s removes ‘cheese’ from outlet menus in Maharashtra following FDA suspension

The regulatory authority alleged that McDonald’s had utilized cheese substitutes without adequate disclosure, raising concerns about potential consumer deception regarding the authenticity of the cheese. The state FDA has called upon the fast-food chain to implement corrective actions, not only at the local level but also on a wider scale, possibly extending nationwide.

Continue Exploring: McDonald’s faces regulatory heat: Maharashtra FDA revokes license amid cheese substitution allegations

Papa John’s to shut 50 UK outlets in strategic move to cut losses

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March 5, 2024

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Papa John’s, the pizza restaurant chain, intends to shutter around 50 of its company-owned outlets in the UK as part of a strategy to cut operational losses.

All closures are slated for the second quarter of this year.

The decision forms part of the pizza chain’s strategic evaluation of its portfolio.

The objective is to focus on locations that accounted for two-thirds of the company’s operating losses in the UK during the fourth quarter of 2023.

Since March 2023, Papa John’s has converted 61 underperforming franchised sites to “more established franchisees” and acquired ownership of 118 franchised restaurants.

Continue Exploring: Popular pizza chain Papa John’s set to close dozens of UK locations amid rising costs

It operates 450 stores across the UK, encompassing outlets in service stations, holiday parks, and attractions.

A report in KentOnline quoted a Papa John’s spokesperson as saying, “As our second largest global market, Papa John’s remains committed to driving growth in the UK.

“We are undertaking a comprehensive review of our UK-based restaurants to assess viability. Based on our current analysis, we are planning to close approximately 50 underperforming corporate-owned locations.

“The strategic closure of these restaurants would give us the opportunity to invest back into the right locations with the right partners, optimising the brand for long-term growth.”

Established in 1984, Papa John’s International is renowned for its pizzas crafted with mozzarella cheese, vine-ripened tomato sauce, and meats free from fillers.

Papa John’s has a presence in over 5,900 restaurants spanning 50 countries and territories. Its co-headquarters are located in Atlanta, Georgia, and Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

In February 2023, Papa John’s International also disclosed a slight uptick in total global revenues, reaching $2.14 billion, marking a 2% increase from the previous year.

Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2023 saw an increase of 8.6%, reaching $571.3 million compared to $526.23 million in the previous year’s fourth quarter.

During a recent conference call addressing the financial performance of 2023, Papa John’s International CEO Rob Lynch stated that the company will continue assessing its UK portfolio, encompassing both company-owned and franchised locations, and might contemplate further closures if deemed necessary.

Continue Exploring: Papa John’s pizza expands in China with grand opening of 300th restaurant

Mondelez International invests in Spanish startup Pack2Earth for sustainable packaging solutions

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March 5, 2024

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Mondelez International has made an investment in Pack2Earth, a startup based in Spain focused on the development of “bio-based” packaging.

The snacks giant participated in a $1 million seed round investment in Pack2Earth, which is actively developing alternatives to plastic.

In a brief statement, the Cadbury maker said, “This investment, part of Mondelez International’s Sustainable Futures impact investing platform, is very much aligned with our long-term ambition for packaging circularity and an example of the company acting as a catalyst and collaborator.”

Mondelez set up Sustainable Futures in 2021 to finance “environmental and social projects that can help drive meaningful, long-term change”, CEO and chairman Dirk Van de Put said at the time.

Continue Exploring: Amcor and Mondelēz International collaborate to introduce recycled plastic packaging for Cadbury Chocolate products

Founded in 2022, Pack2Earth, S.L. is working on the development of bio-based flexible film and injection materials that are compostable at ambient temperature and described as “organically recyclable,” according to the Barcelona-based company.

These materials can be utilized to produce packaging suitable for long-life ambient and “semi-liquid” products.

Pack2Earth asserts that its packaging materials can break down into compost that is free from toxins and microplastics.

The Zurich-based investor Sagana also participated in the funding round of the startup.

In a statement, Sagana said the funds would allow Pack2Earth to “complete client pilot projects and start to grow revenues”.

It added, “The advanced biomaterials startup has developed robust food-grade materials that compost quickly at ambient temperature whenever they end their lifecycle. This also helps reduce the use of petroleum-based plastics.”

Mondelez aims to have all its packaging “designed to be recyclable” by 2025. In the 2022 ESG report of the Milka chocolate maker, the company indicated that 96% of its packaging met this criterion.

The group has established a goal of reducing its consumption of virgin plastic by 5% by the same year compared to the procurement level in 2020. It also aims to decrease its utilization of “virgin rigid plastic” by 25% by 2025. Additionally, Mondelez aims for its packaging to incorporate 5% recycled content by the same year.

In the 2022 ESG report of the Milka chocolate maker, the company reported a 7% decrease in the amount of virgin rigid plastic compared to 2020 levels. However, its utilization of virgin plastic increased by 1.5% following a 4% reduction in 2021.

Regarding the goal for recycled content, Mondelez stated that it had achieved 1%.

Other investments made by the company through Sustainable Futures include the Circulate Capital Ocean Fund, which aids in the development of recycling infrastructure in India and Southeast Asia.

Continue Exploring: Mondelez International reports strong Q4 sales surge, but volume decline spurs a 2% share drop

ONDC surpasses 7.1 Million orders milestone in February since inception last year

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March 5, 2024

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The government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has achieved a milestone by completing more than 7.1 million cumulative orders in February since its inception in January last year.

In January, the ONDC surpassed 6.75 million cumulative orders. Of these, 3.56 million, accounting for 52.8%, were mobility orders, whereas 3.19 million, constituting 47.2%, were non-mobility orders.

The network currently boasts over 370,000 sellers and service providers, ranging from renowned brands to farmers and taxi drivers. Additionally, it is operational in 588 ‘countable cities’, encompassing approximately 70% of cities across India.

Continue Exploring: Govt-backed ONDC sees rapid adoption, CEO T. Koshy expects tenfold merchant growth in coming year

The network defines countable cities as cities or districts with more than 100 orders per month in the last three months. Overall, ONDC has facilitated transactions in over 800 cities throughout India.

ONDC’s mobility service is currently active in seven cities: Bengaluru, Mysuru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, and Kochi. The inclusion of Chennai Metro train services into ONDC marks a significant stride towards achieving multimodal mobility through the network.

Continue Exploring: In a first, fair price shops join ONDC platform for digital transformation

Additionally, ONDC has commenced a pilot to onboard street food vendors in Delhi and Lucknow. The plan is to onboard 500 street food vendors in the next two months in both these cities followed by a nationwide scale-up with more seller and buyer apps. Seller apps onboard merchants while buyer apps are customer-facing apps on which orders are placed.

On February 22, three seller apps affiliated with the network—Ninjakart, Shiprocket, and Mystore—organized a seller onboarding program in Chhattisgarh. The event catered to 95 primary agricultural credit societies (PACS), eight farmers’ producer organizations (FPOs) and fish farmer producer organizations (FFPOs), seven dairy cooperatives, and five handloom cooperatives.

Continue Exploring: ONDC disrupts food delivery landscape: 50,000 restaurants join platform, challenging Zomato and Swiggy dominance

UK’s Nature Spell enters Indian market with 100+ natural beauty products

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March 5, 2024

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Nature Spell has officially introduced its product line in India, granting customers access to top-tier natural extracts and powerful actives, responsibly sourced from across the world and produced in the UK.

Famed for its high-quality formulations suitable for diverse skin and hair types, Nature Spell brings forth a collection of over 100 products to the Indian market. Among these offerings are the widely praised Rosemary Hair Oil, celebrated for its remarkable hair benefits, and the Growth Complex Hair Growth Range, leveraging the power of Indian herbs to foster robust hair growth.

Sunny Gandhi, Co-Founder said, “We noticed a gap in the market for products that were not just effective but also sustainable, clean, and most importantly, transparent. This realization led us to the concept of blending the richness of earth’s natural goodness with the efficacy of modern high-performance based active ingredients and as a result, build effective products suitable for all hair and skin types.”

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

Nature Spell’s skincare line showcases effective formulations tailored to address various skin concerns, blending natural extracts, potent active ingredients, and pre-diluted cold-pressed oils. Covering everything from facial cleansers to moisturizers and treatments, this range advocates for overall skin well-being and adheres to cruelty-free practices. Moreover, with 90% of the products being vegan, it underscores a commitment to ethical and sustainable choices.

Exercising full control over the manufacturing process, from ingredient procurement to packaging design, Nature Spell guarantees top-notch quality in both product formulation and presentation. The brand captivates customer interest with visually appealing and environmentally friendly packaging solutions.

The brand’s introduction into the Indian market marks a significant change in the beauty industry landscape, providing an extensive array of efficacious and scientifically validated natural products designed for various skin types. Nature Spell makes its debut with 22 SKUs covering hair, skin, and body care, with intentions to roll out an additional 80 SKUs in the near future.

Customers have the opportunity to discover Nature Spell’s diverse product range through its Shopify store, as well as on prominent e-commerce platforms such as Nykaa, Amazon, Myntra, and Flipkart. Additionally, retail availability will soon begin, ensuring convenient access for customers to the brand’s sustainable beauty offerings.

Continue Exploring: India’s beauty market booms: L’Oreal and Shiseido set sights on rapid expansion amid growing consumer demand

B2B platform Udaan ships over 2.25 Billion products in 2023, 900 sellers achieve INR 1 Crore sales each

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March 5, 2024

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Udaan, a leading B2B e-commerce platform, shipped over 2.25 billion products across India in 2023. Additionally, 900 sellers on the platform achieved sales worth INR 1 crore each.

Udaan stated that the platform facilitated the sale of 31 million electronics products, nearly 30 million products each in the lifestyle and general merchandise categories, 10 lakh tonnes of essentials, and 2 lakh tonnes of FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) products.

The company said, “Over 2.25 billion products catering to over 23 million orders were shipped by the platform in 2023. These orders were shipped across all states of Bharat. During this period, 900 sellers on the platform achieved sales worth INR 1 crore each, while close to 600 sellers did business worth INR 2 crores on the platform.”

Continue Exploring: Udaan secures $340 Million in Series E funding, eyes public market in 12-18 months

“Udaan encourages digitisation of payments among small retailers and kiranas. In 2023, 22 per cent of retailers on the udaan platform adopted digital payment methods,” it said.

Vaibhav Gupta, co-founder and CEO of udaan, said that the large volume of orders and higher repeat purchase rate highlights the preference udaan enjoys among its retailer partners.

“Encouraged by our solid performance, we will continue to work towards strengthening our market position and capitalise on the huge $150 billion opportunity that the Indian electronic B2B market offers,” Gupta said.

Continue Exploring: Udaan undergoes executive leadership restructuring as Group CFO Aditya Pande resigns

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

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March 5, 2024

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BigBasket, the leading e-grocery platform, has partnered with Chef and entrepreneur Sanjeev Kapoor to launch a frozen foods brand named Precia.

“Our partnership with Chef Sanjeev Kapoor marks a decisive leap forward in meeting evolving consumer needs and tapping into new market opportunities,” said Hari Menon, Co-Founder of BigBasket.

Precia will cover three product categories, offering frozen vegetables such as green peas and mixed vegetables, frozen snacks like momos and french fries, and frozen sweets including gajar ka halwa and purani dilli rabdi.

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

“Our goal of INR 100 crore in online sales by 2026 underscores our belief in Precia’s potential and our commitment to continuous growth,” Menon added.

The company stated that Precia utilizes individual quick freezing technology to rapidly freeze items at ultra-low temperatures, effectively maintaining their separation and preserving the natural texture, color, and flavor of each individual piece of food.

“With BigBasket’s extensive reach and my culinary vision, we aim to make Precia a household name, providing families across India with delicious, hassle-free meal solutions,” Kapoor said.

Furthermore, Precia emphasized its direct engagement with farmers for vegetable procurement, guaranteeing fair compensation through a same-day pay policy.

Licious crowned ‘India’s Juiciest Chicken’ by National Meat Research Institute

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March 5, 2024

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Licious, a renowned brand for premium meats and seafood, marked a noteworthy achievement by clinching the prestigious title of ‘India’s Juiciest Chicken’ from the National Meat Research Institute. This recognition was highlighted in their latest ad film campaign, ‘Safa Chatt,’ which features Bollywood actors Gajraj Rao and Sheeba Chaddha. Conceptualized by Sideways, the campaign underscores the brand’s commitment to providing unparalleled culinary experiences, emphasizing the sheer joy and satisfaction derived from their offerings.

The campaign video kicks off with a familiar scene: a couple enjoying a meal, with the husband expressing his joy about Licious’s recent recognition. This initial setup effectively lays the groundwork for the story, highlighting Licious’s reputation for delivering the most succulent chicken, even before receiving official certification. The creative approach behind ‘Safa Chatt’ aimed not only to announce the award but also to foster a sense of pride among existing Licious customers and entice new ones to try the brand’s products. The video wraps up with a playful touch, as a voiceover reaffirms what many Licious patrons have long known: that Licious offers the juiciest chicken in India.

At the heart of this campaign is the hard work and dedication of the Licious team. Santosh Hegde, vice president for the brand, shared the significance of this recognition, stating, “Being recognized by ICAR-National Meat Research Institute is a huge honour for the brand. At Licious, every bite is an explosion of flavour, and being certified ‘India’s Juiciest Chicken’ is a proud moment for us and our customers.”

This certification serves not only as an accolade but also as a validation of the brand’s fundamental principles and the result of years of commitment to refining their product. Led by Abhijit Avasthi of Sideways, the creative team behind the campaign sought to underscore the notion that Licious’s juiciness had long been recognized as a well-known fact, now officially affirmed.

The ‘Safa Chatt’ campaign goes beyond merely celebrating an award; it weaves a story that strikes a chord with the brand’s devoted clientele while enticing newcomers to savor the richness and tenderness of Licious’s products. The acknowledgment from the National Meat Research Institute not only solidifies Licious’s standing in the market but also establishes a fresh standard for quality and contentment in the industry. As the campaign gains momentum, it reiterates Licious’s dedication to delivering unmatched culinary delights, guaranteeing that every dining experience embodies the essence of ‘Safa Chatt’.

Continue Exploring: Licious completes 8 years of delivering meaty delights, introduces exclusive Licious Infiniti rewards program

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