IGP, the multi-category gifting platform, has unveiled its first retail outlet in Mumbai, situated in Bandra West. Additionally, it intends to open two more stores in Breach Candy and Vashi, Navi Mumbai, within the coming month.
The store exhibits IGP’s diverse offerings, ranging from fresh flowers and gourmet foods to personalized gift hampers, among other items.
“Launching our first experiential retail store in Mumbai marks a pivotal moment for IGP. We’re excited to provide our customers with a space where they can physically discover our diverse range of offerings. This milestone reflects our commitment to innovation and elevating the user’s gifting experience,” said Tarun Joshi, Founder of IGP.
The gifting retailer will soon expand its retail presence across the country with upcoming store launches.
Based in Mumbai, IGP boasts an extensive delivery network comprising three mother warehouses and more than 50 dark stores.
With customers in over 100 countries worldwide and serving more than 1000 cities in India, the brand has established a global presence. Its team of over 1100 employees operates from offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Jaipur, Pune, Singapore, Dubai, and California.
Snapdeal, the Gurugram-based e-commerce platform, announced on Monday the expansion of its lifestyle product portfolio by onboarding multiple brands.
In the past three months, the AceVector Ltd. value fashion marketplace has successfully brought on board more than 1,200 brands onto its platform.
Snapdeal’s latest fashion collection showcases a variety of renowned brands such as Jockey, Rosaline by Zivame, Varanga, House of Ramraj Cotton, John Players, Clovia, Red Tape, Janasya, Aurelia, Nauti Natti, and the newly introduced Ketch, among others. With prices ranging from INR 249 to INR 999, these brands guarantee accessibility without sacrificing style or quality.
Within the footwear section, Snapdeal presents a selection of brands such as Carlton London, Sparx, Campus, and Action, with prices beginning at INR 599. Moreover, Snapdeal’s accessory collection showcases a diverse array from acclaimed brands like Baggit, Daniel Klein, and more, providing the ideal complement to any ensemble.
Himanshu Chakrawarti, CEO of Snapdeal, commented, “As Snapdeal enters a phase of substantial growth, this reflects our progressive stance in evolving into a holistic fashion destination for consumers who prioritise quality living at affordable prices. We plan to consistently add new brands to the portfolio and provide a lifestyle that is both stylish and values-driven.”
Currently, 86% of Snapdeal’s orders are sourced from non-metro areas, with more than 72% of purchasers coming from smaller towns and cities. Nearly 95% of the products offered on Snapdeal are priced below INR 1000. Founded in 2010, the company is assessed to be valued at $4 billion and is projected to experience a growth rate of 26% CAGR, aiming to achieve a valuation of $40 billion by 2030, according to its LinkedIn profile.
Bevzilla, a prominent direct-to-consumer caffeine beverage brand, has introduced its latest product: The Beauty Coffee, infused with Marine Collagen, Biotin, and Vitamin E.
Traditionally, beauty and skincare have revolved around topical products and nutritious superfoods in one’s diet. However, Bevzilla’s Beauty Coffee offers a contemporary twist by bringing skincare benefits into your daily coffee cup. This luxurious addition to your routine seamlessly blends indulgence with beauty priorities, enhancing your daily rituals with ease and elegance.
Amidst the prevailing coffee culture, Bevzilla offers a refreshing newcomer — a promising consumer-centric beverage inclusive of ingredients like Marine Collagen and Biotin that are focused on enhancing skin elasticity and strengthening hair and nails. It seamlessly blends into the busy lifestyle, offering a taste experience that remains uncompromised, given the rich flavors of Arabica beans and the beauty benefits. A distinctive fusion of Arabica beans, Marine Collagen, Biotin, and Vitamin E in the coffee powder results in radiant skin and stronger hair, which further sets this product apart from conventional beauty products in the market. The Beauty Coffee package comes with 30 sachets.
Divisha Chaudhary, Co-Founder of Bevzilla commented, “The Beauty Coffee caters to those passionate about wellness and skincare. Crafted for individuals who prioritize self-care, our product offers an easy and gratifying means to effortlessly enhance natural beauty. We believe in helping you elevate your daily routine with Beauty Coffee—a near-perfect balance of indulgence and skincare, ensuring each sip is a step towards radiant well-being.”
Sanchit Garg, Co-Founder of Bevzilla added, “When formulating Beauty Coffee, we envisioned something more grandiose than just a beverage. We put together a luxurious and indulgent beauty ritual into each sip. We believe that by seamlessly integrating our coffee into your daily routine, consumers can effortlessly elevate their self-care practices with the sufficiency of biotin and collagen. With no compromise on taste, ‘Beauty Coffee retains the richness of arabica beans and the inherent beauty benefits of its ingredients. This coffee is your hack to a flavourful skincare practice!”
Madras Mandi, a prominent fresh produce brand, is taking a significant step to solidify its presence in the Chennai market. With a keen awareness of the market’s demands for quality, affordability, and convenience, the brand is embarking on a substantial offline expansion throughout the city. By the end of 2024, Madras Mandi aims to inaugurate 20 new stores in Chennai.
This strategic expansion reflects the brand’s dedication to providing tailored shopping experiences that resonate with the distinct preferences of Chennai’s diverse neighborhoods. Moreover, this initiative forms part of a broader strategy to improve access to farm-fresh products and foster deeper connections within local communities.
“Our expansion in Chennai is not just about opening new stores; it’s about embedding ourselves in the fabric of each locality, offering a tailored experience that meets the specific needs of our customers,” said Prashanth Vasan, CEO of Madras Mandi.
“We’re here to build lasting relationships with the Chennai community, providing them with fresh, quality produce that enriches their daily lives.”
Madras Mandi sets itself apart from competitors through unique farm experiences and community-focused events like “Kootanchoru,” with the aim of building stronger connections with its customers. These initiatives, combined with a commitment to fresh, quality produce, position Madras Mandi as a frontrunner in the Chennai market. The “Kootanchoru” event, a curated pop-up dinner celebrating communal dining and local cuisine, showcases Madras Mandi’s dedication to bringing people together over shared meals and premium ingredients.
With a user base surpassing 500,000 and more than 500,000 orders fulfilled to date, Madras Mandi’s expansion showcases its robust market presence and earned customer confidence. Looking ahead, the brand’s five-year vision entails prioritizing quality, sustainability, and waste reduction, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to delivering top-notch products to its clientele.
Madras Mandi’s foray into Chennai is integral to its overarching growth strategy, reflecting its ambition to become a household name in fresh produce retailing. As Madras Mandi continues to expand, it remains steadfast in its mission to deliver uncompromised quality vegetables, aiming for a presence in every neighborhood and eventually branching out to Tier 2 cities in the south.
Anousha Chauhan and Shreyansh Chauhan, Co-Founders, Beautywise
Beautywise, a startup specializing in beauty supplements, has secured INR 6.5 crore in funding. The investment was spearheaded by AC Ventures and co-led by Fluid Ventures, Real Time Angel Fund (RTAF), and GSF. Additionally, LetsVenture Angel Fund participated in the round.
Other investors participating in the funding round are Dinesh Agarwal, Murugavel Janakiraman, Akshay Ghulati, Chakradhar Gade, Agam Khare, Arjun Vaidya, Sandeep Kohli, Bharat Kalia, Nitin Gupta, Siddhartha Pahwa, Agastya Dalmia, and Aman Arora.
The newly acquired funds will be used to introduce new products in the beauty and wellness segment, expand the team, and broaden Beautywise’s presence in the global market.
Established by Anousha Chauhan and Shreyansh Chauhan, Beautywise provides scientifically backed and dermatologist-recommended solutions. Its range encompasses collagen, glutathione, keratin, and ceramides, available through aesthetic clinic chains, retail outlets, and online platforms.
Anousha Chauhan, Founder of Beautywise, expressed her excitement, stating, “This fundraise represents a pivotal step towards realizing our vision of empowering individuals to achieve their authentic beauty and wellness through our dermatology-led, results-driven formulations.”
Shreyansh Chauhan, Founder and CEO of Beautywise, emphasized the brand’s philosophy, saying, “This funding will enable us to continue developing revolutionary products and to expand our team and retail presence. It will also be used to conduct market research, establish distribution networks, and implement promotional activities to effectively reach a wider audience.”
Shreyansh Chauhan added, “This funding will allow Beautywise to move forward in a retail marketing strategy aligned with the anticipated growth in Beauty Retail, Aesthetic Dermatology Clinics, and premium salons. The company plans to explore the development of a Business-to-Direct-to-Consumer (B2D2C) platform, facilitating the onboarding of dermatologists, nutritionists, and beauty professionals.”
The startup asserts its presence in retail outlets, including Apollo Pharmacies, Guardian GNC, Apnachemist, and Modern Bazaar. Moreover, it has secured a significant online presence on platforms such as Nykaa and Amazon, as well as various other online portals.
Biggies Burger, the indigenous burger chain of India, has secured pre-Series A funding, valuing the company at INR 210 crore. This investment marks a significant milestone in the brand’s rapid growth and fuels its ambitious expansion plans.
The funds will mainly go towards strengthening Biggies Burger’s team and expanding its marketing initiatives. With 130 stores currently open and another 160 stores already in the pipeline, the brand is on a rapid growth path. In just 26 months, Biggies Burger has increased its store count from 37 in October 2021 to 130 in December 2023, achieving an impressive annual revenue run rate of INR 103 crore.
Biraja Rout, Founder of Biggies Burger, said, “We are incredibly excited to leverage these resources to further strengthen our brand, build an even more compelling customer experience and accelerate our expansion plans. Our vision is to be the go-to burger destination for every Indian and this pre-series A round brings us one step closer to achieving that dream.”
Established in 2011 in Bengaluru, Biggies Burger introduced Indian consumers to grilled burgers. It emerged as India’s pioneering homegrown chain to rival American counterparts, introducing authentic grilled burgers to the Indian market. Renowned for its ongoing innovation, Biggies Burger later pioneered the concept of localized menus as it expanded nationwide, becoming a favored model in Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) franchising. This approach not only appealed to QSR enthusiasts in tier-I cities but also facilitated entry into tier II and III cities. Recently, Biggies Burger secured seed round funding to fuel its expansion into tier II and III cities further.
Anita Praveen, the Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (FPI), led a roundtable discussion with industry leaders at Invest India. The main agenda of the gathering was to provide insights into the upcoming World Food India 2024, scheduled from September 19th to 22nd, 2024. The discussion revolved around engaging the industry in the event and outlining expectations. This session marked a continuation of ongoing dialogues aimed at informing stakeholders about the Ministry’s plans for World Food India 2024 and fostering potential collaborations. Notably, senior representatives from prominent agri-food companies actively participated in the discussion.
During her keynote speech, the Secretary of MoFPI highlighted the growth and extensive opportunities within the food-processing sector. Emphasizing the ministry’s efforts, she announced the upcoming 3rd edition of the eagerly awaited World Food India event, anticipated to be larger in scale than the previous 2023 edition. Extending a warm invitation, she urged all companies to participate enthusiastically in the Mega Food Event, slated to occur from September 19th to 22nd, 2024, in New Delhi.
Furthermore, the participating companies eagerly voiced their interest in participating in World Food India 2024, showcasing their preparedness to showcase their products and technologies in allocated stall spaces. Additionally, they showed keen interest in partnering with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries for the scheduled event sessions. Valuable suggestions and feedback were exchanged and deliberated upon during the discussions.
Concluding her address, the Secretary of Food Processing Industries (FPI) urged all stakeholders to unite and collaborate for the success of the event. She stressed the importance of leveraging individual strengths and offering additional support to cultivate strong partnerships and engagement across a diverse spectrum of stakeholders.
Moreover, the Investment Facilitation Cell (Invest India) was tasked with maintaining communication with the companies to finalize the particulars of their participation.
Gokyo, a Mumbai-based outdoor clothing brand, has opened a new store in Noida, as stated in a release by the company on Monday.
This marks the brand’s expansion into the North region, including the NCR, with the new store located in the Gulshan ONE29 mall.
The newly opened Gokyo store presents a selection of outdoor clothing and gear meticulously curated to cater to the varied requirements of adventurers. Featuring the Explorer Series, Alpine Series, and Sherpa Series, Gokyo provides a diverse array of products tailored for beginners, intermediate, and expert adventurers alike.
“It excites us all at Gokyo to introduce our successful range of high-quality outdoor clothing and gear to Northern India with our new store in Noida. Through our presence in the Gulshan ONE29 mall, we look forward to inspiring and equipping more adventure enthusiasts to explore the extremes with functionality and style,” said Venkatesh Maheshwari, Co-Founder, Gokyo.
As of now, the brand also operates another store in Malad, Mumbai.
Pee Safe, a Gurugram-based personal hygiene and wellness brand, has teamed up with the Indian Navy and Navy Welfare and Wellness Association (NWWA) to supply women’s hygiene products to serving female personnel, as per a company statement released on Monday.
This collaboration is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed by the Indian Navy and NWWA with Pee Safe as part of the former’s wellness initiative for ‘Women in White, the release added.
On the occasion of the 38th NWWA Diwas, Pee Safe kits were distributed to all women officers and Agniveers posted in Delhi, with plans for distribution across all commands. The kit consists of a Menstrual Cup, a Sterilizing Container, a Menstrual Cup Steam Sterilizer, and a Menstrual Cup Wash.
“Pee Safe considers it a great honour to provide essential feminine hygiene products to the Indian Naval Fraternity. Their dedication and hard work in their incredibly important roles are truly inspiring to us. Our commitment to supporting their well-being remains unwavering, as we strive to ensure that they receive the comfort and care they deserve while focusing on their vital work throughout their menstrual cycle, said Vikas Bagaria, founder, Pee Safe.
Established in 2017 by Srijana Bagaria and Vikas Bagaria, Pee Safe has been focused on providing women with solutions to their everyday problems. Its products are available in upwards of 20,000 retail counters across 100+ cities in India. Pee Safe also exports to 22 countries along with a presence in all major e-commerce marketplaces, apart from their website.
They have catered to more than 6 million customers (with over 700,000 registered customers on their website). According to its official LinkedIn handle, the company recently secured a Series B funding of $3 million.
As per information available on the NCLT website, Velvin Group, a leading Indian manufacturer of sustainable packaging solutions, filed the plea in November last year. The plea was registered earlier this month.
It’s worth noting that Dunzo has received numerous legal notices from its vendors regarding payment of outstanding dues, as it grapples with severe cash flow issues that are hindering its ability to sustain operations.
Last year, the startup received legal notices from Google India, Nilenso, Clover Ventures, Facebook India Online Services Private Limited (FBI), Cupshup, Koo, and Glance for the same matter. Dunzo’s outstanding dues to these vendors amount to around INR 11.4 Cr.
Established in 2015 by Kabeer Biswas, Suri, Mukund Jha, and Ankur Aggarwal, Dunzo connects consumers with nearby stores and facilitates deliveries of products including groceries, medicines, and food, among other daily needs. Its venture into the quick commerce realm with Dunzo Daily led to a sharp increase in its cash burn.
Dunzo encountered difficulties in expanding its business, especially when juxtaposed with quick commerce giants like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart. Although it has shifted its focus solely to the less capital-intensive B2B operations, it remains a minor contender in this sector, contending with competitors such as Porter, Shiprocket, as well as Zomato and Ola.
Dunzo has secured approximately $457 million through various funding rounds to date. Among its investors are Reliance, Google, Lightbox, Lightrock, and Alteria Capital. In January 2022, the startup received a funding of $240 million from Reliance Retail.
Dunzo has faced significant challenges over the past year or so, primarily due to cash flow constraints, leading to several rounds of layoffs and prolonged delays in employee salary disbursements. Additionally, the startup experienced the departure of some key board members and co-founder Dalvir Suri last year.
In the midst of these developments, Flipkart is said to be considering acquiring the financially struggling startup. Nevertheless, complications regarding Dunzo’s ownership structure have posed challenges for both parties in reaching an agreement.
The Bengaluru-headquartered hyperlocal delivery startup witnessed a significant increase in losses, soaring to INR 1,801 crore in the financial year 2022-23 (FY23) from INR 464 crore in the preceding fiscal year. Although its operating revenue surged by 317% to INR 226.6 crore in FY23 from INR 54.3 crore in FY22, total expenses ballooned by 286% to INR 2,054.4 crore in FY23.
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