Team India and Chennai Super Kings‘ fast bowler Deepak Chahar took to social media on Saturday to express his dissatisfaction with food delivery service Zomato. He claimed that despite placing an order through the app, he never received it, and the company falsely marked it as delivered.
Sharing his ordeal on social media, Chahar highlighted the mismanagement by Zomato in delivering the order and also pointed out that the customer service labelled him a liar.
new fraud in India ???? . Ordered food from @zomato and app shows delivered but didn’t receive anything. After calling the customer service they also said that it’s been delivered and m lying ???? . M sure lot of people must be facing same issues. Tag @zomato and tell your story . pic.twitter.com/PwvNTcRTTj
Chahar’s call for other users to recount similar negative experiences prompted Zomato to swiftly initiate damage control, issuing an apology to the cricketing star.
new fraud in India ???? . Ordered food from @zomato and app shows delivered but didn’t receive anything. After calling the customer service they also said that it’s been delivered and m lying ???? . M sure lot of people must be facing same issues. Tag @zomato and tell your story . pic.twitter.com/PwvNTcRTTj
Responding to Zomato‘s apology, Chahar highlighted that simply refunding the order amount isn’t an adequate solution, as many others face similar issues.
Just wanted to highlight this as lot of people face this issue and no proper action is taken giving back the money of the order will not solve the issue. Hunger cannot be compensate with money .
Just wanted to highlight this as lot of people face this issue and no proper action is taken giving back the money of the order will not solve the issue. Hunger cannot be compensate with money .
Chahar is gearing up for his return to professional cricket in the upcoming IPL, with his sights firmly set on the upcoming T20 World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to be jointly hosted by the United States and West Indies in June of this year.
Chahar was unable to participate in India’s tour of South Africa in December and the subsequent home T20Is against Afghanistan due to his father’s recovery from a brain stroke.
According to a report by credit rating firm ICRA, the Indian hotel industry anticipates a revenue growth of seven to nine per cent in the upcoming financial year 2024-25. ICRA highlighted that the continued interest in domestic leisure travel and the demand for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) will be key drivers of this growth, despite a temporary slowdown during the forthcoming general elections.
The research firm highlighted that spiritual tourism and Tier 2 cities are anticipated to contribute significantly to the overall demand in the next fiscal year.
According to ICRA, pan-India hotel occupancy estimates have reached a ten-year peak of 70 percent to 72 percent in the current financial year and are expected to remain at that level in the next fiscal year, compared to 68 percent to 70 percent in 2022-23.
Pan-India, average room rates (ARRs) are expected to be around INR 7,200 to INR 7,400 in the current fiscal, which is likely to rise further to INR 7,800 to INR 8,000 in the next financial year.
ICRA holds an optimistic view regarding the Indian hospitality industry, noting improvements in credit ratings, the report said.
The increase in demand led to a rise in supply announcements and the commencement of deferred projects over the past 18 to 24 months. However, it was noted that supply would trail behind demand.
An IndiGo passenger recently spotted cockroaches crawling in the food area during their flight. Sharing the video on X platform, Tarun Shukla raised serious concerns about food hygiene on flights.
“Cockroaches and in the food area of a plane (anywhere for that matter) are just truly awful. One hopes @IndiGo6E takes a hard look at its fleet and checks how this even happened given that it normally flies relatively new @Airbus A320s,” Shukla wrote.
In another tweet, Shukla shared what he said was IndiGo’s response to the video showing the cockroaches.
“We are aware of the video that was circulated on social media showing an unclean corner in one of our aircraft. Our staff promptly took the necessary action onboard. As a precautionary measure, we immediately cleaned the entire fleet and carried out fumigation and disinfection procedures. At IndiGo, we maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene to ensure a safe, hassle-free experience and regret any inconvenience caused to the passengers,” said the airlines.
Cockroaches and in the food area of a plane (anywhere for that matter) are just truly awful.
One hopes @IndiGo6E takes a hard look at its fleet and checks how did this even happen given that it normally flies relatively new @Airbus A320s :
The video prompted social media reactions, who slammed the airline. A user wrote, “@IndiGo6E is truely gone to dogs. From one of the best in the world to one of the worst. Looks like their leadership has given up completely. Time for another fresh budget carrier to take place?”
Another user wrote, “Very arrogant ,lame and irresponsible response from the side of Indigo. DGCA should take notice of this incident and take strict action against the airline.”
Red Bull has bolstered its position in the sports and energy drink market with the debut of its 2024 summer edition, Curuba Elderflower.
The latest energy beverage combines the taste of curuba, a fruit commonly referred to as banana passionfruit and indigenous to South America, with hints of elderflower, melon, and pineapple.
According to market research platform Appinio, flavors are a crucial factor driving growth in the energy drink category. Their findings reveal that 85% of consumers are keen on exploring “new and unconventional flavors” in energy drinks.
This year’s summer edition, Curuba Elderflower, follows in the footsteps of last year’s Red Bull Juneberry variant and the strawberry-apricot flavor introduced in 2022. The energy drink giant has confirmed that Juneberry, hailed as its most successful new product development (NPD), is now a permanent fixture in its portfolio.
The latest edition will hit shelves nationwide in the UK starting March 11, offering a range of pack sizes as well as a sugar-free option.
Being Human Clothing, a brand overseen by a charitable trust led by Bollywood actor Salman Khan, clinched five awards at the India Fashion Forum 2024, hosted at the Hotel Conrad, Bengaluru, on February 21-22.
The brand received the prestigious Alizeh award in the apparel category, honoring its outstanding achievements in marketing and promotion. Furthermore, its celebrity-endorsed campaign, multimedia ventures in the lifestyle realm, and impactful social cause initiatives were applauded for their efficacy.
Additionally, the retailer was acknowledged as the most admired brand for diversity and inclusivity. It also received the distinguished ESG Initiative of the year award, underscoring its commitment to environmental, social, and governance principles.
Established in 2012, Being Human Clothing was founded with the mission of advancing the goals of ‘Being Human – The Salman Khan Foundation,’ a charitable organization dedicated to providing education and healthcare support to underprivileged communities in India.
It sells its products through over 94 exclusive brand outlets (EBOs), spanning more than 400 multi-brand outlets (MBOs), over 200 shop-in-shop formats, and numerous online marketplaces.
The India Fashion Forum 2024 recognized numerous industry leaders for their exceptional performance and innovative contributions. Among the notable awardees were Rare Rabbit and Tommy Hilfiger for men’s western wear, AND and Vero Moda for women’s western wear, and Mini Klub and United Colors of Benetton for kidswear.
The event spotlighted brands that have demonstrated excellence in marketing, promotions, innovation, and retail expansion. Masaba Gupta for John Jacobs and Forum + BOF PNG Slide were among those acknowledged for their significant contributions.
Sangeet Agrawal and Navin Parwal, Co-Founders, Mokobara
D2C luggage brand Mokobara has raised $12 million (INR 100 crore) in its latest round of funding led by Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India), at a valuation of $80 million post-money.
In September 2023, ET was the first to report on a potential investment of $12-15 million in Mokobara, led by Peak XV Partners, at a valuation ranging from $65 to $80 million.
In the Series B funding round, Mokobara’s current supporters, Sauce VC and Saama Capital, have also joined in. According to regulatory filings with the Registrar of Companies (RoC), of the $12 million raised, approximately $9.4 million has been contributed by Peak XV Partners, with the remaining portion invested by the other two backers.
Established in 2020 by ex-Urban Ladder executives Sangeet Agrawal and Navin Parwal, Mokobara, the luggage and travel accessories brand, has accumulated a total funding of $20 million, encompassing the most recent round. The previous funding round in October 2023 saw Mokobara raising $3.6 million from Sauce VC and Saama Capital.
On its cap table, the Bengaluru-based startup also includes Varun Alagh, the cofounder and CEO of Mamaearth, Ashish Goel, the founder and CEO of Urban Ladder, and Ramakant Sharma, the founder and COO of LivSpace.
Operating within the mid-premium segment, Mokobara competes with a range of players, including established brands like American Tourister and emerging startups such as Nasher Miles.
As per a research note from Crisil in August 2023, despite a high-base effect of 40% growth in the previous fiscal year, India’s luggage industry revenue is projected to increase by approximately 15% year-on-year in the current fiscal year. This growth is attributed to the increasing adoption of hard luggage manufactured by the organized sector, alongside sustained expansion in tourism and corporate travel.
Mokobara’s fundraise comes at a time when risk capital investors are increasingly turning towards consumer brands away from tech companies owing to high valuations commanded by technology startups.
A New Delhi-based investor specializing in consumer-focused ventures emphasized that while India’s consumption narrative has consistently thrived, the tech sector’s acceleration has been propelled by the influx of billions of dollars from venture investors specifically targeting technology. Nonetheless, India’s consumption indicators remain resilient.
“For investors, the thesis is very clear. In any sector, there is enough space for consumer brands to scale and become large…India also has enough number of large brands across categories and segments that can come in as strategic investors opening up an exit route for early-stage investors,” the person added.
Following a notable decrease in input material costs last year and subsequent price reductions affecting the value growth rate of the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, consumer goods manufacturers have indicated a “moderate increase” of 2-4% in product prices for this year. This adjustment is anticipated to enhance the pace of growth within the sector.
Godrej Consumer Products, Dabur, and Emami have signaled that price-driven growth will return to the industry. Dabur has implemented a 2.5% price increase for its food portfolio, while Emami plans to implement around 3% price hikes this year.
Sudhir Sitapati, the managing director of Godrej Consumer Products, mentioned that commodity prices are currently stable to slightly increasing, and there’s a positive trend in wage inflation. As a result, product prices are expected to rise slightly in the upcoming quarters, leading to a high single-digit value growth for the industry this calendar year.
“The market growth rate will improve next fiscal,” he said.
Mohit Malhotra, the CEO of Dabur India, remarked that inflation is increasingly tilting towards food items. He pointed out that essentials like cereals and spices are still experiencing double-digit inflation, which is concerning. While there was a slight decrease at one point, it has since resurged, indicating ongoing volatility in prices.
“Even in honey, there is inflation. We have just taken a price increase in oral care, for example, driven by our competitor taking up the price increase. In healthcare, we might be forced to take price increases. Even in spices. So wherever the shoe will pinch, we will have to hike prices,” said Malhotra.
According to FMCG market researcher NielsenIQ, the industry witnessed a significant drop in price growth from 10% in calendar year 2022 to 2.7% in 2023. This decline can be attributed to the decrease in prices across various products last year. In 2022, there was unprecedented inflation in several FMCG input costs, ranging from palm oil to crude oil to packaging materials, driven by geopolitical factors. Despite overall demand remaining subdued, many companies have observed higher volume growth compared to value growth in recent quarters, primarily due to the price downturn.
In the past two years, the edible oil segment experienced remarkable price fluctuations but has witnessed improved price stability over the last 2-3 quarters. Sanjeev Asthana, the CEO of Patanjali Foods, informed analysts earlier this month that prices have remained stable to slightly higher in the past week.
Approximately 65-70% of FMCG companies’ growth has been attributed to volume, while the remainder stemmed from price increases. However, in 2022, price hikes accounted for the entirety of their growth, as volumes either remained stagnant or declined for some companies. Following the cessation of price increases and the adjustment of price tags in response to moderating inflation, these companies anticipate an uptick in volumes.
Sanjay Agarwal, the Chief Financial Officer of Jyothy Labs, remarked that predicting geopolitical and macroeconomic situations has become increasingly challenging.
“So for now, it seems good, has come off from peak and margins — as what we are getting today, we are comfortable with that,” he said.
According to government consumption data, Indians are reducing their expenditure on food, notably essentials like rice and wheat, while increasing spending on discretionary items such as processed foods, as well as durable goods like televisions and refrigerators.
The recently released Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, issued late on Saturday, indicates that average monthly per capita consumer spending in rural areas increased from 1,430 rupees in the 2011-2012 survey to 3,773 rupees ($45.54) over the 12 months leading up to July. Similarly, urban spending saw an increase from 2,630 rupees to 6,459 rupees ($77.95) during the same period.
The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi opted not to release the 2017-2018 survey, citing “data quality issues.” This decision sparked controversy, with concerns raised about whether the administration was withholding economic data.
The government refuted allegations of withholding the data due to its depiction of weak consumption trends.
The new survey will serve as the basis for a review of India’s consumer price inflation index.
Expenditure on food decreased to 46% of monthly consumption for rural consumers, down from nearly 53% in 2011-12. In urban areas, it declined to 39% from 43%.
Indian consumers are reducing their expenditures on cereals such as wheat and rice, as well as pulses, while allocating more funds towards beverages, refreshments, and processed food.
In terms of non-food purchases, consumers are allocating more funds towards transportation, consumer services, and durable goods such as televisions and refrigerators.
The results come before India goes to the polls in an election to be held by May, with Modi seeking a rare third term.
Although the Indian economy is projected to achieve a remarkable growth rate of 7.3% in the current fiscal year starting from April, followed by 7% growth in the next fiscal year, significant segments of the rural population are grappling with stagnant incomes and soaring inflation.
Fairness creams saw a 3% decrease in volume sales in 2023 compared to the previous year, marking the first decline in their popularity, according to data from researcher NielsenIQ.
“As consumer demands continue to evolve, purpose-driven formats like brightening, glow, radiance and anti-dullness are garnering increased attention, signalling a shift in perception towards beauty,” said Roosevelt DSouza, head, customer success India, at NielsenIQ.
This marks a clear change from previous trends, as the Indian skincare market was previously predominantly focused on ‘whitening’ and ‘fairness’ products.
“Gen Z and millennials are shifting to brightening and hydration functionalities instead of fairness,” said Nitin Passi, chairman of premium cosmetics maker Lotus Herbals.
Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) renamed its leading fairness cream from Fair & Lovely to Glow & Lovely in 2020 amidst criticism over perpetuating stereotypes. This move came after global protests against racial injustice, notably the #BlackLivesMatter movement. HUL, holding close to 40% market share in fairness creams, also changed the name of its men’s range to Glow & Handsome during the same period.
The company didn’t respond to queries.
Following HUL’s action, L’Oreal, a prominent global cosmetics company, removed terms like “white,” “fair,” and “light” from its skincare line worldwide. Additionally, Johnson & Johnson (J&J), a US healthcare corporation, ceased the sale of its skin-whitening creams under brands like Clean & Clear and Neutrogena in Asian and Middle Eastern markets.
The switch is being driven by younger consumers.
“The middle-age groups still continue to use fairness products,” said Passi of Lotus Herbals.
Personal care companies like Emami, CavinKare, Himalaya, Revlon, and Biotique are progressively shifting away from endorsing ‘fair skin’ products and instead focusing on products that promote radiant, glowing, or anti-dull skin.
“The narrative in the beauty industry has shifted from fairness to clean beauty with a much higher emphasis on ingredients delivered via toxin and chemical-free natural formulas,” said Sukhleen Aneja, formerly in senior leadership roles at HUL and L’Oreal, and now chief executive at Good Brands, part of the Good Glamm Group. “This is prevalent even among younger audiences who are seeking preventive care via sun protection, preventing skin pigmentation. This also explains the rise of dermat first brands especially online.”
Good Glamm’s lineup comprises beauty brands such as Organic Harvest and St. Botanica. Aneja noted that this trend would persist, especially with the democratization of search and social media information, which has made consumers increasingly discerning.
According to NielsenIQ, fairness creams experienced a modest year-on-year growth of 5.4% by value, while the overall skincare sector expanded by 9.2% in the calendar year 2023. The skincare industry as a whole in India reached a valuation of INR 15,800 crore during that year.
“Moisturising creams and face washes were the top contributing categories. Fairness creams, hold approximately 25% of the overall skin-care market,” NielsenIQ’s data said.
The current regulations outlined by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), in collaboration with the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), emphasize the importance of avoiding “socially undesirable depictions for commercial gains.”
“Some ads are seen to reinforce depictions of society that perpetuated unhealthy practices or beliefs for the sole purpose of commercial gains,” said ASCI chief executive officer Manisha Kapoor. “For example, ads that promote stereotypes such as fair skin or certain body shapes.”
The airline’s latest IPA, dubbed Cloud Cruiser, will be served as a complimentary beverage in first and premium class, and will be available for purchase in the main cabin.
Alaska Airlines partnered with Fremont Brewing to develop a range of beer blends. These blends underwent taste testing at 30,000 feet until both collaborators settled on Cloud Cruiser: an India Pale Ale infused with orange, melon, and tropical flavors.
Todd Traynor-Corey, Alaska Airlines’ managing director of guest products, said, “The Cloud Cruiser is the result of two Pacific Northwest brands coming together…The only place in the world you’ll be able to find this one-of-a-kind craft beer is if you’re flying on Alaska or in one of our lounges.”
Matt Lincecum, Fremont Brewing’s founder and owner, commented, “Cloud Cruiser IPA is brewed with a select blend of malts and Washington-grown to stay fresh in the air.”
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