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Indian chocolate brands sweep over 20 awards at the Academy of Chocolate Awards 2023

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Chocolate

This year, several Indian F&B brands and homegrown companies have achieved global recognition, marking a significant milestone in their journey. Notably, three Indian chocolate brands, namely Manam Chocolate, Paul And Mike, and Bon Fiction, have garnered accolades at the prestigious Academy of Chocolate Awards in the UK. The recently unveiled list of winners for the year 2023 spans diverse categories, and these Indian brands have collectively secured over 20 awards, further establishing their prominence on the international stage.

Hyderabad-based Manam Chocolate has achieved an impressive feat by securing 17 accolades in various categories. Particularly noteworthy is their recognition as “overall winners” in the brand experience category, where they competed against more than 1400 international entries. In addition to this prestigious title, Manam Chocolate clinched 1 gold, 10 silver, and 5 bronze awards for their exquisite creations. Among these, their 66% Dark Chocolate (Single Origin, Idukki, Kerala), 65% Dark Chocolate (Single Origin Cacao San Carlos Plain, Northern Region of Costa Rica), and 67% Dark Chocolate (Single Origin – House Fermented Cacao – West Godavari) stood out, showcasing the brand’s commitment to quality and innovation.

Adding to their list of achievements, Manam Chocolate had previously been honored with the International Chocolate Award 2023 by the International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting, solidifying their reputation as a distinguished player in the craft chocolate industry.

Bon Fiction clinched five awards, with their ‘Out in the Dark’ and ‘Order of the Dark Roast’ chocolates earning recognition in the silver category for the best “Plain Dark Chocolate Bars.” Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Bon Fiction not only excels in crafting exceptional chocolates but also collaborates with farmers in the Godavari region, embodying a commitment to quality ingredients and sustainable practices.

Paul And Mike, the premium chocolate brand based in Kerala, secured a total of five accolades, underscoring their excellence in the industry. Notably, they earned silver awards for two of their distinctive creations: the 64 Per Cent Dark Golden Berry Chocolate and the 41 Per Cent Fine Milk Hokey Pokey Chocolate. This recent triumph adds to their impressive track record, as they also achieved significant recognition at the International Chocolate Awards 2023 last month, earning two spots in the coveted top 25 rankings.

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UK vegan dog-food maker Omni set for revenue surge after successful Fressnapf collaboration

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Omni

Omni, the UK-based producer of vegan pet food, is set to triple its revenues in 2024 following successful collaborations and listings with the European retailer Fressnapf.

According to CEO Dr Guy Sandelowsky, Omni aims to attain an annual revenue of £4 million ($5 million) in 2024, representing a significant increase from the projected £1.2 million for the year 2023.

The dry dog food and treats, categorized into ‘three life stages’ (puppy, adult, and senior), will be available for purchase through Fressnapf’s online store in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Italy.

“This launch is an important milestone for the entire alternative protein pet food movement as it clearly demonstrates the growing mainstream interest in plant-based and other alternative-protein dog food,” Sandelowsky said.

“As far as I’m aware, this is the first fully plant-based product [Fressnapf offers], especially as a full range of food.”

Before securing the Fressnapf deal, Omni primarily conducted sales within the UK through its official website. Approximately 10% of its sales were generated through the e-commerce giant Amazon and traditional brick-and-mortar retailers.

Following the agreement, the company anticipates that approximately 30% of its sales will originate from the European market.

Omni’s projected revenue of £1.2 million in 2023 represents an approximate 84% increase compared to the £650,000 it earned in 2022. Regarding net profits, Sandelowsky mentioned that the company “cannot disclose that information at this stage.”

The company’s strategy focuses on highlighting the health benefits of plant-based pet food, according to Sandelowsky. He explained, “We adopt the ‘veterinary assigns that’ approach.” Sandelowsky also noted that the primary trend propelling plant-based pet food sales in the UK and Germany is the “humanisation” of pets.

“What we do to ourselves we do to our pets,” he said. “Especially amongst millennials, who may actually defer having children later at some stage in life but have a pet first.”

People are also becoming “increasingly aware of the negative health impacts” of meat eating and are “conscientious about what happens to the planet”, he added.

Half of Omni’s customer base consists of individuals identifying as vegan or vegetarian, while the other half primarily comprises flexitarians. The latter group is characterized by individuals who are mindful of the “health and environmental impact” of meat consumption and are actively “trying to cut down,” as stated by Sandelowsky.

Omni positions its dry food at approximately £6 per kg, describing itself as “low-end premium.” Sandelowsky noted that pet owners are willing to invest more in quality products.

“One thing is clear: the budget sector of the market is not where there is growth. People understand that if they’re paying a very little bit for their dog food they’re probably not getting the most high-quality ingredients in their dog food,” he said.

Omni intends to introduce its wet food range in collaboration with Fressnapf, targeting a launch around the second quarter of the upcoming year.

The company is also about to launch a supplement line and expects to introduce a cat food product in the second quarter of 2024.

Omni collaborates with a third-party manufacturer that possesses the capability to produce in both the UK and throughout Europe. As the company expands its production on the continent, Sandelowsky mentioned this manufacturing partner’s extended capacity.

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Myntra expands international brand portfolio with Victoria’s Secret Beauty, teams up with Apparel Group for exclusive collaboration

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Victoria's Secret Beauty

Myntra, the fashion e-commerce platform, has broadened its collection of international brands by introducing Victoria’s Secret Beauty through a collaboration with Apparel Group, a fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate based in the UAE, as stated in a press release on Friday.

To begin with, Victoria’s Secret will offer a diverse selection of over 300 options on Myntra, including segments such as mists and lotions, body care, perfumes, as well as bags and wallets.

“As we officially step into the season of parties and weddings, the addition of Victoria’s Secret’s leading range of fragrances, body mists, lotions, and fashion-forward accessories, will undoubtedly enhance the international fashion and body care offerings on Myntra,” said Jayanti Ganguly, vice president – business at Myntra.

“In association with the Apparel Group, we are confident that the iconic brand will deeply resonate with our burgeoning base of premium customers spread across the nation, who possess an innate appreciation for popular international brands,” added Ganguly.

The brand’s presence on Myntra will be enhanced through an Online Brand Store (OBS), allowing users to navigate through the fragrance and luxe stores on the app, access detailed product specifications, and utilize the “shop by note” feature.

“Apparel Group is delighted to partner with Myntra, to strengthen Victoria’s Secret position in the country by offering prestige fragrances, body care and fashion forward accessories to its customers. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for our brand, as it will enable us to connect with the discerning consumer base,” said Tushar Ved, President Apparel Group.

Bengaluru-based Myntra boasts a diverse offering of over 6,000 fashion and lifestyle brands, encompassing well-known names such as H&M, Levis, Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Philippe, Jack & Jones, MANGO, Forever 21, Marks & Spencer, Nike, Puma, Crocs, M.A.C, and Fossil. With services reaching 19,000 pin codes across India, Myntra has become a prominent player in the online fashion and lifestyle marketplace.

Established in 1977 by brothers Roy and Gaye Raymond, Victoria’s Secret, the American lingerie, clothing, and beauty retailer, has evolved into a global brand. Currently, the company has around 1,360 retail stores spanning 70 countries, according to information available on its official website.

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Flash sales take center stage as apparel retailers struggle with year-end demand slump

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apparel
(Representative Image)

Despite the festive season, the last quarter of 2023 is expected to see subdued demand for apparel and lifestyle products, as shoppers remain hesitant to make purchases, contradicting retailers’ hopes for double-digit growth.

Due to the delayed onset of winter, many retailers have now started offering early discounts to attract shoppers. According to the survey conducted by the Retailers Association of India (RAI), retail sales in October and November 2023 exhibited a 7% growth compared to the sales levels during the same period in 2022.

“The last two-three months have seen muted growth despite being the festive season and the way things are going, we don’t expect any major uptick in demand for the next two quarters. Peak winter has not set in which has impacted the sales and we hope by June onwards, there will be some positive movements in demand,” said Devarajan Iyer, chief executive of department store chain Lifestyle International.

Since January of this year, the fashion retail sector has been grappling with a decline in demand, primarily attributable to inflationary pressures.

According to the Retailers Association of India (RAI), there was a slowdown in overall growth to 6% in both March and April, marking the slowest sales expansion in over 14 months. The growth marginally increased to 9% in August and September.

“In comparison with the last festive season, this festive season has been muted. This has forced us to rethink the store expansion strategy,” said Lalit Agarwal, chairman of hypermarket chain V-Mart.

Brands such as Marks & Spencer and Lifestyle acknowledged that festive sales were subdued this year. Allen Solly noted minimal growth, while Shoppers Stop, situated in a prominent mall, reported lower footfall in malls but higher activity in local markets.

Owing to lackluster festive sales, brands like Pantaloons are optimistic about winter sales. H&M mentioned that the prolonged Black Friday sales contributed to the delayed winter sales in their brand.

“Retailers had anticipated double-digit sales growth during the Puja and Diwali seasons in October and November. However, the sales growth has been muted for many retailers. Most retailers have indicated that the footfalls were not even equal to 2022 though the sales were just about the same as last year,” said Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, RAI.

In terms of segments, the value fashion segment sustained a greater impact compared to the premium segment and has not yet reached its pre-pandemic level of average sales per square foot.

With sales of homes and cars going up, taking the largest share of the wallet, people are preferring to spend the balance on experiences. Hence, there is an uptick in demand for travel and F&B and apparel sales are impacted,” said Pankaj Renjhen, chief operating officer at Anarock Retail.

In the last 6-8 months, the majority of companies have either reduced price tags or provided substantial discounts to clear unsold inventory following price increases across all apparel categories in the previous year.

“Many retailers, especially in the apparel category, only grew over last year because of new store openings and online sales. While like-for-like store business was negative in more than 50% of the retailers surveyed. Retailers did witness a growth in high-value products,” said Rajagopalan.

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Maharashtra govt eases restrictions for hotels and restaurants, extends operational hours until 5 am for festive celebrations

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Restaurant
(Representative Image)

Considering the festive season’s heightened demand in the hospitality industry, the Maharashtra government has granted permission for hotels and restaurants in the state to extend their operational hours until 5 am, as opposed to the usual 1:30 am. This relaxation will be applicable on December 24, 25, and 31.

While it is customary for the state government to ease regulations during the Christmas and New Year period, the decisions are typically announced at the eleventh hour, posing a challenge for establishments to make necessary preparations in advance.

“It’s a regular feature every year for the government to allow hotels and restaurants to stay open till 5 am. We wanted the government to give that permission in advance so that we can prepare accordingly. We are happy that the government has decided it in advance,” says Sukesh Shetty, president of AHAR, a trade body of restaurateurs in the state.

Earlier, the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI), in its appeal to the government, sought a swift decision to afford the industry adequate time for preparation and the organization of exciting activities around the upcoming festive days for their patrons.

Reacting to the government decision, Pradeep Shetty, president of HRAWI said, “This is a welcome move. It will definitely help the public plan their celebrations. We anticipate a lot of domestic travel this New Year and Christmas too. Hotels will gear up for a responsible and safe Christmas and New Year celebration.”

Agreeing that the decision of extending opening hours was something that happened every year and this year’s timing was a welcome change, Anurag Katriar, past president and trustee of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), said, “These are the days when people come out to celebrate and it gives us a chance to, really get those extended hours of business when the consumption is higher and people are spending money, which is great for the trade. While I welcome this whole heartedly. I also believe the time has come for India, to now really look at 24/7 hours of commerce.”

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The Original Rainbow Cone expands footprint with new franchise in Florida

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The Original Rainbow Cone

The Original Rainbow Cone, a US-based establishment, has unveiled plans to open a new franchise location in Key West, Florida.

The upcoming venue, set to be located at 126 Duvall Street, will feature Rainbow Cone’s signature ice cream treat, along with an array of sundaes, shakes, and cakes.

This expansion marks the second Rainbow Cone location in Florida, following the opening of a Bradenton franchise in September 2023.

The company also intends to launch additional franchises in Tampa Bay, West Palm Beach, and Orlando in 2024.

The Original Rainbow Cone third generation owner Lynn Sapp said, “We are excited about the growth of our franchise programme in Florida.

“The responses we have received from the Florida communities have been incredible, and we are confident that Key West will be no exception.”

Founded in 1926 by Grandpa Joe Sapp, The Original Rainbow Cone opened its first shop in a pink building on Western Avenue in Chicago.

Subsequently, the company has broadened its presence to include kiosks and trucks across the Chicago area.

In 2022, the company launched its new franchise partner program, securing franchise agreements in Florida, California, Nashville, and Texas.

In May this year, The Original Rainbow Cone and Buona inaugurated their first dual-branded store in Valparaiso, Indiana.

The dual-concept venue, covering 4,900 square feet, features twin drive-through lanes and has the capacity to accommodate up to 80 guests.

The Original Rainbow Cone is presently exploring opportunities to expand its presence, with upcoming plans for an ice cream truck tour from Chicago to Florida.

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Jamie Oliver unveils new restaurant at Ambience Mall in Gurgaon

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Jamie Oliver

British celebrity chef and restaurateur, Jamie Oliver, has unveiled a new restaurant at Ambience Mall in Gurgaon, as announced in a social media post by the company on Thursday.

The establishment will feature an array of culinary highlights spanning over 20 years of the celebrity chef’s career. It will present a diverse global cuisine crafted from sustainable ingredients. Operating with an all-day menu, the restaurant will also provide a selection of modern beverages, encompassing coffee, mocktails, and boba.

“It’s the first full format we’ve done in India. We did an all-veg one in Ahmedabad recently with no alcohol, but this is a veg, non-veg, bar, all-day dining,” said Jasper Reid, Managing Director, Dolomite Restaurants Pvt. Ltd., the India Master Franchise partner for Jamie’s Italian, Jamie’s Kitchen, Jamie’s Kitchen Cafe, Jamie’s Pizzeria and Jamie’s Diner.

“The new restaurant has every single best dish that Jamie ever cooked with a wider range than Jamie’s Italian, the emphasis is on handmade, fresh sauces, careful sourcing of ingredients, super service, amazing cocktails, amazing mocktails,” added Reid.

Reid also discussed the brand’s expansion plan, mentioning that another outlet is scheduled to open soon in Indiranagar on 12th Maine. Additionally, there are plans for 30 more restaurants, encompassing a mix of pizzerias, cafes, and kitchens, in the near future.

“We’re the largest player in the space now and are on track to the big target of INR 500 crore top line in a few years and we want to get up to 130 sites,” Reid said.

Operating within the Jamie Oliver Group, the Jamie Oliver Kitchen is part of a diverse portfolio of brands. These include Jamie Oliver Catherine St, Chequer Lane, Jamie’s Italian, Jamie Oliver’s pizzeria, Jamie Oliver’s Diner, Jamie’s Deli, and the Jamie Oliver cookery school, which spans across various regions in South America, Asia, and Europe.

As per the company’s official website, the brand has established its presence in various Indian cities, including Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Delhi-NCR, Lucknow, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.

The brand has over 15 restaurants in India, emphasizing a commitment to anti-junk, anti-processed food, and anti-preservatives.

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Lacoste debuts in Kerala, unveils trendsetting retail store in Kochi’s Forum Mall

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Lacoste

French casualwear giant Lacoste has entered Kerala, inaugurating its first retail store in Kochi, as announced by a company official on social media. The newly opened store is situated at Prestige Group’s Forum Mall in Maradu.

“Vanakkam Kerala! The first store of Kerala, now open at Kochi, Forum Mall,” said Abhishek Raj, chief operating officer of Lacoste India in a LinkedIn post.

The brand offers a diverse range of products, including clothing and accessories, leather goods, watches, sunglasses, perfumes, footwear, and underwear.

Lacoste began its retail operations in India in 1993 and has since established approximately 40 stores across 17 cities in the country over the course of three decades.

The company is looking to adopt a more assertive approach, with aspirations to launch approximately 50 standalone stores in the country over the next five years. Marcus Meyer, Chief Executive Officer of Lacoste for the Central and Northern European Region, shared this vision during his inaugural visit to India in an interview with IndiaRetailing.

Established in 1933 by the French tennis player René Lacoste and co-founder Andre Gillier, Lacoste is a renowned French clothing brand. It holds the distinction of being the first clothing brand globally to prominently showcase its logo on its apparel.

Presently, the company boasts a network of over 1,000 stores and 15,000 points of sale spanning 98 countries. Additionally, its products are accessible through 32 online stores worldwide.

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Amazon India’s seller base soars to 14 lakh with addition of 3 lakh new sellers in 2023

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Amazon
Amazon

Amazon India, a major player in the e-commerce industry, expanded its seller base to over 14 lakh by incorporating around 3 lakh new sellers this year, as mentioned by Manish Tiwary, the Country Manager for Amazon India’s Consumer Business.

Apart from the substantial increase in the seller base, Tiwary emphasized that Amazon experienced its largest-ever Prime Day and the Great Indian Festival this year.

“We are excited about the customer response we are seeing in core business categories like everyday essentials, consumer electronics, fashion & beauty, grocery, home and kitchen products as well as the momentum in our Prime program as well as Amazon Pay.”

According to information on Amazon’s blog, the e-commerce platform saw a 14% increase in Prime members shopping compared to the previous year, marking 2023 as the most significant Prime Day event in India. The blog further asserted that discounts from sellers, brands, and bank partners contributed to customers saving INR 300 crore during the Prime Day event.

Marking the year special as Amazon completed a decade in the country, Tiwary said, “It has been an incredible journey of innovating for customers and sellers, including many unique India first experiments – many of them are now going global.”

“We started the year with the launch of Amazon Air, becoming the first e-commerce company in India to have dedicated air-cargo capacity for faster delivery of customer packages, and followed it up by being the first in India to use Indian Railways Dedicated Freight Corridor to enable our seller serve customers faster and more efficiently.”

Noting Amazon’s emphasis on empowering small businesses and facilitating exports, he mentioned that the e-commerce behemoth has successfully digitized more than 6.2 million small enterprises, facilitating nearly USD 8 billion in total exports. Additionally, he asserted that Amazon has contributed to the creation of over 1.3 million direct and indirect jobs in India.

Amazon India has committed to digitizing 10 million small businesses, enabling USD 20 billion in cumulative exports, and creating 2 million jobs in India by 2025. Last month, the e-tailer signed an MoU with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to co-create capacity-building sessions, training, and workshops for MSMEs across 75 districts.

Earlier this year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and committed to an additional investment of USD 15 billion in India over the next seven years across various business domains. As a result, the company’s total investment in India, encompassing all its businesses, will reach USD 26 billion.

Expressing enthusiasm for the enduring potential in India, Tiwary emphasized that Amazon remains committed to its long-term vision. The company will persistently concentrate on key initiatives, including expanding the reach of online shopping among Indian customers, empowering small businesses and fostering exports, and actively contributing as a thought leader in sustainability.

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Meesho reports 14 Crore customer transactions in 2023, with 80% of orders originating beyond tier 2 cities

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Meesho
Meesho

E-commerce platform Meesho announced on Thursday that it facilitated transactions for 14 crore customers on its platform in 2023, with 80 percent of orders originating from tier 2 and beyond markets, as stated in a press release.

The home decor category experienced a 60% year-on-year growth, while the beauty and personal care segment saw a 40% increase.

Regarding sellers, Meesho asserted that 60% of its sellers hail from small towns. The company further stated that it successfully onboarded 25,000 non-GST sellers in the last two months.

The release highlighted that in 2023, approximately 75,000 Meesho sellers witnessed double-digit growth, with nearly 10,000 sellers achieving crorepati status and 130,000 becoming lakhpatis.

As per data from data.ai, Meesho registered 14.5 crore app downloads during the year.

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