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Snoop Dogg and Hill Beverage Co partner to launch cannabis-infused ‘Do It Fluid’ beverages

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Do It Fluid

Hill Beverage Co has partnered with rapper Snoop Dogg and the independent record label Death Row Records to introduce a new line of beverages called Do It Fluid, featuring cannabis and hemp infusion.

This product range, incorporating THC and CBD infusions, presents a natural and high-quality substitute for traditional alcoholic beverages and smoking.

The lineup features four robust flavors—Blood Orange, Blue Razz, Cherry Limeade, and Peaches N Honies—offered in both CBD-only and Delta-9 THC + CBD blend variations. Geared towards consumers aged 21 and above, the brand aims to enhance its nationwide in-store presence by 2024.

Snoop Dogg said, “As I take the next step forward in my smoking evolution, Hill Beverage Co.’s vision for cannabis beverages was the perfect transition. What we’ve created is an all-natural and delicious alternative that doesn’t sacrifice the high while providing fans with the perfect option for day or night.”

Hill Beverage’s CEO and founder, Jake Hill, added, “Taking my passion for cannabis and curating an all-natural high alternative for consumers that is both bold and fulfilling in flavour is a testament to the new direction the cannabis industry is heading”.

“Our debut line alongside Snoop Dogg and Death Row Records is the perfect way to cement our brand within the cannabis and beverage space, and I’m excited for consumers, whether or not they’re familiar with the cannabis marketplace, to experience the line.”

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McDonald’s partners with Accenture to boost innovation and efficiency with AI

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McDonald's

McDonald’s has announced a strategic expansion in partnership with Accenture to incorporate generative AI technology across its restaurants worldwide.

The effort will concentrate on enhancing operational efficiency, customer service, and the digital skills of employees.

The partnership aims to harness technology for optimizing restaurant operations and elevating the dining experience.

The prominent restaurant chain seeks to expedite innovation in automation, empowering restaurant managers to promptly tackle and resolve operational challenges.

The endeavor will strengthen McDonald’s technology team, as Accenture delivers learning and development programs to enhance employees’ expertise in AI, data, and edge computing (the deployment of computing and storage resources at the location where data is produced).

Additionally, it will bolster McDonald’s technology strategy, which seeks to harness scale for unlocking quicker and more efficient services for customers.

This involves accelerating automation innovation in collaboration with equipment manufacturers. It will assist restaurant managers in promptly identifying and resolving issues to minimize business disruptions and address complex situations for restaurant staff, ultimately leading to improved service for customers.

Accenture will deliver training and support services to McDonald’s workforce, fostering proficiency in AI, data, and edge computing skills among employees.

McDonald’s global chief information officer Brian Rice stated, “To unlock the opportunity in our ongoing digital investments, we chose Accenture, our long-time partner who has helped us build our digital foundation, to work with us on this next phase of innovation.

“Accenture’s deep understanding of our business, our industry, and, of course, technology, will allow us to leverage the full potential of the cloud and generative AI solutions by implementing advanced practices to quickly leverage those technologies as well as to nurture and empower the talent within our organisation.

“Lifelong learning and digital upskilling are at the heart of our culture and long-term growth plans – and embedding this across our workforce will enable greater business agility and performance.”

In December 2023, McDonald’s announced plans to expand its network to 50,000 restaurants worldwide by 2027.

It had a total of 40,275 restaurants in operation by the end of 2022.

Continue Exploring: McDonald’s unveils ambitious plan to open 50,000 restaurants globally by 2027, introduces CosMc’s concept with focus on cold beverages

Extend Your Reading: From Spiced Slushies to Spicy Queso: A sneak peek into McDonald’s new spin-off, CosMc!

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Ethnic wear brand Kalki charts course for global expansion & personalized tailoring

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Kalki

Kalki, the ethnic wear fashion brand, has outlined its expansion strategy for 2024. The brand has earmarked Hyderabad, Punjab, Lucknow, and Indore as the four potential markets for its growth. Currently headquartered in Mumbai, Kalki already has established stores in Surat, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai, spanning a total retail space of 35,000 square feet across the country.

The brand aims to achieve 18 crore in revenue with the latest store in Surat, that was launched on December 18, 2023.

Furthermore, the brand intends to extend its reach globally and has arranged temporary pop-up stores in the United States, Thailand, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada.

It also focuses on optimizing inventory management through personalized tailoring of offerings to meet individual requirements for various occasions, including festive and wedding styles.

Nishit Gupta, Director and Co-founder, Kalki, said, “We aim to set enduring trends, consistently offering a blend of traditional and contemporary style that resonates with diverse global audiences. Fueled by innovation and a commitment to quality craftsmanship, we aspire to be recognized as a go-to destination for those seeking timeless, yet modern, ethnic fashion.”

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New year 2024: 6 Foods to unleash your inner Celebrity Glow in just 10 days!

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Celebrity Glow
Alia Bhatt (Instagram)

Celebrity Glow: Ever wondered how your favourite celebs manage to look dope 24×7? Be it red carpets or glitzy events, the A listers barely disappoint their fans when it comes to looking radiant and gorgeous. Spoiler alert: it’s not just the makeup! Turns out, there’s a whole world of delicious and exotic foods that play a starring role. 

Therefore, as the curtain falls on the old year and the red carpet unfurls for the new one, we want you to buckle for our inside scoop on how to achieve that coveted New Year glow in just 10 days by snacking on these yummy foods. 

Dragon Fruit is a winning recruit

First and foremost, on our list is the dragon fruit. It’s refreshingly sweet in taste and not just fascinates with its exotic colors but also has multiple elements which can do wonders for your skin. This tropical gem has the goodness of antioxidants, vitamin C, and other essential minerals. These minerals help in promoting collagen production, and radiant skin. You can easily slice it up and eat it raw or blend it in a smoothie.

Dragon fruit

Avocado is bravo-do

Avocado is one of the newest exotic fruits introduced in the South Asian belt. These green golds are the must-haves on your breakfast plate. Multiple celebrities like Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kourtney Kardashian and more swear by avocados. This fruit boasts of monounsaturated fats and vitamins E and C which are tickets to Celebrity Glow. One can devour avocado on toast or can have it in raw form. 

Sweet Potato can prove to be a tornado

Sweet potatoes have been an integral part of the Indian street food. Commonly known as Shakarkand, this vegetable is widely consumed in the country, especially during winters. Ever sitting with friends for barbeque nights? Don’t forget to roast these special potatoes. Stuffed with beta-carotene, sweet potatoes can immensely contribute to achieving a healthy skin. This is because beta-carotene converts to vitamin A which results in radiant Celebrity Glow.

sweet potato

Tip: A lot of Gen Z celebs swear by sweet potato parathas when they’re dieting. So, stuff them in your parathas just like your fav aloo ka paratha and include them in your morning meal.  

Seaweed is what you need to achieve Celebrity Glow!

Ever wondered why Korean glass skin is the ‘it’ thing these days? Well, all thanks to their secret weapons like seaweed which help them achieve a flawless Celebrity Glow. This exotic vegetable is quite popular in Asian cuisines and is rich in vitamins, minerals, and other antioxidants which support hydrated and plump skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties help in getting rid of irritation, rashes and other skin-related issues. You can try seaweed with sushi or with rice. 

Seaweed

Go Saffron if you wish to shine on

Saffron is one of the widely used ingredients in the Indian kitchen. Often termed as the “red gold,” of desi dishes, it has endless antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that elevate your skin’s beauty magically. Yes, we aren’t kidding. The legend has it that the Egyptian queen Cleopatra used to bathe in saffron-infused milk to enhance her eternal beauty. Well, unfortunately we may not have her royal bath awaiting us, but we cracked the code to her beauty. Drink saffron in milk before bedtime. You can even have 3-4 saffron strands raw.  

Saffron

Chia Seeds work as golden beads

Originally from Central America, chia seeds are truly considered golden beads for your skin as they work wonders for the glow. These exotic seeds are the buzzword for all the celebrity dieticians and dermatologists who work with top-notch actors. Your skin cells will thank you if you include chia seeds in your meals. That’s because these seeds are a healthy source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote healthy and hydrated skin and even reduce inflammation. Relish chia seeds in your diet by blending them in a smoothie or in a chia pudding. You can even have them directly with water once you wake up in the morning. 

Disclaimer: Long-term skin care is a holistic process and results can vary depending on the individual. Also, the information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only. We recommend the reader to always seek the advice of their physician or other qualified health professional before following any step.

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Beauty brand Pilgrim reports 4x revenue growth in FY23 to INR 76.46 Crore

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Pilgrim

Pilgrim, the direct-to-consumer (D2C) personal care brand, reported a substantial increase in operating revenue for the fiscal year 2022-23. The revenue surged to INR 76.46 crore, marking a significant fourfold rise from the INR 16.89 crore reported in FY22.

Despite reporting a net loss that more than tripled to INR 23.06 crore from INR 7.53 crore in the corresponding period, the company, backed by Fireside Ventures, attributed this increase to a substantial rise in expenses. According to the statutory filing with the Registrar of Companies (RoC), expenses ballooned to INR 99.95 crore in FY23 from INR 24.72 crore in FY22.

During the fiscal year 2023, Pilgrim’s marketing expenses surged to INR 52.50 crore, a significant increase from the INR 11.83 crore recorded in FY22. Notably, the marketing expenditure in FY23 accounted for 68% of the operating revenue of this Mumbai-based company.

As per a collaborative study conducted by Redseer Strategy Consultants and Peak XV Partners, the beauty and personal care (BPC) market in India is anticipated to surpass global counterparts, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% from 2022 to 2027. The projection indicates that the market is poised to achieve a size of $30 billion during this period.

Pilgrim competes with prominent beauty and personal care (BPC) players such as Mamaearth, Purplle, Sugar Cosmetics, Myglamm, and Mcaffeine. It also contends with a variety of emerging direct-to-consumer brands that have flourished in this space.

Established in 2019 by Anurag Kedia and Gagandeep Makker, alumni of IIT, Pilgrim secured $20 million in funding in September through a funding round led by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India.

In the same funding round, existing investors Fireside Ventures and Narotam Sekhsaria Family Office also participated. Approximately $14 million of the overall funding was generated through a primary share sale, with the remaining amount attributed to a secondary transaction. During this period, the company expressed its goal of reaching an annualized revenue run rate (ARR) of INR 1,000 crore by 2025.

Pilgrim had additionally announced its intention to inaugurate five exclusive outlets by the year’s end, strategically located in cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi.

As of September, Pilgrim’s offline footprint encompassed the availability of its products in 300 partner stores specializing in beauty and personal care (BPC) products.

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Nestroots secures INR 3 Crore in pre-seed funding, charts roadmap for global expansion

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Nestroots

Nestroots, the home decor and lifestyle brand, announced on Tuesday that it has raised INR 3 crore in a pre-seed funding round, as revealed in a press release.

Beyond Seed Singapore spearheaded the funding, with Bestvantage Investments skillfully managing the investment, and the involvement of Arjun Vaidya, a prominent D2C investor at Marquee.

According to the announcement, the funding will be allocated to bolster the brand’s online visibility and facilitate its expansion into the global markets of the US, Canada, and UAE over the next five years.

“Looking forward, over the next five years, we plan to showcase the richness of Indian design with international aesthetics, offering premium designs at accessible prices”, said Chhavi Singh, founder and CEO Nestroots.

Additionally, the brand seeks to increase its physical presence through shop-in-shop (SIS) and multi-brand outlets (MBO).

“This significant investment propels Nestroots towards new heights. It strengthens our financial foundation and fuels our ambition to be the foremost destination for home decor,” said Shekhar Godiyal, co-founder and COO, Nestroots.

Founded in 2016, Nestroots is a domestically originated home decor brand that can be found on various e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Pepperfry, and Myntra. With the objective of distinguishing itself in India’s expanding $32 million home decor industry, the brand anticipates the market to reach $39.44 billion by 2027, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.18 percent.

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6 Must Try Plant Based Meat Brands In India

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Plant Based Meat Brands

Plant based meat is taking over the food industry in full swing- from restaurants and fast food chains, to frozen meat alternatives, the market is abound.

While switching to plant based meats has become monumental, like any other food product, choosing between the vast variety of brands becomes a task, specially when we’re not so well versed with the know-and-how of the product.

If you’re new the world of plant based meat, here’s everything you need to know

There are multiple factors that contribute to the decision making process including, your choice of meat, health and nutrition factors, price point and variety in taste and flavours. These are some of the best choices for you to try:

Good Dot

Good Dot Plant Based MeatThey are one of the leading brands for plant-based meat in India, offering a range of curries, to stir-fries and wraps. They believe that the primary reason people eat meat is for its taste, and by creating a product that not only replicates the taste of meat but also aligns with ethical, healthier, and environmentally sustainable principles as an alternative to animal meat, individuals would readily enjoy the switch. They specialise in making traditional Indian recipes cruelty free and vegetarian with their cooking kits, like Eggless Bhurji and Unmutton Keema Kits.

Imagine Meats

Imagine Meats Plant Based Meat

Imagine Meats, founded by the celebrity couple Ritesh Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza, claims the taste, smell and feel just like the real chicken and mutton. Additionally, despite undergoing various processes and containing additives, these products are free from MSG, food coloring, preservatives, and dairy, while providing a protein content ranging from 6.6g to 17.67g per 100g, depending on the chosen product. You can choose from a variety of frozen plant-based meat snacks like non-meat chicken nuggets, burger patties, keema, hot dog sausage and more.

Wakao

Wakao Plant Based Meat

Wakao is India’s first plant based meat brand based in Goa, that makes its products using the superfood- Jackfruit, which is also ethically grown and sourced. All their products are hygienically processed and packaged and offer a shelf life of one year.

Greenest

Greenest Plant Based Meat

Greenest, established under Upstablish Food Technologies Private Limited is a food tech company working to address the fast-growing protein and nutritional needs of India.
Their products at Greenest are popular for their expertise in making Indian snacks like a variety of different flavours in Shami Kebabs, Keema Samosas, and Amritsari Keema. They also offer their products to suit the modern taste acquired by kids and adults alike in dishes like momos, spring rolls and nuggets.

Evo Foods

Evo Plant Based Meats

While most brands are focused toward plant-based meat, Evo, apart from the usual products, has come up with a unique solution for eggs. They are making bottled liquid eggs using Moong, Chickpeas and Peas. One bottle of liquid egg is the same in protein density as a chicken egg, with zero cholesterol, and fewer calories. Their liquid eggs can be used to make omletted, scrambled eggs and every dish you can imagine with eggs. The only drawback is the price point, but for days you’re looking for that extra dose of vegan protein, this is your best solution.

Mister Veg

Mister Veg Plant Based Meat

While, like most other brands, Mister Veg is offering plant based products in chicken and mutton, they also have great alternatives for those looking for plant based meat options in fish. Their products are extremely pocket friendly, and easy to cook up!

Plant based meat is the new environmental superhero, and is taking over the market one product, one initiative and one brand at a time. There are more vegan restaurants in every fast growing city, and people are embracing the change gracefully, while welcoming the new switch in their own homes. My advice is- Don’t say NO, until you’ve tried it!

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From instant noodles to mangoes: Swiggy Instamart unveils fascinating 2023 trends

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Noodles

As we approach the end of 2023, Swiggy Instamart has unveiled its yearly ‘Quick Commerce Trends’ report, revealing intriguing insights into consumer habits.

A Jaipur resident made 67 orders in a single day, while a Delhi resident astonishingly spent INR 12,87,920 on groceries in a year. According to Swiggy Instamart, the individual from Delhi managed to save INR 1,70,102 on his annual grocery expenses.

Another order from Delhi featured a total of 99 items, with the majority being chips, chocolates, and cookies.

The highest single order, valued at INR 31,748, was placed by a user from Chennai. This purchase included coffee, juice, cookies, nachos, and chips.

Curious about the most frequently ordered items? Swiggy disclosed that onions, tomatoes, and coriander leaves maintained their status as the most commonly ordered trio across all orders.

Bengaluru boasts the country’s most ardent mango lovers, surpassing the combined mango orders of Mumbai and Hyderabad.

In September, the highest volume of condom orders was registered. If you’re curious about the most commonly ordered items accompanying condoms, surprisingly, onions took the lead, followed by bananas and chips.

In the realm of snacks, Makhana emerged as the clear winner with an impressive 1.3 million orders. As for the most searched items on the app, milk took the lead, followed by curd and onions.

In terms of specific days, the demand for chips reached a remarkable peak on November 19, with a delivery of 1,39,874 packets. On October 15, a substantial 1,90,418 units of milk were ordered.

On August 12, 5,893 condom packets were delivered, and on September 6, a significant 21,591 units of butter were delivered. October 2 recorded the sale of 82 tonnes of tomatoes, while on May 21, 36 tonnes of mangoes were ordered. On July 30, a substantial 61 tonnes of onions were ordered.

According to Swiggy, its delivery personnel covered a distance of 29,95,13,538 kilometers this year. The fastest delivery was accomplished in Delhi, where a packet of instant noodles was delivered in just 65 seconds!

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Swiggy partners with Simpl to elevate checkout experience with 1-Tap ordering

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Swiggy
Swiggy

Swiggy, the renowned on-demand convenience platform, has joined forces with Simpl, a prominent checkout network. This collaboration aims to introduce a seamless one-tap checkout experience for millions of customers across various services, including food delivery, Swiggy Instamart, and soon, on Dineout and Swiggy Genie.

The significance of this partnership is heightened as the demand for Swiggy’s on-demand services surges, especially during the festive holiday season characterized by Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations. The presence of five weekends in December is anticipated to amplify the demand for services from food and hyperlocal delivery companies substantially.

Through this collaboration, customers nationwide will gain the ability to effortlessly place orders from Swiggy’s extensive network of over 2.9 lakh restaurant partners. Additionally, they can conveniently access a myriad of products offered by Swiggy Instamart, all while taking advantage of Simpl’s one-tap functionality to access other services from Swiggy.

An increasing number of customers today are seeking convenience while transacting online with food and hyperlocal delivery sectors among their top choices. As these services are also availed multiple times in a day, it necessitates the need for a quick and convenient checkout to enhance customer experience. Simpl, as a customer-focused organisation, has been the preferred choice of millions of customers and this partnership with Swiggy is intended to bring greater convenience and trust to our combined customer base in the upcoming holiday season. It will also help strengthen our presence in this space where convenience is becoming a real differentiator,” said Nitya Sharma, founder and chief executive officer of Simpl.

At present, numerous prominent enterprises and rising Direct-to-Customer (D2C) merchants in the food and hyperlocal delivery sector are providing Simpl’s one-tap checkout to millions of customers nationwide. In the past two years alone, Simpl has observed a remarkable 75% surge in transactions related to food and beverages, as well as hyperlocal categories, coupled with a notable 48% rise in the number of users engaging in transactions.

Continue Exploring: Myntra teams up with Simpl to bring 1-tap checkout convenience to shoppers

“Our mission is to offer unparalleled convenience and an elevated experience to our customers across the platform – from search to checkout and delivery. With Simpl’s 1-Tap Checkout integrated into our platform, especially ahead of the holiday season, millions of customers across the country will be able to access their food, and home needs, and dine out seamlessly,” said Anurag Panganamamula, vice president- revenue and growth, Swiggy.

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Tata Consumer Products eyes growth with a slew of innovative FMCG launches

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Tata Consumer Products
Tata Consumer Products

Tata Consumer Products, a leading player in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, is set to broaden its portfolio with a focus on introducing cutting-edge products. These innovative offerings are poised to become key drivers of business growth. Notably, the second quarter of the fiscal year 2024 saw an impressive innovation-to-sales ratio of 5 percent.

The company has introduced a range of innovative products such as Apple Cider Vinegar, Sampann Vermicelli, Simply Better Cold Pressed Oils, Soulfull Ragi Bites Choco Sticks, Sampann Gulab Jamun Mix, Sampann Walnuts and Seeds, Sampann Saffron, Tata Gluco Plus Sports Drink, Filter Coffee Decoction, Say Never! Energy Drink, Tata Tea Gold Vita Care Tetley Digest, and Immuno Chai.

“We need our ranges to be more relevant to our consumers. We will expand and want to be careful and learn what is sticking, take smaller circles, and grow them deep. We have a very limited portfolio on Tata GoFit right now, including apple cider vinegar and limited protein ranges, and we are seeing that they are having some traction with consumers. We will launch a franchise in medium term runway,” said Deepika Khattar Bhan (President – Packaged Foods at Tata Consumer Products).

In the second quarter, Tata Consumer Products witnessed a 16 percent increase in revenue and a 6 percent growth in volume for its Indian foods business.

“There are low levels of branded penetration that are opening up a lot of opportunities. We continue to remain focused on categories that are new for branded penetration and you are seeing our aggressive foray with some fun. We are looking at, new branded penetration categories like vital staples. The products are within the Sampann portfolio, which is also responding very well for us. It is a really important space for us. We want to balance our tomorrow, which refers to the two brands we started with, Gofit and Simply Better, where we’re also experimenting. It helps us stay ahead of the curve in learning spaces that are new and evolving for consumers,” she said.

As of the second quarter, Tata Consumer Products has a presence in 1.5 million outlets, contributing to a total outreach of 3.8 million outlets within its distribution network.

“We are looking at how we can go a level deeper and build distribution in smaller towns. Our total reach has doubled since September 2020. We are looking to reach deeper in the country, both through pure distribution as well as by ensuring that there is better depth building through spilt routes in the large towns,” added Deepika Khattar Bhan.

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