India’s First Dessert-Led Café Chain FES Raises ₹3 Cr, Expanding From Gurgaon to Jaipur With Backing From Aakash Anand

INVESTMENTS

July 5, 2025

Image of FES — India’s First Dessert-Led Café Chain FES Raises ₹3 Cr, Expanding From Gurgaon to Jaipur With Backing From Aakash Anand

FES Café, a quirky new player in the food space, just bagged ₹3 crore in seed funding from entrepreneur Aakash Anand and his venture studio, Wolfpack Labs. With the cash infusion, the brand is gearing up to take its dessert-driven café experience beyond NCR and into the national spotlight. The plan? Cross 100 outlets by FY2027.

Helmed by founder Vidur Mayor, FES Café isn’t trying to be your average coffee shop. Instead, it’s rewriting the rules of the café scene by putting desserts front and center. From warm, gooey cookies to eggless cakes, nostalgia-heavy puddings, and unconventional bakes, FES is about indulgence first, caffeine second. The spaces themselves are designed for younger crowds—think Gen Z and millennials looking for something between a sugar rush and a creative hangout.

The funding will go toward launching FES’s first outlet in Delhi this July, with a second café in Gurgaon’s business district arriving in September. A Jaipur launch is already in the pipeline for December. Beyond cafés, FES is also testing dessert delivery hubs and packaged formats, aiming to bring their creations to customers who may never step foot inside one of their stores.

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To scale faster, the brand is going hybrid—with a mix of company-owned and franchise-supported outlets under a COCO-FICO model. This approach is expected to help them expand without losing brand control or diluting the experience.

“This whole thing started because we felt desserts weren’t getting the love they deserve,” said Vidur Mayor. “People go out for coffee or dinner—but why not just for a damn good cookie or pudding? We wanted to build places that celebrate sweetness, joy, and community. With Wolfpack behind us, we’re just getting started.”

And it’s not just talk. FES says it’s seen 3x revenue growth in its first three months, reached store-level EBITDA of nearly 30% by month four, and posted a 347% jump in delivery sales over a 90-day window. By June 2025, they were handling more than 10,000 orders a month—and were already EBITDA-positive at the company level.

In a space saturated by coffee chains and cookie-cutter cafés, FES is making a bold bet: that India’s next big café chain will be built not on lattes, but on lava cakes and creamy puddings.

Gucci Beauty Unveils Its First-Ever Exclusive Store in India at Delhi’s Select Citywalk

Retail & Ecommerce

Online Desk

July 5, 2025

Image of gucc — Gucci Beauty Opens Its First-Ever Standalone Store in India at Delhi’s Select Citywalk—Full Product Line, Custom Engraving & Luxe Interiors Unveiled

Gucci Beauty has officially arrived in New Delhi in a big way—opening the doors to its first independent store in India. Nestled in the bustling Select Citywalk Mall in Saket, the boutique signals the brand’s deeper foray into the Indian market, one of the fastest-growing destinations for luxury beauty.

This isn’t just another store—it’s a visual treat. Pale pink furnishings meet glossy black floors, and every inch of the space has been designed to feel high-end without being intimidating. The beauty counters invite you in rather than overwhelm, striking a balance between elegance and ease.

Step inside, and you’ll find Gucci’s full range of makeup and fragrances on display. From cult favorites like Rouge à Lèvres Liquide Mat and Blush de Beauté to the velvety Éternité de Beauté foundation, the store offers the kind of hands-on access Indian shoppers haven’t had before. On the fragrance front, it’s a perfume lover’s dream—Gucci Bloom, Flora, Guilty, and the opulent Alchemist’s Garden collection are all available to explore and sample.

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Adding an extra touch of flair, the boutique offers in-store engraving on select products, letting customers personalize their Gucci finds for gifting or keepsakes.

The store is now open daily from 10 AM to 10 PM on the ground floor of Select Citywalk. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the brand or just stepping into the Gucci universe, this new space offers an up-close experience of the Italian label’s beauty philosophy—where style meets self-expression.

FitFeast Ropes in Shane Watson as Investor & Brand Face; Bags ₹5.5 Cr in Seed Funding Led by IPV

Online Desk

July 5, 2025

Image of fitfeast. — FitFeast Ropes in Shane Watson as Investor & Brand Face; Bags ₹5.5 Cr in Seed Funding Led by IPV

FitFeast, the rising homegrown protein snack brand that puts taste on par with nutrition, has announced two major wins: a ₹5.5 crore seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), and the onboarding of former Australian cricket legend Shane Watson as both investor and brand ambassador.

The seed round also saw backing from Raghav Singhal (founder of Swasthum Wellness) and Santosh Govindaraju, a known name in the sustainability and investment ecosystem. FitFeast plans to put this capital to work by building a stronger D2C footprint, expanding into marketplaces and quick commerce, scaling up marketing, strengthening its leadership team, launching new India-focused high-protein products, and improving its metro and tier 1 distribution reach.

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Watson’s role is more hands-on than symbolic. Apart from lending credibility through his public presence, he brings sharp business acumen and deep insights from the world of sports nutrition. Joining him in supporting the brand is Indian cricketer Axar Patel, who’s also an investor and ambassador.

Speaking about his decision to come onboard, Watson shared, “When I first tasted FitFeast’s Protein Chips and the Malai Kulfi Protein Shake, I didn’t expect to be this impressed. I kept coming back to them, and after a few months, I realised this was more than a passing interest. I believe in what FitFeast is building, and I’m here for the long haul.”

Founded in 2021, FitFeast was born out of a simple yet audacious goal: to make protein-rich food a regular part of Indian diets without compromising on flavour. Think dessert bars, smoothie shakes, or crunchy chips—all infused with meaningful protein content but made for Indian palates.

At the heart of this venture is Aditya Poddar, a young founder whose personal transformation fuels his business vision. With a B.Tech in IT from JIIT and an early career stint at AXA in analytics, Aditya had already started two ventures during his college years. But FitFeast came from a deeper place: a 20kg weight loss journey that made him rethink what healthy eating could taste like. In its very first year, Aditya bootstrapped the company to ₹1 crore in ARR—no external capital, just hustle and insight.

FitFeast isn’t chasing fads. It’s reshaping everyday snacking with products that feel indulgent but fuel the body—and now, with backing from investors who understand both performance and taste, the startup seems poised for a strong run.

Facial Workouts Are Coming to India! Reliance Backs UK’s FaceGym in Latest Beauty Power Move

Health & Wellness

Online Desk

July 4, 2025

Image-of-FaceGym. — Facial Workouts Are Coming to India! Reliance Backs UK’s FaceGym in Latest Beauty Power Move

Reliance Retail has taken another bold step into the wellness and beauty space by acquiring a minority stake in UK-based FaceGym, a brand known for its non-invasive facial fitness techniques. With this investment, Reliance plans to bring FaceGym’s unique facial workout studios to India, leveraging its homegrown beauty platform, Tira, as the launchpad.

FaceGym, founded by Inge Theron, has built a cult following globally for its science-backed approach to skincare, combining facial muscle stimulation with cutting-edge beauty technology. The brand’s offerings range from high-performance skincare products to facial workouts that promise sculpted, glowing skin — without surgery or needles.

Reliance aims to tap into the growing Indian appetite for science-driven beauty innovations and the rising popularity of preventive self-care treatments. The rollout of FaceGym studios will help the conglomerate strengthen its presence in the rapidly expanding wellness sector.

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This move follows Reliance Retail’s ongoing strategy of investing in premium international brands to elevate India’s beauty and lifestyle experience. While the financial terms remain undisclosed, industry experts estimate the stake acquisition to be in the multi-million-dollar range.

Ananya Panday Just Put Her Name Behind a Snack Brand Aiming to Knock Maggi Off Its Throne!

Online Desk

July 4, 2025

Image of Ananya Panday — Ananya Panday Just Put Her Name Behind a Snack Brand Aiming to Knock Maggi Off Its Throne!

Too Yumm! is turning up the heat in the instant noodles space with a fresh campaign for its bold sub-brand, K-Bomb. And guess who’s joining the party? Bollywood’s Gen-Z favorite, Ananya Panday. The brand is betting big on her youthful vibe and widespread appeal to strengthen its foothold in the premium noodle market it entered just last year.

“Ananya’s got that unfiltered, youthful energy that mirrors what K-Bomb stands for — bold flavours, playful personality, and zero fuss,” said Yogesh Tewari, Chief Marketing Officer at Too Yumm!. “She’s got the kind of connect with young India that you can’t fake. She’s real, she’s fun, and she gets it.”

At the heart of the campaign is a snappy, fast-paced podcast series featuring Panday, built to feel more like binge-worthy content than a commercial. It’s aimed squarely at the social media generation — the kind that skips ads but rewatches memes.

To take things offline, the brand is rolling out quirky Manga-inspired billboards and QR-activated installations in metro cities — adding a layer of street-style cool to the campaign. “Let’s face it — the usual ad formats aren’t cutting it anymore. We’re playing in the space where attention is earned, not bought,” Tewari added.

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The campaign is also making its way across Instagram meme pages, fan accounts, and digital communities where young people actually hang out — ditching the stale approach of pushing products, and instead building curiosity and culture around K-Bomb.

In short: Too Yumm! is not just selling noodles — it’s building a vibe.

FitFeast Raises ₹5.5 Cr Led by IPV; Shane Watson & Axar Patel Back Protein Snack Brand Targeting India’s Fitness Boom

INVESTMENTS

Online Desk

July 4, 2025

FitFeast, the homegrown food startup that wants to make protein-packed snacks taste like actual food (not cardboard), has just raised ₹5.5 crore in seed funding. The round was led by Gurugram-based Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), with backing from wellness investor Raghav Singhal (Swasthum Wellness) and Santosh Govindaraju.

Started in 2021 by Aditya Poddar—an ex-analytics guy who dropped the spreadsheets for smoothies—FitFeast has been quietly building a cult following among health-conscious Indians who love their masala as much as their macros.

Their lineup? Think peri peri protein chips, malai kulfi-flavored shakes, dessert bars that don’t taste like regret, and nut butters that actually pack a punch. It’s a menu built for those who want to hit their protein goals without giving up taste (or their Indian cravings).

The startup plans to use the fresh funding to grow across multiple channels—direct-to-consumer (D2C), marketplaces, and quick commerce platforms—while also ramping up its marketing and leadership hires. A big part of their next move involves creating more India-specific, high-protein snacks that don’t compromise on flavor or quality.

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“Protein is finally having its moment in India,” said Vinay Bansal, founder of IPV. “FitFeast is showing that you don’t need to suffer through bland food to eat healthy.”

The brand’s big break came earlier this year, when Poddar pitched FitFeast on Shark Tank India in March 2025. He didn’t walk away with a deal, but he did leave a mark—with viewers and investors alike. Sharing his own 20 kg weight-loss journey on national TV turned out to be the spark that caught attention, especially among athletes.

Now, FitFeast has cricketing firepower behind it. Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson and India’s own Axar Patel have come on board as both investors and brand ambassadors.

With more people waking up to the importance of protein, and a strong flavor-first strategy, FitFeast is betting that the future of fitness in India might just be snackable.

“Governments don’t seem interested”: Hotmail Founder Just Said What Every Indian Techie Secretly Thinks – His Viral Rant Is Sparking a Full-On Internet Meltdown

Entrepreneurship

Online Desk

July 4, 2025

Image of Sabeer Bhatia — “Governments don’t seem interested”: Hotmail Founder Just Said What Every Indian Techie Secretly Thinks – His Viral Rant Is Sparking a Full-On Internet Meltdown

Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia has stirred up a storm online with his blunt take on Bengaluru’s never-ending traffic mess. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Bhatia didn’t hold back his frustration after spending time in India’s so-called Silicon Valley.

“Maybe this will sound harsh to locals… but the traffic here is just out of control. I cover the same distance on a cycle in California in a third of the time. How do people put up with this every single day?” he wrote from his private account.

It’s not just venting—he’s got a point. Bengaluru’s traffic has gone from bad to unbearable. As per the 2024 TomTom Traffic Index, the city now ranks as the third slowest in the world when it comes to road congestion. Just getting through 10 kilometers takes an average of over 34 minutes—and that’s on a normal day. During rush hours, it’s even worse: nearly 39 minutes in the morning and close to 42 in the evening.

Bhatia’s post hit a nerve and sparked a wave of responses from worn-out residents, many of whom have long given up hope of improvement.

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“This city needs a wake-up call. Maybe companies and workers should start moving out. Only then will anyone in power care about fixing things,” one user fumed.

Another replied, “Governments don’t seem interested. The only real solution is to stop bringing more businesses here.”

Others pointed fingers at companies themselves. “Most big employers don’t even care. My company has 50,000 people driving in and out daily and still doesn’t offer cab services,” user @balajiworld commented. “They could at least maintain the roads around their own buildings—but they don’t.”

Bengaluru’s infrastructure crisis isn’t new, but voices like Bhatia’s—and the public reactions that follow—might just keep the spotlight on a city where world-class tech meets third-rate traffic.

Del Monte Goes Bankrupt: Canned Food Giant Struggles With Debt, Pandemic Losses, and Rising Costs

Food & Beverage

Online Desk

July 4, 2025

Image of del monte. — Del Monte Goes Bankrupt: Canned Food Giant Struggles With Debt, Pandemic Losses, and Rising Costs

Del Monte Foods, once a pantry staple in countless American homes, has filed for bankruptcy protection in a move that signals just how much the food business has changed. After more than a century of canning peaches, corn, and green beans for the masses, the company is now in serious financial trouble — and looking for a buyer.

The filing under Chapter 11 means Del Monte isn’t shutting its doors just yet. Instead, it’s trying to stay afloat long enough to sell off its assets and possibly find a second life under new ownership. In a statement, CEO Greg Longstreet said the decision came after weighing every other option. “We believe a court-supervised sale gives us the best chance to regroup and build a stronger future,” he said.

To keep things running during this critical period — especially with peak canning season around the corner — the company has secured over $900 million in emergency financing. That money will be used to fund operations and keep factories moving. But the numbers don’t lie: Del Monte is currently staring down liabilities estimated between $1 billion and $10 billion.

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This isn’t a sudden collapse. The company has been wrestling with problems for years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for shelf-stable food exploded. People stocked up on canned goods like never before, and Del Monte responded by ramping up production. But when the panic buying cooled off, the shelves were still full — and the company was left holding too much stock. That surplus ended up being sold at steep losses or written off entirely.

The troubles run deeper. In 2014, Del Monte Pacific Limited acquired the U.S. arm of the brand and took on a hefty pile of debt to seal the deal. Since then, rising interest rates have made those loans even harder to manage. By the company’s own admission, its annual interest payments have nearly quadrupled since 2020.

Del Monte’s story is long and storied. It began operations in 1886 and famously opened a massive cannery in San Francisco in 1907. By 1909, it claimed to run the world’s largest fruit and vegetable cannery — a symbol of America’s industrial food might.

Now, more than 135 years later, that legacy hangs in the balance as Del Monte looks for a way to survive in a very different food world.

Dabur vs Patanjali Turns Legal: Delhi HC Orders Baba Ramdev’s Brand to Remove Chyawanprash Ads Attacking Rivals

Online Desk

July 4, 2025

Image of dabur — Dabur vs Patanjali Turns Legal: Delhi HC Orders Baba Ramdev’s Brand to Remove Chyawanprash Ads Attacking Rivals

In a recent legal face-off between two of India’s biggest Ayurvedic names, the Delhi High Court has stepped in and asked Patanjali Ayurved to take down advertisements that take a dig at Dabur’s Chyawanprash.

The court’s temporary order came on Thursday after Dabur filed a lawsuit accusing Patanjali of running misleading and disparaging commercials. The judge, Justice Mini Pushkarna, is yet to release a full copy of the order.

At the heart of the dispute is a Patanjali ad that features Baba Ramdev. In the video, he throws shade at rival Chyawanprash brands, questioning how anyone lacking knowledge of Ayurveda and Vedic traditions could make a product true to the heritage of sages like Charak and Chyawan Rishi.

One particular statement in the ad sparked Dabur’s outrage: it refers to a 40-ingredient Chyawanprash as “ordinary.” Dabur took this as a not-so-subtle swipe at their product, which proudly highlights the use of over 40 herbs and currently dominates more than 60% of the market.

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According to Dabur, the commercial doesn’t just belittle their brand — it spreads misinformation, casts doubts on their commitment to authentic Ayurvedic practices, and falsely elevates Patanjali’s own product. They argued that these ads risk misleading consumers and discredit an entire category of products that are tightly regulated under Indian law.

Chyawanprash, Dabur reminded the court, isn’t just any over-the-counter product — it’s a classical Ayurvedic formulation bound by the rules of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. So when Patanjali implies that other versions might be subpar or unsafe, it’s not just competitive banter — it’s potentially harmful, they said.

Dabur’s lawyers also noted that Patanjali has had past run-ins over similar ad campaigns. They even pointed to previous contempt proceedings before the Supreme Court, saying this isn’t the first time the company has crossed the line.

The legal teams on both sides were heavy-hitters. Dabur’s side included Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi along with R Jawahar Lal, Anirudh Bakhru, and Meghna Kumar. Patanjali was represented by Senior Advocates Rajiv Nayar and Jayant Mehta, backed by a large team including Rohit Gandhi, Simranjeet Singh, and others.

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While the full court order is awaited, the message is clear: competitive jabs have limits — and Ayurveda, with all its tradition and trust, shouldn’t be used as a battleground for misleading marketing.

H&M Launches AI Fashion Campaign Featuring 30 Digital Avatars of Real Models, Powered by Swedish Tech Firm Uncut

Business

Online Desk

July 3, 2025

Image-of-HM — H&M Launches AI Fashion Campaign Featuring 30 Digital Avatars of Real Models, Powered by Swedish Tech Firm Uncut

H&M is rewriting the playbook on fashion advertising with a new campaign that introduces AI-generated versions of real models—marking a first for the global retail giant. The project, created in partnership with Swedish tech company Uncut, signals a bold move into digital storytelling where fashion and artificial intelligence blend in entirely new ways.

Instead of simply relying on traditional photography, the campaign features stunningly lifelike digital recreations of 30 models, all rendered with their full consent. These avatars appear in highly stylized scenes set across iconic fashion cities, offering a glimpse into how brands might approach visual storytelling in the coming years.

Far from being a gimmick, H&M says this is a serious step toward evolving how fashion is presented and perceived. Jörgen Andersson, the brand’s Chief Creative Officer, explained the decision: “We’re not looking to erase the human element—we’re using new tools to elevate creativity and deepen the way we engage with people. H&M has always been about accessibility and innovation, and this is the next step in that journey.”

Behind the Screens

To demystify the technology, H&M is also releasing a behind-the-scenes documentary that dives into how these digital doubles were created. Transparency is a big part of the initiative, with the brand insisting that all synthetic imagery be clearly labeled with watermarks—especially when shared across social platforms.

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And in a move that sets a strong ethical tone, the models featured in the campaign will retain full rights over their AI likenesses. That means they’ll be compensated as they would for any traditional shoot, including agency-negotiated fees and control over where and how their avatars are used.

This launch isn’t just about denim or digital tools—it’s about a new way of thinking. H&M’s AI campaign is one of the most high-profile uses of generative tech in mainstream retail so far, and it may just be the start of a broader shift in how fashion interacts with technology, consent, and creativity.

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