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ITC, Nestlé, Dabur Reengage Kirana Stores As Quick-Commerce Margins Spark Discontent

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ITC, Nestlé, Dabur Reengage Kirana Stores As Quick-Commerce Margins Spark Discontent

India’s biggest consumer goods companies — including ITC, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Tata Consumer, Dabur, Reliance, and Parle — are shifting their attention back to traditional retail. After a year of deepening relationships with quick-commerce players like Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart, and BB Now, the focus is now returning to kirana stores — the country’s true retail backbone.

According to The Economic Times, these companies are now actively working to repair strained ties with their distributor networks. This includes expanding product options available to kiranas, smoothing out supply chain kinks, and offering better margins to small retailers — a move driven largely by pushback from distributors, who claim online platforms have been receiving more favourable pricing and terms.

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Take ITC, for instance. The company has adjusted its distribution model to help kirana shops stock more premium offerings, while also rolling out targeted incentives for higher-value outlets — a signal that it’s ready to re-invest in long-term channel loyalty.

Kiranas Still Hold The Fort, Despite Digital Hype

While quick-commerce continues to grab headlines and funding, the numbers tell a different story. General trade — powered by an estimated 13 million kirana stores — still handles over 90% of India’s FMCG sales. And this traditional system isn’t ready to take a back seat just yet.

In fact, tensions have been simmering. Many distributors say the rise of app-based grocery delivery has come at their expense, citing unfair pricing models and better margins being handed to online channels.

Things reached a boiling point on June 16, when the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF), which represents nearly half a million members, called on FMCG firms to level the playing field. Their demands? Price parity across all sales channels and proper vendor contracts that recognise and protect traditional distributors.

Continue Exploring: Lahori Beverages Nears ₹450 Crore Fundraise as Valuation Soars to ₹2,500 Crore – A New Challenger in India’s Booming Drinks Market

With the pressure building, legacy brands are being forced to rethink their priorities. Kiranas may not offer the speed or data of digital platforms, but they still hold the trust of millions — and in Indian retail, that trust is worth more than any algorithm.

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Tom Cruise Allegedly Banned From Purchasing Bugatti Vehicles Following a $1 Million Veyron Door Malfunction at the Mission: Impossible 3 Premiere

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Tom Cruise Allegedly Banned From Purchasing Bugatti Vehicles Following a $1 Million Veyron Door Malfunction at the Mission: Impossible 3 Premiere

Tom Cruise may be known for pulling off death-defying stunts in Mission: Impossible, but even Hollywood’s most fearless action star couldn’t escape an awkward moment with a car door. And that moment may have cost him more than just a few seconds of embarrassment—it may have landed him on Bugatti’s unofficial blacklist.

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According to Modern Car Collector, the incident dates back to 2006, during the red carpet premiere of Mission: Impossible 3. Cruise rolled up in a sleek $1 million Bugatti Veyron—one of the most elite hypercars on the planet, boasting a monstrous 16-cylinder engine and over 1000 horsepower. It was the kind of entrance you’d expect from someone who lives life in the fast lane.

But things didn’t quite go according to script. In front of flashing cameras and a global audience, Cruise struggled for nearly 45 seconds to open the passenger door of his own car. The moment, while mildly amusing to fans and media, didn’t sit well with Bugatti. Allegedly, the brand considered the fumble a blow to its image of seamless precision and elite engineering.

Rather than laugh it off, Bugatti reportedly took a more extreme route—placing Cruise on an internal list of people no longer permitted to purchase their vehicles. Though unconfirmed by the brand itself, the story has floated around car enthusiast circles for years. Cruise isn’t alone either; Modern Car Collector suggests that other celebrities have also been quietly blacklisted for behavior that didn’t align with Bugatti’s carefully curated luxury image.

Continue Exploring: Lahori Beverages Nears ₹450 Crore Fundraise as Valuation Soars to ₹2,500 Crore – A New Challenger in India’s Booming Drinks Market

In a world where high-end brands fiercely protect their reputations, even a simple door malfunction can allegedly get you locked out of the club—no matter how many box office billions you’ve earned.

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Ajay Devgn Rejoins Prayag India as Brand Ambassador: Plumbing Giant Bets Big on Star Power to Boost Market Presence

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Ajay Devgn Rejoins Prayag India as Brand Ambassador: Plumbing Giant Bets Big on Star Power to Boost Market Presence

Prayag India, a leading name in the sanitaryware and plumbing solutions industry, has officially announced the return of Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn as its brand ambassador. This renewed collaboration marks a significant move for the brand, which has long been associated with quality, durability, and innovation in the home improvement space.

Known for his powerful screen presence and grounded persona, Ajay Devgn embodies the same values that Prayag India stands for—strength, reliability, and commitment. His return as the face of the brand signals not just a continuation, but a reinforcement of the trust and credibility that the two have built over time.

Continue Exploring: Lahori Beverages Nears ₹450 Crore Fundraise as Valuation Soars to ₹2,500 Crore – A New Challenger in India’s Booming Drinks Market

Commenting on the partnership, a company spokesperson said that Devgn’s no-nonsense image, deep-rooted connection with Indian households, and long-standing popularity make him the perfect fit for Prayag’s vision. The brand aims to leverage his influence to connect with a broader audience and reinforce its identity as a household name known for innovation and craftsmanship.

Prayag India has been steadily growing its footprint across the country, with a wide range of faucets, bathroom fittings, and kitchen solutions. The renewed campaign featuring Devgn is expected to roll out across television, print, and digital platforms soon, showcasing the synergy between the actor’s persona and the brand’s core message.

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In an era where celebrity endorsements often feel fleeting, this reunion stands out as a thoughtful alignment of values, strategy, and mass appeal—bringing together a legacy brand and a cinematic icon once again.

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“Sarojini Went International, and Forgot Her Passport”: Prada’s £1,000 Kolhapuri Chappals Ignite Outrage Over Cultural Appropriation at SS26 Show

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Sarojini Went International, and Forgot Her Passport”: Prada’s £1,000 Kolhapuri Chappals Ignite Outrage Over Cultural Appropriation at SS26 Show

By now, we should be used to it. The fashion world has a long-standing habit of dipping into Indian wardrobes, plucking out a piece of culture, and serving it up with a Euro-luxe tag—no footnote, no nod, no thanks. This time, it’s Prada. Yes, that Prada. Their Spring/Summer 2026 Men’s collection just hit the runway featuring footwear that looked suspiciously familiar to anyone who’s ever wandered through the lanes of Kolhapur—or just had a grandfather with good taste.

As models paraded down the catwalk in what can only be described as high-end Kolhapuri chappals, fashion lovers and cultural watchdogs alike were quick to call it out. The Internet, rarely silent in moments like this, erupted with a mix of sarcasm, eye-rolls, and exasperated memes.

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Celebrity stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania didn’t mince words. She reposted the runway clip with a clear message: Prada didn’t reinvent anything—they just borrowed, repackaged, and rebranded a classic that’s been part of Indian streets and homes for generations.

Diet Sabya, Instagram’s resident fashion truth-teller, joined the chorus with a sharp jab: “Not to sound like your concerned desi aunt, but are we ready to pay £1,000 for Kolhapuri chappals because a European house decided they’re chic now?” Their post threw light on a deeper shift in fashion manufacturing—how Indian craftsmanship is now repurposed under foreign labels with heftier price tags. “It’s all made in India. The threadwork, the detailing, the drama—always has been,” they added.

Public reaction? A glorious mess of pride, amusement, and justified outrage. While some users laughed it off—“My dadaji used to rock the same pair,” one wrote; another chimed in, “The chappal just got a visa”—others were more pointed. Comments like “How conveniently they erase the roots and call it innovation” and “Sarojini just went luxury” peppered the feed.

One user summed it up best: “Joggers from Lajpat now on Milan runways. Retail price: 200 bucks in Delhi, 2,000 euros in Europe. Iconic, but make it appropriation.”

Continue Exploring: Lahori Beverages Nears ₹450 Crore Fundraise as Valuation Soars to ₹2,500 Crore – A New Challenger in India’s Booming Drinks Market

So, the question remains—how long before cultural borrowing becomes cultural respecting? Until then, let’s keep calling it what it is: stylish plagiarism with a shiny label.

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Ice Cream and Sanitary Pads? How Go Zero’s Bold Collaboration With Nua Delivered 4X+ ROAS by Putting Comfort Over Coupons

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Ice Cream and Sanitary Pads? How Go Zero’s Bold Collaboration With Nua Delivered 4X+ ROAS by Putting Comfort Over Coupons

Some of the best ideas don’t emerge from spreadsheets or boardrooms: they come from paying attention to people. And that’s exactly how Go Zero’s latest collaboration with Nua was born.

In a refreshingly honest LinkedIn post, Go Zero’s founder Kiran Shah shared the origin story behind the brand’s newest partnership, one rooted not in market trends or fancy algorithms, but in a moment of human observation.

It began with the women on Go Zero’s team. They noticed that during their menstrual cycles, chocolate-based Go Zero ice creams were quietly becoming a go-to source of comfort. No one had flagged it. No dashboards had picked it up. But it was happening.

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Curious, the team decided to test a simple idea: on Blinkit, show Go Zero’s chocolate SKUs to customers purchasing sanitary pads. The results were staggering—more than 4x ROAS (Return on Ad Spend), a number the team had never hit before, not even during big campaigns or discount-led pushes. And this happened without slashing prices or running elaborate ads: just pure, contextual relevance.

What it revealed was bigger than numbers: periods aren’t just about hygiene; they’re about how we feel. Comfort, cravings, and care are deeply intertwined.

So Go Zero teamed up with Nua, a brand known for its thoughtful menstrual care products. For a limited time, select Nua products on Blinkit now come with a free Go Zero ice cream. A small but meaningful gesture to say: when you’re PMSing, you deserve a moment of guilt-free indulgence.

Shah ended his post by crediting the women who sparked the idea, thanking them for transforming an everyday insight into a campaign that delivers more than just conversions. It delivers care.

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In a world chasing virality and conversions, Go Zero’s latest move is a reminder that sometimes, listening quietly leads to the loudest impact.

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Eternal’s District App Expands into Retail Discovery, Adds Shopping Discounts and Local Experiences

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Eternal’s District App Expands into Retail Discovery, Adds Shopping Discounts and Local Experiences

Without any fanfare or official announcement, Eternal, the company led by Deepinder Goyal, has expanded the scope of its lifestyle app District, quietly rolling out a new feature that lets users discover nearby retail stores. The new ‘Stores’ tab within the app gives shoppers access to local outlets offering clothing, shoes, home decor, beauty services, and more.

The list of participating brands already includes names like The Souled Store, Adidas, VLCC, Toni & Guy, Heads Up For Tails, Libas, Kazo, and BlackBerry, among others.

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District is also sweetening the deal by offering instant discounts (up to ₹500 or 10% off) and additional perks like food and movie vouchers—but only if users make their purchase through the app at one of the featured stores. These benefits are tailored based on a user’s location, and the app highlights nearby outlets offering the best deals.

Eternal hasn’t commented on the rollout yet—questions sent by Inc42 have gone unanswered so far.

District Shifts Gears: From Movie Tickets to Local Shopping and Activities

The new retail feature is part of a larger push by Eternal to make District a comprehensive “going-out” app, not just a ticketing platform. Alongside the retail section, the app has also launched a new ‘Activities’ tab that showcases workshops, recreational spaces, art and craft sessions, and amusement venues. To build buzz, District is relying on influencer partnerships to promote these experience-based offerings on social platforms.

District first hit the market in November 2024, and while it started out focused on movies and events, its ambitions have clearly expanded. It has already crossed 10 million downloads on Google Play Store. The app’s ticketing infrastructure is built on the back of Paytm Insider, which Eternal acquired last year in a ₹2,048 crore deal as part of its strategy to scale its “going out” vertical.

Today, District users can do everything from booking movie tickets and finding gigs to exploring restaurants, retail stores, and experiences—positioning it as a broader lifestyle app rather than just a ticket-booking tool.

Going Up Against BookMyShow—and Magicpin

With the launch of the ‘Stores’ section, District is now positioning itself as a hybrid of BookMyShow and magicpin. While BookMyShow remains dominant in entertainment ticketing, District’s multi-category approach is clearly an attempt to undercut its lead by offering more than just movies.

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Interestingly, Zomato (now Eternal) had previously invested $50 million in magicpin back in 2021 during its $60 million Series D round, picking up a 16% stake. Now, District seems to be stepping on similar turf—enabling hyperlocal discovery and rewards, much like magicpin’s model.

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Blinkit’s Bistro Slips in a Surprise INR 5 Fee, Joins the Club of Quiet Charges in Quick Food Delivery

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If you’ve ordered from Blinkit’s quick food app, Bistro, lately, you may have noticed something new on your bill—an unexpected INR 5 “convenience fee”. But you wouldn’t have seen it upfront. The fee pops up sneakily at the final checkout screen, without any prior heads-up from the app. No push notification, no banner, not even a fine-print update. Just a quiet INR 5 addition, waiting for you at the end of your order.

Eternal, which owns Blinkit and launched Bistro late last year, hasn’t made any public announcement or in-app clarification yet. Inc42 has reached out to the company for comments on the matter.

Continue Exploring: “Kuch Nahi Hoga”—Anupam Mittal Challenges This Dangerous Mindset in Policy Bazaar’s New Ad

Bistro is the latest player to quietly roll out extra charges—a now common tactic in the food delivery business as platforms look for creative ways to boost revenue without raising menu prices. It’s not alone.

Over the past year, Swiggy and Zomato have experimented with various fees of their own: small cart charges, packaging costs, surge-based pricing, and of course, convenience fees that can run as high as INR 30 depending on when and where you order. Zepto has also leaned into this model, with multiple add-ons that push up the final bill on smaller or peak-hour orders.

The Fast-Food Sprint Is Getting Crowded

Bistro was launched in December by Blinkit to offer fast, ready-to-eat food—snacks, beverages, and meals delivered within 15 minutes. Starting in Gurugram, the service has been quietly expanding to more areas, going up against rivals like Zepto Cafe and Swiggy’s SNACC.

But the rush to dominate the 15-minute food game hasn’t been without its hiccups.

Just last month, Zepto Cafe pulled out of several North Indian cities—Agra, Chandigarh, Meerut, Mohali, Amritsar—citing supply chain headaches. Around 400 workers were reportedly affected by the move. Zepto later said it plans to reopen in those cities in the coming quarter and is also trimming staff at some outlets to control operational costs.

Still, the segment is heating up. BigBasket quietly launched its own quick food delivery pilot in Bengaluru earlier this month. The plan? Roll out 40 dark stores for this offering by July.

Continue Exploring: Lahori Beverages Nears ₹450 Crore Fundraise as Valuation Soars to ₹2,500 Crore – A New Challenger in India’s Booming Drinks Market

Others are racing in too. Swish, which snagged INR 122 Cr in funding in March, and Zing, launched around the same time as Bistro, are also vying for a slice of India’s growing instant meals market.

Even with delays, layoffs, and sneaky fees, the 15-minute food fight is far from cooling down. If anything, it’s just getting spicier—with every click, sip, and charge.

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Banned & Detained: Karnataka’s 1.5 Lakh Bike Taxi Drivers Demand CM Siddaramaiah’s Intervention as Tensions Rise

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Banned & Detained: Karnataka’s 1.5 Lakh Bike Taxi Drivers Demand CM Siddaramaiah’s Intervention as Tensions Rise

Tensions flared in Bengaluru yesterday as a group of bike taxi drivers were detained by police for staging a protest outside Vidhana Soudha, Karnataka’s legislative heart. The protest, aimed at pushing back against the ongoing suspension of bike taxi services, was swiftly disrupted by police, who removed the protesters from the premises almost as soon as they assembled.

The disruption follows an earlier Karnataka High Court ruling from April that brought all bike taxi operations in the state to a standstill. In the ruling, the HC noted that such services were running without a proper regulatory framework and ordered the government to first notify clear rules under the Motor Vehicles Act before allowing them to operate.

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According to PTI, the drivers had gathered without official permission and now face legal action for violating protest regulations.

Their demands? An immediate lift of the blanket ban and the introduction of structured regulations that would allow them to operate legally while ensuring rider safety. The drivers argued that bike taxis aren’t just a convenience—they’re a lifeline. With an estimated 1.5 lakh drivers affected by the shutdown, many now find themselves abruptly out of work.

The protest came on the heels of a high-level appeal. Just a day earlier, representatives of the bike taxi community had met Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao and Dasarahalli MLA S Muniraju, urging them to raise the issue at the state level. Open letters were also sent to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, and MP Rahul Gandhi.

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But the unrest didn’t end there. Members of the Namma Bike Taxi Association have alleged that rival auto unions harassed drivers and blocked them from gathering at Freedom Park, the city’s designated protest zone.

As legal battles continue, major players like Uber, Ola, and Rapido have taken the fight to court. While they filed an appeal against the initial HC order, the division bench has so far refused to overturn the ban, leaving both drivers and companies in limbo.

The future of bike taxis in Karnataka remains unclear, but one thing is certain—the issue is far from over, and thousands are still waiting for the government to get into gear.

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Delhi businesses no longer need police licences to operate hotels, restaurants, and amusement venues

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Delhi businesses no longer need police licences to operate hotels, restaurants, and amusement venues

In a move aimed at simplifying business processes in the capital, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena has officially removed the Delhi Police from the task of issuing licenses for various commercial establishments. This includes businesses like hotels, motels, guest houses, restaurants, swimming pools, discotheques, and amusement parks, among others.

Licensing responsibilities for these activities will now be handled by local civic bodies, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and the Delhi Cantonment Board.

This change eliminates the long-standing requirement for a police-issued no-objection certificate (NOC), a process that many business owners viewed as an unnecessary bureaucratic hurdle.

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From Crime Control to Core Duties

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta praised the move, calling it a practical reform that aligns with the Centre’s broader push for “Ease of Doing Business” and “Maximum Governance, Minimum Government.”

She added that the shift also reflects Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s clear stance that the police force should be focused on what it’s meant to do—maintaining law and order, tackling crime, and handling security—not administrative red tape.

“It’s time to free up our police force from chasing paper,” said Gupta. “We’re working to make Delhi not just India’s political capital, but also a benchmark for efficient governance. That’s the goal of our double-engine government.”

Policing Falls Under the Centre

The Delhi Police, which reports directly to the Union Home Ministry, has long juggled administrative responsibilities alongside law enforcement. With this change, city officials believe the police will be better positioned to respond to the growing demands of public safety and policing in one of the world’s largest urban centers.

Continue Exploring: Lahori Beverages Nears ₹450 Crore Fundraise as Valuation Soars to ₹2,500 Crore – A New Challenger in India’s Booming Drinks Market

While the transition of licensing powers to civic agencies may not resolve every bottleneck immediately, it marks a significant shift toward reducing red tape for hospitality and entertainment businesses in the capital.

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Bengaluru Gets a Taste of Paris: PAUL Bakery Debuts at Orion Gateway with Tartines, Pizzas & 135-Year-Old Legacy

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Bengaluru Gets a Taste of Paris: PAUL Bakery Debuts at Orion Gateway with Tartines, Pizzas & 135-Year-Old Legacy

Bengaluru food lovers are in for a buttery, flaky treat. The iconic French bakery and café chain PAUL is all set to open its first outlet in the city this August at Orion Gateway Mall in Rajajinagar.

Spread across a breezy 3,850 square feet with outdoor seating by the lakeside, the new café will serve up a slice of Paris in the heart of Bengaluru. The menu? A delicious mix of French comfort food and café staples—think warm tartines, crisp salads, rich pastas, wood-fired pizzas, hearty soups, and of course, their signature viennoiseries and pastries. Whether you’re after a leisurely brunch or a coffee-and-croissant break, PAUL’s got you covered.

Continue Exploring: Lahori Beverages Nears ₹450 Crore Fundraise as Valuation Soars to ₹2,500 Crore – A New Challenger in India’s Booming Drinks Market

For the team behind Orion Gateway, the arrival of PAUL is another feather in the cap. “We’re always looking to bring in experiences that stand out,” said Sunil Munshi, Senior VP – Retail at Brigade Group. “PAUL offers exactly that—a mix of global flair and timeless food. We expect it to strike a chord with Bengaluru’s food-savvy crowd.”

Vaibhav Kaushish, COO of PAUL India, called the Bengaluru launch a key milestone for the brand’s presence in the country. “We’ve had a warm reception in other cities, and now we’re ready to serve Bengaluru. PAUL is more than a café—it’s a little piece of French food heritage, and we’re excited to share it, one croissant at a time.”

PAUL’s story goes back over 135 years, with its roots in northern France. In India, the brand was brought in by Stellar Concept Pvt. Ltd., and is operated under its affiliate, Cogent Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. The first Indian outpost opened in 2019, and since then, PAUL has been steadily growing its footprint among lovers of artisanal baking and refined casual dining.

Continue Exploring: “Kuch Nahi Hoga”—Anupam Mittal Challenges This Dangerous Mindset in Policy Bazaar’s New Ad

With this upcoming launch, Bengaluru’s café scene is about to get a whole lot more French—and a whole lot more flavorful.

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