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Massive traffic surge forces Flipkart to pause grocery deliveries

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Flipkart had to temporarily halt its grocery delivery services on Tuesday (October 10) as the homegrown e-commerce giant experienced an interruption in operations caused by a surge in user traffic.

This outage occurred during the annual ‘Big Billion Days’ sale, which commenced on October 8.

“Please come back tomorrow. We are overwhelmed by your response,” reads a banner displaying on the Flipkart Grocery segment of the Flipkart website and the app.

The development was initially brought to light by ET.

Amid India’s most festive period of the year, the top e-commerce giants, Flipkart and Amazon, initiated their annual holiday sales on October 8. These two companies, commanding over 90% of India’s e-commerce market, have been diligently capitalizing on the festive season.

Recently, Flipkart unveiled a new subscription plan called VIP, designed to provide users with perks like free shipping and discounts. In response, Amazon introduced a more affordable version of its Prime membership to stay competitive in the market.

Read More: Flipkart launches VIP membership to counter Amazon’s Prime program

Also Read: Amazon launches affordable Prime membership to compete with Flipkart’s VIP pass

Both companies have undertaken robust seasonal recruitment drives to meet the substantial surge in demand during the festive season. Flipkart and Amazon have announced the creation of 100,000 seasonal positions spanning various sectors to accommodate this increased demand.

As per the analysis by consulting firm Redseer, it is expected that the Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) will experience a significant increase of 18-20%, reaching INR 90,000 Crores. This marks a substantial leap from the INR 76,000 Crores recorded in the previous year.

The e-commerce sector is poised for a more robust holiday season this year compared to the previous one, with a projected sales increase of over 20%. This growth is primarily attributed to the anticipated 40% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) surge in the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) segment. Nevertheless, it is expected that average user spending will remain unchanged.

Based on the analysis, it is anticipated that the most significant contributions to this year’s festive season sales will come from Tier II and III cities and towns.

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EatSure sets a new precedent in F&B with second smart food court in Pune

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EatSure

Rebel Foods, the world’s largest internet restaurant company, following the remarkable success of its first smart foodcourt at Law College Road, has now launched EatSure’s second smart foodcourt at Baner, Pune.

The foodcourt will provide an array of 15+ renowned brands spanning various food categories, all conveniently situated under one roof. Situated in close proximity to Balewadi High Street, this distinctive establishment covers an expansive 1000 sq ft, ensuring a fully immersive digital customer experience.

“With the aim of building EatSure as a category creator and bringing multiple category leading brands together, we are re-imagining the conventional offline F&B experience. The launch of our second smart food court in Baner represents a significant step forward towards EatSure’s overarching mission of bringing the foodcourt experience to high-streets,” shared Sagar Kochhar, Co-Founder, Rebel Foods.

The Baner foodcourt strives to revolutionize the dining experience by delivering a smooth, digitally-powered ordering process, providing both convenience and a wide range of culinary options all within a single location.

This aligns with EatSure’s dedication to establishing 100 offline stores across various categories within the upcoming two years.

The Baner Foodcourt embodies EatSure’s unique selling proposition (USP) of enabling customers to order from multiple brands in a single transaction, maintaining the hallmark of a queue-free, entirely digital ordering process. Furthermore, patrons have the option to place orders from distinguished brands collectively using kiosks, iPads, or by scanning QR codes on their tables. Once the order is ready, customers will receive notifications through digital screens within the store or via WhatsApp messages. Beyond this exceptional digital ordering experience, the EatSure foodcourt will showcase a diverse range of food brands.

Customers can savor a diverse array of culinary delights, whether they yearn for the sumptuous flavors of Behrouz Biryani, the irresistible wraps from Faasos, the tantalizing pizzas from Ovenstory, or the indulgent desserts from Sweet Truth – all in a single order. In addition to these, the foodcourt will showcase renowned brands like Wendy’s, Lunchbox, SLAY Coffee, Firangi Bake, and many more. This innovative approach ensures that friends, families, and groups can relish their favorite dishes without the hassle of placing separate orders or enduring lengthy queues. This pioneering venture sets a unique precedent not seen before in the realm of QSR or food-tech players in India.

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Godrej Yummiez teams up with IRCTC to bring nutritious millet patties to rail passengers

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Godrej Yummiez

Godrej Yummiez, a frozen ready-to-cook product brand operated by Godrej Tyson Foods Limited (GTFL), has collaborated with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to bring millet patties to the menu of passenger trains.

Launched earlier this year, the Godrej Yummiez Millet Patty has quickly gained favor among households, thanks to its nutritious and delicious qualities, which are derived from millets such as Jowar (Sorghum) and Bajra (Pearl Millet).

The partnership between Godrej Yummiez and IRCTC has resulted in millet patties being added to the breakfast menu on Rajdhani and August Kranti trains plying the Mumbai to Delhi route, making the millet patties more accessible to passengers.

Godrej Yummiez innovatively launched the millet patty as a unique snack option. Utilizing Individual Quick Freeze (IQF) technology, these snacks are meticulously crafted, guaranteeing their freshness without relying on preservatives.

By merging the nutritional advantages of millets, which include their abundant fiber content and vitamins, with a harmonious mix of herbs and spices, these patties present a flavorful and healthful snacking alternative.

“Till recently, the adoption of millets was low due to the perception that they are not tasty and are not easy to cook. This has changed drastically and now every household is embracing the goodness of millets. We supported this adoption by bringing together the nutrition of millets in a ready-to-cook convenient format and launching them in a mass accepted ‘patty’ variant. Godrej Yummiez Millet Patty is a preservative-free snack that symbolizes our commitment to innovation, nutrition, and convenience.” said, Abhay Parnerkar, CEO, Godrej Tyson Foods Limited.

He went on to say, “We are delighted to expand the availability of the delicious Godrej Yummiez millet patty to passengers traveling on Rajdhani and August Kranti trains. IRCTC is a highly esteemed organization known for its extensive railway catering services nationwide. Our exclusive partnership with IRCTC leverages their vast network and expertise in train catering, combined with Godrej Yummiez’s culinary excellence, to create an exceptional millet-based food experience.”

Rajdhani and August Kranti trains are held in high regard within the Indian railway system, celebrated for their exceptional service and memorable culinary offerings.

The partnership between Godrej Yummiez and IRCTC is geared towards increasing awareness about millets, emphasizing their significance even within the expansive railway network.

This collaboration has been initiated as a pilot program on the Mumbai – Delhi – Mumbai routes of Rajdhani and August Kranti trains, providing advantages to numerous passengers traveling through Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Delhi.

“At IRCTC, we always pledge to provide passengers with quality and tasty food spread. Godrej Yummiez Millet patty on Rajdhani and August Kranti trains taken onboard on a pilot basis reinforces IRCTC’s dedication to offer passengers interesting and delectable millet-based food options. We are proud to introduce this product as a pilot as it supports the vision of mainstreaming millets through IRCTC’s catering operations across the massive Indian railways’ network. We tried and tested the product before serving it to our passengers. We are anticipating positive acceptance of Godrej Yummiez Millet Patty which is a perfect snack that is nutritious and convenient ready-to-cook item.” said, Rahul Himalian, Group General Manager, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (Western Zone).

Currently, Godrej Yummiez provides a diverse selection of more than 50 vegetarian and non-vegetarian products.

The Godrej Yummiez Millet Patty is readily available in supermarkets and leading e-commerce platforms across India, with a price tag of INR 180 for 370-gram packs.

The Yummiez Millet Patty is a convenient, ready-to-cook choice that can be prepared by deep-frying, air-frying, or shallow-frying, and served piping hot.

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Philippine food service industry sees 20% sales reduction in 2023, USDA report reveals

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Food service
Food service (Representative Image)

According to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), it is projected that the sales in the Philippine consumer foodservice industry will experience a 20% growth rate in 2023, marking a decline from the impressive 26.6% growth observed in 2022.

The report highlights that despite limited-service restaurants maintaining their majority share in the food service sector, street kiosks have outpaced limited-service restaurants, full-service restaurants, cafés, and bars in terms of sales growth. The food service industry is anticipated to return to pre-pandemic levels by early 2024, according to estimates.

Last year, it was the pizza restaurants that made the most significant contribution to overall restaurant sales, experiencing a remarkable 24% increase, closely followed by Asian restaurants.

While many food establishments are introducing fresh restaurant concepts, certain restaurant chains accelerated their store openings to fulfill local and international franchise commitments. In 2022, a significant 57% of restaurants were affiliated with a chain, while only 27% operated independently.

“As restaurant chains open more company and franchise-owned stores, they will continue to outpace independent restaurants. Chains have more financial leverage to expand, efficiency in operations, and capacity to order bulk purchases compared to independent stores. Most food chains such as Jollibee and Potato Corner focused on faster store openings locally and abroad,” the report said.

Sales at the café and bar increased by 26% in the previous year.

In 2022, bars and pubs retained their dominant position in the market, accounting for 40% of total sales shares. Cafes and specialty coffee and tea shops both held a 30% share, creating a tie for the second-largest segment.

Starbucks maintains its frontrunner position in cafe sales, commanding a 56% market share with total sales reaching $775 million in 2022. Following closely is Dunkin’ with $142 million in sales, followed by McCafe at $86 million, Mary Grace at $64 million, and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at $62 million.

In the meantime, the USDA predicts that sales from street stalls and kiosks will experience a remarkable 25% growth in 2023, building upon their outstanding performance as the leading category in the previous year.

Nevertheless, the growth rate is more sluggish this year when compared to the previous year, primarily due to the increased cost of raw materials and consumer reluctance to spend.

In 2022, the leading brands among street stalls and kiosks in terms of sales were Angel’s Burger at $134 million, Tender Juicy Hotdog at $110 million, Turks at $93 million, Infinitea at $88 million, and Zagu at $76 million.

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HyugaLife unveils Vito, a revolutionary health supplement brand for time-strapped consumers

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HyugaLife
HyugaLife (Representative Image)

HyugaLife, a prominent health and wellness platform with endorsements from renowned celebrities Katrina Kaif and KL Rahul, is launching Vito, an innovative health supplement brand designed specifically for the modern generation facing time constraints when it comes to prioritizing their health.

Following two years of intensive research and development conducted at a UK MHRA-certified laboratory, Vito is unveiling a groundbreaking product format in the Indian market. Setting itself apart from traditional supplements, Vito eliminates the requirement for water during consumption. Its pioneering self-dissolving design is ideally tailored for individuals leading fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyles. Vito’s lineup of daily health supplements not only accommodates busy schedules but streamlines them, providing convenient, effective, and pocket-sized solutions that cater to contemporary living.

Prasanna Rengarajan, CEO of Vito stated, “Vito was conceived with the modern-day consumer’s needs and aspirations in mind. The Vito consumer values health as an integral part of their life but demands convenience. Vito was created to streamline health for them, providing a range of daily essentials that seamlessly fit their dynamic lifestyles. Our tablets can be taken anytime, anywhere, whether you’re on-the-go, in the midst of a busy day, or simply relaxing at home.”

The emerging cohort of Indian millennials embodies ambition, aspiration, and ceaseless activity, skillfully balancing the demands of education, careers, personal lives, and more. Nevertheless, they confront lifestyle hurdles, including sleep disorders, diminished energy levels, compromised immune systems, discomfort, and digestive problems.

Vito’s introduction by HyugaLife is a direct response to the demands of contemporary, high-speed living.

Anvi Shah, CEO of HyugaLife said, “Our venture into private brands, exemplified by Vito, is a natural evolution in our growth journey. Our strategy is clear – we are not here to conform. We are identifying unique white spaces in the market and building something truly distinctive. We delve deeply into consumer insights to create products that not only meet but exceed expectations.”

In its initial phase, Vito has introduced a range of supplements addressing critical health aspects, including sleep quality, bone health, iron deficiency, and immune system support. With plans to unveil more than 30 products in the next year, Vito is poised to redefine health for a generation that refuses to compromise on their well-being, regardless of life’s fast pace. Currently, Vito products are exclusively available through HyugaLife’s website and app.

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KFC’s first ever nightclub launching in Sydney with famous DJ Luude

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KFC

According to reports from the Daily Mail, KFC, the fast-food restaurant chain, is gearing up to launch its first nightclub in Sydney, Australia, featuring the renowned Australian DJ, Luude.

As per the report, the nightclub, named Fried Side Club, is scheduled to operate for a single day on October 21, 2023, at an undisclosed location.

The undisclosed venue will be disclosed 48 hours prior to the event.

During the event, the fast-food restaurant company will offer its sliders in pairs, each consisting of half a Zinger fillet and lettuce, but featuring distinct sauces.

One part of the slider will include Chilli relish, while the other half will be adorned with ‘Supercharged Sauce’.

In May this year, news.com.au reported that KFC had brought back its original mashies to its Australian restaurants, marking their return for the first time since 2011.

In 2011, the restaurant company discontinued mashies from its menus, and they were reintroduced last year in Tasmania for a limited-time promotion.

The new outlet 7NEWS.com.au quoted KFC Australia CMO Sally Spriggs as saying, “We’re always looking to delight KFC fans by introducing tasty new feeds or bringing back fan favourites, which is why for the first time in 12 years, Original Mashies will be available on menus nationwide.”

Original mashies are creamy mashed potatoes served with a crispy outer layer.

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McDonald’s sets the mood for Halloween with the comeback of ‘Boo Buckets’

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Boo Buckets
Boo Buckets

US-based fast-food giant McDonald’s is gearing up for the Halloween season with the exciting reintroduction of its limited-edition ‘Boo Buckets.’

The new Boo Buckets are set to make their return on October 17, 2023, as they become available at McDonald’s restaurants throughout the United States, conveniently accompanying McDonald’s Happy Meals.

The Boo Buckets will come in four festive designs: the Mummy, the Skeleton, the Monster, and the Vampire.

The Mummy box will feature a white color, the Skeleton will be orange, the Monster will sport green, and the Vampire will come in a vibrant shade of purple.

The restaurant brand further mentioned that it plans to substitute the conventional paper packaging for kids’ Happy Meals with plastic buckets.

For the second consecutive year, McDonald’s is bringing back the Boo Buckets after a six-year absence.

Earlier this month, McDonald’s Egypt collaborated with Roboost to achieve full automation of its delivery operations.

Roboost announced that its artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solution will automate the last-mile delivery process for the fast-food restaurant and streamline operations prior to the commencement of deliveries.

Additionally, McDonald’s Egypt will enhance its oversight and management of every phase within the delivery process.

Roboost also mentioned that its solution will provide transparent and dependable operational insights, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience.

McDonald’s Egypt people and operations senior director Essam Reda said, “At McDonald’s Egypt, we take pride in being pioneers in the home delivery sector and consistently raising the bar in terms of speed, reliability and overall customer experience.”

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Arla Foods makes bold investment in Argentina to boost protein and infant formula production

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Arla Foods
Arla Foods (Representative Image)

A subsidiary of the Danish dairy conglomerate Arla Foods is making an investment in an established facility located in Argentina, with a focus on producing proteins and infant formula applications.

Arla Foods Ingredients intends to incorporate a new drying tower into its Porteña facility, characterizing it as a “substantial enhancement.” However, the company has not disclosed the exact amount of capital earmarked for this project.

The installation of a new tower, slated for completion in 2026, is expected to increase the production of permeate powder, a high-lactose ingredient derived by extracting proteins from milk for food manufacturers, more than twofold.

Arla Foods has stated that the expansion of the Porteña plant aims to meet the increasing demand for premium whey ingredients, both within Latin America and on a global scale. Additionally, the company has received approval to manufacture dairy proteins for infant formula products.

Despite Argentina’s struggle with hyperinflation, where prices are soaring at a rate exceeding 100% due to the devaluation of the local currency, the peso, it continues to attract investment.

In a statement made today, October 9th, Henrik Andersen, the CEO of Arla Foods Ingredients, made reference to the economic challenges while announcing the investment.

“We’ve had a presence in Argentina since 2000, and despite the country’s economic fluctuations, we’ve consistently delivered strong results. This positions us to invest in future growth,” stated Henrik Andersen, CEO of Arla Foods Ingredients.

In its 2022 annual report, Arla Foods did not disclose a detailed breakdown of its revenues and profits attributable to Argentina, neither for the entire group nor specifically for Arla Foods Ingredients.

When releasing its first-half results in August 2023, the parent company Arla Foods noted the presence of inflationary pressures and volume declines at the group level, resulting in a downward revision of its guidance for the year.

“As expected, the first half of 2023 was characterised by continued inflationary pressures, falling market prices for dairy products and a shift in consumer behaviour towards discount channels and private-label products,” the company said.

The full-year sales projection has been revised to a range of €13.2 billion (then $14.2 billion) to €13.7 billion, as opposed to the earlier forecast in February of €13.6 billion to €14.2 billion. Additionally, the expected profit as a percentage of revenue is now anticipated to be between 2.8% and 3%, down from the previous range of 2.8% to 3.2%.

In order to facilitate the manufacturing of infant formula ingredients at the Porteña facility, Arla Foods Ingredients stated that it has had to adhere to stringent global criteria regarding nutritional value and hygiene.

A permit was granted in June, with the business expecting that a “significant portion of the Porteña plant’s total production will go to infant-nutrition ingredients within the first year and grow further thereafter”.

Arla Foods Ingredients will source the base products locally after entering agreements with dairy suppliers and offered training to “ensure that the raw materials meet the required quality”.

Andersen added: “We are proud that we can now produce for the infant sector from Latin America. Getting here has required time, resources and a high degree of cooperation – not only between our Danish and Argentinian departments, but also with local dairies. Everyone has effectively contributed to us now being able to lift our business further.”

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Body Science expands manufacturing capabilities with successful acquisition of Halo Food Factory

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Body Science protein powders
Body Science protein powders (Representative Image)

Body Science International, an Australian-based sports nutrition company, has successfully completed the acquisition of a nearby manufacturing facility previously under the ownership of Halo Food Co.

In a LinkedIn post, Sheree Young, the CEO of Body Science, a company under the Humble Group umbrella, announced the acquisition of the factory from the administrators of Halo Food. Halo Food had entered voluntary administration in August.

Australian media reported the plant is located in Sydney. Young said on LinkedIn “the acquisition by our group assures ongoing employment for the staff affected by the recent events in Halo Food group”.

Halo Food, a company listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange but headquartered in New Zealand, announced in August that it had appointed administrators Rahul Goyal, Kate Conneely, and Michael Korda from KordaMentha. The receivers, led by David Hardy, Ryan Eagle, and Emily Seeckts, were from the accounting firm KPMG.

Prior to commencing the proceedings, Halo Food had divested its weight-loss business, The Healthy Mummy. The company operated three manufacturing facilities in Sydney and Melbourne, along with an additional one in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Located in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Body Science was acquired by Humble Group, headquartered in Sweden, during the summer of the previous year. This Australian company manufactures protein powders and bars under the BSc brand, as well as weight-management and pre-workout supplements.

“Integrating manufacturing capabilities into our group in Australia is an exciting development and opens up further opportunities for support and growth for our BSc Brand and other Humble Group brands in our region,” Young said.

“Humble Group already have extensive manufacturing capabilities in FMCG throughout Europe and the investment in Australia is a testament to the opportunity here and the ongoing support for Australian manufacturing of BSc products.”

Body Science, which distributes its products through direct-to-consumer channels and independent retailers, served as Humble Group’s introduction to the Australian market. Although specific financial details were not disclosed at the time, the Swedish company noted that Body Science was generating sales amounting to SKr284 million (equivalent to $25.7 million today) and reporting profits based on EBITDA of SKr53 million.

A representative from Humble Group has verified that the factory transaction by Body Science is anticipated to conclude within the “coming week or thereabouts.”

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BlueNalu raises $33.5 Million in funding and expands strategic partnerships for cell-based seafood production

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BlueNalu
BlueNalu (Representative Image)

BlueNalu, a cellular agriculture company headquartered in the United States, secured $33.5 million in funding through a Series B financing round, attracting support from both new and existing investors.

The firm, which is dedicated to becoming the foremost global player in cell-based seafood production, has emphasized that the funding secured through this Series B round will fuel its next phase of expansion and accelerate the journey toward the widespread production and distribution of sustainable seafood on a global scale.

Following regulatory approval, BlueNalu plans to launch its first commercial product, the premium bluefin tuna toro. The toro portion of bluefin tuna is highly sought after in Asia, where over 80% of the estimated global supply is consumed.

BlueNalu highlights that at present, bluefin tuna is only accessible in extremely limited quantities, exhibits significant variability in terms of quality and sensory characteristics, and confronts substantial challenges such as declining fish stocks stemming from issues like overfishing and illicit, unregulated, and unreported fishing practices.

Aside from securing additional capital this month, the cellular agriculture seafood company also unveiled its intentions to broaden and strengthen its strategic collaborations with three major multinational players in the seafood industry headquartered in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

These partnerships are poised to aid BlueNalu in its scheduled rollout of cell-based seafood across several APAC countries in the upcoming years. This support will encompass activities such as gaining market insights, comprehending regulatory prerequisites, and formulating effective go-to-market strategies.

The extended partnerships involve Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with prominent seafood industry players: Mitsubishi in Japan, Pulmuone in South Korea, and Thai Union in Thailand. These companies have established themselves as influential figures in the global seafood sector.

Lou Cooperhouse, president and CEO of BlueNalu, said, “We are honoured to deepen our collaborations with Mitsubishi, Pulmuone and Thai Union, visionary partners who share our commitment to driving innovation and shaping the future of the seafood industry. These extended partnerships in the APAC region underscore our dedication to working collaboratively with local experts in each region that we target, and our ultimate goal to provide our customers with healthy and trusted seafood options that have superior product benefits and align with evolving market conditions.”

The reaffirmed partnerships, which were initiated with Pulmuone in 2020 and with Mitsubishi and Thai Union in 2021, demonstrate a mutual dedication to advancing the commercialization of cell-based seafood in Asia and a joint commitment to sustainable seafood solutions aimed at addressing the growing demand for such products.

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