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Instamart Drops ‘Swiggy’ Tag, Debuts New Identity as It Prepares to Outgrow Food Delivery Giant

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Instamart Drops ‘Swiggy’ Tag, Debuts New Identity as It Prepares to Outgrow Food Delivery Giant

Instamart is stepping out from Swiggy’s shadow. The quick commerce platform, once known as Swiggy Instamart, has officially dropped the parent brand from its name, signaling a clear ambition: it’s ready to stand on its own.

The name change comes at a time when quick commerce is no longer a side hustle for food tech players. It’s the main event. Just last week, Zomato gave its corporate identity a facelift, rebranding itself as Eternal on stock exchanges—underscoring how seriously both players are betting on faster-than-fast delivery models like Blinkit and Instamart.

For Swiggy, this was always on the cards. CEO Sriharsha Majety has openly said that Instamart could eventually outpace the company’s flagship food delivery arm, both in reach and scale.

Instamart isn’t disappearing from the Swiggy app just yet, but the company has made it clear that the service is now operating with a more independent flavor. A standalone Instamart app quietly went live earlier this year, laying the groundwork for the brand to break away more confidently.

Along with the new name comes a fresh look: a revamped logo that still carries the iconic ‘S-pin’ in a subtle nod to its roots, but with enough distance to signal a new chapter. According to Swiggy, the shift marks Instamart’s transition from a Swiggy sub-brand to a full-blown lifestyle utility with its own loyal base of users.

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

“In the beginning, it was just groceries. Now, it’s daily convenience at your doorstep—fast, wide-ranging, and distinctly Instamart,” said Mayur Hola, Head of Brand at Swiggy. “This isn’t just a cosmetic update. It’s a statement: Instamart has evolved, and it’s carving its own lane, while still being backed by the Swiggy trust factor.”

The updated branding will soon show up everywhere—from the app interface to delivery bags, marketing creatives, and packaging. While the name may be shorter, Instamart’s ambitions just got a whole lot bigger.

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

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Slikk Secures $10M to Supercharge 60-Minute Fashion Delivery and Expand Lifestyle Offerings

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Slikk Secures $10M to Supercharge 60-Minute Fashion Delivery and Expand Lifestyle Offerings

In a bold bid to reshape how urban India shops for fashion, Bengaluru-based Slikk has raised $10 million in fresh capital. The startup—best known for promising doorstep delivery of clothes and accessories within an hour—is gearing up to broaden its product range, introduce instant returns, and push into more city pin codes across the country.

The funding, part of its Series A round, comes entirely in equity and is led by Nexus Venture Partners. Lightspeed, which had backed Slikk’s $3.2 million seed round just a few months ago in March, also joined in once again.

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

Slikk was founded by a trio of seasoned entrepreneurs: Akshay Gulati (CEO), Om Prakash Swami (CTO), and Bipin Singh (CPO). With deep experience in e-commerce and logistics, the team has positioned Slikk at the intersection of speed, convenience, and trend-driven fashion.

The company currently caters to a fast-moving crowd—college students, young professionals, and city dwellers who crave quick gratification and follow fashion trends in real time. Operating in Bengaluru for now, Slikk’s key draw is its 60-minute delivery promise combined with a Try & Buy feature that lets customers try outfits before committing to a purchase.

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

“We’ve seen strong traction from day one,” said Akshay Gulati. “What’s really worked for us is being able to help fashion brands reach consumers at the neighborhood level—almost instantly. This new investment gives us the firepower to scale that experience, add more lifestyle categories, and make returns as effortless as ordering.”

Slikk’s next phase will see it move beyond fashion into other lifestyle segments and expand operations across more metros, with an eye on becoming a household name in fast fashion—literally.

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Citykart Raises ₹538 Cr from TPG NewQuest and A91, Targets ₹1,300 Cr Revenue in FY26 with Tier-III Blitz

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Citykart Raises ₹538 Cr from TPG NewQuest and A91, Targets ₹1,300 Cr Revenue in FY26 with Tier-III Blitz

Citykart, the fast-growing value fashion chain that’s been quietly conquering India’s tier-II and tier-III cities, has just pulled in ₹538 crore in a new funding round. The round was co-led by TPG NewQuest and A91 Partners and includes ₹120 crore in fresh capital and ₹418 crore in secondary share sales. With this raise, insiders say the Gurgaon-based retailer’s valuation is now brushing the ₹1,400 crore mark.

The new funds will help fuel Citykart’s expansion into newer territories — including Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Assam — where it aims to recreate the retail playbook it nailed in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The company currently operates 137 stores and has its sights set on adding 40 to 50 more each year.

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

Founder and MD Sudhanshu Agarwal emphasized that the focus isn’t just on rapid growth. “We’re testing out new formats in peri-urban areas around Delhi and Gurugram while staying disciplined about profitability,” he said.

This round also marks a significant shift in the cap table. Bahrain-headquartered Investcorp, which came onboard after acquiring IDFC Alternatives in 2019, has fully exited, reportedly clocking a 4x return on its investment. India SME Investments has also partially cashed out, selling half of its stake. With these changes, TPG NewQuest now becomes Citykart’s largest institutional shareholder, followed by A91 Partners and India SME.

Citykart’s business momentum has been strong — its revenue has jumped 70% over the last two years and is expected to top ₹1,300 crore in FY26, up from ₹900 crore-plus in FY25. Despite this impressive growth, Citykart remains conservatively valued at 1.5x FY25 revenue — much lower than listed competitors like VMart (2x) or Vishal Mega Mart (5.4x), the latter having a broader product basket that includes groceries.

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

When asked about going public, Agarwal played it cool. “An IPO is definitely in the pipeline,” he said in an interview with The Economic Times, “but it’s not something we’re chasing in the short term. For now, we’re focused on doubling our revenue and strengthening our bottom line.”

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Monte Carlo Fashions Cuts Q4 Loss to ₹10.34 Cr, Closes FY25 with 35.4% Profit Jump to ₹81.17 Cr

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Monte Carlo Fashions Cuts Q4 Loss to ₹10.34 Cr, Closes FY25 with 35.4% Profit Jump to ₹81.17 Cr

Monte Carlo Fashions Ltd managed to reduce its net loss for the January–March quarter of FY25, reporting a shortfall of ₹10.34 crore. This marks an improvement from the ₹17.76 crore loss the company posted during the same period last year, as per its latest regulatory filing.

Revenue from operations for the quarter held steady, coming in at ₹205.93 crore—just slightly below last year’s ₹206.52 crore for the same three-month stretch.

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

A noticeable cut in spending helped cushion the bottom line. The company’s total expenses for the quarter dropped 4.6%, settling at ₹228.11 crore.

Zooming out to the full financial year, Monte Carlo wrapped up FY25 on a positive note. Net profit surged by 35.4% to ₹81.17 crore, compared to ₹59.94 crore the previous year. Total consolidated income also saw a bump, rising 4.23% to ₹1,135.58 crore.

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

On the markets, Monte Carlo shares closed at ₹610.80 apiece on the BSE on Monday, recording a gain of 0.93%.

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Rs 90 Lakh Worth of Goods Seized: BIS Cracks Down on FirstCry Parent Brainbees in Surprise Bengaluru Raid

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Rs 90 Lakh Worth of Goods Seized: BIS Cracks Down on FirstCry Parent Brainbees in Surprise Bengaluru Raid

On May 26, 2025, officials from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) conducted an unannounced inspection at a FirstCry warehouse located in Bengaluru, according to Brainbees Solutions Limited, the company behind the brand. The surprise raid resulted in the confiscation of goods valued at around Rs 90 lakh. BIS has accused the company of violating hallmarking standards under Section 14(6) of the BIS Act, 2016 — a charge that may carry serious legal consequences.

In a statement to the stock exchanges, the Pune-based company clarified that its core operations remain unaffected by the incident. FirstCry also noted that it is consulting legal experts and maintains that the products in question comply with BIS standards. The company emphasized its commitment to regulatory compliance and responsible business practices.

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

This recent action by BIS reflects a broader trend: regulators are stepping up efforts to ensure products in the market meet established safety and quality standards. Notably, this isn’t the first time FirstCry has drawn scrutiny — in November 2024, it came under investigation by the GST department in Mumbai.

Coinciding with the disclosure, Brainbees also released its Q4 results for FY25. The company posted an 18% increase in revenue, reaching Rs 1,930 crore compared to the same quarter last year. However, losses also widened sharply — up 74% to Rs 75 crore.

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

Listed at an initial price of Rs 446, Brainbees shares were trading at Rs 355.95 as of 11:42 AM on May 27, pushing the company’s market cap to roughly Rs 18,557 crore, or about $2.18 billion.

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Aadit Palicha Calls Out Competing CFO for ‘Smear Campaign,’ Reveals 65% Burn Cut and 2,000 bps EBITDA Jump

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Aadit Palicha Calls Out Competing CFO for ‘Smear Campaign,’ Reveals 65% Burn Cut and 2,000 bps EBITDA Jump

Zepto co-founder and CEO Aadit Palicha has publicly called out the chief financial officer of a competing quick commerce firm, accusing him of attempting to tarnish Zepto’s image through backdoor tactics and false narratives. In a strongly worded LinkedIn post, Palicha said the executive in question has been reaching out to investors with misleading information, circulating manipulated financial data, and allegedly using bots to stir negativity on social media.

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

“This individual has been cold-calling our investors with baseless accusations, leaking cooked-up spreadsheets to journalists, and trying to fuel a smear campaign online,” Palicha wrote. “Frankly, this kind of behaviour is well below the standards one would expect from a CFO at a company that wants to be taken seriously. It’s clear they’re feeling the heat as Zepto’s numbers start to tell a different story.”

Palicha didn’t just fire back — he backed it up with metrics. According to his post, Zepto’s gross order value (GOV) has seen a massive jump from ₹750 crore in May 2024 to ₹2,400 crore by May 2025. Over the past five months alone, he said the company has not only cut its cash burn by 65 percent but also improved its EBITDA margin by 2,000 basis points.

Despite this push for profitability, growth hasn’t slowed. Palicha noted that between January and May 2025, the company maintained an average monthly GOV growth of 4 to 5 percent.

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

Looking ahead, he said most of Zepto’s dark stores are on track to become EBITDA-positive in the upcoming quarter. He also expects the company’s overall EBITDA and operating cash flow to hover just a few hundred basis points away from breakeven.

“Numbers speak louder than noise,” Palicha added — a clear message to critics and competitors alike.

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Drools Becomes India’s First Pet Food Unicorn After Nestlé Deal, Exports to 22 Countries and Dominates Amazon Cat Food Charts

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Drools Becomes India’s First Pet Food Unicorn After Nestlé Deal, Exports to 22 Countries and Dominates Amazon Cat Food Charts

In a landmark moment for India’s pet care industry, Drools Pet Food Pvt. Ltd. has earned the distinction of becoming the country’s first pet food unicorn, following a minority investment by Swiss food giant Nestlé S.A., the parent company of Nestlé India. While the financial terms haven’t been shared publicly, the deal marks a significant endorsement from one of the world’s most trusted names in nutrition.

Despite the global backing, Drools says it will continue to chart its own course — with no changes to its day-to-day operations or strategic independence.

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

This fresh funding follows a $60 million investment in mid-2023 by L Catterton, the private equity firm linked to luxury group LVMH. That round, too, was for a minority stake, and was aimed at helping the brand scale further in a market that’s evolving fast.

Drools was started in 2010 by Fahim Sultan, who saw a gap in India’s pet food sector at a time when imported brands dominated the shelves. Over the past decade, the company has transformed into a homegrown powerhouse, offering over 650 product variants through 40,000 retail points across the country. Beyond Indian borders, Drools products are now shipped to 22 countries — and online, they’re already a dominant force in categories like cat food on platforms such as Amazon.

“This milestone belongs to every Indian pet parent who believed in us,” said Sultan. “We’ve built this brand on the back of science-based nutrition and a commitment to quality.”

Drools currently runs six manufacturing units and operates a warehouse footprint of 1.6 million square feet. The company employs 3,400 people, with nearly half of them focused entirely on sales — a reflection of its aggressive push into homes, stores, and hearts across India.

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 Nestlé now on board, Drools seems poised to raise the bar for pet food standards not just in India, but across its expanding global presence.

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Kaivalya Vohra’s Zepto Joins Hands with Truecaller to Cut Missed Calls and OTP Hassles for Millions

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Kaivalya Vohra’s Zepto Joins Hands with Truecaller to Cut Missed Calls and OTP Hassles for Millions

Zepto, the fast-growing Mumbai-based startup famous for getting groceries to your doorstep in under 10 minutes, has announced a new partnership with Truecaller. The goal? To make communication with customers more reliable, less confusing, and ultimately smoother for everyone involved.

The collaboration will weave Truecaller’s communication tools directly into Zepto’s systems. That means when a Zepto delivery partner calls, customers will now see exactly who’s trying to reach them — complete with the company’s name, logo, and a green verification tick. This move is expected to cut down on missed calls and build more trust in the process.

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

Zepto is currently active in over 80 cities and offers a vast selection of around 45,000 products. As the company grows, keeping its communication clean and transparent has become more important than ever. This upgrade includes features like Video Caller ID, which allows Zepto to send a short branded video before a call, and “Call Reason,” which tells users why they’re being contacted. There’s even a “Call Me Back” feature, giving customers more control over when they want to respond.

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

On top of that, Zepto will now be able to run verified outreach campaigns using Truecaller’s platform — a useful tool when pushing flash sales, limited-time deals, or handling the usual festival season rush. For new users, the login process is also getting a facelift. Thanks to Truecaller’s tech, signing up for Zepto or Zepto Café will now be possible with a single tap, skipping the usual OTP maze altogether.

Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto’s co-founder, called the upgrade a key step in making every interaction more secure and efficient. “When users trust who’s calling, everything runs better — for them and for us,” he said.

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Farmley on a hiring spree; backed by a fresh round of funding, the brand is now focused on attracting top talent

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Farmley on a hiring spree; backed by a fresh round of funding, the brand is now focused on attracting top talent

Aakarsh Singh, Vice President at Farmley, has announced an exciting opportunity for experienced sales professionals as the company looks to ramp up its institutional business. In a recent post, Singh revealed that Farmley is hiring for a full-time, in-office role based in Noida, focused on driving large-scale deals with corporate clients and other institutional buyers.

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

Farmley, widely recognized as India’s largest healthy snacking brand, has made significant inroads in the retail and direct-to-consumer space. Now, the company is turning its attention to institutional partnerships, a move that reflects a broader shift in how businesses approach wellness and employee engagement.

“Healthy snacking is no longer just a consumer-driven trend,” Singh wrote. “Corporates are also waking up to the importance of clean, nutritious options in the workplace. We’re looking for someone who gets that, and knows how to close with confidence.”

The post doesn’t hold back on expectations. Farmley is looking for a dynamic individual who can identify and crack big deals, build lasting relationships with key decision-makers, and represent the brand’s ethos with conviction. A love for healthy snacks doesn’t hurt either.

The company has clearly stated that this is an in-office role. “We love people IRL,” Singh added, signaling Farmley’s preference for in-person collaboration at its Noida headquarters.

This hire comes at a time when the demand for better-for-you snacks is rising not just among individual consumers, but within offices, hotels, gyms, and co-working spaces as well. By expanding its reach through institutional sales, Farmley aims to embed itself even deeper into everyday snacking occasions across the country.

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

As Farmley continues to scale, this strategic push into B2B could open new frontiers, and the right candidate may find themselves in the driver’s seat of that growth story.

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Boldfit Signs Arshdeep Singh After KL Rahul’s Investment: Inside the Athlete-First Brand’s Strategy to Dominate India’s ₹5,000 Cr Fitness Market

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Boldfit Signs Arshdeep Singh After KL Rahul’s Investment: Inside the Athlete-First Brand’s Strategy to Dominate India’s ₹5,000 Cr Fitness Market

Fitness-focused brand Boldfit has added another name to its growing lineup of sports stars—Team India’s rising pace bowler Arshdeep Singh. The young cricketer now becomes a face of the brand, joining KL Rahul, who isn’t just an ambassador but also Boldfit’s first investor and a strong influence on its athlete-driven identity.

Boldfit broke the news with a tongue-in-cheek social media campaign that quickly picked up steam. The playful post featured a lighthearted chat between Rahul and Arshdeep, transitioning into a sharp reveal of Arshdeep kitted out in Boldfit apparel. The campaign struck a nerve with young Indians who blend fitness with flair, sparking buzz across platforms.

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

Speaking about his association with the brand, Arshdeep said, “I go all in—whether I’m bowling at the death or working out in the gym. Boldfit matches that mindset. Their gear is built for athletes who train hard and live harder. I’m pumped to be part of this journey.”

Founder Pallav Bihani sees this as a natural next step in the brand’s growth. “Boldfit was born to represent real athletes—not just the superstars, but anyone pushing limits. KL gave us that initial momentum. Now, with Arshdeep joining, we’re ready to take things up a notch. We’re already working on athlete-driven collections with his input, tuned to what India’s fitness community truly needs.”

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Started in 2018 in Bengaluru, Boldfit has grown into a brand known for designing training gear and equipment that speaks to performance, recovery, and the everyday grind of athletic life. Whether it’s gym warriors, weekend runners, or pro cricketers, Boldfit aims to be right there with them—boldly.

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