Judith Leiber Re-Enters India: Can India Become Its Next Power Market?
Judith Leiber Couture has re‑entered India with a flagship boutique in Delhi’s Chanakya mall, marking the brand’s first physical presence in the country. The store will showcase 40‑45 curated pieces, priced to global benchmarks and sourced mainly from Italy, while deliberately avoiding Indian e‑commerce platforms. Authentic Brands Group, which owns the label, views India as a long‑term growth engine, targeting breakeven in 18‑24 months and a potential 20‑25% share of global revenue within five years. The rollout is a measured, experience‑first strategy that will be evaluated before expanding to Mumbai and other metros.
Flipkart May Launch Standalone App for Quick Commerce Business Minutes
Flipkart is set to launch a dedicated quick‑commerce app for its Minutes service, targeting a pilot in July and a full rollout before year‑end, ahead of its Big Billion Days sale. The move mirrors Swiggy’s Instamart app and aims to...
Gulf War Fuels Raw Material Inflation, FMCG Firms Shift to Daily Pricing Strategy
The Gulf war has sparked a sharp rise in raw‑material costs for Indian FMCG firms, with inflation ranging from 20% to 60% across inputs such as light liquid paraffin and packaging. Companies like Havells, Bajaj Consumer Care and Parle are...
Herjit Bhalla Takes over as CEO of Dabur
Dabur India announced Herjit S. Bhalla as chief executive officer of its India business, effective April 23, 2026. He succeeds Mohit Malhotra, who has been promoted to whole‑time director and global CEO of the packaged‑goods maker. Bhalla joins from Hershey,...
Bhujia Baron Shiv Ratan Agarwal, Who Built Bikaji Into a Global Snack Brand, Passes Away at 75
Shiv Ratan Agarwal, the visionary behind Bikaji, died at 75 after a brief illness in Chennai. He turned a modest family bhujia operation into a globally recognized snack brand, listing Bikaji Foods International in 2022 at an 8% premium and...
West Asia Crisis: Govt Considering Customs Duty Cut on Critical Induction Cooktop Components
The Indian government is weighing a customs‑duty cut on critical induction‑cooktop components and a GST reduction from 18% to 5% to curb price spikes triggered by the West Asia crisis. The crisis has disrupted oil and gas shipments through the...
India's Textile Exports Grow 2.1 Pc to Rs 3.16 Lakh Cr in 2025-26
India's textile exports rose 2.1% in FY 2026, reaching ₹3.16 lakh crore (about $38 billion), up from ₹3.09 lakh crore a year earlier. The sector weathered steep U.S. tariffs that peaked at 50% before a 10% universal tariff was imposed in early 2026. Ready‑made garments remained...
Quick-Commerce, Nescafe Coffee Push and Ad Spends: Inside Nestle India's Growth Play
Nestle India posted its strongest quarterly results in nearly a decade, with FY 2026 sales reaching ₹23,071.5 crore (≈$2.8 bn), a 15% year‑on‑year rise. The fourth quarter alone grew 23.4% to ₹6,445 crore (≈$777 m), driven by double‑digit volume gains across e‑commerce, quick‑commerce and beverages....
No Decision yet on India Unit Listing; Exploring Strategic Options to Boost Value: Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard said it has not yet decided on a listing for its Indian subsidiary, Pernod Ricard India (PRI), but continues to explore strategic options to boost shareholder value. PRI posted revenue of roughly ₹27,446 crore (about $3.3 billion) in FY 2024‑25, growing at an 8% CAGR over...
Diet Coke Runs Dry in Indian Cities as Iran War Triggers Aluminium Can Shortage
Diet Coke is running out of stock in major Indian cities as the Iran war has choked the supply of aluminium beverage cans, the primary packaging for the diet soda. Importing cans from the UAE, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia now...
Exclusive-India Flips AB InBev From Witness to Target in Antitrust Probe, Triggering Court Fight
India’s Competition Commission has reclassified Anheuser‑Busch InBev from a cooperating witness to a "party under investigation" in a cartel probe involving 42 Telangana retailers. The move prompted AB InBev to secure a temporary injunction, halting the probe while it challenges...
Nestle India Q4 Results: Cons Profit Jumps 27% YoY to Rs 1,111 Crore; Rs 5/Sh Dividend Declared
Nestle India posted a 27% YoY rise in consolidated net profit to ₹1,111 crore (≈$134 million) for Q4 FY 2025‑26, while revenue jumped 23% to ₹6,748 crore (≈$813 million). The company announced a final dividend of Rs 5 per share and recorded its highest‑ever domestic sales...
India's Premium Liquor Boom Defies Global Slowdown
India’s premium and super‑premium liquor segments grew 9% in volume and 12% in value in 2025, bucking a global decline in alcohol sales. The surge is driven by a rapidly expanding middle class of roughly 150 million consumers who can afford...
Revamped Tata Neu to Bet on Loyalty, Financial Services: Tata Digital CEO Sajith Sivanandan
Tata Digital is reshaping its super‑app Tata Neu into a loyalty‑centric financial‑services hub, moving away from a broad commerce aggregator. CEO Sajith Sivanandan, who took the helm seven months ago, is streamlining the portfolio, emphasizing payments, investments and insurance tied to...
South Korea Inc Meets Modi; Cos Including Samsung & LG Looking to Expand in Key Market
South Korean conglomerates Samsung, LG, Hyundai and SK Hynix met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss deeper investment and export plans for India. The delegation, part of President Lee Jae Myung’s first visit in eight years, highlighted expansion into AI,...
BSH India Eyes Doubling Market Share to 8 Pc by 2030, Sharpens Premium Play and Localisation Push
BSH Home Appliances is treating India as a growth engine, targeting a rise in market share from about 4 % to 8 % by 2030. The company posted a 15 % revenue increase in calendar‑2025 and a 53 % jump in Q1 2026, far outpacing...
Libertario Coffee Eyes Rs 100 Cr in FY28; India Emerges as Highest-Performing Market Globally
Libertario Coffee Co. & Roasters, a Colombian specialty coffee brand, aims to surpass Rs 100 crore (≈$12 million) in revenue by FY 28 as it expands its Indian footprint. The company plans to grow from a single café in FY 26 to at least eight locations...
India's Consumer Discretionary Firms Set for Strong Growth, Demand Recovery in Q4: Report
India's consumer discretionary sector is poised for robust growth in the March quarter of FY 26, with HDFC Securities projecting about 23% year‑on‑year revenue expansion. Jewellery leads the rebound, forecast to post roughly 47% revenue growth as gold prices surge, while...
A $176 Billion Reality Check for Europe’s Luxury Brands as Middle East Tensions Hit Shoppers
Europe’s ten listed luxury groups have erased roughly $176 bn of market value since January, as the Middle East war curtails affluent travel. The hit is most acute for LVMH, which alone lost close to $100 bn, while Kering and Hermès also...
Hocco Raises ₹100 Cr in Series C, Crosses ₹530 Cr Revenue in FY26
Indian ice‑cream brand Hocco secured a ₹100 crore ($12 million) Series C round led by Sauce VC, lifting its valuation to roughly ₹2,500 crore ($300 million). The company closed FY 26 with net sales of over ₹530 crore ($64 million), beating its ₹450 crore target. Growth was driven by...
Walmart's Flipkart Plans Foray Into India's Ticketing Market as Live Events Boom, Sources Say
Flipkart, the Walmart‑owned Indian e‑commerce giant, plans to launch a ticket‑selling platform in May, targeting movies and concerts. The move pits it against established players BookMyShow and Zomato’s District as the country’s live‑events market booms. Flipkart will also pilot a...
Textiles Ministry Plans Duty Cuts to Shield Industry Amid West Asia Crisis
India’s textiles ministry announced a package of duty reductions and regulatory relaxations aimed at stabilising raw‑material supplies amid the West Asia conflict. The plan includes cutting import duties on rayon pulp and select cotton varieties, removing the minimum import price...
Quick Commerce Turning to Reset Lane as Profit Push Tempers Growth Metrics
Quick‑commerce leaders Blinkit and Instamart are expected to show slower growth in Q1 FY26 as they shift toward profitability. Blinkit’s net order value is projected to rise 67‑99% YoY, down from double‑digit growth, while Instamart’s gross order value is forecast...
Indian Restaurants' 'Slowdown' Is Ringing up a ₹79,000 Cr Bill as Iran War Chokes LPG Supply
A West Asia war‑driven LPG shortage is hitting India’s restaurant sector with an estimated monthly loss of about ₹79,000 crore (≈ $9.5 billion), according to PHDCCI. The disruption has forced roughly 10% of eateries to shut temporarily and 60‑70% to switch to induction or...
India's Apple Component Exports to China Surge to Record $2.5 Billion Under ECMS Scheme
Apple’s Indian suppliers have shipped a record $2.5 billion of iPhone components to China in FY 26, a direct result of the government’s Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS). The surge follows a rapid rise from $920 million in FY 25 to $2.8 billion by January,...
Luxury Brands Book Sales Drop as Mideast War Takes Toll on Airport Shopping
Luxury duty‑free operators are feeling the strain as the Middle East conflict forces airport closures and curtails travel to the region. The disruption, now in its sixth week, has shaved roughly 1% off LVMH’s quarterly sales and cut Kering’s Q1...
Papa John’s Comeback Play: Rs 100 Cr in Year 2, 650-Store Ambition
Papa John’s is relaunching in India with a goal of $12 million revenue in its second year and a 10‑year plan to open 650 stores. The brand, now fully owned and operated by Pulsar Capital, is using a company‑owned, company‑operated (CoCo)...
Tata Invests ₹1,500 Crore More to Charge up iPhone Biz
India’s Tata Group has injected an additional ₹1,500 crore ($181 million) into Tata Electronics, bringing its FY26 total equity infusion to ₹3,000 crore. The company also boosted the authorized share capital of its Pegatron Technology India unit to ₹6,250 crore ($753 million) and is positioning...
For FDI, E-Comm Exports Must Be in Separate Cart
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has rolled out reforms to streamline e‑commerce exports, including lifting the Rs 10 lakh (≈ $12,000) value cap per courier shipment. The government is evaluating allowing foreign direct investment in inventory‑based e‑commerce solely for overseas...
Zepto IPO: How It Stacks up Against Listed Rivals Blinkit & Instamart
Indian quick‑commerce platform Zepto is preparing an IPO in June‑July 2026, filing a draft for a ₹11,000‑12,000 crore ($1.3‑$1.45 bn) issue. The company runs about 1,100 dark stores and processes 2.4‑2.5 million orders daily, trailing Blinkit’s 2.6 million but ahead of Instamart. Zepto posted...
Bosch May Launch AC Brand in India; Hitachi Label to Stay
Bosch Home Comfort India is assessing the launch of Bosch‑branded air conditioners, marking a potential first AC entry for the brand in Asia. The company will retain sales of Hitachi‑branded units under a long‑term licence after acquiring a controlling stake...
Burjis Godrej Elevated as Agrovet Chair Amid Leadership Shift
Godrej Industries Group announced a generational leadership shift, elevating 34‑year‑old Burjis Godrej to chair of Godrej Agrovet. His father, 75‑year‑old Nadir Godrej, will retire in August and assume the honorary title of chairman emeritus, while son Pirojsha Godrej will take...
Sharon Pais Takes over From Nandita Sinha at Myntra, Bets on M-Now for Growth
Flipkart‑owned Myntra appointed Sharon Pais as its new CEO, succeeding Nandita Sinha who will depart in the coming months. Pais, formerly head of Flipkart Fashion, said the company will keep its strategic focus on brand expansion and AI‑driven discovery while...
Consumer Company CTOs Want Engineers Who Can Think, Not Just Code
Consumer‑focused CTOs are shifting hiring criteria toward softer skills such as creativity, curiosity, and the ability to treat AI as a collaborator. Across D2C firms like Meesho, Noise, Ixigo and Razorpay, senior engineering recruitment surged 210% between 2024 and 2025,...
Brands Focus on Leaner Product Lines Amid Surging Input Costs
Brands across smartphones, televisions and fast‑moving consumer goods are trimming product portfolios as input costs surge amid the Iran war and AI‑driven demand for components. Memory chips have risen 50‑90% and packaging materials 20‑35%, prompting manufacturers to cut 5‑7% of...
India Inc Ramps up Exports as Iran Ceasefire Reopens Middle East Trade
India Inc is rapidly reactivating exports to the Middle East following a two‑week Iran ceasefire that reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Pharma, packaged‑food and electrical‑goods manufacturers report rising demand as regional inventories are restocked and reconstruction projects loom. Companies such...
Hindustan Unilever to Focus on Regaining Market Share: Global CEO Fernando Fernandez
Unilever’s global chief Fernando Fernandez told a Barclays fireside chat that Hindustan Unilever must focus on regaining market share lost to online rivals in India. He emphasized making the portfolio “future‑fit” and executing flawlessly, noting India accounts for roughly 16‑17%...
Philips Targets 5–6x Growth in Mother & Child-Care, 3–4x in Personal Health
Philips Avent is positioning India as its primary growth engine, aiming for 5–6× global expansion in mother‑and‑child care and 3–4× in personal‑health appliances. The company cites India’s activation ROI—nearly twice that of Europe or North America—as the catalyst for this aggressive...
West Asia Tensions Disrupt Indian FMCG Recovery for FY27-28: Report
Geopolitical conflict in West Asia is derailing the Indian FMCG sector’s anticipated recovery for FY27‑28. PhillipCapital now projects a median 3.3% earnings cut for FY27 and trims average P/E multiples by 7%, after the Nifty FMCG index slipped roughly 10%...
PVR INOX to Pivot Expansion to 100 Pc FOCO Model over 4 Years
PVR INOX Limited announced a strategic pivot to a 100% FOCO (franchise‑owned, company‑operated) expansion model over the next four years, moving away from its capital‑intensive COCO approach. The company currently runs 1,802 screens and has 71 FOCO screens, adding 12...
India's Natural Diamond Market May Reach Rs 1.5 Lakh Cr by 2030: De Beers Report
De Beers’ 2025 India Diamond Acquisition Study projects the Indian natural‑diamond jewellery market to reach Rs 1.5 lakh crore (about $18 billion) by 2030. The forecast rests on an 11% annual rise in GDP and personal disposable income through the decade. Consumer dynamics are shifting,...
US-Iran Truce Brings Respite, but No Quick Fix for India Inc's Supply Pain
A two‑week US‑Iran ceasefire ending 39 days of conflict reopened the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a 3.8% rally in Indian markets and a 13% drop in Brent crude to $94.80 a barrel. Indian CEOs welcomed the development as a potential...
BoAt Accelerates Global Play; Premiumisation, Localisation to Drive Next Phase of Growth in India
boAt is targeting a global consumer‑electronics footprint within the next three to four years, building on its dominant audio position in India. The brand has entered six overseas markets—starting with SAARC, then the GCC and Southeast Asia—where international sales now...
Migsun Doubles Down on UP, Lines up ₹4,000 Crore Retail Bet on Full-Lease Model
Migsun Group is committing roughly $488 million to a retail expansion in Uttar Pradesh, concentrating on tier‑2 cities such as Lucknow, Agra and Kanpur. The developer has already spent about $244 million on seven mixed‑use projects and is shifting to a full‑lease model...
Flipkart Expands Hemant Badri's Role to Drive AI Agenda
Flipkart has expanded Hemant Badri’s responsibilities to spearhead the company’s artificial‑intelligence agenda, pairing him with chief product and technology officer Balaji Thiagarajan. Badri, who currently runs supply‑chain for Minutes and ReCommerce, will identify and operationalise AI use cases across customer...
Versuni Pumps Rs 180 Cr Into India Manufacturing; Eyes 80 Pc Localisation by 2027
Versuni India is investing roughly $22 million (Rs 180 crore) to expand its Chennai and Ahmedabad plants, allocating about $16 million to Chennai and $6 million to Ahmedabad. The upgrades will boost air‑fryer motor capacity to 750,000 units per year in Chennai and double output...
Puig, Estee Lauder Founding Families to Meet for Combination Talks, Source Says
Founding families of Spain’s Puig and U.S. cosmetics giant Estée Lauder will meet in New York this week to negotiate a potential cash‑and‑share takeover that would combine their premium beauty portfolios. The merged entity is projected to generate roughly $22 billion in...
Morgan Stanley Cuts India's FY27 Growth Outlook to 6.2% Amid Gulf Conflict
Morgan Stanley lowered its forecast for India's fiscal year 2027 GDP growth to 6.2%, down 30 basis points, citing supply‑side disruptions and higher energy costs from the Gulf conflict. The bank raised its inflation projection to 5.1% and expects the...
Digital Commerce in India Will Grow to $250 Billion by 2030: Google and Deloitte Report
Google and Deloitte project India’s digital commerce market will expand to $250 billion by 2030, up from $90 billion today. Growth will be powered by a surge of Gen Z shoppers, rapid‑delivery (quick commerce) services, and AI‑driven content commerce. Quick commerce alone is...
Electric Appliance Makers to Seek GST Cut as LPG Crisis Lifts Demand
Indian electric appliance manufacturers are lobbying the government for a Goods and Services Tax (GST) reduction on induction cooktops, toasters, ovens and air fryers as a surge in demand follows the LPG shortage caused by the Gulf war. The current...