Latest Retail Insight, News, Information & Articles from all top sources for the Internet.

Amazon leads the e-commerce companies pack with Flipkart close at its heels followed by BigBasket according to an Empower India report Bengaluru: E-commerce platforms Amazon, Flipkart and BigBasket are at the forefront of reducing single-use plastic in e-commerce, according to a research report by Empower India, a digital solutions provider. Amazon leads the pack with Flipkart close at its heels, followed by BigBasket. While Amazon saved 97,222 metric tonnes of single-use plastic in 2021, Flipkart came a close second by eliminating all single-use plastic packaging at its Indian fulfilment centres, and BigBasket is piloting a project to eliminate packaging from fruit and vegetable deliveries across India by 2023. According to experts, 94% of plastics are recyclable whereas India only recycles about 60% and the rest is discarded into landfills and water bodies. As a result, sustainability in packaging is becoming increasingly crucial. According to data online, Amazon is making stead...

The 16th edition of the two-day India Food Forum powered by Smart Bazaar deliberates the consumer challenges on Day 1 New Delhi:  India’s ever-willing aspirational consumer is experimenting with new food products that have compelled several national brands to position as local and regional brands, R S Sodhi, President, the Indian Dairy Association   said   on Thursday. “Local regional brands are emerging. National brands are trying to be positioned now as regional brands,” said Sodhi, the former managing director of the dairy brand – Amul, speaking on the first day of the two-day India Food Forum conclave in its 16th edition powered by Smart Bazaar . Earlier in the day, Kanaka Bhagwat, Retail Vertical Lead (FMCG), NielsonIQ, a global consulting major, also raised this point that local brands were driving growth in fast-growing super-categories and they continue to pace year-by-year, contributing to almost 70% of APAC sales. Across the APAC region, an increas...

Both brands will open their first retail stores in the country in 2024 Bengaluru:  Reliance Brands Ltd (RBL), the retail arm of the multinational conglomerate Reliance Industries, is set to introduce global fashion brands Sandro and Maje to the Indian market, the company wrote on social media on Thursday. Sandro and Maje are owned by SMCP Group, a French holding company specialising in accessible luxury ready-to-wear that has a global network of over 1,600 stores. “We are pleased to announce that SMCP, the parent company of the brands Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot and Fursac, enters India in partnership with Reliance Brands Ltd. which becomes the exclusive distributor for Sandro and Maje in the market,” the company said in a LinkedIn post. Sandro is a premium luxury label that caters to men and women, while Maje is a cult favourite brand that offers ready-to-wear and accessories collections for women. “This new partnership illustrates the pursuit of SMCP expansion, currently i...

Alipay Singapore Holding Pte sold more than 29.60 crore shares of Zomato in 31 tranches on the BSE New Delhi: Alipay Singapore Holding, an arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, on Wednesday divested its entire 3.44% stake in online food delivery aggregator Zomato for Rs 3,337 crore through open market transactions. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company, Max Life Insurance, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund (MF), Birla MF, Morgan Stanley, India Acorn ICAV, Societe Generale, Government of Singapore, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Goldman Sachs (Singapore) Pte, Government Pension Fund Global and Veritas Asset Management, among others were the buyers of shares of Zomato . Alipay Singapore Holding Pte sold more than 29.60 crore shares of Zomato in 31 tranches on the BSE. According to the block deal data available with BSE, Alipay Singapore Holding Pte offloaded a total of 29,60,73,993 shares, amounting to a 3.44% stake in Zomato. The shares were sold at an average price of Rs 1...

Anand Nayak, co-founder of Indore-based tea chain Chai Sutta Bar, delves into the brand’s history, success principles, sustainability efforts, and much more Bengaluru: Indore-based Chai Sutta Bar (CSB) claims to be the largest kulhad tea seller, globally. Although the claim could be open to challenge, what cannot be contested is the fact that the brand has changed the way Indians consume their favourite beverage—chai. Founded in 2016 by Anand Nayak and Anubhav Dubey, the tea retail chain became popular because of not just the variety of flavours it serves but also because of how tea is served—in clay cups known as kulhads in desi parlance. In just seven years since it was started, CSB has expanded its footprint to encompass more than 500 outlets across over 300 cities in India. Nayak shared that the chain that today aims to become a global brand, started with a seed investment of Rs 3 lakh with borrowed items from friends and second-hand furniture. In an exclusive interview with In...

The growth in mall space is spurred by a strong recovery in retail sales in the last financial year Kolkata: Research firm Crisil Ratings said that shopping mall space in the country is set to increase by 35 per cent over the next three to four years. The growth in mall space is spurred by a strong recovery in retail sales in the last financial year, it said. In absolute terms, the organised retail space is likely to rise by 30 to 35 million square feet, which is one-third of the current stock, the research firm said in a report on Wednesday. The retail recovery is expected to be sustained due to demand resilience across geographies and sectors. The report said that the area addition will be aided by continued investor interest in malls and new assets. This, along with comfortable balance sheets, will keep the credit risk profiles of mall owners stable. Crisil Ratings director Anand Kulkarni said, in the report, that malls are “ex...

Spread across 7,800 sq. ft., the new outlet is the largest jewellery store in Canada housing over 30,000 designs across 25 brands and collections in gold, diamond and precious gem jewellery Bengaluru:  Jewellery retailer Malabar Gold & Diamonds has launched its first retail store in Canada, located at Heartland Town Centre, Mississauga within the Greater Toronto Area, the company said in a press release on Tuesday. The brand made claims to be the first Indian jewellery retailer to open a store in Canada. Spread across over 7,800 sq. ft., the new outlet is the largest jewellery store in Canada, housing over 30,000 designs across 25 brands and collections in gold, diamond and precious gem jewellery, the company claimed. The new store will also showcase a collection of bridal jewellery, along with a wide range of options for occasional wear, daily wear and office wear. The store was virtually inaugurated by M.P Ahammed, chairman of Malabar Group and Nina Tangri, the Associate ...

More than 300 speakers, 700 brands and companies convene at the biggest B2B food intelligence event of the year. A sneak peek at what’s on the menu this year… New Delhi:  The 16th edition of the much-anticipated  India Food Forum  by  IMAGES Group is set to take place on 30 November and 1 December at The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake. This year, the country’s most powerful food B2B intelligence event will be themed ‘Aisles to Plates: Decoding the Playbook for Scale.’ The 2-day mega business event powered by Smart Bazaar aims to enable the advancement of food innovation, grocery retail and food service sectors in India, the latest trends and developments and the aspirations for the future. The forum will witness active participation from industry experts engaging in engrossing panel discussions and presentations, leaving audiences with a deep understanding of the diverse aspects of the food industry. Led by Damodar Mall , CEO, Grocery, Reliance Retail as Chair – Retail...

The brand’s collection features 11 signature silhouettes and it will be available for shopping on its official website Chimi-online.in and on the e-commerce platform Tata CLiQ Luxury Bengaluru:  Cult Swedish eyewear brand Chimi has entered the Indian market through a collaboration with BRDG Group, a global brand management company, the companies said in a joint press release on Tuesday. “Launching in India is a thrilling chapter in our global journey. It’s incredibly exciting to witness our designs, inspired by Scandinavian minimalism and futuristic aesthetics, transcend geographical constraints. India, with its rich tapestry of culture and vibrant diversity serves as the perfect canvas for our multifaceted catalogue,” said Charlie Lindström, co-founder, Chimi. The brand’s collection features 11 signature silhouettes to cater to an array of tastes. “We are delighted to pave the way for Chimi’s arrival, offering India a taste of Scandinavian style and innovation. As a channel pa...

Metro Brands Ltd. which operates Crocs in India inaugurated the brand’s 200 th store at Pondy Bazaar in Chennai New Delhi: Metro Brands Limited (MBL), which operates Crocs in India announced the opening of the brand’s 200 th store in the country. The landmark store is at Pondy Bazaar in Chennai, the brand shared in a release on Monday. “The launch of our 200th Crocs store in India is a testament to the dedication of our team and our enduring partnership with Crocs. We are committed to offering a global retail experience that appeals to youth and customers seeking comfort,” Maulik Desai, Business Head- Crocs, Metro Brands Limited, said. The partnership commenced in 2008 and was initiated by introducing Crocs’ products within MBL multi-brand outlets. In 2015, the brands inked a non-exclusive retail license agreement. This agreement authorized MBL to distribute Crocs products in India. The first exclusive Crocs store under the collaboration opened in 2015 at Lucknow. Sumit Dhingra...

Singhania, who announced separation from his wife Nawaz earlier this month, said he has chosen not to comment on the reports in media “about matters pertaining to my personal life”, saying “maintaining the dignity of my family is paramount to me” New Delhi: Amid issues in his personal life, Raymond chairman and managing director Gautam Singhania has assured employees and board members that it is “business as usual” in the company and that he is fully committed to its smooth functioning. In an internal mail to the employees and the board members of Raymond, Singhania, who announced separation from his wife Nawaz earlier this month, said he has chosen not to comment on the reports in media “about matters pertaining to my personal life”, saying “maintaining the dignity of my family is paramount to me”. “However, I remain resolute as chairman and managing director and am fully committed towards the smooth functioning of the company and its business. Even in these difficult times for me...

The programme will also focus on building groundwork and support mechanisms, such as increasing employee awareness and inspiring employees to be allies to those with learning disabilities Mumbai: Amazon India on Monday announced the launch of a programme, Aurora, which will leverage the talent of individuals with learning disabilities and provide employment to them. The e-commerce giant rolled out a successful pilot of the programme with a non-profit Mumbai-based organisation Sol ARC in harnessing the talent of a batch of young adults in its delivery stations in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Amazon India said in a statement. Besides hiring talent with learning disabilities, Amazon’s programme, Aurora, will also focus on building groundwork and support mechanisms, such as increasing employee awareness and inspiring employees to be allies to those with learning disabilities. “We are passionate about creating a diverse workforce to reflect our customer base and ensure...

How supermarket specialist Damodar Mall, Chief Executive Officer, Value Formats, Reliance Retail Ltd. is helping the business meet the aspirations of India’s unique, assertive and emerging consumers with a cart loaded with experience and customer orientation. New Delhi: As the chief of Reliance’s value formats, Damodar Mall is responsible for the company’s entire grocery consumption basket—physical and digital. This includes FreshPik, Fresh Signature, Smart, Smart Bazaar, and Smart Point. In addition, he also oversees 1P Grocery on the e-commerce platform JioMart and subscription-based platform MilkBasket. While Smart Bazaar , Smart Point, and JioMart are on the value spectrum, Signature Fresh and MilkBasket are premium and FreshPik is gourmet. “Any business that approaches an opportunity as large as India and as diverse as India has to have a multi-format play because while every consumer is promising in India, everyone’s starting points are different,” said Mall explaining the br...

Shrivastava had over 20 years of experience working with industry leaders such as Benetton Group, Arvind Ltd. and Titan Company Ltd. New Delhi:  Vivek Shrivastava, director for business development at Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, passed away in Bengaluru on Monday morning, according to sources. Shrivastava, aged around 40, apparently died of a heart attack. He is survived by a young daughter and wife. “We are devastated by the news,” said Rehan Huck, vice president at DLF Malls and a friend of Shrivastava. Huck said he had spoken to Shrivastava only on Sunday. “He was an extremely bright retail professional and had made a name for himself in the retail trade. He was loved by the people who knew him,” Huck said. Shrivastava had been working with ABFRL for about one and a half years and prior to that, he spearheaded business development in India for the Italian fashion brand Benetton Group. He has worked with industry leaders such as Arvind Ltd. and Titan Company Ltd. It is...

Jonathan Yach, Chief Asset Officer, Texvalley, engages in a conversation with Rasul Bailay, Group Managing Editor, IMAGES Group, offering his perspectives on the potential within the Indian retail market, the characteristics of Indian consumers, his views on the country’s luxury retail and much more. The post India’s is the most exciting retail and shopping centre market on the planet, Jonathan Yach of Texvalley appeared first on India Retailing . from India Retailing https://ift.tt/thIaO3K via IFTTT

Satish Panchapakesan, Senior Vice-President & CIO at Arvind Fashions Ltd., speaks about the technology transformation at the company, his tech mantra and future focus Satish Panchapakesan brings in over 25 years of service delivery and end-user leadership experience. He is an expert with core consumer business knowledge in retail and consumer packaged goods (CPG) value chains. As Senior Vice-President & CIO at Arvind Fashions Ltd., Panchapakesan’s key mandate is to deliver newer operating models across the product and retail value chain, while modernising SAP apps and infrastructure for scale (order to cash, fashion/core replenishment), stability (platform integrations) and security (Data fidelity and GRC—governance, risk, and compliance). He oversees the integration of bespoke processes with the right level of standardisation, followed by automation. The veteran IT professional is known for his global outlook having worked in consulting and service delivery across the US, E...

Here’s the story behind how the IIT and IIM educated Damodar Mall, chief executive officer of Reliance Retail’s value formats, ended up making a career selling daal chawal New Delhi: Retail veteran Damodar Mall has earned the moniker SupermarketWala for his hugely successful book with the same title as well as his contribution to shaping the course of modern grocery retail in India working closely with pillars of Indian retail like Radhakrishna Damani, Kishore Biyani and now Mukesh Ambani. However, for Mall, who is now the chief executive officer of the grocery business of Reliance Retail Ltd. (RRL), becoming a grocery retailer was never part of his career plan. “Selling ‘daal-chawal’ as a chosen vocation for the educated son was not my parent’s idea of smart choices,” he wrote in a blog on Forbes. It happened as a result of his visit to Sao Paulo, Brazil during his stint at Hindustan Unilever, which he joined after completing his postgraduate diploma in management from the Indian...

Founded in 2019, the D2C brand currently can service more than 20000 pin codes across India Bengaluru: The beauty, wellness and personal care industry in India is estimated at Rs 80,000 crores and is growing rapidly. Around Rs 12,000 crores of this are online and are further expected to grow to Rs 18,000 crores by 2025. Pilgrim aims to capture a 5% market share of the online market and have an annualized run rate of Rs 1000 crores by December 2025 (monthly run rate of over 100 crores). Getting the trend on-point Pilgrim came as an answer to the consumer behaviour and lifestyle transformations in India, in the beauty segment. Riding on the massive exposure of the consumer to the international skincare ingredients and trends (such as Korean beauty) the seeds of Pilgrim were sown in 2019 with one question- Why can’t consumers have access to world-class options in skincare, without burning a hole in their pocket? Pilgrim’s brand tagline is “World’s Beauty For You”. With exotic ingred...

The company is also looking at ways to get more buyers to opt for digital payments New Delhi: Retail and e-commerce businesses are likely to see a “fairly good” year ahead, given the strength of the Indian economy and uptick of demand in various categories as well as traction from semi-urban locations, according to Snapdeal CEO Himanshu Chakrawarti. “As we are seeing currently, our economy is in a very good shape and all aspects of the business, specifically the categories that we operate in, which is in the in disposable income categories… I think we’re going to see a significant boost-up next year,” Chakrawarti told PTI. He was speaking on the sidelines of the Digital Acceleration & Transformation Expo (DATE with Tech). “We are seeing green shoots come through even in the semi-urban areas and with the tailwind that we have, I think both retail and e-commerce should see a fairly good year in 2024,” Chakrawarti said. On Snapdeal’s expansion plans, the top boss of the e-commer...

Here’s how Osiamart by Osia Hyper Retail Ltd. is winning the hearts of millions of customers in Gujarat with its chain of hypermarkets Osia Hypermart launched its first 10,000 sq. ft. store in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in 2014 and today operates a network of 43 stores across more than 15 cities of the state. Incorporated as Mapple Exim Private Limited in October 2013, the company changed its name to Mapple Exim Limited. Promoted by Dhirendra Gautam Chopra and Kavita Dhirendra Chopra, who own a 63% stake in the company, Mapple Exim Limited was renamed as Osia Hyper Retail Limited in September 2017. Osia Ltd. came out with an SME initial public offering (IPO) in March 2019 and raised Rs.39 crore (16 lakh shares issued @ Rs.252 per share) to fund its expansion to newer geographies. In June 2023, the company reported a profit after tax of Rs3.70 crore with a growth of 231% year-on-year as per its reports. In the past two years, the brand opened over 20 stores to earn the reputation of being o...

The biomaterials startup Phool, founded in 2017, crossed 10k orders within just 3 months of the launch Bengaluru: Phool.co is an Indian biomaterials startup co-founded by Ankit Agarwal and Prateek Kumar in 2017 to collect temple flower waste dumped in rivers in Kanpur. It uses flowers from temples across India and creates useful products such as rose incense cones and Phool vermicompost. Getting the trend on-point Before Phool entered the category, the team knew that this was an offline-heavy category and there was absolutely no precedent for incense to be sold online or even a brand to make online the focal point of sales. “In retrospect, I think all we had was confidence in our products and the belief that consumers would give them a chance irrespective of the medium. We have entirely relooked at traditional incense making and made a product that is charcoal-free, has chemical and artificial fragrances free, and is certified natural. Up until we started, incense was mostly used ...

A look at what the domestic luggage brands are doing to meet the global competition head-on and adapt to the changing times Bengaluru:  The Indian luggage industry has witnessed significant growth and transformation in recent years, reflecting the agile nature of consumer preferences, technological advancements, and global trade dynamics. In 2023, revenue in the luggage and bags segment in India amounts to $14.04 billion and the market is expected to grow annually at a compound annual growth rate of 5.95% from 2023 to 2026, as per data analytics platform Statista. Let’s explore the multifaceted journey of the Indian luggage industry, examining its competitive edge against its global counterparts, its adaptability, and its potential for further expansion in the face of a rapidly changing global marketplace. Competing with global players   Indian luggage brands have established a distinct competitive edge over their foreign counterparts, propelled by several key factors tha...