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

Under the deal announced on April 5, Delhivery will acquire a controlling stake in Ecom Express for a cash consideration of Rs 1,400 crore New Delhi: Logistic firm Delhivery Ltd and Ecom Express have sought Competition Commission of India’s approval for their Rs 1,400-crore deal. Under the deal announced on April 5, Delhivery will acquire a controlling stake in Ecom Express for a cash consideration of Rs 1,400 crore. While Delhivery is a listed integrated logistics player, Ecom Express provides logistics solutions to the Indian e-commerce industry. According to the notice submitted to the regulator, the relevant products and geographic markets can be left open, given that the proposed deal will not lead to any change in the competitive dynamics, let alone cause any appreciable adverse effect on competition, in any market in India. Against the backdrop of potential business overlaps, the notice has mentioned that with respect to horizontal overlaps, the markets for provision of ex...

The mall in Jaipur is expected to be operational by 2026-end while the hotel will open in 2027 New Delhi: Real estate company Pacific Group will develop a 15 lakh sq. ft. shopping mall and a hotel in Jaipur to expand business amid rising demand for premium retail spaces, a top company official said. Pacific Group has nine shopping malls, comprising more than 30 lakh sq. ft. of retail spaces, in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Dehradun. In an interview with PTI, Pacific Group Managing Director Abhishek Bansal said, “We have a portfolio of nine shopping malls and now we are expanding in Jaipur, Rajasthan.” He said the company has acquired 11 acre land in Jaipur to develop a shopping mall with total area of about 15 lakh sq ft. Pacific Group will also build a hotel comprising 130 rooms, he said, adding that the hotel will be managed by some hospitality chain. Bansal said there is a huge demand for superior shopping malls and hotels in tier-II and III cities. He said the mall in J...

Aspect Hospitality currently operates over 10 brands across 40 outlets in 3 cities Bengaluru: Aspect Hospitality, a company within the Aspect Global group that focuses on providing dining and lounge experiences, has launched 25 new outlets of its pan-Asian QSR brand, Nom Nom Express across Mumbai and Pune. As part of the launch, a coordinated social media blitz went live across all 25 store pages, alongside a cinematic 60-second reel featuring each outlet, signature dishes, and a campaign titled ’25 stores. 1 giant bite’ ensuring maximum impact across LED screens. The event also featured an augmented reality (AR) booth, where guests could scan to unveil a virtual city with pop-up Nom Nom stores. “Nom Nom Express isn’t just expanding; it’s becoming part of the everyday lives of people across Mumbai and Pune. Watching the brand grow from an idea to 25 outlets has been incredible, but the real excitement lies in how many more homes we’ll be reaching next,” said Aksha Kamboj,...

A host of new shopping centres are scheduled to open across India between 2025 and 2026, signaling the next phase of growth in the country’s organised retail sector Bengaluru: With consumers going after experience-driven retail, developers are quick to follow—particularly in India’s burgeoning tier 2 and 3 cities. The spotlight has shifted to compact, neighborhood-centric malls under half a million sq. ft., designed for ‘premium convenience’. From Lulu Group to Aparna Constructions and DLF Ltd. , developers are planting their flags in emerging markets, building retail destinations in every corner of the country—redefining how India shops, eats, and socialises beyond the metros. According to JLL India, tier 2 and 3 cities are expected to see the addition of nearly 25 million sq. ft. of retail space over the next five years. Meanwhile, India’s top eight tier I cities are on track to welcome nearly 20 premium malls by the end of 2026, contributing approximately 12.3 million sq...

Rising disposable incomes, globalisation, and the expansion of international coffee chains are driving this transformation, ushering in a new era of coffee culture in these regions Globally, coffee is one of the most consumed beverages, with over 2.25 billion cups enjoyed daily.  For decades, coffee has been deeply embedded in the cultures of Europe and North America, as well as select regions in South America and Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, in developing economies like India and China, tea has long been the preferred beverage. However, this landscape is rapidly evolving. Emerging markets are now driving a significant share of coffee’s global growth, signalling a broader shift in consumption patterns. Rising disposable incomes, globalisation, and the expansion of international coffee chains are driving this transformation, ushering in a new era of coffee culture in these regions. India’s Evolving Relationship with Coffee India presents a compelling case study of this global shift...

The acquisition is in line with ‘ITC Next’ vision articulated by Chairman Sanjiv Puri, which focuses on crafting a future-ready portfolio, tapping into high-growth segments and digital-first businesses Bengaluru: Indian conglomerate ITC Ltd. has signed agreements to acquire the balance 73.5% stake in Mother Sparsh Baby Care Pvt. Ltd., a premium Ayurvedic and natural baby care brand, the company said in a press release on Friday. ITC will invest Rs 81 crore through combination of primary subscription and secondary share purchase. Post this, the company’s total investment in Mother Sparsh will stand at around Rs 126 crore. “We are delighted that ITC, who came on board as an early investor, is now taking Mother Sparsh to the next level. This partnership is a testament to the brand’s potential in the fast-growing natural baby care segment. We’re confident that ITC’s institutional strengths will help serve the evolving needs of Indian mothers for generations to come,” said Himanshu, Fo...

The transaction will fortify ITC’s presence and market standing in the high growth organic products segment in both Indian and overseas markets New Delhi: Multi-conglomerate ITC on Thursday said it will acquire Sresta Natural Bioproducts, engaged in the manufacturing and sale of organic packaged food products under the 24 Mantra Organic brand, for about Rs 472.50 crore. It has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire a 100 per cent stake in Sresta Natural Bioproducts Private Limited (SNBPL), ITC said in a regulatory filing. The acquisition is “in line with the strategy to augment the company’s future-ready portfolio, the transaction will fortify ITC’s presence and market standing in the high growth organic products segment in both Indian and overseas markets,” it added. SNBPL’s portfolio comprises a wide range of over 100 organic products, spanning branded grocery staples, spices and condiments, edible oils, and beverages, among others. Besides, it has a strong international p...

The brand identifies itself as a creator of ‘hustlewear’ — a style philosophy centered around individuality, creativity, and the relentless spirit of hustling Launched in 2020 by Divyush Gadodia, Sorta.® is an emerging Indian fashion label that has quickly built a niche in the streetwear category. Proudly bootstrapped, the brand identifies itself as a creator of ‘hustlewear’ — a style philosophy centered around individuality, creativity, and the relentless spirit of hustling. Headquartered in Kolkata, Sorta.® is steadily building a strong national and global presence. The brand’s product portfolio spans across high-demand categories such as T-shirts, hoodies, cargos, bowling shirts, bomber jackets, shorts, socks, accessories, and perfumes. What truly sets the brand apart are its unique brand USPs. At the core of its innovation is ‘Praint’ — a proprietary 3D textured print technology developed in-house, and said to be one of its kind in the industry. Alongside this, the brand places ...

Honasa Consumer has alleged that Lakme’s new sunscreen campaign unfairly targets rivals, including a Derma Co product, while HUL has filed a separate lawsuit against Honasa in the Bombay High Court New Delhi: Honasa Consumer, the owner of the FMCG brand Mamaearth, and Hindustan Unilever Ltd have filed lawsuits against each other in their ongoing dispute over claims related to sunscreen product advertisements. Earlier, Honasa Consumer Ltd. (HCL) moved the Delhi High Court, contending the claims made by Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) as disparaging and misleading. The matter was heard by the Delhi High Court, which issued notice to HUL and posted the matter for hearing on Thursday. HCL has alleged that a recent Lakme sunscreen campaign titled ‘SPF Lie Detector Test’ unfairly undermines competing products, including one that closely resembles a sunscreen from The Derma Co, another brand from HCL. Responding to that, HUL has also filed a separate lawsuit before the Bombay High Court ag...

In FY25, Panasonic’s consumer goods contributed 30 per cent of the revenue while the B2B segment accounted for 50 per cent Jhajjar: Appliances and consumer electronics major Panasonic India is looking at double-digit growth in the current fiscal year over the nearly Rs 11,500 crore in FY25, a top company official said. For the financial year ended on March 31, 2025, Panasonic Life Solutions India’s net profit crossed Rs 1,100 crore, registering a growth of nearly 41 per cent, said a company official, sharing the updates as the final closing of the financial year is still under process. In FY25, Panasonic’s consumer goods contributed 30 per cent of the revenue while the B2B segment accounted for 50 per cent. “We have crossed a potential Rs 11,000 crore on a significant profit exceeding Rs 1,100 crore,” Panasonic Life Solutions India Chairman Manish Sharma told PTI. Some categories such as devices, room air conditioners and smart factory solutions were the engines of growth, taking...

The hike is due to the aggressive expansion by fashion and food & beverage brands The Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR)’s leasing activity in high streets and malls has risen 57% year-on-year to 4.08 lakh sq. ft. in the first quarter of 2025, according to data from global real estate consultancy Cushman & Wakefield. Much of it is due to the aggressive expansion by fashion and food & beverage (F&B) brands. “This isn’t just a rebound—it’s a structural shift. Brands are increasingly betting on physical stores in strategically located high-street projects to seek high growth,” says Jatin Goel, Executive Director, Omaxe Group . “Emerging catchment areas such as Dwarka in New Delhi, Faridabad, and Greater Noida are witnessing increased traction. These areas have the capacity to support large-scale retail development due to growing population density, better connectivity, and rising income levels. As a result, leading national and global brands are pursuing aggres...

Sharmila Senthilraja, Vice President – Consumer Products & Retail at Capgemini, sheds light on how one French company is shaping the future of retail with AI-powered solutions New Delhi: With over two decades of experience across marquee firms like SAP, IBM, Pantaloon Retail, and Foodworld, the journey of Sharmila Senthilraja, Vice President – Consumer Products & Retail at Capgemini, has been defined by a consistent focus on digital transformation in the retail and consumer products space. From rolling out category innovations in food retail to leading AI and analytics solutions at IBM and SAP, she now drives global strategy and offering development at Capgemini, working at the intersection of tech, consumer behaviour, and retail innovation. Sharmila is also leading this charge by helping global clients unlock the potential of next-gen solutions like Generative AI and Agentic AI to create more seamless, intuitive, and consumer-centric experiences. While Generative AI focus...

The new capital will help the brand to set up offline stores, amplify its brand presence, and welcome talent to its growing family Bengaluru: Lab-grown diamond jewellery brand Jewelbox has  secured $3.2 million in its pre-series A funding round. Leading the investment is V3 Ventures, a press release said on Wednesday. Other co-investors joining the round included Atrium Angels, Dexter Ventures, Infinyte Club, Samarthya Capital, amongst others. Existing investor JIIF also participated in the round. Jewelbox was exclusively advised by Dexter Capital Advisors on this transaction. This new capital will help the brand to set up franchise and company owned stores, amplify its brand presence, and welcome exceptional talent to its growing family. “The lab-grown diamond industry is witnessing an inflection point, shifting from niche to mainstream as consumers embrace sustainable luxury,” said Vidita Kochar Jain, Co-Founder, Jewelbox. “With this latest funding milestone, we are poised t...

These malls will collectively contribute around 123 lakh sq. ft. of retail space Bengaluru: India is on track to add nearly 20 premium shopping malls by the end of 2026 across eight of its largest cities, according to a report by real estate consultancy Cushman & Wakefield. These malls will collectively contribute around 123 lakh sq. ft. of retail space, reflecting the growing appetite among retailers for high-quality physical storefronts in their expansion strategies. The cities expected to witness this growth include Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, and Ahmedabad. Notably, approximately 86 lakh sq. ft. of the upcoming retail space will be classified as Superior Grade (Grade-A plus), highlighting a distinct shift toward premium formats. These top-tier malls—typically developed and operated by reputed real estate players or institutional investors—are recognized for their high occupancy levels, often surpassing 85%, and for offering elevated ser...

The overall gems and jewellery exports stood at $32.2 billion in 2023-24 Mumbai: India’s overall gems and jewellery exports declined by 11.72 per cent to USD 28.5 billion (around Rs 2.41 lakh crore) in 2024-25 compared to the previous financial year on continued geopolitical tensions, according to the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). The overall gems and jewellery exports stood at $32.2 billion (Rs 2.67 lakh crore) in 2023-24, according to GJEPC data. However, in March, the exports improved slightly, witnessing a growth of 1.02 per cent at USD 2,582.97 million (Rs 22,340.89 crore), compared to USD 2,556.97 million (Rs 21,228.71 crore) in the same month of the previous year, it added. “The decline in gems and jewellery exports is mainly due to the continuous dip in demand in China as well as the US, India’s key export markets, due to the ongoing geopolitical tensions. Also, the correction in rough diamond prices by 10-15 per cent impacted the value, causing the...

At present, DLF Group has 8 retail properties, including a large shopping mall in Noida, with a portfolio of around 45 lakh square feet space New Delhi: Realty major DLF will open three shopping malls in Goa, Delhi and Gurugram in the current fiscal, covering around 14 lakh square feet space as it remains bullish on the growth of organised retail in India. In an interview with PTI, Pushpa Bector, Senior Executive Director and Business Head at DLF Retail, said, “We are going to open three retail properties this financial year.” At present, DLF Group has 8 retail properties, including a large shopping mall in Noida, with a portfolio of around 45 lakh square feet space. Bector said the company will open ‘DLF Midtown Plaza’, comprising more than 2 lakh square feet area, at Moti Nagar in the national capital in the next few months, she said. “Around 75-80 per cent area has already been leased or is in the final stages of being rented out,” Bector said. Later this year, she said the c...

Currently present in 80 cities, the brand is set to expand its footprint across 200 cities in India Bengaluru: Homegrown QSR chain Fat Tiger has announced a three-year expansion plan, aiming to open 500 offline outlets through a mix of company-owned and franchise-operated stores. Currently present in 80 cities, the brand is set to expand its footprint across 200 cities in India . As part of this expansion, Fat Tiger will be leasing 500 outlets, each spanning approximately 300-500  sq. ft., totalling over 150,000 sq. ft. of premium retail space. The brand will also be creating over 1,750 job opportunities across various roles. “We are focused on growing Fat Tiger’s presence across 200 cities, making our offerings accessible to more customers while generating employment opportunities at scale,” said Sahaj Chopra and Sahil Arya, Founders and Directors of Fat Tiger. Founded in 2019, Fat Tiger offers a Pan Asian culinary experience with a diverse menu that features a range of mom...

Kapoor will feature as the face of Plix’s latest campaigns: ‘Plix Lagao Baal Badhao’ and ‘Har Din Karo Glow Andar Se’ Bengaluru: Plix, a subsidiary of FMCG powerhouse Marico and one of India’s largest plant-based nutrition and personal care D2C brands, has onboarded Bollywood icon Shraddha Kapoor as its new brand ambassador to champion its haircare and nutrition ranges, a press release said on Tuesday. “Welcoming Kapoor to the Plix family is a major milestone for us. Her effortless charm and commitment to clean, plant-based haircare & skincare perfectly align with our brand values,” said Plix co-founders Rishubh Satiya and Akash Zaveri. Kapoor will be seen as the face of Plix’s two new campaigns: ‘Plix Lagao Baal Badhao’ and ‘Har Din Karo Glow Andar Se’. “I love Plix’s plant-powered approach and I am amazed by how well-researched and effective the products are. The products are so easy to use, even when I’m traveling—it’s such a simple way to take care of my skin and hair. Par...

The company plans to broaden its reach through channel and category expansion by exploring new distribution avenues and launching products in additional health segments Founded in 2022 by Keshav Biyani and Prabhu Karthikeyan, The Good Bug is a direct-to-consumer (D2C) wellness brand dedicated to improving gut health. The company’s mission is to offer science-backed probiotic solutions that address common digestive issues and promote overall wellness. Its  product line includes innovative offerings like oro-soluble powders designed for both adults and children, aiming to enhance core health, gut balance, and daily well-being. ​ These products are formulated with clinically researched probiotic strains and are designed to be both effective and accessible. ​ In 2023, The Good Bug secured $3.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Fireside Ventures, with participation from Think9 Consumer Technologies and Sharrp Ventures, the family office of Marico Group Chairman Harsh Mariwa...

Furlenco is now focused on expanding its offline footprint, aiming to serve hundreds of thousands of households, with plans to go public in the coming years Bengaluru: Renting, once predominantly associated with the housing market, has evolved into a convenient solution across numerous sectors, from apparel to motor vehicles. Foreseeing a shift in consumer behaviour well before it became mainstream, Ajith Mohan Karimpana , then a corporate professional, left his job to launch Furlenco —a subscription-driven online furniture rental platform—at a time when e-commerce in India was still in its infancy. Over a decade later, after establishing a strong digital foothold, the Bengaluru-based brand made its foray into offline retail in 2023, unveiling two brick-and-mortar stores in its home city. With the rental economy gaining traction, Furlenco is now targeting for expansive growth—scaling its offline presence, aspiring to serve hundreds of thousands of households, and setting its sig...

Kohli has decided to invest in Agilitas and own a stake in the firm, backed by former Puma India and South-East Asia Managing Director Abhishek Ganguly New Delhi: Virat Kohli has joined homegrown aspirational sportswear maker Agilitas as an investor and co-creator, as the company plans to go global riding on the popularity of the ace Indian cricketer, according to industry sources. Kohli, who recently completed his eight-year relationship with Puma as its brand ambassador, has declined the German sportswear giant’s Rs 300 crore offer to renew the contract for the next eight years, they said. Instead, Kohli has decided to invest in Agilitas and own a stake in the firm, backed by former Puma India and South-East Asia Managing Director Abhishek Ganguly. A formal announcement over the development is expected in the next three months, as Agilitas, set up in 2023, is currently working on the launch of the brand and opening of new stores for One8, said the industry sources. Though the s...

Established in 1925, the French brand has grown from a small foundry into an internationally recognised name in premium kitchenware New Delhi: French cookware brand Le Creuset is marking its 100th anniversary this year with a series of global initiatives and a commemorative product launch, the company said in a press release on Friday. Established in 1925 in Fresnoy-le-Grand, France, the brand has grown from a small foundry into an internationally recognised name in premium kitchenware. Hewn from cast-iron and crafted by skilled artisans, Le Creuset has become a celebrated culinary heirloom—nurturing deep personal connections through the shared joy of food— meal after meal, year after year, generation after generation. Le Creuset Cast Iron Casserole in the making To celebrate the milestone, Le Creuset has launched a new limited-edition colourful cookware called Flamme Dorée—a modern take on its original flame shade. The new release features a golden shimmer created using light-...