Retail
Kiranas, distributors turn lean as countdown to September 22 begins
Neighborhood grocers and quick commerce platforms are limiting supplies from companies. They want to avoid unsold stock before the new GST rules. Companies are shortening supply cycles to stores. Prices of large packs will decrease after GST 2.0. Smaller packs will offer more quantity. Traditional traders lack the capacity for discounts.
Luxury sees double-digit uptick as shoppers get more to spend
Luxury brands anticipate significant sales growth this festive season. A longer wedding season and India-specific collections are driving this surge. GST rate cuts are also expected to boost consumer spending. DLF Retail forecasts double-digit growth for luxury brands in its malls. Brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton are focusing on the Indian wedding market.
Monsoon showers push e-comm orders up, raise partner payouts
E-commerce platforms in India are experiencing a surge in orders due to prolonged monsoon rains, with deliveries increasing by over 10%. Companies like BigBasket and Flipkart are seeing significant order spikes in cities like Mumbai and Delhi NCR, driven by professionals working from home.
GST reforms most positive for footwear, quick restros, FMCG, grocery retailers: Report
Bernstein reports that GST rate cuts will likely boost India's consumption. Footwear, QSRs, FMCG, and grocery retailers may benefit. Personal and home care items see GST reduction. Apparel and footwear GST is rationalized. QSRs may experience improved gross margins. The GST Council approved these cuts, effective September 22. This aims to reduce tax burden and stimulate economic growth.
E-commerce marketplaces & quick commerce platforms reap gains from heavy monsoon rains
Heavy monsoon rains are boosting e-commerce in India. Online orders have increased as people stay indoors. BigBasket and Flipkart see order surges in cities like Mumbai and Delhi. Delivery partners earn more with weather incentives. Logistics providers like Zippee and Celcius are expanding to meet rising demand. Companies are compensating riders for delivering in difficult conditions.
Retailer and farmer groups ask India to shun Amazon's plea to ease investment rules
Groups representing Indian retailers and farmers have urged the government to reject Amazon's request to ease foreign investment rules for exports. They argue that allowing Amazon to directly procure products would harm smaller businesses due to the company's financial strength and potential for predatory pricing.
BigBasket founders plan to step back; CEO Hari Menon prepares succession amid Tata Group’s quick commerce push
BigBasket founders, including CEO Hari Menon, are preparing to transition into mentoring roles as Tata Group seeks a new leader to sharpen its competitive edge in the quick commerce market. With Menon's tenure nearing completion, the company is actively shortlisting candidates to drive growth and reassure investors amid increasing competition from Blinkit, Instamart and Zepto.
Meesho generates over 1 mn job opportunities ahead of festival season
Meesho, the Softbank-backed e-commerce firm, has created over a million job opportunities. These jobs are available through its seller network and logistics space. This initiative is ahead of the festive season. Most of these jobs are in tier-3 and tier-4 cities. The company generated 5.5 lakh jobs through its seller network. Around 6.7 lakh jobs are in the logistics sector.
GST uncertainty worries ecommerce majors as festive sale season nears
Indian e-commerce sellers on platforms like Amazon and Flipkart are facing GST uncertainty as the festive season approaches. Sellers worry about timely integration of new tax rates, potential invoicing discrepancies, and complications with product returns during the peak shopping phase. The transition from a 12% tax slab to either 5% or 18% poses logistical challenges for sellers.
Festive sales hit by GST uncertainty: Retailers, automakers brace for surge
Consumer firms and retailers face uncertainty due to delayed GST rate revisions coinciding with the festive season and Shraddh period, impacting purchase decisions. Auto companies urge the government to expedite notification of revised rates to avoid stalled sales before Navratri. Companies are preparing for a potential demand surge by adjusting supply chains and inventory management.
Must Watch
IOC's Project SPRINT starts to show results, company gains retail dominance
Indian Oil Corporation's Project SPRINT is yielding positive results, enhancing refinery performance and regaining fuel retail leadership. IOC is expanding refining capacity to 98.4 million tonnes by 2028 and its pipeline network to 22,000 km. The company is also investing significantly in petrochemicals and renewable energy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2046, allocating ₹1.66 lakh crore over five years.
Reliance Retail set to invest Rs 40,000 crore in food parks
Reliance Retail Ventures plans to invest ₹40,000 crore over three years to establish integrated food parks across India, aiming to become the country's largest consumer goods company. Reliance Consumer Products (RCPL) has already achieved ₹11,500 crore in annual revenue and is consolidating consumer brands.
Myntra creates 11,000 seasonal jobs ahead of Big Fashion Festival
Myntra is gearing up for its Big Fashion Festival by creating over 11,000 new job opportunities through its partners. These seasonal roles will strengthen the company's logistics, customer service, and last-mile operations to manage the expected surge in demand. The new hires include delivery partners and customer executives for efficient operations.
Reliance AGM 2025: Reliance Retail's consumer biz to become direct arm of RIL, sets ₹1 lakh cr revenue target
Reliance Retail's Consumer Products business, RCPL, will become a direct subsidiary of Reliance Industries, announced at the 48th AGM. Isha Ambani highlighted India's expanding consumer market, driven by the middle class and rural adoption of branded products.
Festive sales hit as brands flag tighter consumer credit lines
Consumer finance availability is tightening due to rising loan defaults and stricter lending practices by banks and NBFCs, impacting sales of high-value items like electronics and luxury goods. Some regions face complete credit blocks due to new laws against coercive recovery, further hindering access to finance for genuine customers.
Amazon eyes deeper connect across cities, towns to expand India network ahead of festive season
Amazon has launched twelve new fulfillment centers and six sort centers in India. This expansion aims to enhance its operations network before the festive season. The new facilities are located across various cities, including Delhi NCR and Bengaluru. This move follows a Rs 2,000 crore investment. Amazon focuses on building a fast and reliable logistics network.
