Sharleen D'Souza &Amp; Aryaman Gupta

Stories by Sharleen D'Souza &Amp; Aryaman Gupta

From Godrej to Tata, India Inc begins breaking the diversity mould

From Godrej to Tata, India Inc begins breaking the diversity mould

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2023

In a move towards gender inclusion, Tamil Nadu has partnered Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) to offer a 5 per cent job reservation for LGBTQAI+ and people with disabilities at GCPL's upcoming fast-moving consumer goods manufacturing unit in Thiruporur in Chengalpattu district. According to industry experts and activists, while companies acknowledge transgender communities, this is the first time the entire spectrum of gender minorities, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (one's sexual or gender identity), asexual and intersex, is receiving such a notable share of job participation in the private sector while signing memoranda of understanding with states.

FMCG supply gridlock: Demand falls, inventory adds up

FMCG supply gridlock: Demand falls, inventory adds up

Rediff.com   22 Nov 2023

The supply chain for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies is seeing congestion due to persistently low demand. This has led to an increase in inventory days, with stocks accumulating at distributors and compelling them to extend higher credit periods to retailers. Distributors, Business Standard spoke to, revealed that demand inventory days have more than doubled in some cases, forcing them to offer credit terms as long as 45 days to retailers, as consumer offtake continues to face pressure.

Consumer firms see double-digit growth on festive shopping

Consumer firms see double-digit growth on festive shopping

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2023

Consumer durables firms and fashion retailers expect double-digit growth in value terms in the ongoing festival season as consumers have stepped up purchases during this period. They expect to see value sales growth upwards of 15 per cent, which is especially coming in from cities. However, volume growth may lag behind value growth.

Is India's NavIC Better Than GPS?

Is India's NavIC Better Than GPS?

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2023

NavIC consists of a constellation of seven satellites and a network of ground stations and is touted to be more accurate than GPS.

Uneven monsoon weighs on demand for FMCG firms

Uneven monsoon weighs on demand for FMCG firms

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2023

Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are expected to see muted topline growth, with uneven spread of the monsoon impacting demand. Rural demand recovery, too, remains elusive in the July-September quarter. Brokerages expect volumes to remain steady in the quarter on a sequential basis.

Rural kiranas power September sales

Rural kiranas power September sales

Rediff.com   18 Oct 2023

Sales of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) witnessed significant recovery in September after enduring a double-digit decline in August, according to data furnished by Bizom. Kirana stores in rural areas stocked up in preparation for the festival season, which began in September. This, combined with rainfall reaching 113 per cent of the long-perid average for the month, contributed to a boost in sales.

Festive Season To Create 700K Gig Jobs

Festive Season To Create 700K Gig Jobs

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2023

'The World Cup alone is expected to create an additional 100,000 jobs, most of which will comprise gig workers in the delivery space, transportation, hospitality and event management.'

Inflation a cause of worry for FMCG companies; margins could take a hit

Inflation a cause of worry for FMCG companies; margins could take a hit

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2023

Higher inflation has again become a matter of concern for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies. After prices of commodities like sugar and wheat moved higher and stabilised at those levels, the crude oil too surged, adding to FMCG firms' worries. Besides, a dry spell in August in the ongoing monsoon season impacted rural demand.

Tides turning for India's startups?

Tides turning for India's startups?

Rediff.com   3 Oct 2023

The recovering valuations, will lead to enhanced optimism among investors about funding startups.

Brand SRK Is Back With A Bang!

Brand SRK Is Back With A Bang!

Rediff.com   12 Sep 2023

'He doesn't need to play eye candy or a boy next door. He has found his mark.' 'Brands like him because he understands them and he emotes appropriately for them.'

G20 Summit: Startups hope Delhi Declaration to help ease capital access

G20 Summit: Startups hope Delhi Declaration to help ease capital access

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2023

The Indian startup ecosystem has lauded the inclusion of startups in the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration for the first time ever in the history of G20. Industry stakeholders say that the move will lead to easier access to capital, reduce regulatory hurdles, and may revive funding activity. The Declaration, through the Startup20 initiative, recognised startups as "natural engines of growth" and key to socio-economic transformation by driving innovation and creating employment.

Oyo's India CEO, Europe head resign ahead of IPO

Oyo's India CEO, Europe head resign ahead of IPO

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2023

IPO-bound hospitality major Oyo's India Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ankit Gupta and the head of its Europe business Mandar Vaidya have resigned. A company spokesperson told Business Standard that the two had moved on from their roles six months ago in March 2023. During the same period, Oyo had rejigged its top management, where the company's COO Abhinav Sinha was reassigned as Chief Product and Technology Officer, while Chief Business Development Officer Anuj Tejpal was reappointed as Global Chief Merchant Officer.

With Zepto Becoming First Unicorn of 2023, is Funding Winter About to Thaw?

With Zepto Becoming First Unicorn of 2023, is Funding Winter About to Thaw?

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2023

Quick commerce startups hope to race towards better days. Can they crack the execution code?

Zerodha's Kamath brothers to invest Rs 100 crore in Nazara Technologies

Zerodha's Kamath brothers to invest Rs 100 crore in Nazara Technologies

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2023

The board of Nazara Technologies, a listed online gaming company, has approved the issue of shares worth Rs 100 crore to firms managed by Zerodha founders Nikhil and Nithin Kamath, the company said in a regulatory filing on Monday. The company is proposing to issue 1,400,560 equity shares at a face value of Rs 4 each, for Rs 714 per equity share. This will amount to Rs 99,99,99,840 and will be proportionately allotted to M/s Kamath Associates and M/s NKSquared.

From hatchbacks to holidays, consumers ready to loosen purse strings

From hatchbacks to holidays, consumers ready to loosen purse strings

Rediff.com   1 Sep 2023

With Onam and Raksha Bandhan just around the corner, the festival season is ready to kick off in full swing. As people embrace the celebratory spirit, companies anticipate a surge in sales this year. Consumer durables firms are expecting strong growth of 40-50 per cent in the premium segment during the upcoming season. Appliance makers also foresee increased demand for cooling appliances - refrigerators and air conditioners - which were impacted by unseasonal rainfall.

Crypto unicorn CoinSwitch lays off 44 employees citing role redundancy

Crypto unicorn CoinSwitch lays off 44 employees citing role redundancy

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2023

The move comes barely a week after fellow crypto unicorn CoinDCX laid off 12 per cent of its workforce - an estimated 80 employees - amid challenging macroeconomic conditions and regulatory uncertainty in the sector. CoinSwitch has 519 employees, according to its LinkedIn profile. This means around 8 per cent of its workforce were shown the door.

Titan set to buy out Esops of CaratLane staffers for Rs 350 crore

Titan set to buy out Esops of CaratLane staffers for Rs 350 crore

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2023

Tata Group-owned Titan, which has agreed to purchase founder Mithun Sacheti's stake in CaratLane for Rs 4,621 crore, is planning to buy employee stock options (Esops) of the jewellery retailer's employees for around Rs 350 crore. This will take Titan's ownership in the company to 100 per cent. CaratLane reportedly has around 1,500 employees, most of whom do not own shares in the company.

Unicorns Carve Profits In Funding Winter

Unicorns Carve Profits In Funding Winter

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2023

'Given that the market is now demanding disciplined growth, well-run companies should be able to demonstrate profitability with the cash on hand.'

Quick commerce firms gain traction. Next stop: Profit

Quick commerce firms gain traction. Next stop: Profit

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2023

Quick commerce is proving to be a solid business proposition, with companies like Zomato's Blinkit and Y Combinator-backed Zepto recently registering growth, charting paths to profitability. Blinkit logged its highest gross order value (GOV) and customer transactions in June and July, showing a positive contribution for the first time in the quarter ended June 2023. Deepinder Goyal, Zomato's co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO), predicted that Blinkit would deliver more value to shareholders than the core food delivery business in the next decade.

At $112 bn, Reliance Retail value may be almost double RIL's O2C business

At $112 bn, Reliance Retail value may be almost double RIL's O2C business

Rediff.com   3 Aug 2023

Reliance Industries' (RIL's) retail arm, Reliance Retail, is now valued at nearly twice the amount of its decades-old and lucrative oil-to-chemical (O2C) division. Bernstein's latest report on the conglomerate projects a valuation of $112 billion for its retail business, dwarfing the $57 billion valuation of its O2C division. In addition, the research firm valued Jio Platforms, the company's telecom arm, at $77 billion and the renewable energy business at $17 billion.