Domicile shift key to aligning with India's economy, rules: Flipkart CEO
Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy addressed employees at an internal event, 'Flipster Connect', on Monday (May 26), highlighting the company's strong growth and readiness for the future. He called the decision to shift Flipkart's legal base back to India a key move in aligning with the country's economic and regulatory environment.
During the session, Krishnamurthy said that Flipkart has increased its investment in artificial intelligence six-fold this year. He also confirmed that the process to return the company's legal domicile to India had begun. He assured employees that Flipkart would continue prioritising profitability while maintaining a strong focus on customer needs.
Commenting on Flipkart's plans to go public, Krishnamurthy said much groundwork had already been done in the last year to prepare for the IPO. 'A lot of work which has already happened over the past 12 months is aligned with this intention,' he said, adding that the company would continue building on that effort.
Leadership and strategic growth
Krishnamurthy was joined by other senior leaders, including Seema Nair (Senior Vice President and CHRO), Hemant Badri (Senior Vice President and Head of Supply Chain), and Ramesh Gururaja (Senior Vice President, Consumer Shopping Experience). Together, they shared insights into Flipkart's strategy, which includes growth in talent, leadership, innovation, and customer engagement.
Krishnamurthy said Flipkart is currently seeing a 20–25 per cent increase in customers and orders, and is aiming for 30 per cent growth by June, according to a PTI report quoting sources.
He also added: 'Within the organisation, we remain focused on being future-ready, with a 6X increase in investment in AI this year. We continue to be the market driver across all categories and customer segments. 'Minutes' is doing very well, and we're targeting 800 dark stores by the end of this year.'
Innovation across key areas
Flipkart's quick commerce service, 'Minutes', is showing promising results. The company is also seeing renewed innovation in areas such as travel, Shopsy, and services for Gen Z users.
Krishnamurthy further noted: 'super.money has also been on a high growth trajectory, with several recent successful launches and strong product innovation. We've recently seen some industry veterans across technology, categories, and Adtech join us as we work towards the aggressive goals we've set for ourselves.'
Speaking on the decision to relocate Flipkart's legal base to India, he said: 'As we've initiated the flip back of the company, I am very confident that all of us will continue to focus on profitability with a renewed emphasis on customer centricity. This move brings Flipkart even closer to where our heart has always been.'
Focus on leadership and AI-driven teams
Seema Nair, Flipkart Group CHRO, spoke about the company's strong and evolving leadership. She highlighted that a new generation of leaders is taking on key responsibilities in emerging e-commerce areas.
She said Flipkart is working on building capable teams through training and skill development to meet the demands of the industry. Nair added that artificial intelligence will be a key enabler for the organisation, and all employees will have access to the best AI tools.
She concluded that Flipkart, with its collaborative and forward-thinking team, is well-positioned to lead the digital retail transformation in India.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Walmart's Sam's Club to remove synthetic dyes from private brand by year end
HighlightsWalmart-owned Sam's Club will eliminate over 40 ingredients, including artificial colors and aspartame, from its private label brand Member's Mark by the end of this year as part of its 'Made Without' initiative. The initiative aligns with the growing health consciousness among consumers, particularly Generation Z and millennials, who are increasingly seeking healthier food options. Other major food companies, including W.K. Kellogg and Tyson Foods, are also reformulating their products to eliminate artificial dyes and respond to health concerns in the food supply. Walmart-owned Sam's Club said on Thursday it would eliminate over 40 ingredients, including artificial colors and aspartame, from private label brand Member's Mark by the end of this year. Under the initiative, called 'Made Without', Sam's Club is altering its food products and beverages to offer items that are in tandem with the evolving dietary preferences of customers as more people, mainly Gen Z and millennials, turn health conscious. The move comes a couple of months after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr laid out plans to remove synthetic food dyes from the U.S. food supply, in a broader move to address chronic diseases and health conditions such as obesity among Americans. Most of the packaged food companies are also working on their existing products as well as on introducing items without artificial dyes. W.K. Kellogg is reformulating its cereals served in schools to not include artificial dyes, and has said it would not launch any products with the dyes beginning next year. Tyson Foods is also "proactively reformulating" food products containing petroleum-based synthetic dyes, which according to the company were to be eliminated from its production process by May end. Sam's Club has already rolled out cookies and snacks without artificial colors. The retailer is also offering fresh sushi as part of its 'Made Without' program.

Fashion Value Chain
2 hours ago
- Fashion Value Chain
Flipkart Unveils Annual Beauty Trends Report with NielsenIQ at Glam Up Fest 2025
Gen Z and Creators are fueling Flipkart's beauty revolution K-beauty products continue to surge in popularity, with sheet masks, snail mucin serums, and hydrating essences seeing over 90% year-on-year growth 5 beauty products are sold every second on Flipkart Flipkart's premium beauty and personal care selection is growing at 70% year-on-year, reflecting a strong shift in consumer behaviour Flipkart, India's homegrown e-commerce marketplace, unveiled its inaugural Glam Up Annual Beauty Trends Report at the flagship Glam Up Fest 2025, offering exclusive insights into the fast-evolving beauty preferences of Indian consumers. Launched in partnership with Nielsen IQ, the report showcases how Flipkart is pioneering India's Next Billion-Dollar beauty boom. The report explores how evolving consumer preferences, rising affluence, and growing demand across new regions are fueling India's beauty boom, with trends like skinimalism and SPF rituals making beauty more personal, science-led, and socially influenced. Unveiling the Flipkart Glam up Annual Beauty Trends Report, Sakait Choudhary, Priyanka Bhargav, Manjari Singhal, Kartheek Kanumuru The report highlights the growing preference for premium quality products, with over 5 beauty essentials sold every second on the platform across haircare, makeup, and skincare. Over 148 million beauty products were sold on Flipkart in 2024, spotlighting Flipkart's role in strengthening the online beauty revolution in India and continuing to cater to the shifting consumer attitudes towards beauty. Left to Right: Sakait Choudhary, Priyanka Bhargav, Manjari Singhal, Kartheek Kanumuru at Flipkart Glam Up 2025 Gen Z is leading the beauty revolution, reshaping their routines with a clear focus on active ingredients, simplified steps, and inspiration that starts with social media and creators. Their presence in the online beauty and personal care space is expected to increase from 40% in 2024 to 47% by 2030. Searches for niacinamide, ceramides, and other science-led activities continue to rise. Viral trends like glazed donut skin, and slugging reflect a move towards hydration-first, result-driven routines. Beauty in 2025 is no longer just about products, it is about intentional choices shaped by conscious consumers and creator-led influence. Commenting on the launch, Manjari Singhal, Head of Business, Cleartrip, FMCG, and General Merchandise, Flipkart, said, 'The beauty landscape in India is in the midst of a vibrant transformation, and no one is driving it more than GenZs. Their evolving preferences, digital fluency, and expressive approach to beauty are reshaping the industry as we know it. At Flipkart, we've always believed in staying close to the consumer. The Glam Up Trends Report is a reflection of that belief, an effort to listen, understand, and anticipate what beauty means to the next generation. This report is the result of a deep, collaborative effort between Flipkart and NielsenIQ teams.' Priyanka Bhargav, Senior Director, Research & Insights, Flipkart, said, 'Beauty today is bold, expressive, and constantly evolving and no one captures that spirit quite like Gen Z. Whether it's their focus on skin health, passion for active ingredients, love for nostalgic aesthetics, or embrace of hybrid formats, they're redefining the beauty playbook. The Glam Up Trends Report helps decode this dynamic shift. With rich data, real consumer voices, and cultural context, it highlights what's truly resonating. Trends like Hydration Daze, Scientific Obsession, kiSKIN, and Cherry Cherry Lady go beyond surface appeal, they reflect how young India is engaging with beauty in deeper, more expressive ways. This report is the result of a thoughtful collaboration between the Flipkart Insights Team, the beauty and personal Care team, and our intelligence partner, NielsenIQ. We hope it sparks fresh thinking, challenges conventions, and inspires the next wave of beauty innovation.' Key Trends: Skin-First Beauty Becomes the Default : The foundation of beauty is now skincare. Minimalist routines with hydration and barrier repair are dominating both shopping carts and social feeds. Flipkart recorded a 120% spike in gel moisturisers and over 80% growth in face serums, while face wash sales rose 123% year-on-year. Shoppers are prioritising lean formulations with active ingredients such as salicylic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin C, choosing to treat rather than cover. K-beauty products continue to surge in popularity, with sheet masks, snail mucin serums, and hydrating essences seeing over 90% growth year-on-year, reflecting a growing appetite for globally trending skincare routines. Scientific Obsession & Hydration Daze : Beauty routines are increasingly rooted in science. Consumers seek efficacy and transparency, gravitating toward ingredient-first formulations like powder cleansers, dew boosters, and barrier-repair creams. 62% of Gen Z search for beauty by ingredients, not brands. Face creams and gels rose 1.4x YoY, and niacinamide searches surged ~70%, underscoring the rising preference for hydration-focused, evidence-backed skincare. Hair Game Strong : Hair rituals on Flipkart are redefined, with shoppers moving from traditional oils to performance-driven solutions rooted in science. The demand for peptide-powered serums, K-gloss treatments, rice water-infused rinses, and scalp-balancing treatments has accelerated, reflecting a clear shift toward targeted, ingredient-led care. Flipkart witnessed a 2x growth in sales of hair serum, and searches for scalp-related concerns, like dandruff serums and itch-relief treatments, have grown by over 85%. This signals a new consumer mindset of haircare should be as intentional and effective as skincare, lightweight, functional, and focused on long-term scalp and strand health. Scent-sational : Fragrance as a Daily Ritual of Self-Expression: Fragrance on Flipkart has transformed from an occasional indulgence to a daily ritual of identity and mood-setting. Consumers are embracing 'smellmaxxing', layering mists, roll-ons, and perfumes to create personalised scent profiles that reflect their personality and routine. Flipkart recorded a 2.2x growth in overall fragrance sales in Q125 vs Q124, with searches for attars alone increasing by 2.5x, signalling renewed interest in culturally rooted, artisanal scents. Gourmand notes inspired by desserts like marshmallow, pistachio, and brown sugar are trending across social channels, especially among younger shoppers. Fragrance today is about more than just smelling good; it's about self-expression, emotional connection, and everyday wearability. Cherry Cherry Lady – Makeup That Does More : Makeup on Flipkart is getting smarter, with functional beauty leading the way. Consumers are choosing hybrid formats that deliver both colour and care. Lip oils, SPF-infused tints, and barrier-friendly blush sticks are replacing traditional, single-purpose products. Shoppers are looking for fewer steps and more benefits, favouring products that adapt to their fast-paced, skin-conscious routines. Gloss-forward lip products continue to gain momentum, while searches for Surma-inspired eye looks have surged 33x in Q1'25 vs Q1'24, reflecting a blend of modern utility and cultural revival. Today's makeup is not just about aesthetics, it's about ease, efficacy, and everyday relevance Sun-In & Stunning : SPF is no longer optional. Daily protection has become a routine essential, with portable sunscreen sticks and gels supporting reapplication habits. Sunscreen sales doubled, and searches for SPF-related products rose by 76% YoY, indicating that sun protection is now seen as both a health and aesthetic necessity Korean Street : The K-Beauty Effect: Korean beauty continues to shape Indian skincare. Products like skin blur serums, serum-infused glow boosters, and mini ' skintellectual snacking ' formats are seeing rapid adoption. Searches for Korean beauty grew ~81% YoY, making it one of the fastest-rising segments on Flipkart. From Plains to Peaks, Beauty Speaks: Regional beauty needs are becoming increasingly important. Variations in air quality, water hardness, humidity, and diet are influencing skin and hair concerns across India. Flipkart is addressing these micro-needs with tailored assortments, especially in Tier 2+ cities, to serve a broader spectrum of Indian consumers The Indian beauty landscape is undergoing a transformation, and Gen Z is at the center of it. With their digital fluency and trend-first mindset, this generation is redefining how beauty is discovered, chosen, and celebrated. Flipkart, through its annual flagship events like Glam Up Fest 2025, is bringing together deep consumer insights, wide reach, and strong partnerships to lead this shift, bridging the gap between global innovation and local access, to help redefine beauty for the next generation of Indian consumers. About the Flipkart Group The Flipkart Group is one of India's leading digital commerce entities and includes group companies Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Cleartrip and Established in 2007, Flipkart has enabled millions of sellers, merchants, and small businesses to participate in Indias digital commerce revolution. With a registered user base of more than 500 million, Flipkarts marketplace offers over 150 million products across 80+ categories. Today, there are over 1.4 million sellers on the platform, including Shopsy sellers. With a focus on empowering and delighting every Indian by delivering value through technology and innovation, Flipkart has created thousands of jobs in the ecosystem while empowering generations of entrepreneurs and MSMEs. Flipkart has pioneered services such as Cash on Delivery, No Cost EMI, Easy Returns, and UPI. These customer-centric innovations focus on enhancing digital payment offerings for all customers while making online shopping more accessible and affordable for millions of Indians. For more information, please write to media@


Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Walmart's Flipkart secures approval for direct lending in India, documents show
HighlightsWalmart's Flipkart has received a lending licence from the Reserve Bank of India, enabling it to offer loans directly to customers and sellers on its platform. This marks the first time the Reserve Bank of India has granted a non-bank finance company licence to a major e-commerce player in India, allowing Flipkart to pursue a more lucrative direct lending model. Flipkart plans to launch its lending operations through its e-commerce platform and fintech application with potential financing options for sellers as well. By Ashwin Manikandan Walmart's Flipkart has secured a lending licence from the Indian central bank and banking regulator, enabling it to offer loans directly to customers and sellers on its platform, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and a source. This is the first time the Reserve Bank of India has granted a large e-commerce player in India a non-bank finance company (NBFC) licence, allowing it to lend but not take deposits. Most e-commerce platforms currently offer loans in tie-ups with banks and NBFCs, but a lending licence will enable Flipkart - India's largest e-commerce firm - to lend directly, a more lucrative model for the group. The central bank issued its certificate of registration - a document that officially recognizes a company as an NBFC - to Flipkart Finance Private Limited on March 13. Reuters has reviewed a copy of both the certificate of registration and the approval letter also dated March 13. The approval has not been previously reported. Flipkart, in which U.S. retail behemoth Walmart holds a more than 80% stake, applied for the licence in 2022, according to the central bank's approval letter. Neither Flipkart nor the Reserve Bank of India immediately responded to Reuters' request for comments. The e-commerce giant may commence its lending operation "in a few months", according to a source aware of the matter who declined to be identified as the talks are private. A final decision on the launch will be subject to the completion of various internal processes such as the appointment of key management personnel and board members and the finalisation of business plans, the source said. Flipkart plans to lend directly to its customers on its popular e-commerce platform and through its fintech app the source said. It may also offer financing to sellers on the platform, they added. At present, the e-commerce giant offers personal loans to customers through tie-ups with lenders such as Axis Bank , IDFC Bank and Credit Saison. Flipkart, last valued at $37 billion in 2024 when it raised $1 billion in a funding round led by Walmart, is shifting its holding company from Singapore to India. Walmart also aims to take the 17-year-old company public. Walmart bought a controlling stake in Flipkart in 2018, which also gave it ownership of PhonePe, a fintech firm also preparing for an IPO.