Latest news with #ETRetail
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
HyFun Foods expands frozen snacks portfolio for HoReCa and retail segments
New Delhi: Gujarat-based HyFun Foods is expanding its ready-to-cook frozen snack portfolio with a focus on Indian street-style flavours. The company has officially launched its Mumbai Aloo Vada and is set to roll out the Spicy Paneer Patty to tap into rising demand for diverse frozen offerings among urban Indian consumers. The new launches are part of HyFun's plan to scale its domestic retail operations and achieve Rs 100 crore in retail revenue in 2025, the company said in its previous interview with ETRetail. Quick commerce is expected to play a pivotal role in this strategy, contributing nearly 33% of B2C revenue next year — a fivefold increase over the previous year. 'At HyFun, we're proud to offer both international favourites and authentic Indian innovations, from our patties served in leading quick service restaurants and burger chains, to the Mumbai Aloo Vada we proudly call the 'Indian burger,' to our soon-to-launch Spicy Paneer Patty,' said Haresh Karamchandani , CEO of HyFun Foods. The new offerings will be available across the HoReCa segments, with a retail rollout underway. HyFun's retail footprint has expanded from 6 to over 50 cities over the last three years, driven by improved cold chain logistics and growing consumer acceptance of frozen foods. The company's omnichannel strategy spans modern trade, general trade, and quick commerce, with its products now available on platforms like Zepto, Swiggy Instamart , Blinkit, and JioMart. HyFun Foods recorded ₹1,450 crore in revenue in FY25 and is targeting ₹5,000 crore in overall revenue within five years through both domestic and global expansion. Currently, 70% of the company's revenue comes from exports to markets such as Southeast Asia and the Gulf. It has also begun supplying to Walmart in the US. By 2028, the company aims for 50% of its total consumption to be driven by the Indian market, reflecting a significant strategic pivot toward domestic growth.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Health-tech startup Gabit ropes in Ranbir Kapoor to scale mass appeal; plans wellness portfolio expansion
New Delhi: Gabit , a wellness and healthtech startup founded by former Zomato co-founder Gaurav Gupta , has onboarded Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor as its brand ambassador, aiming to strengthen consumer connect as it scales its portfolio and presence. 'We've built Gabit with a clear mission to help people live healthier and longer by addressing the interconnected pillars of well-being,' Gaurav Gupta, Founder and CEO, Gabit told ETRetail in an interview. 'Everything we offer—from our smart ring to AI-powered health insights —is designed in-house and tested to global standards.' Launched in 2024, Gabit has raised $9.5 million in seed funding from investors including Norwest Venture Partners, Amit Agarwal, Deepinder Goyal, and Kunal Shah. Its full-stack health ecosystem integrates a smart ring with AI-powered coaching and personalized wellness plans across four core pillars: fitness, nutrition, sleep, and stress. Full-stack offerings and expansion A key differentiator for Gabit is its AI-based coach, 'PEP', which helps users interpret their health data and provides actionable recommendations. 'If your energy is low or sleep is poor, PEP tries to decode the why behind it using your tracked markers,' Gupta explained. The company is expanding into supplements and has already entered the skincare segment with its Minimal Sunscreen, which Gupta said has gained strong traction. 'We are launching a curated nutrition line with our own R&D and manufacturing through trusted partners in India and overseas,' he noted. Overall growth In less than a year, Gabit claims to be leading India's smart ring category and is witnessing strong repeat engagement, driven by the simplicity of its app and integrated health stack. Gupta added that the company is also seeing interest from international markets and may explore global expansion after consolidating its presence in India.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Gold in Our Veins
New Delhi: In Thrissur, Kerala, the Kalyanaraman family has built a jewellery brand that goes beyond gold - it's about trust, family, and a strong connection with their community. Sitting down with Pallavi Goel of ETRetail for the latest edition of Digital Cover - Top Shelf, the family - T.S. Kalyanaraman, Managing Director; Rajesh and Ramesh Kalyanaraman, Executive Directors at Kalyan Jewellers , shared their journey from textiles to becoming one of India's most respected jewellery names. T.S. Kalyanaraman, the founder, spoke warmly about their roots. He smiled gently as he said: We are a four-generation business family. My father - T.K. Seetharama Iyer and my grandfather - T.S. Kalyanarama Iyer, were in textile retailing and manufacturing. I started Kalyan Jewellers in 1993, as jewellery came as a natural progression, especially because customers themselves encouraged it. They would say, 'Why not jewellery? We already trust you with textiles.' Our family has been based in Thrissur for over a century, and that longstanding relationship with the community gave me the confidence to make the leap into jewellery retail.T.S. Kalyanaraman At the time, jewellery shopping was quite different - small shops, waiting weeks for orders. The family wanted to change that. T.S. Kalyanaraman explained: The difference was our background in textiles. In that business, customers shop from a ready inventory. Jewellery retail at the time was very different. Small stores, 200–300 square feet, mostly made-to-order. Customers would browse catalogues and then wait 10 to 15 days to receive their jewellery. We flipped that model. We opened a 4,000 square foot showroom with ready-to-buy inventory, like in textiles. And because the Kalyan brand was already well-trusted from our textile days, the response was overwhelming from day one. The growth that followed was steady and strategic. By 2010, Kalyan Jewellers had 35 showrooms across Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, and with a growing reputation for quality and transparency. But things weren't always easy. When they opened their second store in Palakkad, 70 km from Thrissur, they soon realised that each market is unique. Rajesh Kalyanaraman laughed softly as he shared: In the year 2000, we opened our second showroom in Palakkad a town close to Tamil Nadu border, 70 km away from Thrissur. We simply replicated the Thrissur format - same store size, inventory, pricing, and campaigns. But the results weren't as expected. We realised that Palakkad customers had very different preferences. Many were used to shopping in nearby Coimbatore and preferred designs that were more aligned with Tamil taste. They sought greater flexibility in pricing and had a different service expectation from that of the Thrissur customer. Even our advertising had to be tweaked—it needed to be more vibrant and dramatic to appeal to the local mindset. We learnt a critical lesson: to succeed and gain market share, we have to become a hyperlocal brand, instead of being a homogeneous Kalyanaraman This lesson helped as they expanded across India. Ramesh Kalyanaraman, the younger son of the family, said thoughtfully: We took the long view. Our P&L was always in the black, but we hadn't fully realised operating leverage in each state, and we chose not to wait for it. Our ambition was to build a pan-India brand, and we understood that waiting for optimal efficiency in every State would slow us down. We expanded into two to three new states each year, and by 2019–20, we had established a strong national presence. At that point, operating leverage began to take effect across the network. Between the first and second waves of COVID, we listed the company. Following the listing, we began partnering with franchisees, and since then, we've continued to grow our footprint in a strategic and focused manner. In 2015, to fuel their rapid pan-India growth, Kalyan Jewellers secured a significant investment from Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm. As they grew, the family decided to bring in professional management. Ramesh, who joined the business at 19, explained: This brand is at the heart of everything we do. My father started it (Kalyan Jewellers), my elder brother joined for the second showroom, and I followed. But as we moved towards being a national brand, we realised that passion and commitment alone weren't enough to scale operations effectively. We strengthened our structure by building a strong mid-level management team of around 100 people. In 2012, we brought in a professional leadership team, including a COO and other key roles. Today, while we continue to provide strategic direction, the day-to-day operations are managed by this team. Their journey also saw a significant milestone in 2021 when Kalyan Jewellers went public, raising Rs 1,175 crore through its IPO. It was a strong signal to the market about the brand's maturity and future-readiness. The brand's visibility and connect were amplified when it brought on board Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan in 2013. Over the years, the brand's face evolved to include the Bachchan family and a host of other celebrities such as Katrina Kaif, Rashmika Mandanna, Janhvi Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Prabhu Ganesan, and Shiva Rajkumar, helping Kalyan strike a cultural chord across regions and demographics. The family also took a step into e-commerce with their acquisition of Candere. Rajesh said simply: We were strong in offline retail but didn't want to spread ourselves thin building e-commerce internally. So we first invested in Candere, which was run by another promoter, and eventually took full ownership. Over time, e-commerce has shifted to omnichannel, where our offline expertise matters. As of March 31, 2025, Kalyan Jewellers boasts a workforce of 13,439 employees, a presence that is 33 per cent rooted in South India and 67 per cent in non-South zones, and a 7 per cent share in the organised jewellery market. The company's revenue stands at Rs 25,045 crore in FY25 with a profit of Rs 714 crore. It boasts a presence in six countries, with 388 showrooms, including 36 in the Middle East and new outposts in the USA. Looking ahead, Kalyan has its eyes set on further expansion, with 90 new showroom openings planned for FY26. In the backdrop of a double-digit growth, when asked what they want the next generation to take from this legacy, T.S. Kalyanaraman's voice softened: We want them to stay grounded in the values we've always upheld. Times have changed, and this generation's path will be different from mine, but they've seen firsthand the care and dedication we put into building this company, and I hope they embrace its spirit. Remembering the early days of Kalyan Jewellers, Rajesh said: Our journey started from ground up - in our very first showroom, we were just a small team and everyone did everything. That hands-on approach was key to our growth. Back then, with only five employees in our first showroom, if a sixth customer walked in, we didn't wait - we'd step in. For the next generation, it's crucial to understand every part of the business. Even if they start at the top, they need to learn the ropes. Only then will they truly grasp the legacy they're inheriting. Editor's Note: There's something profoundly human in the way the Kalyanaraman family talks about the brand - with warmth, pride, and a kind of affection you don't often find in corporate narratives. When they say 'Kalyan is everything to us,' it's not just a line, but a truth that has shaped their lives and their legacy. It's inspiring to see a brand that started in Kerala - a place with its own unique culture and tastes - grow into a truly pan-India name. The name 'Kalyan' itself carries different meanings across the country, but almost always reflects positivity and prosperity. This cultural resonance has helped them build a brand that feels like family to both the business and its patrons.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Rockford whisky maker Modi Illva eyes Rs 2,000 cr revenue by 2026, ramps up premium play with Singhasan
New Delhi: Modi Illva India , the maker of Rockford whisky and Arctic Vodka, is aggressively targeting a revenue of Rs 2,000 crore in 2025-26 as it accelerates expansion in India's premium and super-premium alcohol segments, a company's top official told ETRetail in an interview. The company ended 2024-25 with Rs 1,500 crore in revenue, marking a significant leap in its trajectory, fueled by rising consumer demand for premium Indian-made liquor . The company's flagship portfolio under the House of Rockford—which includes Rockford Reserve and Rockford Classic—has clocked an impressive 78 per cent CAGR, making it one of the fastest-growing national whisky brands, the official shared. Overall, Modi Illva has maintained a 55 per cent CAGR, underscoring robust growth across categories, he added. Further, Abhishek Modi, executive director of Modi Illva, shared, "Now, the company is doubling down on the premiumisation trend with the launch of Singhasan , its new super-premium Indian whisky aimed at the Rs 1,500–Rs 2,500 price bracket." Positioned to rival imported Scotch labels like 100 Pipers, Teachers, and Black & White, Singhasan is fully Indian-made—a deliberate move to capture the shifting preferences of aspirational, quality-conscious Indian consumers. "We believe today you don't need Scotch to make a quality product," said Modi. "Indian consumers have evolved. They're proud of homegrown excellence—and Indian single malts have laid the foundation for this acceptance." Developed over two years, Singhasan is already seeing encouraging traction from early-launch markets like Goa, Odisha, and Haryana. A broader rollout is now planned post the upcoming state excise policy cycles. "The initial response from trade has been fantastic. What's more important is we're already seeing repeat consumer purchases," Modi added. The broader premium IMFL segment, especially whisky, continues to drive the company's growth. Whisky accounts for nearly 65 per cent of India's alcohol consumption, with strong demand in states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, where Rockford already has a deep presence. Newer markets like Maharashtra and West Bengal are showing accelerating momentum. Rockford, which competes with Blenders Pride and Signature, is now present in 20 states and is increasingly penetrating tier 2 and 3 towns, a shift Modi attributes to the changing aspirations of India's emerging consumers. "What was a tier 1 phenomenon a decade ago is now strongly visible in tier 3 markets. Smaller towns are driving serious demand," he said. Modi Illva is also aligning its distribution and marketing strategies to match this demographic shift, particularly focusing on strengthening its Maharashtra presence—one of its fastest-growing territories. Singhasan's rollout strategy includes a premium-focused retail and bar presence. Modi emphasized that the super-premium segment is no longer niche. "This category is now a 5-6 million case segment and available across 80 per cent of India's premium retail outlets. Our focus is ensuring tertiary movement and consistent shelf visibility," he said. With plans to deepen penetration in high-growth states and push its Indian super-premium whisky narrative, Modi Illva is betting that evolving tastes and rising confidence in local craftsmanship will fuel its next phase of growth. "The Indian consumer today is more experimentative, values quality, and is open to Indian brands competing with global names. That's the big shift we're tapping into," Modi noted.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
NEWME launches 60-min fashion delivery in Bengaluru, plans expansion to Mumbai and Hyd
Bengaluru: Fast fashion brand NEWME has launched a 60-minute fashion delivery service in Bengaluru under its new initiative, NEWME Zip, following its 90-minute delivery pilot in Delhi-NCR, which started 6-months back. 'Gen Z is clear in what they want - style that's current, access that's instant, and experiences that feel personal,' said Sumit Jasoria, co-founder and CEO, NEWME in a chat with ETRetail. 'The overwhelming response to our pilot confirmed that fast fashion can't afford to be slow. With NEWMe Zip and a promise of under-60-minute delivery in Bengaluru, we're building on what worked, pushing boundaries, and setting new benchmarks in fashion-tech innovation.' Speaking on the evolution of the initiative, Jasoria shared, 'We are in the business of fashion, where we bring new styles every single week, and that's our prime core value proposition. While fashion delivery is evolving, the market is changing and as a technology-first company, we have to also innovate to stay relevant to the consumers. And this was an initiative which we picked last year.' NEWME is currently operating the Zip model in Bengaluru through a combination of dark stores and its own retail outlets. While the brand works with third party delivery, the company is now testing in-house riders in Bengaluru, Jasoria said. The brand plans to expand its quick delivery offering to Hyderabad and Mumbai over the next quarter, he shared. NEWME is currently operating 14 offline stores and plans to add 10–12 more in this year. Commenting on the brands performance, Jasoria said that the fashion retailer has reported 3x growth in the last fiscal and is targeting similar journey this year. Quick commerce is increasing traction in categories beyond grocery. Earlier on Tuesday, 60-minute fashion delivery startup Slikk announced that it has raised USD 10 million in a funding round led by Nexus Venture Partners and Lightspeed. Last year in December, Myntra forayed into 30-minute delivery with M-Now.
