Latest news with #metros
Reuters
22-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
India's United Breweries posts higher Q1 profit on premium growth, lower costs
July 22 (Reuters) - United Breweries ( opens new tab, India's largest beer maker, reported a nearly 6% rise in quarterly profit on Tuesday, benefiting from lower excise duty costs and strong demand for its premium beers. The Kingfisher beer maker's consolidated profit came in at 1.84 billion rupees ($21.30 million) for the quarter ended June 30, up from 1.74 billion rupees a year earlier. United Breweries, majority-owned by Dutch brewer Heineken ( opens new tab, posted a nearly 16% rise in net sales, led by a 11% growth in volumes, higher pricing and premiumisation. Total expenses fell 7.8%, driven by lower excise duty costs. Beer makers in India are riding a wave of resilient premium consumption, as upper middle-class and affluent consumers, largely insulated from the rising living costs in metros, continue to spend freely on higher-end goods, including pricier brews. The shift toward premiums has helped offset broader inflationary pressures and subdued demand at the mass-market level, fuelling earnings growth for players in the alcohol and lifestyle segments. Spirits-maker Radico Khaitan ( opens new tab, retail chain Shoppers Stop ( opens new tab and beauty retailer Nykaa ( opens new tab have capitalised on this trend in recent quarters, reporting strong gains driven by their premium portfolios. Premium segment grew 46% in the reported quarter, higher than the overall volume growth of 11%. PEER PERFORMANCE * The mean of analysts' ratings standardised to a scale of Strong Buy, Buy, Hold, Sell, and Strong Sell ** The ratio of the stock's last close to analysts' mean price target; a ratio above 1 means the stock is trading above the PT APRIL TO JUNE STOCK PERFORMANCE -- All data from LSEG -- $1 = 86.3650 Indian rupees
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
These Are the Only 3 US Cities With Affordable Homes, According to the 30% Rule
If it feels like buying a home in a major city is unaffordable, that's because it most likely is if you're following a popular budgeting rule of thumb. The '30% rule' states that you should spend roughly 30% or less of your pretax income on housing to leave room for other non-negotiables in your budget. Find Out: Read Next: Yet in 47 of the 50 major U.S. metros, the monthly cost of owning a median-priced home is more than 30% of the area's median household income, according to a new report. (The analysis assumed a 20% down payment and a typical 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.82%.) Here's a look at the only three major U.S. metro areas where the average household can afford the costs of owning a typical home. Median home list price (May 2025): $249,900 Annual mortgage payment + tax and insurance: $19,970 Median household income: $72,935 % of income needed to cover housing costs: 27.4% Check Out: Median home list price (May 2025): $270,000 Annual mortgage payment + tax and insurance: $21,576 Median household income: $72,493 % of income needed to cover housing costs: 29.8% Median home list price (May 2025): $299,900 Annual mortgage payment + tax and insurance: $23,966 Median household income: $79,869 % of income needed to cover housing costs: 30% More From GOBankingRates 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025 6 Popular SUVs That Aren't Worth the Cost -- and 6 Affordable Alternatives 10 Cars That Outlast the Average Vehicle This article originally appeared on These Are the Only 3 US Cities With Affordable Homes, According to the 30% Rule
News24
10-07-2025
- General
- News24
How can I fix a pothole? Who is my councillor? New platform helps you ‘fix local'
A new platform called fixlocal has been launched to give residents information on how to fix problems in their neighbourhoods. It was founded after many community forums were able to effect change in small ways in their areas. Available online and on WhatsApp, co-founder Mark Heywood says the platform is not trying to reinvent the wheel but empower citizens to know where to go all in one place. A new platform is bringing the residents closer to those who have the authority to fix issues in their neighbourhoods, by providing people with the information they need. Called fixlocal, the platform is a 'a one-stop shop' where residents can find and get into contact with relevant authorities, hold them to account, get organised, or learn how to fix problems themselves. READ | Frustrated Welverdiend residents fix potholes while R59m road budget sits unused According to co-founder Mark Heywood, the platform is not trying to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it aims to bring authorities closer to citizens and empower communities with knowledge of how local spheres work. 'The end goal is to help us get to the point where our communities are safe, functional, clean, dignified and where local government works in partnership and efficiently with local communities. That's that. That's what it is all about. It is to empower the citizen to make our lives better,' Heywood tells News24. The platform is accessible online and on WhatsApp – and an app is in development. It has coverage of 18 metros, providing contact details of councillors or departments to which to address specific problems: be it for potholes, water or electricity. Visit its website or write to info@ For example, you can search the name and contact details of your ward councillor and geo-locate your ward in case you don't know where to look. According to Heywood, this is the first time the geo-locator and the contact details of councillors can be found in one place. So why start this? The idea was sparked in 2024 when the director of Heartlines and fixlocal founder Garth Japhet believed there was a huge amount of local activism that was succeeding in getting problems seen to. As a result, the platform also hosts a number of success stories, which are updated regularly. As examples of the power of local activism, Heywood points to: The Johannesburg Crisis Alliance: Concerned citizens got together in June 2023 to try to arrest the growing crisis in many parts of and services in Johannesburg. They still meet four times a year. Senekal/Matwabeng Community Forum: The forum originated from the need to revitalise the town through active community participation. The forum aims to initiate, develop and implement various projects to restore the town of Senekal. Parkrun South Africa: This forum makes people aware of the value of parks and public spaces. 'Ultimately, this is not an attempt to circumvent local government,' Heywood says. 'It's an attempt to bring the hot breath of the citizen more closely to the relevant officials and to make them more responsive, but also foster partnership in local communities.'
Khaleej Times
08-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
NRIs in UAE: Is opening a grocery store in India a good idea?
Question: I have been working for a supermarket in the Gulf for the past seventeen years and I am planning to return to India to start my own outfit in the retail trade. I am worried about the competition from online platforms as well as from smaller retail stores. I need some information on the impact they are making on the retail trade in India. ANSWER: Initially, quick commerce platforms started off as a top-up service for last minute purchases of groceries and small ticket items. However, these platforms have emerged as the fastest growing sales channel, even in the space of premium portfolios. In the past, just one-third of shoppers in the metros resorted to online platforms for their daily shopping. At present, 87 per cent of shoppers use the quick commerce platforms as they provide convenience and instant delivery. This is despite the fact that these platforms offer discounts of just 6-9 per cent, whereas supermarkets give more attractive discounts of 13-18 per cent. According to market analysts, the quick commerce grocery market is likely to grow threefold by 2027 with an estimated turnover of Rs.1.7 trillion. Their reach is likely to extend to all towns with a population of half a million or more. It must also be mentioned that India has 13 million kirana stores which are able to hold their own despite the growth of quick commerce platforms. Leading FMCG companies are going out of their way to improve trade relationships with small retailers by supplying more premium products and offering them higher margins. These large multinational companies have reconfigured their supply chain and distribution infrastructure for promoting general trade and creating value offers with merchandising support. Question: Cyber attacks are becoming common these days. Is India geared up to meet this threat? ANSWER: All efforts are being made in India to meet the serious challenges posed by cyber threats. Generative AI is being used to help create stronger and swifter counter measures which will make the internet safer to use. While companies create tools to tackle cyber threats, it is equally important for users of the internet to take effective measures to identify malicious and fraudulent content. Unlike the physical world where people use their instincts to identify something which is dangerous, the online world does not have a parallel. State-sponsored cyber threats are also increasing as Governments possess capabilities which cannot be matched by private players. The Indian Government is taking all steps to provide cyber security as it has partnered with well-known international companies to build a strong workforce which is well trained and skilled. The recent increase in geopolitical tensions has made the Indian Government take strong and measured steps to counter this threat. Question: Creation of additional jobs and boosting exports are the two objectives of the Indian Government. Have these objectives been achieved while having a 6.4 per cent growth rate in GDP? ANSWER: An average growth rate of 6.4 per cent during the past three years has helped small and medium enterprises to effectively boost the industrial sector and push exports to a higher level than was anticipated. This export oriented growth spearheaded by the MSMEs has ensured that Indian industry has entered the global supply chain which has recently been weakened by geopolitical factors. This has been galvanised by the 14 production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes which so far have attracted investments of Rs.1.76 trillion and created more than 1.2 million jobs. The cumulative incentive amount under the PLI scheme disbursed so far stands at Rs.215.34 billion. The schemes cover large scale electronics manufacturing, IT hardware, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, telecom and networking products, food processing, speciality steel, automobiles and auto components, drones and drone components. The PLI scheme for food products has generated sales of Rs.3.8 trillion. Companies which are involved in food processing have given a boost to raw material procurement, benefiting under-developed and rural areas, while supporting farmers' income. Therefore, while the GDP growth rate has been sustained at an impressive rate of 6.4 per cent, the main benefit to the Indian economy has been in terms of higher growth in exports and creation of new jobs. The writer is is a practising lawyer, specializing in corporate and fiscal laws of India.
Entrepreneur
07-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Musician Badshah Launches 'Badboy Pizza'; Targets 50 Outlets & ₹150 Cr ARR in Three Years
The brand is being launched in strategic collaboration with Ghost Kitchens India, one of India's largest cloud kitchen-led F&B companies, operated by entrepreneur Karan Tanna. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Rapper, singer-songwriter, and entrepreneur Badshah (Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia) has entered the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry with the launch of 'Badboy Pizza', a mass-premium pizza QSR chain. The brand is being launched in strategic collaboration with Ghost Kitchens India, one of India's largest cloud kitchen-led F&B companies, operated by entrepreneur Karan Tanna. Ahead of the launch, the company also held a viral marketing campaign featuring Badshah in a heated dispute and being slapped by a pizza flooded the internet with an objective to leverage the brand's tagline, 'pizza that slaps'. The move garnered over 8 million views across social media platforms. Badboy Pizza is currently operating from a flagship boutique outlet in Andheri, Mumbai, with the brand targeting to scale to 50 outlets across India's top five metros over the course of the next three years, with the objective of achieving an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of INR 150 crores. The brand is designed as a hybrid format comprising dine-in outlets and cloud kitchens. The brand aims to deliver an elevated, premium pizza experience rooted in cultural relevance, authenticity, and accessibility. The brand said that the average per-person cost will be INR 400. Badshah's entrepreneurial portfolio includes a fashion label Badfit, a nightlife venue Dragonfly, fine dining restaurants in Sago, Sidera, Seville, media ventures - Pentertainment 0075, Aaho TV, Apra Films, After Hours, along with strategic investments in high-growth platforms such as Droom, Ultimate Kho Kho, and Crickpe. Badshah said, "Badboy Pizza is an extension of my personality - rooted, bold and real and this launch is special since I've always dreamt of having my own pizza chain! Drawing upon diverse culinary experiences from my travels over the years, my vision was to forge a brand that embodies international quality while resonating deeply with homegrown appeal. Partnering with Karan Tanna and Ghost Kitchens ensures we're building not just a brand, but a truly world-class and accessible culinary experience." Karan Tanna, CEO, Ghost Kitchens India, states, "Badboy Pizza is poised to be the most exciting QSR launch of the decade. The brand reimagines what scalable QSRs of the future will look like. Badshah's ability to shape trends and influence youth culture gives this brand an unmatched edge. Together, we're building the future of QSR experiences in India." India's QSR sector is on an upward trajectory, projected to rise from USD 85.19 billion in 2025 to USD 139.75 billion by 2030, a robust CAGR of 10.41 per cent, driven by urbanization, increased disposable incomes, and shifting consumption patterns. The pizza segment, in particular, is forecast to grow from USD 5.3 billion in 2024 to USD 11.8 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 9.24 per cent.
