Latest news with #pan-India
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tuesday blues: Midweek IPL final stumps eateries and bars
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: Bars, cafes, clubs, and restaurant chains are rolling out promotions and deals to cash in on the Indian Premier League (IPL) final, but some said Tuesday's religious customs - when many North Indians abstain from alcohol and non-vegetarian food - could put a dent in sales."Being a Tuesday, we're expecting a 35-40% increase in sales," said Zorawar Kalra, managing director of Massive Restaurants, which operates Farzi cafe and Pa Pa Ya bistro and bar. "Had it been some other day, we would have hoped for a higher increase."Chief of a pan-India resto-bar said, "Not only is it a Tuesday, but also one of the finalist teams has a large North Indian fan base. While a weekend IPL final draws up to 100% increase in sales, we are hoping it's not too much of a dampener because of the Tuesday factor."Punjab Kings will play Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Tuesday's IPL final. Whoever wins will be lifting the trophy for the first at most chains remain confident that there would be a significant surge in dine-ins on Tuesday. "We are seeing encouraging advance bookings and are expecting Tuesday to be like a weekend, with a 35-40% increase in dine-in sales as opposed to a regular weekday," said Vikrant Batra, founder of Cafe Delhi Heights This is only the fourth IPL T20 tournament in 18 years when the final is not on a cricketing event was suspended for about a week midway on account of the India-Pakistan border tensions. The final was originally scheduled for May 25, a Sukhija, chief executive of First Fiddle Restaurants that operates Thanks & Beyond, Lord of the Drinks and Diablo among others, expects around 200% uptick in sales compared to a regular Tuesday, which is usually slow."Yes, there are people who abstain from non-vegetarian food on a Tuesday, but most people drink," he said. "And we are expecting big numbers considering it's the IPL final."Sukhija said his outlets are installing big screens in high-footfall zones such as Connaught Place and Aerocity in Sukhi, founder of The Bluebop Cafe in Mumbai, said she is anticipating a 30% surge in sales with a series of consumer commerce platforms, on their part, are running deals for traction from consumers watching the match from their homes or office late nights. Swiggy 's 10-minute food delivery app Snacc, for example, has sent out mailers to its subscribers for 'flash sales' on the match day.
News18
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Mani Ratnam Backs Deepika Padukone Over Spirit Exit: ‘Glad She's In A Position To Ask'
Last Updated: Mani Ratnam defends Deepika Padukone after her reported Spirit exit, calling her demands rightful and reasonable amid backlash over her work terms. Deepika Padukone's reported exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit has triggered massive online debate. Anonymous sources claimed that the actor made several 'unprofessional" demands, including working only eight hours a day, a fee of Rs 20 crore, a profit-sharing clause and allegedly declining to deliver dialogues in Telugu. Now, acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam has come forward in support of Deepika amid the backlash. Without mincing words, he addressed the criticism the actor has been facing over her demands. 'I think it is a rightful demand," Ratnam told us. 'I'm glad she's in a position to ask for it. I think as a filmmaker, you will take that into consideration when you cast. It is not an unreasonable thing to ask, but an absolute necessity. I think that should be the priority. You have to acknowledge that, understand it and work around it," the filmmaker added. Earlier, actor Ajay Devgn also weighed in on the controversy. When asked about the 8-hour shift requirement reportedly made by Deepika, he said, 'It's not that it's not going down well with people. Most of the honest filmmakers will not have problems with it. And apart from this, being a mother and working for eight hours, most people have started working eight-nine hours shifts." Deepika was signed opposite Prabhas in Spirit, marking her second Telugu-language pan-India film after Kalki 2898 AD. However, reports of her opting out of the film surfaced recently, with speculation suggesting that her terms were not met. The actor has not publicly commented on the development. Following the buzz, the makers announced that Triptii Dimri has been roped in to play the female lead opposite Prabhas. This reunites Triptii with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga after their successful collaboration on Animal. Soon after, Vanga appeared to address the situation indirectly on X (formerly Twitter). Without naming anyone, he expressed disappointment over a leaked script and questioned the motivations behind it. 'When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith. There is an unsaid NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) between us. But by doing this, you've 'DISCLOSED' the person that you are…. Putting down a younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for?" he wrote. First Published: June 02, 2025, 20:48 IST
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Vodafone Idea shares in focus after reporting ₹7,166 cr Q4 loss
Vodafone Idea shares are expected to be in the spotlight on Monday after the debt-laden telecom operator posted a consolidated net loss of ₹7,166.1 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 (Q4FY25). This marks a 6.6% improvement from the ₹7,674.59 crore loss reported in the same quarter last year. However, on a sequential basis, the loss widened from ₹6,609 crore reported in Q3FY25. The company's revenue from operations in Q4FY25 rose 3.8% year-on-year (YoY) to ₹11,013.5 crore, compared to ₹10,606.8 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Despite the marginal improvement in revenue, the telecom operator continues to face financial headwinds amid stiff industry competition and ongoing subscriber attrition . Vodafone Idea 's subscriber base continued to decline during the quarter, falling to 198.2 million in March from below the 200 million mark in December 2024. This drop marked the lowest level since the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular in 2019. The joint venture between the UK's Vodafone Group Plc and India's Aditya Birla Group was unable to curb churn even after initiating pan-India 5G rollouts in key markets such as Mumbai and Delhi. The company flagged concerns over the company's ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet its debt obligations and refinance liabilities. Despite the mounting financial pressure , Vodafone Idea has continued to invest in expanding its network infrastructure. The company added over 6,900 unique 4G towers during Q4FY25—the highest quarterly addition since the merger—and deployed approximately 14,500 new sites in the 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands to improve capacity and speed. As of March 31, 2025, Vodafone Idea's overall broadband site count stood at approximately 4.94 lakh, including 13,700 Massive MIMO sites and 14,900 small cells. The telco also increased its 4G population coverage from 77% in March 2024 to 83% in March 2025, with plans to raise it to 90% going forward. During the same period, 4G data capacity expanded by 31%, resulting in a 28% improvement in data speeds. Its 5G services, currently operational in Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Patna, are expected to be extended to 17 circles by August 2025. Vodafone Idea share price performance The stock has declined 52.57% over the past one year and is down 13.72% on a year-to-date (YTD) basis. Over the last six months, it has dropped 17.22%, while in the last three months, it has fallen 8.47%. On a one-month basis, the stock is down 2.81%. Vodafone Idea shares closed 3.22% lower at ₹6.92 on the BSE on Friday.
Business Upturn
a day ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Stocks to watch on June 2: Vodafone Idea, Nykaa, Apollo Hospitals, Bharti Airtel, M&M, IndiGo, Astral, Sun TV, Indian steel, cement in focus on brokerage views
A host of stocks will be on investor radar today as top brokerages released fresh reports post Q4 earnings and sector updates. Vodafone Idea: underperform / neutral / buy Advertisement Macquarie has an Underperform call on Vodafone Idea with a target of ₹6.5. The brokerage flagged a soft Q4, subscriber erosion and higher interest burden. It sees challenges in further equity infusion by the government. JP Morgan is Neutral with a target of ₹8, noting broadly in-line Q4 results but capex below estimates. The company is pursuing a ₹20,000 crore equity fundraise. UBS remains Buy with a target of ₹12.10, though noting Q4 miss and market share losses. It will monitor fundraising, capex, and 5G rollout. Nykaa (FSN Ecom): hold / sell / neutral HSBC downgraded to Hold with a target of ₹200, flagging limited clarity on fashion business break-even. Citi maintained Sell with a target of ₹160, citing weak fashion segment margins despite broad-based BPC growth. Nomura remains Neutral with a target of ₹216, positive on BPC and awaiting better margin trends in fashion. Apollo Hospitals: neutral / overweight / buy Nomura has a Neutral call with a target of ₹6,856, noting in-line revenues but PAT 19% above estimates. Morgan Stanley is Overweight, trimming target to ₹8,058, bullish on patient-centric model and new bed additions. Citi reiterated Buy with a target of ₹8,260, positive on core healthcare margins and pharmacy growth. Bharti Airtel: buy Jefferies reiterated Buy with a raised target of ₹2,370 (CMP: ₹1,859.70). It sees 30%+ rerating potential on subscriber premiumisation, falling capex intensity, and robust revenue CAGR of 14-17%. Mahindra & Mahindra: buy UBS reiterated Buy with a target of ₹3,700, projecting 15-18% SUV volume growth, positive exports outlook, and upcoming EV launches. IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation): buy Jefferies maintained Buy with a target of ₹6,300. It highlighted first-mover advantage at the Navi Mumbai International Airport and international expansion into Europe, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. Astral: hold Jefferies has a Hold call with a target of ₹1,565 (CMP: ₹1,500.10), flagging rich valuations after a 17% rally, with current PE 25% above long-term average. It expects 14-19% earnings CAGR. Sun TV: hold CLSA reiterated Hold with a target of ₹655. FY25 revenue missed estimates due to 4% YoY ad revenue decline. IPL revenue fell 3% YoY. CLSA cut estimates but expects 9% earnings CAGR through FY28. Colgate-Palmolive: overweight JP Morgan reiterated Overweight on Colgate with a target of ₹2,750. It expects back-ended revenue growth in FY26, with margins holding steady. The brokerage is positive on Colgate's category development, premiumisation, innovation, and sees enhanced distribution execution as a key driver. Cement sector: positive Nomura highlighted significant price hikes in South India, up ₹19/bag MoM, driving pan-India average price gains of ₹12/bag QoQ in Q1FY26. The firm remains constructive on earnings outlook. Indian steel sector: mixed Morgan Stanley said Indian steel is still 15% more expensive than imported steel. Imports have declined recently but may rise again. A rally in Indian steel stocks is driven by strong local demand, with positive signals from China reducing steel supply. Indian economy: positive but cautious Morgan Stanley also issued an update on India's macro outlook, noting 7.4% GDP growth and 6.8% GVA, both above expectations. Industrial activity is robust but growth could moderate due to weak global demand and policy risks. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Rice millers turn to Sivaji, Singam, Idhayakanni to build brand equity
Sivaji, Singam and Idhayakanni are not just the names of Tamil flicks, but the names of packaged (branded) rice retailing in Tamil Nadu. With a whole legion of consumers in the state making a steady transition to packaged rice, the unorganised rice sector is witnessing a churn, and the entry of new players. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Many of their brands are not only marketed within Tamil Nadu, but also across India, and even exported. The packaged rice market pan-India is valued at around $12 billion, with an annual volume surpassing 13 million tonnes. 'Tamil Nadu, with its rice-centric dietary patterns and strong modern trade presence, is estimated to contribute 10–15% to the national market. The shift to packaged rice was driven by the growing demand for consistency in quality, hygiene, and grain,' says N Chandramouli, CEO, TRA Research. Branded offerings of rice variants such as Ponni, Sona, Bapatla, and ADT idli rice are among the most consumed varieties in TN, with a preference for packages of 5kg, 10kg and 25kg bags. It's why rice millers are considering a gradual phase-out of packaging in traditional 75 kg bags. But this is easier said than done. Take the case of the rice bowl of Arani in Tiruvannamalai district, which is home to about 1,000 brands, Barely a few among these 'labels' are registered brands. 'Initially, the rice mill owners entered the market with labelled offerings, to establish brand identity, selling packaged rice free of dust, adulterants and half rice. Later, they evolved into brands, wherein mill owners began focusing on quality to gain a larger market share,' says A Babu, president of Arani All Rice Traders Welfare Association. About 100 rice mills are spread across Arani, with each mill producing multiple brands. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Apart from Tamil Nadu, paddy is also sourced from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for processing. On average, during a good harvest season, rice mills in Arani roll out 15,000 tonnes per day. 'Due to the demand for packaged rice in the state, rice manufacturers from neighbouring states have entered the TN market with their own brands. They pose a huge challenge for us,' says Babu, who is also the MD of Quality Foods which sells two brands. Madurai and Kangayam in Tirupur district are other major rice mill hubs in TN. Interestingly, the region of Manachanallur in Trichy district had gotten a head start in the packaged rice business from the pre-Independence era itself. Presently, rice mills in the area process and market an average of 2.3 lakh tonnes of rice per annum for other major players in the state. But the region barely has five proprietary brands. Constraints in procurement policies till the year 2000 had an adverse impact on growth in rice brands in their region. 'When we attempted to revive the packaging model two decades ago, other localities had already blazed past us. Looking at the potential, we are keen on launching our own packaged rice variants,' says M Sivanandan, president, Manachanallur Taluk Rice Mill Owners, who also serves as managing partner of Sri Mayilvahanan Agro Foods that makes Green Star atchaya ponni rice and Adukku Malli idli rice. The growing popularity of packaged rice highlights an opportunity to make agriculture more inclusive and advantageous for farmers. 'Farmers with small land holdings must be incentivized to cultivate unique, native rice varieties. Farmer groups must be made aware of digital marketing and selling their produce to e-tailers,' says S Chandramohan, director and group president finance, TAFE. Chandramouli believes that this is necessary considering how leading FMCG companies are making inroads into the packaged rice segment. 'Their portfolios increasingly include region-specific varieties such as Ponni and Seeraga Samba,' he says.
