Darjeeling tea has been facing nature's wrath for quite some time now. In 2022, Darjeeling tea production was 6.93 million kg. In 2023, it dwindled to 6.18 million kg. Violent agitations in the hills in 2017 and recent resurgence in the demand for Gorkhaland ahead of the ongoing elections, too, have impacted the gardens and their profitability in a big way even as demand is growing within the country, industry insiders said.
Laptop and desktop sales in India have grown by 2.6% in Q1 2024, driven by large government procurements and improved consumer sales, according to a report by International Data Corporation. The PC market recorded 3.07 million shipments in January-March, up from 2.99 million in the previous year. The growth was mainly due to 56.9% growth in the government segment, while enterprise orders continued to decline.
Colgate Palmolive India aims to improve oral hygiene practices in India, where many do not brush regularly. With just a fifth brushing twice daily in cities and over half not brushing daily in villages, the company sees a mission in boosting oral care awareness. Despite the challenges, the company grew 10.6% in the last quarter. It emphasizes premium products for higher margins and aims to reclaim market share in premium segments. Plans include diversifying beyond oral care into personal care products.
Within the upcoming two months, the government is set to unveil a mobile application aimed at notifying consumers about deceptive techniques, commonly referred to as dark patterns, employed by online platforms. This initiative, disclosed by a senior official from the department of consumer affairs, forms a crucial component of the department's agenda within the initial 100 days following the formation of the forthcoming government.
The Bain and Temasek combination submitted a non-binding offer late last week valuing India’s largest snack and convenience foods company at $8-8.5 billion (Rs 66,400-70,500 crore), after initially engaging with the founding family of the 87-year old brand separately, said people aware of the matter.
Pee Safe introduces PeePal, an AI-driven chatbot, to enhance personal hygiene shopping and educate consumers. With the global conversational AI market projected to reach $14 billion by 2025, PeePal aims to personalize the shopping experience and empower users with hygiene knowledge. The initiative reflects Pee Safe's evolution from a single product to a comprehensive personal hygiene brand, addressing diverse consumer needs.
Quick commerce drove overall ecommerce for these companies as well as the broader fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, executives said.
India lifted export ban on onions, impacting domestic and international markets. Exporters face limited demand with Indian onions more expensive than Pakistani onions due to $550 per tonne minimum export price. Overseas buyers stocked Pakistani onions, leading to a crash in prices.
Speaking to ET, managing director Samir K Modi said Colorbar will touch Rs 1,000-crore revenue next fiscal and expand in international markets. The company currently owns and operates Colorbar, 24Seven, and Modicare brands.
De Beers Group's lab-grown diamond jewellery brand, Lightbox Jewelry, has announced a price reduction to $500 per carat for its Standard range of lab-grown diamonds. The move follows months of research and testing. The brand now offers three linear price points: $500 per carat for IJ colour stones, $600 per carat for GH colour stones, and $900 per carat for the highest quality DEF colour stones. All stones have a guaranteed minimum'very good' cut and VS clarity, with DEF stones featuring 'excellent' cut.
With sales now picking up in the North, the shortage is expected to get worse. As per executives, the industry is going to face a notional sales loss of around 400,000-500,000 units, or Rs 1,200-1,500 crore of potential business.
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