The Food Processing sector continues to attract significant investment, with several projects from companies such as Bhuvaneshwari Foods and Beverages, Aban Beverages, and Geofast Consumer Products. These projects, located in Khurda, Baragarh, and Cuttack, will have a combined investment of Rs 1,542.04 crore and are expected to create over 1,358 jobs.

Despite the persistent inflation and sluggish demand, several leading FMCG and retail brands are doubling down on their premiumization strategies, reshaping their approach to appeal to discerning customers.

The Bhartia family and Goldman Sachs are joining forces for a significant deal. They are planning to acquire a large stake in HCCB, the bottling arm of Coca-Cola in India. Goldman Sachs will provide substantial financial backing for this venture. The deal involves a planned future listing of HCCB, allowing Goldman Sachs to exit strategically. This move mirrors PepsiCo's successful strategy with Varun Beverages.

“With customers seeking more personalized experiences, the outlet will provide a holistic experience that will assist them in making the right decisions,” said Saurabh Agarwal, managing director, Kamdhenu Paints.

Furnishka will use the new capital to advance product design and development, strengthen manufacturing and supply chain capabilities, and expand to new geographies. The company will also expand its product categories focused on premium living room, dining room and bedroom collections, open six large-format stores, and create educational content to guide customers.

The brand is expecting at least a 30 per cent increase in corporate gift sales during the festive season, with a growing number of corporate clients opting for bulk purchases.

Rentomojo reported a 60% rise in operating revenue to Rs 193 crore in FY24. Controlled rise in expenses during the year saw net profit surge more than threefold to Rs 22 crore last fiscal from Rs 6 crore in FY23.

Borosil plans to invest Rs 250 crore for expansion and capacity augmentation to meet the demand, in which it intends to invest about Rs 150 crore on a new plant in Gujarat for Borosil Ltd, which is in the business of products such as glassware and cookware, said Kheruka. Besides, at its Jaipur unit, where Borosil has already invested Rs 450 crore to expand the production capacity, it has plans to invest Rs 100 crore for debottlenecking to improve efficiency and increase capacity further.

Commenting on Q2 performance, Stove Kraft's managing director Rajendra Gandhi said, “With positive market momentum supporting us, we remain committed to driving volume and value growth in revenue and margins in the upcoming quarters." He further said that ​​the company's expansion of Pigeon outlets through the COCO and COFO model has been promising. During this quarter, the firm added 22 new stores, bringing our total to 213.

Eureka Forbes reported an 83.2% YoY rise in Q2 net profit to Rs 46.67 crore, with revenues up 27.6% to Rs 672.87 crore. Growth was driven by product innovation, increased marketing, and early festive season demand.

Jubilant Foodworks Ltd., the operator of Domino's Pizza and Dunkin' in India, reported a lower net profit of Rs 66.53 crore in the second quarter, compared to Rs 97.2 crore in the same period last year. Despite the profit dip, revenue rose to Rs 1,954.72 crore from Rs 1,368.63 crore, fueled by expansion and growth in the Indian market.

Cigarette maker Godfrey Phillips India Ltd on Monday reported a 23 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 248.31 crore in the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, fuelled by higher sales.

Britannia Industries' revenue from operations increased by 5.29 per cent to Rs 4,667.57 crore in Q2 FY25, up from Rs 4,432.88 crore during the second quarter of the financial year 2023-24. On the company's quarterly performance, Varun Berry, vice chairman and managing director, said, “A ~8% volume growth with a sequential increase in revenue and operating profits are satisfactory results in the face of severe commodity inflation leading to a tepid consumer demand scenario in most FMCG categories."

Indian consumers are increasingly choosing healthier snack options, driving the segment's rapid growth. Emerging brands offering smaller packs and health-focused snacks are experiencing significant success, particularly in metros and lower town classes. This health-conscious trend extends to durables like air fryers and fitness wearables, reflecting a nationwide shift towards healthier lifestyles.

Swiggy's IPO, set to be the largest tech offering since Paytm in 2019, is expected to unlock Rs 9,000 crore in employee stock ownership, creating hundreds of crorepatis among its 5,000 current and former employees.

Godrej Industries is set to acquire the food additives and emulsifier business of Savannah Surfactants Limited for Rs 76 crore. The deal will see Godrej Industries expand its product offerings to the Food & Beverages segment. Savannah Surfactants Ltd has a manufacturing capacity of 5,200 tonnes per annum of finished products.

Parag Milk Foods reported a 15.9% rise in consolidated net profit, reaching Rs 29.21 crore in the second quarter ending September 2024. This compares to Rs 25.19 crore during the same period the previous year. The company saw a 10% volume growth and a 9% value growth. Total revenue from operations increased by 9.2% to Rs 871.

Pernod Ricard India Pvt Ltd (PRI) has reported an overall 6.9 per cent increase in its revenue from operations for FY24, and its profit rose 20.9 per cent to Rs 1,620.58 crore, according to the Registrar of Companies data accessed by business intelligence platform Tofler.

Coca-Cola India's consolidated profit plummeted by 41.82% to Rs 420.29 crore in FY24, despite a 4.24% increase in revenue, reaching Rs 4,713.38 crore. The company's advertising and sales promotion expenses surged by 35.47% to Rs 1,520.21 crore, while royalties paid to its US parent company also rose.

Chinese appliance giant Haier Group has submitted a proposal to the Indian government to form a joint venture with India's JSW Group. The proposed venture represents a significant investment of Rs 1,000 crore and requires government approval due to Haier's Chinese origins. This move comes after JSW's recent joint venture with Chinese automaker SAIC Motor.

"During the quarter, the company maintained the growth momentum established in the first quarter. A strong performance across all major segments, supported by a robust order book, reflects increasing demand for its diverse product portfolio," said an earnings statement from Blue Star.

Infiniti Retail, that operates popular electronics retailer Croma, is preparing for a leadership transition. Shibashish Roy, the current Deputy CEO, will step into the role of CEO on November 18, 2024, succeeding Avijit Mitra. Mitra, who has been instrumental in Croma's growth.

Indian consumer electronics brand Elista plans to expand globally. The company aims to generate Rs 1,500 crore in revenue by 2026. Elista will expand its presence in over 35 countries in the next two years. The brand recently entered the Tanzanian market.

​​The Umbergaon, Valsad-based company said the issue comprises Rs 850 crore of offer for sale and Rs 350 crore of fresh issue, and will close on December 15. Its chief financial officer Rahul Shah told reporters here that the floor price is 75 times and the cap price is 79 times the face value of the equity shares.

At 11:06 a.m., the public issue was subscribed 1.09 times. The retail category was subscribed 4.08 times, while the NII portion garnered 1.18 times bids. There were no bids from qualified institutional buyers so far.

“We will first want to focus on growth in terms of top line and margins will take care of themselves. With a lot of operating efficiencies coming in, margin should take care of itself but we follow our mantra of “nothing at the cost of market and nothing at the cost of margin. So we will balance both together.”

“With this expansion, we are excited to connect with even more individuals and families, offering them a curated selection of products that inspire creativity and enrich everyday life," said Divyanshu Solanki, founder and CEO of the company.

India's Pidilite Industries , which makes Fevicol adhesives and Dr. Fixit waterproofing products, posted a 6.2% jump in fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday, driven by lower input costs.

​​Santosh Raveshia, Managing Director, DOMS Industries Limited said, "As we conclude FY24, we are pleased to report on a period marked by significant achievements and strategic initiatives that have reinforced our strong position in the stationery and art materials market. We continued seeing positive business traction resulting in robust sales growth coupled with further elevation of margins, reflecting upon the strength of the ‘DOMS’ Brand to connect with its consumers."

The term sheet indicates an indicative issue price of Rs 852 per share and a floor price of Rs 896 per share. Cello World’s stock closed at Rs 961 on July 3, indicating that the QIP is being launched at an 11% discount to the last closing price.

DOMS Industries Limited reported strong Q1 FY25 results, with a notable 17.3% increase in revenue and 49.5% growth in profit after tax compared to Q1 FY24. The firm saw improved EBITDA and margin performance. The company also announced plans to acquire a majority stake in Unilcan Healthcare to expand its market.

Pidilite Industries has invested Rs 5 crore in Wify, a home improvement and maintenance services platform. This pre-series A funding round was led by Capria and Mount Judi Ventures, with participation from Blume Ventures. The investment aims to boost Wify's growth by enhancing its tech stack, expanding services, and strengthening its market position.

DOMS Industries Limited witnessed a 42.8% surge in consolidated profit after tax, reaching Rs 53.7 crore in Q2 FY25. This growth was fueled by a 19.7% rise in revenue, driven by strong sales in writing instruments, adhesives, and kits. The acquisition of a 51.8% stake in Uniclan Healthcare further bolstered the company's performance.

Titan Company's consolidated profit after tax declined by 23.1 per cent in the second quarter of this fiscal. However, the company's consolidated income increased by 26 per cent during the same period. Its international jewellery business experienced a significant income growth of 62 per cent. Caratlane, a subsidiary of Titan, also reported a 28 per cent increase in total income.

The Temasek and SoftBank-backed company’s operating margins also grew significantly, with Lenskart clocking an Ebitda of Rs 856 crore in FY24, against Rs 403 crore in the previous fiscal. In an interview with ET in October, Lenskart’s founder and chief executive officer Peyush Bansal had said the company is making a $200-million investment in its new manufacturing facility in southern India.

Raymond Lifestyle witnessed a significant 69.72% drop in its consolidated net profit for Q2 FY'25, reaching Rs 42.18 crore. This decline is attributed to subdued demand and inflationary pressures. Despite this, the company remains optimistic about the future, citing recent positive trends in the festive and wedding season and plans for retail expansion and new product launches.

Pernia's Pop-Up Shop is raising funds for its initial public offering. The company plans to use the funds to expand its retail network and become debt-free. The retailer aims to open more stores in Mumbai and Delhi. Pernia's Pop-Up Shop sells designer wear from various brands. The company achieved significant revenue growth in the last financial year.

Trent reported a 46.9% increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 335.06 crore in the second quarter that ended September 30, 2024. Revenue from operations grew by 39.3% to Rs 4,156.67 crore. The company expanded its store footprint, with 800 large-format fashion stores across 184 cities. Also, it opened new stores for both Westside and Zudio brands during the second quarter of this fiscal.

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 214.70 crore in the September 2024 quarter due to higher depreciation and interest costs. Despite this, the company saw consistent growth driven by newer businesses and established brands. ABFRL recently announced the de-merger of its Madura business into a separate listed entity, ABLBL.

Driven by strong demand from the US and growth in the domestic market, India's home textile industry is poised for a 6-8% growth this fiscal year. Despite economic concerns in the EU, the industry's credit profiles are expected to remain stable, supported by healthy cash accrual and moderate capital expenditure plans.

Kalyan Jewellers saw a 3.3% dip in consolidated net profit, reaching Rs 130.32 crore in Q2 FY25, compared to the same period last year. Despite this, revenue from operations rose to Rs 6,065.4 crore, contrasting with Rs 4,414.53 crore in Q2 FY24. Ramesh Kalyanaraman, executive director of the company said, "We recorded SSSG in excess of 20 per cent for the Diwali minus 30 days period when compared to the base year. ​​We are upbeat about the ongoing wedding season across the country and hope to end the calendar year on a very strong note."​​​​

Secret Alchemist, a wellness startup focusing on aromatherapy, onboards actress Samantha Prabhu as co-founder after securing $500,000 in seed funding led by Inflection Point Ventures. The company, co-founded by Ankita Thadani and Akash Valia, plans to expand its product line and enhance brand reach with pure-grade essential oils for holistic wellness.

Beauté Secrets, a D2C beauty tools firm, has secured Rs 1.6 crore in debt from Velocity to expand its presence on quick commerce platforms and introduce new products. Founded in 2010, the company plans to enter major retail outlets and launch new beauty tools, leveraging its sustainable profits for growth and expecting a festive season boost.

Grooming products maker Gillette India Ltd on Monday reported a 43.5 per cent rise in profit to Rs 133.01 crore for the quarter ended September 2024, led by a broad-based growth. The company, which follows the July-June financial year, had reported a profit of Rs 92.69 crore in the corresponding quarter of the preceding year, according to a BSE filing from Gillette India.

The startup backed by cricketer KL Rahul will use the funds to enhance product innovation and expand its brand presence. The brand sells its products on ecommerce marketplaces, quick-commerce platforms and through its own D2C channel. It plans to open offline stores within the next 12 to 18 months.

Revenue from operations in the reporting period rose 24% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 1,875 crore. The company posted an EBITDA growth of 29% YoY to Rs 104 crore in the reporting quarter, while margins improved 18 bps to 5.5%.

FirstCry’s IPO size will be the same, as per the IPO papers. It intends to raise $218 million (about Rs 1,815 crore) in primary funding through issuance of new shares and divestment of 54 million shares from existing investors.

FirstCry's CEO Maheshwari saw a 49% compensation drop. The company plans an IPO, approaching SEBI. Employee benefits decreased, with a Rs 23,000 crore valuation and an expected IPO of $3.5-3.75 billion.