Take the opportunity to see how the city used to be.

Autin Dance Theatre presents Light Up Fest.

Eleven days of unique events discovering the city's history.

Hire bikes now available throughout the city centre.

UK’s second longest-running comedy festival returns to the second city.

Tom Towelling is the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2024 winner.

Group aims to provide help for Muslims throughout Europe.

Sacred Funk Quartet announce debut album with live premiere in Birmingham.

Across the board, gifting companies recognize the impact of quick commerce on consumers’ habits, particularly for last-minute, spontaneous needs. However, they note that quick commerce platforms struggle to meet the demand for customized or personalized gifting.

China's Xiaomi had complained to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) that the report - which found Flipkart, some of its sellers, and smartphone players in violation of competition laws - contained commercial secrets that should have been redacted, Reuters reported in September.

"The government has come up with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an open network for digital commerce that is helping even the bigger e-commerce businesses," said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The new funding will support Wheelocity’s plans to expand operations across 20,000 towns and villages in southern India over the next year, aiming to reach a user base of 10 million.

Noel Tata, newly appointed chairman of Tata Trusts, has joined the board of Tata Sons as a nominee director. This marks the first time since 2011 that a Tata family member holds positions on both boards concurrently. Tata Trusts, with its 66% stake, is the largest shareholder in Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group.

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 fund will back startups in the early stage and pick stakes in pre-IPO companies through secondary transactions. It will focus on sectors such as climate and sustainability, fintech and consumer businesses.

Inter IKEA reported a 5.3% drop in annual sales, partly due to price cuts with lower raw material costs. As inflation impacts spending, more people are expected to host at home this holiday season. More price reductions are planned for 2025 by Inter IKEA starting from September 1st.

Asian Paints faced a challenging second quarter with muted demand due to uneven rainfall and a slowdown in metro cities. Despite price hikes, competitive intensity remains high. The company is cautiously optimistic about single-digit volume growth in the coming quarter while closely observing AkzoNobel's strategic review of its India business.

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.

An investigation by India's antitrust body found food delivery giants Zomato and SoftBank-backed Swiggy breached competition laws, with their business practices favouring select restaurants listed on their platforms, documents showed.

Colgate-Palmolive India is experiencing growth in the expanding oral care market. The company reported a 10% rise in revenue. However, it recognizes market difficulties like fluctuating demand and rising costs. Colgate remains dedicated to improving oral health awareness in India. It aims to achieve this through education and product innovation. The company is focused on sustainability and social responsibility initiatives.

Bengaluru-based startup Swish, recently raised USD 2 million to scale its 10-minute food delivery operations. "We have raised $2M from Accel plus some angel investors," Aniket Shah, founder, Swish confirmed to ETRetail. Shah founded Swish in August 2024, alongside Ujjwal Sukheja, and Saran S.

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.

Food delivery giant Swiggy debuted on the stock market with a premium over its IPO price, despite ongoing financial losses. Analysts expressed caution, citing market volatility and the company's negative earnings, while acknowledging its revenue growth. Swiggy plans to use the IPO proceeds for investments in subsidiaries, technology, and marketing.

Xiaomi India President Muralikrishnan B has resigned to pursue a doctorate, marking the end of his tenure during a period of recovery for the leading smartphone company. Muralikrishnan, who joined in 2018, will transition into a six-month gardening leave. His departure follows strategic executive appointments aimed at boosting offline sales and premium market presence.

Sony India, experiencing substantial growth in its gaming sector due to the PlayStation 5's success, is now eyeing India as a key market. Despite anticipating moderated growth this fiscal year, the company remains committed to expanding its gaming presence, including software and peripherals. Sony India last week filed its annual returns to report over 50.1 per cent growth from its 'other business' segment at Rs 1,363.54 crore, which houses its gaming and B2B business.

Industry executives said the latest generation chipsets, set to power high-end Android handsets, are already around 20% more expensive than their predecessors due to a more complex circuitry and advanced manufacturing process. High demand for premium handsets is also contributing to improving the product mix of chipset makers towards more high-end chipsets.

“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.

Shree Vallabh Metals in October 2023 had secured an injunction from Delhi HC against the use of the MAX FRESH trademark by Cello Plastic Industrial Works.

Indian travelers are increasingly splurging on luxury goods while abroad, with spending in this category skyrocketing by 250% in recent years. Travel companies and luxury brands are responding by incorporating premium shopping experiences into their itineraries and offering exclusive perks to attract Indian shoppers.

Page Industries, the company that holds the license for Jockey and Speedo in India, saw its profit increase by 30% in the second quarter. The company's profit reached 1.95 billion rupees. This growth was driven by higher sales of premium athleisure wear. Despite a general slowdown in consumer spending, demand for these products remained strong.

Richemont, the owner of Cartier, fell short of profit projections for the first half of the year and expressed caution regarding China's recovery, causing a decline in European luxury stocks. The company's sales were impacted by a downturn in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in China, where consumer confidence remains low.

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.

Claypond Capital, Manipal Group chairman Ranjan Pai’s family office, also participated in funding for the health and wellness startup, formerly known as Healthifyme. To date, the company has raised $125 million in primary equity.

Indian fragrance and flavour company Sacheerome aims to achieve 30-40 per cent annual growth in the Middle East market. The company plans to make Dubai its second home and establish an R&D center in the city. With significant growth potential in the MEA sector, Sacheerome also targets expansion in Asia-Pacific, focusing on Malaysia.

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay a $700 million settlement to resolve a probe by 42 US states and Washington, DC. The inquiry examined the marketing of their baby powder and other talc-based products, which have faced allegations of causing cancer. The settlement addresses claims that Johnson & Johnson deceived consumers about the safety of its talc products.

Tuco Intelligent, a kids' personal care brand, has secured $2 million in seed funding led by Fireside Ventures and Whiteboard Capital. Founded by ex-Unilever executive Aishvarya Murali, Tuco offers natural and sustainable products for children. The brand emphasizes eco-friendly packaging using reclaimed ocean and landfill plastic.