Agrimax Foods Launches Bake&Co.

Marico Limited, the parent company of Saffola Oats has introduced a campaign for its flavored oats selection.

This campaign features four distinct advertisement narratives portraying various snacking experienced by a diverse range of consumers.

The aim of the campaign is to demonstrate how Saffola Masala Oats provides a nutritious and delicious snacking option with its wide array of flavors, catering to any snacking occasion throughout the day.

”We understand the dynamic needs of today's consumers and aim to offer a delightful and tasty alternative for every moment, from the crack of dawn to late-night hunger pangs. We aspire to be a part of our consumers' everyday moments, making Saffola Masala Oats a companion for every palate and every time.’’ said Vaibhav Bhanchawat, Chief Operating Officer- India & Foods Business, Marico Limited.

Saffola Masala Oats has introduced four new gourmet flavors to complement various occasions.

These additions feature sweet options like Nutty Chocolate and Apple N' Almonds, as well as expanded choices in savory oats with the introduction of Spicy Mexicana and Cheesy Italiaa variants.

“Every brand needs a rallying cry, and ‘Dil ko na kar mana’ is Saffola Masala Oats telling foodies everywhere that they’re in good hands. Our campaign of digital-first 20 seconders shows how the dilemma meets its delicious end with the new range of Saffola Masala Oats,” said Ram Cobain, Chief Creative Officer, Mullen Lintas.

The comprehensive campaign will debut on television, YouTube, and various OTT platforms, with additional promotion planned across social media channels for enhanced visibility.

Jimmy's, is the leading Cocktail Mixer brand in India, is set to add sparkle with their latest lineup of Martini Cocktail mixers: Green Apple, Popstar, and an Espresso Martini.

Blend these wonders with Jimmy’s renowned Espresso Martini for the ultimate Martini journey. Handcrafted at the Jimmy's Cocktail Labs, the Espresso Martini epitomizes India's growing affection for both coffee and cocktails.

Popstar Martini is the refined Green Apple Martini, or the richness of the Espresso Martini, Jimmy's offers options to suit every palate.

These Martini mixers is characterized by their rich flavours which are paired with either Vodka or Gin, ensuring a premium drinking experience.

Jimmy's Cocktails continuously try to introduce innovative developments that bring the realm of creative cocktails straight to your kitchen, requiring mere seconds for preparation.

Kikkoman is launching a dark soy sauce crafted exclusively for the Indian market.

Kikkoman from Japan invested four years in developing a natural dark soy sauce. This new variant, different from its globally renowned naturally brewed Kikkoman Soy Sauce, was crafted in response to the preference among many Indians for Chinese and Pan-Asian dishes to exhibit a visually appealing rich, dark color.

Kikkoman's renowned classic soy sauce is known for its natural brewing process, comprising only four ingredients that are soybeans, wheat, salt, and water which results in its distinctive clear reddish-brown hue.

In creating a dark soy sauce tailored for the Indian market, Kikkoman aimed to deliver a comparably natural product, free from the chemicals and artificial seasonings commonly employed by other dark soy sauce producers to enhance color.

“We set out to create a dark soy sauce that goes beyond superficial colour enhancements; It was a huge challenge to develop a natural product without added colouring or flavouring agents which is why it took four years of relentless effort and innovation. We are proud to present Kikkoman Dark Soy Sauce, a culmination of our rich brewing history and cutting-edge proprietary technology," said Shohei Yokobari, Product Manager for Kikkoman Dark Soy Sauce.

“The flavour profile is complex and deep and if I do a blind tasting, I can easily distinguish a dish made with Kikkoman Dark Soy Sauce and one made with other soy sauces,” said Chef Vikas Seth, culinary director at Embassy Leisure, Bengaluru.

Chef Vishal Kharel, the Culinary Director at the Berco's chain in Delhi NCR with 46 outlets, intends to universally adopt Kikkoman Dark Soy Sauce due to its exceptional taste. Describing it as having an "amazing taste," Kharel emphasizes its superior flavor profile and natural color, which he deems a perfect combination.

This product utilizes Kikkoman Honjozo Soy Sauce from Japan as its primary component, aligning with the "Make In India" initiative.

The product is tailored specifically for the Indian market, Kikkoman Dark Soy Sauce is aptly produced in India, aligning with the government's Make in India campaign.

This aspect serves as an additional appeal for chefs who prioritize the use of locally sourced ingredients.

CLEAR Premium Water declares its acquisition of a majority share in KELZAI Volcanic Water, renowned for its unique natural mineral water derived from volcanic springs.

This acquisition signifies a significant achievement for CLEAR Premium Water as it sets its direction to broaden its range of products and lead innovation within the bottled water sector.

“Our association with KELZAI Volcanic Water underscores our dedication to meeting the increasing demand for natural mineral water. With the strategic plant location, we aim to reach a broader audience, leveraging Clear's expertise, extensive network, and KELZAI’s established brand identity. This alliance is set to transform KELZAI’s market presence, ensuring remarkable growth and establishing dominance in the luxury water segment. This partnership enhances our natural mineral water offerings, positioning us to deliver exceptional value and impeccable service to our customers.” said Nayan Shah, the visionary Founder & CEO of CLEAR Premium Water.

The rise of upscale dining and the emergence of unique culinary adventures have increased the desire for natural mineral water.

KELZAI is ready to enhance the dining experience in these exclusive venues while catering to a wider luxury clientele across cafes, restaurants, institutions, multiplexes, hotels, and similar settings.

As per the acquisition agreement, CLEAR Premium Water's parent company, Energy Beverages Private Limited, will exclusively handle the distribution and marketing of KELZAI Volcanic Water.

Leveraging its strong network and nationwide reach across India, this partnership emphasizes a joint commitment to providing top-tier natural mineral water.

It pledges outstanding service and aims to boost market presence for both CLEAR Premium Water and KELZAI Volcanic Water.

The collaboration between CLEAR Premium Water and KELZAI Volcanic Water marks a significant shift in the industry, offering a powerful blend of skill, creativity, and steadfast dedication to sustainability and excellence.

This partnership aims to enthrall the market and strengthen CLEAR Premium Water's standing as a leading force in the bottled water sector.

KELZAI Volcanic Water can be found in environmentally friendly PET bottles of 200ml, 500ml, and 1 liter sizes, as well as in glass bottles of 300ml, 500ml, and 750ml (available in Still & Sparkling varieties).

Clear Premium Water has made a declaration regarding the introduction of its natural mineral water brand 'NUbyClear' in the Indian market.

NU consists of a selection of natural mineral water sourced directly from the origin.

It contains beneficial natural mineral components like calcium, bicarbonate, magnesium, fluorides, sodium, chlorides, potassium, nitrates, and maintains an alkalinity level of approximately 7.70.

NU is set to bring satisfaction to customer base, including high-end dining venues, luxurious hotels, stylish cafes, renowned eateries, exclusive clubs, airports, and various locations throughout Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh.

The brand is planning to extend its presence nationwide in the near future.

This premium offering does come with a higher cost compared to other bottled mineral water choices available in India.

“In the wake of the post-COVID era, it has become evident that people are increasingly gravitating towards healthier lifestyle choices. Simultaneously, there has been a notable surge in spending within this particular sector. Recognizing this burgeoning trend, we seized the opportunity to introduce NU as a distinct product line tailored to the discerning tastes of the elite consumer segment.” said, Nayan Shah, Founder & CEO, the driving force behind Clear Premium Water.  

Since its inception in 2010, CLEAR has been a leader in delivering top-notch drinking water to customers throughout India.

The brand has established an excellent standing by strictly adhering to the most rigorous international safety, cleanliness, and quality criteria.

Every single drop of CLEAR water goes through an extensive 11-stage purification procedure and is subjected to 121 quality assessments, guaranteeing that consumers receive only the finest quality.

Clear Premium Water has set sustainability targets with aspirations to achieve plastic neutrality by 2027, attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, and reach water positivity by 2030.

These objectives highlight CLEAR's unwavering commitment to both quality and environmental responsibility.

Bottle is accessible in multiple sizes, including 250ML, 500ML, and 1LTR.

General Mills India, a subsidiary of the Fortune 500 packaged food company General Mills Inc., has reached a noteworthy milestone by holding a groundbreaking ceremony for its upcoming plant in Maharashtra.

This event signifies General Mills' growing presence in India and underscores the expansion plan.

The new facility will be a central hub for producing Pillsbury Baking Mixes tailored for the Indian market and is projected to start operations by August 2024.

General Mills is establishing its second manufacturing site for Pillsbury Baking Mixes in India, earmarking an investment of around INR 100 crore to construct this advanced facility.

The new plant will be equipped with cutting-edge technology and infrastructure. This expansion will result in a twofold increase in General Mills India's manufacturing capacity, allowing the company to satisfy the surging demand for its Pillsbury bakery offerings in India.

“The bakery industry in India is witnessing remarkable growth, Pillsbury’s bakery solutions empower bakers with consistent quality in every cake batch and enhances efficiency in the back-of-house operations of bakery businesses. The new facility will mark Pillsbury’s commitment to serving more bakers in India and supporting their business growth.”said, Anand Khurana, country director for General Mills India.

The Pillsbury brand is highly regarded in the Baking Mixes sector and is well-prepared to cater to the expanding bakery and food service sector in India.

Since its introduction to the Indian market in 1999, Pillsbury has emerged as the dominant player in Cake and Dessert Mixes among professional bakers.

‘’India is among General Mills’ priority markets worldwide’’said. “In recent years, our business in India has consistently accelerated growth and the new manufacturing plant reinforces our dedication to growing in India by delighting more consumers and catering to evolving consumer needs.’’said, Balki Radhakrishnan, Vice President and managing director of Global Emerging Markets at General Mills.

The upcoming Nashik plant is strategically positioned to solidify Pillsbury's reputation as the preferred brand for bakers across the country, effectively catering to their changing requirements.

India plays a crucial role in General Mills' worldwide expansion strategy. The choice to enhance production capacity through the new facility underscores General Mills' dedication to fostering the growth and prosperity of the baking industry.

Choko La, by Vasudha Munjal Dinodia is now venturing into the upscale FMCG sector by introducing the Choko La Chocolate Drink, conveniently packaged in a 200 ml can.

Retailing at INR 175/-, the Chocolate Drink occupies a  market stance, as Choko La endeavors to captivate customers with value and festive combinations, accessible through their online platform and various marketplaces.

In addition to Choko La outlets, their official website, and current retail establishments across Northern India, the product will make its nationwide debut through contemporary retail and trade collaborators like Spencer's, Modern Bazaar, and Le Marche, along with brand-associated marketplaces such as Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, and more.

This convenient 'on the go' drink packs a protein content equivalent to 7.2 grams, positioning it as a more nourishing option among chocolate beverages.

This chocolate drink offers the flexibility of being enjoyed both hot and cold. Its ability to be stored at room temperature provides the convenience of stocking larger quantities for consumers and retailers alike.

Choko La has set its sights on launching the product through all duty-free operators. This initiative is currently in the testing phase and is poised to be accessible at international terminals across India. Choko La boasts a presence in approximately thirteen major international terminals and is gearing up to make its mark in the global arena, targeting markets such as the US, UK, Canada, and South Asia, by the initial quarter of the fiscal year 2025.

Presently, the brand operates four primary flagship outlets, namely, Select City Walk, Khan Market, DLF Promenade, and Galleria Market.

Additionally, it maintains a presence at airport establishments, including IGI Terminal 3D, Terminal 1D, and Terminal 3.

Tulua, a brand famous for its assortment of convenient ready-to-eat pastes, has introduced its freshest innovation: a collection of fragrant and pure spices.

This new selection from Tulua demonstrates the brand's dedication to delivering transparent goods and its aspiration to showcase local culinary traditions and elements.

Tulua has meticulously curated a diverse assortment of spices, each promising to enhance homemade dishes to unprecedented levels of taste.

Brand’s product range starts from the Coriander Powder to the Lakadong Turmeric Powder, the Guntur Chilli Powder to the Kashmiri Chilli Powder, the Mustard Seed to the Cumin Seed, the Bay Leaf to the intense Whole Kashmiri Chilli - every element has been selected to accentuate the flavors across a wide array of recipes.

"We are thrilled to introduce our new line of spices to the market. We believe that food should be an adventure, and our spices are the perfect way to explore new flavors and create delicious meals at home. With our commitment to quality and authenticity, we're confident that our customers will love our new spice range." said,  Richy Dave, Founder.

Remarkably, five out of the eight spices are currently certified organic, and the brand aims to achieve organic certification for the remaining items within the next three months.

Tulua's renown for excellence extends beyond its culinary expertise. Prominent hotel chains like Marriot Group, Taj Group, and Ramada, along with numerous eateries and coffeehouses in Mumbai, eagerly seek out its exceptional spice blends.

CYK Hospitalities has inaugurated an R&D kitchen in UdyogVihar, Gurugram aiming to enhance the culinary experience for aspiring F&B entrepreneurs and individuals seeking guidance in the industry.

The newly established R&D kitchen by CYK Hospitalities in Gurugram provides a cutting-edge facility for current and potential clients to explore, fine-tune, and actualize their culinary ideas.

The primary objective of the kitchen is to foster a community where individuals with diverse culinary backgrounds can come together, interact, and share their ideas.

“Our vision is to foster a vibrant community where individuals come together to engage in cutting-edge research and development within the culinary world. We aim to provide a platform for people to collaborate, exchange ideas, and collectively push the boundaries of culinary innovation.” said, Simranjeet Singh, Director, CYK Hospitalities.

The kitchen boasts a team of five skilled chefs proficient in various segments of the hospitality industry and a wide range of cuisines such as Indian, Continental, PAN Asian, Desserts, Bakery, and global fare.

Additionally, the kitchen houses specialized chefs dedicated to FMCG products. Moreover, it serves as a platform for aspiring culinary talents to unleash their creativity and venture into unconventional culinary creations.

The kitchen will curate an innovative menu centered around millets, while also exploring diverse culinary cuisines.

The R&D kitchen will introduce creative dishes like Rainbow Millet Salad, KuttuRagiPuri, Samakki Kheer, and other such offerings to showcase their culinary ingenuity.

Spanning across a rooftop space of 600 square feet, the kitchen is strategically situated to ensure adequate ventilation. Furthermore, it is outfitted with state-of-the-art technology that prioritizes essential operational needs.

Tilaknagar Industries Limited (TI), an Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) producer, made an important announcement regarding their wholly-owned subsidiary, Prag Distillery Pvt. Ltd. (Prag Distillery), has successfully exited the liquidation process, thanks to an order from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

This order has also authorized the reinstatement of Prag Distillery's Board of Directors, who will now resume the management of operations.

Prag Distillery is situated in Andhra Pradesh and has a bottling capacity of approximately 6 lakhs cases per annum.

Tilaknagar Industries Ltd, renowned for producing the well-known Mansion House brand, had previously reached an agreement with Standard Chartered Bank, the financial creditor of Prag Distillery, to resolve all outstanding debts of the subsidiary.

Pursuant to the agreement, Tilaknagar Industries made a payment of USD 2,250,000 to Standard Chartered Bank on behalf of Prag Distillery.

Tilaknagar Industries further entered into a settlement agreement with DCB Bank Ltd., the sole remaining financial creditor of Prag Distillery, and cleared their outstanding debts completely.

Moreover, Tilaknagar Industries paid approximately Rs 14 crore to settle the claims of all operational creditors of Prag Distillery, even though only three of them had formally submitted their claims to the Liquidator.

Additionally, Tilaknagar Industries resolved all outstanding dues owed to the employees of Prag Distillery, ensuring continued employment for around 100 individuals.

As part of the settlement process, Standard Chartered Bank, with unanimous approval from stakeholders, approached the liquidator to withdraw the application filed against Prag Distillery.

Subsequently, the liquidator filed an application with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to officially withdraw Prag Distillery from the liquidation proceedings.

Exercising its discretionary authority, the NCLT issued an order declaring the conclusion of liquidation for Prag Distillery Pvt Ltd and enabling the reinstatement of the company's Board of Directors.

Quorum Club Private Limited is introducing district150, an innovative venture that combines the power of hospitality with a state-of-the-art meetings and events hub.

district150 aims to transform the traditional office environment into a lifestyle-centric amenity. It will revolutionize the concept of office spaces, bridging the gap between hotels and the future of work.

Scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2023, district150's inaugural project is a result of a partnership between Quorum Club Private Limited and Devbhumi Realtors Pvt. Ltd., which is owned by the Sattva Group and Blackstone India Real Estate.

district150 is crafted to transition into a vibrant cultural and social center beyond regular working hours.

The essence of the brand lies in its experiential approach, offering a diverse range of activities such as live music performances, lifestyle pop-ups, engaging workshops, and captivating events encompassing art, food and beverage, theatre, and various other domains.

 “district150 has been conceptualised to encourage a reset in the way we work and engage. There is now a higher emphasis on amenity rich, experiential offerings in commercial buildings. district150’s idea and overall design is built around catalysing the power of networks.” said, Vivek Narain, Founder & CEO, district150.

In Hyderabad, district150 will serve as a hub for meetings and events, Its versatile facilities are designed to provide a global headquarters-like atmosphere.

“We are thrilled to embark on this partnership with district150, as we eagerly anticipate the remarkable opportunities and positive impact it will bring to Knowledge City and the city of Hyderabad as a whole. Not only will it serve as a great amenity with high quality meeting spaces and events infrastructure, but also add to the social and cultural infrastructure of the city.” said, Adrija Agarwal at Sattva Group.

district150 boasts a diverse food and beverage program that caters to events and large gatherings.

Additionally, it will feature a progressive Indian restaurant named Zila, offering a modern twist on Indian cuisine.

Zila aims to create a delightful dining experience by combining comfort food.

Among its notable collaborations, district150 has partnered with SUBKO, a trailblazing brand known for specialty coffee, craft bakehouse, and now craft chocolate.

At district150, visitors can indulge in an extensive specialty coffee experience, showcasing freshly roasted and expertly brewed coffee sourced from partner farms across the subcontinent.

Additionally, district150 will offer the unique "Pod to Bar" experience, a dedicated Bean to Bar Chocolate cellar celebrating Indian cacao farmers.

Plant based meat brand, GoodDot has recently launched "Pro Chaap," a substitute for traditional chaaps.

This product, known as the 'Zero Maida Soya Chaap,' marks a significant advancement in the food industry.

With its nutritional composition, flavor, texture, adaptability, and convenience, this protein-rich is poised to change the protein consumption habits.

Soya chaap has gained immense popularity in northern regions of the country and is now expanding its reach nationwide.

While many available soya chaaps contain a significant amount of maida (refined flour), Pro Chaap stands out as a zero maida and zero cholesterol product, enriched with dietary fibre.

From tikkas and fillings to curries, keemas, biryanis, and even beloved Chinese Chilli dishes and Asian-style stir-fries, Pro Chaap offers endless possibilities with just one product.

With an impressive protein content of 64%, Pro Chaap provides an alternative to both paneer and chicken, making it suitable for positioning as either Chaap or plant-based meat.

Additionally, its extended one-year shelf life and ambient stability make it a convenient choice for people in the food service industry.

It is priced around 30-50% lower than chicken or paneer, Pro Chaap introduces a new protein source for chefs and food service providers, enabling them to offer fresh and innovative choices to their customers while reducing food costs.

This product combines a delightful fusion of protein and nutrient-rich ingredients, elevating vegetarian and plant-based dishes to different levels.

"The plant-based meat and alt-protein industry is at an inflection point, and it is poised for explosive growth. With the advent of Pro Chaap our team has met all the vital benchmarks of taste, price, and nutrition. Now consumers can enjoy tasty and high-quality plant-based proteins at a price of almost 40-50% lower than chicken and paneer.” said, Abhishek Sinha, Co-Founder & CEO, GoodDot.

Pro Chaap is gaining traction in luxury hotels such as Marriott, Novotel, Radisson, Raffles, and others, as well as popular restaurants like Global Grill, Bodhi Tree, and Grillophilia.

Additionally, leading Dhaabas across West and North India have also embraced the product, further solidifying its market presence.

GoodDot remains at the forefront of the plant-based meat sector,  offers an inventive and eco-conscious substitutes for conventional animal-derived products.

By introducing Pro Chaap, GoodDot is commited to transform the food industry by providing cost-effective and highly adaptable choices for food service providers at every stage of the value chain.

Salud, the renowned urban lifestyle brand, introduces the Salud Cusp London Dry Gin, an exclusive small-batch craft gin. Created in the UK with inspiration from India, this limited-edition collection consists of 600 bottles, providing a premium drinking experience.

Gin is crafted with a blend of the world's finest botanicals; the Salud Cusp London Dry Gin offers a harmonious combination of flavors.

The pine-like essence of juniper merges  with the coriander, while hints of orange peel and hibiscus contribute to its distinctive taste. Complementing the experience, the scent-enhancing orris root adds depth, while the gentle balance of sweet liquorice root and earthy almond completes the blend.

Each bottle of Salud Cusp London Dry Gin showcases an elegant design, reflecting the renowned sophistication and craftsmanship associated with Salud.

The design of the Cusp packaging effortlessly embodies the essence of our logo, the elegant combination of gold and white conveys a sense of opulence that perfectly matches with the limited-edition production, consisting of a mere 600 bottles.

Salud's has been duly acknowledged with the recent achievement of a prestigious Gold Medal at the esteemed Global Gin Masters.

Furthermore, the Salud Cusp London Dry Gin also secured a bronze award at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).

"We are delighted to introduce our limited-edition Salud Cusp London Dry Gin to gin enthusiasts in India. This global award-winning gin represents the pinnacle of our dedication to quality and creativity. With only 600 bottles available, it offers a unique opportunity for gin aficionados to savour an exceptional and rare spirit." said, Ajay Shetty, CEO of Salud.

The initial launch of the Salud Cusp London Dry Gin will commence in Goa, followed by Karnataka.

The combination of its limited edition comprises 42% alcohol by volume (ABV) and a bottle size of 700 ml, the Salud Cusp London Dry Gin can be purchased at ₹3450 in Goa and ₹4950 in Bangalore.

Salud has recently inaugurated a cutting-edge distillery facility in Goa. Additionally, Salud aims to introduce the ready-to-drink category to 10 new markets in India in the upcoming months.

Salud plans to invest USD 1.5 million.  In addition to their ready-to-drink (RTD) products and non-alcoholic bitters, brand will soon introduce new collections of Salud Merchandise, an exclusive clothing line, and Salud Sessions, a music intellectual property (IP) featuring exclusive tracks from both domestic and international artists.

Tata Consumer Products (TCP), the consumer goods company bringing together the food and beverage businesses of the Tata Group, has entered the Ready to Drink Cold Coffee market with the introduction of Tata Coffee Gold- Cold Brew.

Tata Coffee Gold undergoes a cold water brewing process to preserve its velvety texture, utilizing premium ingredients.

It is offered in three options: Classic, Mocha, and Hazelnut.

With a commitment to natural flavors, this beverage delivers an authentic and genuine coffee experience, ensuring a refreshing and gratifying taste.

“Our aim with Tata Coffee Gold- Cold Brew Ready-to-Drink Coffee is to provide an unparalleled coffee experience to our discerning customers. With Tata Coffee Gold- Cold Brew, we are offering a product that delivers a rich, rounded taste without any bitterness, while still providing a cold brewed coffee hit," said, Mr. Vikram Grover, MD NourishCo Beverages Limited, Tata Consumer Products.

Designed with discerning individuals in mind, this meticulously concocted beverage is steeped for over 12 hours, resulting in a bold, luxurious, and smooth flavour.

Notably, Tata Coffee Gold- Cold Brew Ready-to-Drink Coffee stands out with its low sugar content, appealing to health-conscious individuals while maintaining its delectable taste.

Tata Coffee Gold- Cold Brew Ready-to-Drink Coffee will be available at select retail outlets nationwide with a cost of Rs.125 without the need for any additional preparation.

CLEAR, a rapidly expanding bottled water brand in India, has entered into a partnership with Recycle.

On its 18th anniversary on May 7th, CLEAR commits to promoting effective waste recycling practices in collaboration with its channel partners.

Through this initiative, CLEAR aims to recycle an equivalent amount of plastic waste generated and contribute twice as much to recycling efforts.

By striving to achieve a plastic-negative status by 2027, CLEAR sets a noteworthy goal in its sustainability journey.

In this partnership, Recycle.Green will support CLEAR in its efforts to minimize plastic waste by launching a nationwide campaign that involves collaboration with all of its channel partners.

Recycle.Green will integrate its framework extensively into the system, aiding CLEAR in achieving its objectives of effective plastic waste management.

“Owing to this and our efforts to create a CLEAR DUNIYA, this partnership will help us take decisive actions to reduce plastic waste and repurpose recycled plastic for practical use. The tie-up with Recycle. Green is a clear step in this direction and just one of the several initiatives we are working on as a part of our ESG goals,” said Mr. Nayan Shah, Founder & CEO of Clear Premium Water

As part of their collaboration, CLEAR has developed a comprehensive framework to ensure the collection and recycling of all plastic waste generated at their plants and from used bottles.

They are actively raising awareness and providing training to their employees, distributors, and sellers to foster a Zero Waste mission. Furthermore, CLEAR is implementing rewards and incentives to encourage plastic recovery and recycling.

To promote a zero waste culture and enhance engagement with waste collectors and recyclers, they are offering incentives and discounts to customers through the Recycle Green app. Additionally, CLEAR is prioritizing the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices by providing training and increasing awareness among its workforce.

Furthermore, CLEAR's manufacturing facility located in Surat is an environmentally friendly and zero-discharge unit that utilizes 35% less plastic compared to traditional bottles.

CLEAR has set a target to attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, and it plans to achieve this through various sustainability initiatives.

These include engaging in tree plantation efforts, utilizing recycled paper and furniture, adopting electric vehicles for logistics, incorporating renewable energy sources in manufacturing processes, and employing renewable plant-based materials for packaging.

These actions aim to not only reduce CLEAR's carbon footprint but also combat plastic pollution, aligning with their plastic-negative initiative.

WOX Energy Drinks, a  global energy drink brand, has announced that its Classic Edition energy drink generated INR 10 crore in gross revenue within a single quarter of its launch in India.

''We are pleased by the incredible response that our Classic Edition energy drink has received across India. We will remain committed to providing the best products and services to our customers and are grateful for their persistent support towards our brand,'' said Ajay Arora, COO, WOX.

BCS Globals, the parent company of WOX Energy Drinks, offers a diverse range of energy drinks, including Absolute Black, BCAA, and Zero Edition.

The brand has established a unique position in over 10 countries worldwide, consistently delivering high-quality products that meet rigorous global standards.

BCS Globals' team has reported that the global energy drink market is currently valued at a substantial $8 billion, experiencing a steady Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7%.

Customers can now find the Classic Edition of WOX Energy Drinks at nearby stores throughout India.
 

The chairman of Himalaya Food International announced that the company is working on reviving its french fries business in the frozen and canned food processing industry.

They plan to install a 50,000 tonne per annum french fries line and a 12,000 tonne potato speciality line, with a completion target of December 2023 to align with the potato season starting in March 2024.
 

According to a letter by Himalaya Foods International Ltd (HFIL) chairman Man Mohan Malik to the shareholders, the new french fries line and potato speciality line have the capability to generate Rs 700 crore in additional revenue at maximum capacity.
 

Himalaya Foods International Ltd (HFIL) was previously in a joint venture (JV) with Simplot USA. However, a dispute arose between the two partners and the matter was taken to arbitration in Singapore.
 

As per reports, the American joint venture partner had requested a refund of USD 14 million in relation to the sale of the french fries line and specialty potato lines.

The tribunal has ordered Simplot to return the equipment related to the french fries and potato specialty lines, while Himalaya Foods International Ltd (HFIL) has been instructed to pay a sum of USD 3.96 million.

The company has paid off its debts with a consortium of banks through a one-time settlement (OTS) of Rs 82.80 crore.
 

Himalaya Food International's current focus is on reinforcing its working capital and generating resources from non-core assets. They also aim to fulfill their backlog of export orders.
 

The chairman mentioned that there is a high demand for french fries and other fried and frozen potato products both in India and around the world.

 He further added that Gujarat has emerged as a major center for exporting potato-based products owing to extensive contract farming and favorable weather conditions.
 

Rather than relying on the conventional sources in Europe and North America, the regions of South-East Asia, Japan, and the Middle East are turning to Gujarat for their french fries supply.
 

Cargill and the Baker's Association Kerala (BAKE) have agreed to collaborate and work together through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the aim of developing healthier and more innovative food solutions for the Indian Food and Bakery industry.

By partnering with Baker's Association Kerala (BAKE), Cargill will be able to share its expertise in food ingredients, product formulation, technology, and innovation with consumers in Kerala.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at Cargill Innovation Center in Gurgaon, with Mr. Vijesh Vishwanath, the President of BAKE, and Mr. Simon George, Managing Director of Cargill's Food Ingredients business, South Asia, present during the signing ceremony.

To support the partnership, Cargill will organize workshops and seminars aimed at improving the skills and knowledge of bakers in Kerala.

Additionally, Cargill will offer customer feedback on fats to help bakers better understand the current and future requirements and preferences of consumers.

This will enable bakers to create bakery products that are of higher quality and meet the changing needs of their customers.

“Cargill and BAKE coming together in research and innovation will help small and medium enterprise bakeries in the state of Kerala a big way. Cargill will work on specific product innovation, driving health, wellness and freshness, using its global trends, insights and innovation, and regional technical expertise in the Bakery category in close collaboration with BAKE. said Simon George, Cargill India.  

In addition to the workshops and seminars, Cargill plans to provide 'train the trainer' programs to upcoming bakers in Kerala, so that they can acquire new skills and techniques to improve the quality of bakery products in the region.

Cargill will also conduct tests on all new products developed at its Innovation Center in Gurgaon, to ensure that the products meet the highest standards of food safety and quality.

With robust growth rates projected for the bakery segment, we as an association, are always exploringnewpossibilities and bring that back to our consumers.This collaboration with Cargill will give us endless opportunitiesto do just that.” said Mr. Vishwanath, BAKE.

This initiative is a crucial step towards introducing global innovation to the state's bakery industry and promoting knowledge sharing and skill development among industry professionals.

 As a result, this will lead to the creation of better and more sustainable food products throughout the bakery industry in Kerala.

Heritage Foods Ltd, a dairy company in India, has introduced its latest line of Buttermilk products labeled as 'A-One' and a new range of milkshakes in convenient single-serve carton boxes.

The new product line, called 'A-One' by Heritage Foods, comprises low-calorie spiced buttermilk that serves as a natural and refreshing drink.

 “Launch of ‘A-One’ Spiced Buttermilk & new Milkshakes in Combi-block packs is yet another step in the direction of growing the contribution of value-added products (VAP) in our portfolio. I am sure these new products will not only delight our consumers, but will also help them face the harsh summer season with a smile.” said Mrs. Bhuvaneswari Nara, Vice Chairperson & Managing Director 

The company uses a unique combination of cultures to ferment fresh Heritage milk to create a smooth and thick texture with an ideal balance of sourness and saltiness. Natural extracts of ginger and green chilies are blended into the drink to give it a spicy twist, making it a perfect on-the-go drink.

'A-One' Spiced Buttermilk will be sold in 180ml packs with a six-month shelf life and a reasonable price tag of ₹20/-.

In addition, Heritage Foods has given a makeover to its line of Milkshakes with new flavors and an attractive appearance.

While classic flavors like Vanilla and Strawberry remain available, the company plans to introduce two new varieties, Chocolate & Caramel and Cookies & Cream, which will appeal to both adults and children. The new range of Milkshakes will be sold in 180ml packs for ₹40/- and 125ml packs for ₹15/-.

Heritage Foods Ltd. is preparing for reintroducing its popular "Premium Badam milk with real Badam bits" under the brand name 'Badam Charger'.

The revised product recipe includes a higher quantity of badam bits, aligning with the brand's promise of 'Stay Charged.' Heritage Badam Charger will be available in 180ml plastic bottles with vibrant packaging. This product will be sold at a convenient price point of ₹35/-.

“Heritage ‘BadamCharger’ is a product targeted to thriving adults who hustle through the day to achieve their dreams.. We have formulated this recipe to deliver great taste with absolutely no added artificial colours or flavours and with 30% less sugar as compared to other similar flavoured milk-drinks.” said Mrs. Brahmani Nara, Executive Director of Heritage Foods Limited

Heritage Foods intends to take its customers on a nostalgic journey by releasing ice lollies with authentic and fascinating Indian flavors like 'Kala Khatta' and 'Gol Gappa' this summer. These desi flavors are bound to evoke fond childhood recollections. Consumers can enjoy these refreshing treats on a scorching summer day for only ₹10.

Heritage Foods has introduced its 'A-One' Spiced Buttermilk and Milkshake products in various regions, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and the National Capital Region (NCR).

These products are accessible through various channels, such as general trade stores, Heritage Happiness Points, Heritage Parlours, modern retail stores, and online grocery platforms.

The energy drink brand, WOX is set to unveil its first refreshing energy beverages in India, Classic Edition. 

WOX is a brand by BCS Globals, a player in the Food & Beverage segment and is recognized for its quality standards across more than 10 countries.

''With the summer season just around the corner, we understand the importance of staying cool and energised, especially in India's hot climate. Our unique blend of flavors and energy-boosting properties deliver the perfect solution for anyone looking for a blend of instant energy punch and a refreshing flavour. “said Ajay Arora, Chief Operating Officer, WOX Energy Drink

The Classic Black energy drink has a vibrant golden yellow hue and provides a quick and revitalizing boost, making it an excellent choice for various events such as parties, sports gatherings, and outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, and cycling.

The drink has been developed in compliance with strict global standards, ensuring it meets high-quality and taste expectations.

Team BCS global possesses an in-depth understanding of global Food & Beverage manufacturing technologies has unveiled globally acclaimed energy drinks in its avant-garde manufacturing units.

According to Team BCS Globals, the global energy drink market stands at $8 billion and is growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate(CAGR) of 7 percent.

The product is priced at Rs. 60 and will be available at nearest mom-and-pop store.

Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL), the FMCG arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, announced it will acquire 50 per cent equity stake in Gujarat-headquartered Sosyo Hajoori Beverages Private Limited (SHBPL) which owns and operates a beverage business under the flagship brand ‘Sosyo’.

The Hajoori family will continue to own the remaining shares of SHBPL, the beverage manufacturer's current promoters after 100 years.

With a history of about 100 years in juices and carbonated soft drinks (CSD), Sosyo is a renowned Indian brand. The business was founded in 1923 by Abbas Abdulrahim Hajoori and is currently a major force in the Iranian soft drink industry. Abbas Hajoori and his son Aliasgar Hajoori own SHBPL, a company that specialises in inventing formulas and has a number of beverage brands in its portfolio, including Sosyo, Kashmira, Lemee, Ginlim, Runner, Opener, Hajoori Soda, and S'eau.

The Sosyo brand boasts a loyal customer base in Gujarat.

Isha Ambani, Executive Director of Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, commented on the transaction: "This investment enables us move forward our mission of empowering regional heritage businesses and offering them new growth prospects. We are happy to add Sosyo's century-old legacy beverage brands to our portfolio of consumer brands and are convinced that our expertise, consumer insights, and retail distribution prowess will enable Sosyo's growing momentum pick up speed.

RCPL wants to provide Indian consumers more power by providing them with a variety of locally produced consumer brands and goods that are of superior quality. The historic beverage brand "Campa" and the recently created packaged consumer products brand "Independence" are currently included in the company's brand portfolio. Additionally, RCPL is developing a unique and focused retail distribution network for its portfolio of rapidly expanding consumer brands.

Abbas Hajoori, Chairman of Sosyo Hajoori Beverages Private Limited, commented on the joint venture with RCPL in a statement that reads in part, "We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Reliance Consumer Products, a strong and willing partner that can help Sosyo rapidly scale up its reach. By combining our relative advantages, we could make Sosyo's distinctive beverage goods available to all Indian consumers. It is a turning point in our nearly 100-year history in the beverage industry.

After purchasing the renowned brand Campa, Reliance will further bolster its beverage range with this joint venture. Additionally, Sosyo can create a distinctive value proposition for its product portfolio and customers by utilising its experience in formulations.

Mumbai based MD Food Product Limited (Cremeitalia) has raised an amount of USD 600,000 funding from Mumbai based B L Taparia Family Office (Venktesh Investment & Trading Private Limited).

This marks the first round of external investors for MD Food Product Private Limited, while having received initial funding from family and friends in the last 3 years.

“We started off small, took small steps, did the right things at the right time, navigated the challenging pandemic times and survived, and built a fundamentally strong business so far. We look forward to making Cremeitalia a household name when it comes to gourmet and fresh cheese category,” shared Prateek Anil Mittal, Co-Founder at Cremeitalia.

From product segment perspective, Cremeitalia focuses on natural, fresh and non-processed cheese in the market with important characteristics such as natural & high-quality ingredients, competitive pricing, gluten free and easy usage.

The current product portfolio includes the following products Bocconcini, Burrata, Cream Cheese, Cheddar, Cherry Mozzarella, Buffalo Mozzarella, Fiordilatte Pizza, Stracciatella, Ricotta, Mascarpone, Sour cream, Scamorza and Flavour Provola

In 2016, the two founders, Prateek Anil Mittal and Rajas Kishore Dhote, came together to follow their common passion – create a gourmet cheese company and brand to serve consumers with fresh and naturally made cheese and not a processed product which includes a bunch of ‘enhancers’ and ‘preservatives’. The founders started research on their venture in the last quarter of 2016, and launched the “Cremeitalia” brand of cheese products and started with 4 products in December 2018. Cremeitalia was conceptualized with an armory of techniques from the best in this field – the Europeans. Armed with their know-how, recipes and technology, Cremeitalia aims to ensure that our country receives the standard of fresh cheese it deserves.

Cremeitalia has been successfully serving the HORECA (Hotels, Restaurants and Catering) clients and have been preferred suppliers to some of the premium pizza chains, luxury hotels, stand-alone restaurants, shipping lines and flight kitchens, amongst others. Cremeitalia has catered to more than 150 clients so far.

On the retail side, the Cremeitalia’s products are available in 18 cities across more than 200 stores.

With this fund raise, the company plans to deploy this capital towards new product launches, entering new markets (Tier 2 and 3 cities), retail expansion from the current 242 stores to 500+, expansion of current manufacturing capacities by 4-5x, marketing and branding initiatives across multiple online stores and also performance marketing in order to grow the online presence.

“The confidence bestowed upon us by our incoming investors only adds fuel to our passion to go big and go wide. This investment will help us strengthen our manufacturing processes and standards to a different level which will help us go closer to our dream of being a significant national player in the segment. With our investors’ support and value-add, we are looking forward to build Cremeitalia as the most preferred brand in the gourmet and fresh cheese segment,” added Dhote.

Senior investment banker and corporate finance professional, Harshal Kamdar advised MD Food Product Private Limited on this fund raise.

The ZeSUP challenge (Zero Single-Use Plastic challenge), launched by VC Fund Climate Angels, has been supporting various innovative start-ups working towards reducing single-use plastic straws.

Bangalore based Sunbird Straws is one of the start-ups backed by The ZeSUP challenge to promote the alternatives to plastic straws at the onset of Single Use Plastic Ban.

Starting 1st July 2022, the government of India has implemented a nationwide ban on single-use plastic straws. Manufacturers in India have been prohibited to produce single-use plastic straws in India. This ban has created many opportunities for companies to produce alternatives to plastic and paper straws.

ZeSUP challenge, launched by VC Fund Climate Angels bridges the gap between innovation and established F&B partners intending to eliminate single-use plastics.

It provides support to innovative start-ups that are leading the fight against single-use plastic in the F&B industry, by providing them with an opportunity to connect with restaurants, cloud kitchens and other food outlets like Rebel Foods, The Beer Café, and Burger Singh. The selected startups get project and startup funding from a pool of US$ 500,000, dedicated mentorship and technical assistance for the project.

“ZeSUP will greatly help start-ups overcome key challenges such as lack of collaborative industry partners, underdeveloped value chains, and complex policy and regulatory framework. Through ZeSUP, we will try to be a key factor in connecting innovative start-ups with F&B partners. This will further strengthen the single-use plastic ban as we eventually adopt alternatives to it”, said Shailesh Vikram Singh, founder of Climate Angels.

Founded by Saji Varghese in 2020, Sunbird Straws is the producer of environmentally friendly and long-lasting straws from naturally dried and fallen coconut leaves, reducing the consumption of paper and plastic straws. Their in-house technology has managed to produce close to two hundred straws from a single coconut leaf. The company is creating value by reducing the burning of leaves along with solving the issue of single-use plastic straws. The company has been actively employing women in their production process creating women empowerment in villages.

Climate Angels is a network that invests in start-ups working in Clean Energy, Clean Mobility, Clean Water, Clean Food & Clean Cities sectors.  

Photo Courtesy: Karmicseeds

Pizza Pro, authorized Ooni pizza oven distributors for India and a one-stop-shop for all things pizza has launched its flagship store called the Pizza Pro Experience Store in New Delhi.

Strategically located in Meherchand Market, the store is designed to bring an enhanced customer experience to pizza enthusiasts by providing them a demo of the pizza ovens before they make a purchase decision.

With this launch, Pizza Pro aims to meet the demand for affordable, chic, and easy-to-install portable wood and gas fired pizza ovens in the Indian market.

The company caters to the wide audience of foodies, food enthusiasts and restaurants alike within the subcontinent with an unmatched product portfolio.

“We at Pizza Pro are humbled by the response we have received from our customers across the nation. We have been planning to launch our flagship store in New Delhi for quite some time and being aware of New Delhi’s diverse palette and zest for restaurant quality pizzas, this seemed to be the perfect place to begin with. It was our objective for 2021 to treat the city’s pizza enthusiasts with everything they require to make great pizzas at home, which is now coming close to being fulfilled,” shared Priyamvada Aggarwal, Co-Founder of Pizza Pro.

Prakritii Cultivating Green ties up with artisans and manufacturers around India in Uttarakhand and North East for making Bamboo cutlery to focus more on Anti-China segments.

Sustainability disposables are the key ingredients going forward as the ongoing pandemic has taught us to use Made in India Initiative which is designed by the Government of India.

India is the world’s second-largest cultivator of Bamboo after China and there is a vast scope of expanding bamboo in areas outside forests as people are now trusting branded eco-friendly disposables companies than common stores. 

“People have realized to live sustainably and the need to promote the eco-system but it all begins with implementation and execution of the choice. The idea is to consume what you need and leave for others. The longevity of businesses today and in the future will depend largely on how human-centric and eco-friendly we can make them,”said Vaibhav Jaiswal, Director & Co-Founder of Prakritii.

There are some revolutionary changes that the hospitality industry is following nowadays post Covid-19 is takeaways instead of Dine-in, and started using disposable or bamboo cutlery in dine-in too for hygiene and safety purpose and eliminated reusable dinnerware trend.

In India, tea is far from just a beverage, from street-side cutting chai to gourmet, infused brews, tea reaches people across the country.

Taking the country’s tea-growing legacy forward with innovative, handcrafted blends, exotic ingredients, and turning Tea into cordon bleu symbols of luxurious indulgence SejalPurohit present Seven Spring, a young brand looking to change the way tea is perceived withan array of rare and unique tea range serving in the lap of luxe.

The most flamboyant ingredients, rich flavours and combination of exotic herbs like Fennel, Rose hip, Mallow flower, Star Anise and Senna Mallow Flower etc.

Seven Spring was made out of sheer passion and with a vision of creating products that would revive the ancient goodness and purity of products, made using hand-picked ingredients from all over the world.

Seven Spring aims to provide this experience to the body with the help of products which are of unsurpassed quality and value, beneficial both to the health and well-being of human beings. Purity assured by the fact that the elements of nature are used when they reach the epitome of freshness, potency and taste it aims to help people take a moment away from the noise and reconnect with themselves over a cup of tea, with a focus on healthy food without any chemicals, colour or artificial flavours. The teas are created to transport people to the peace and tranquility.

With a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, they source their ingredients directly from farmers and social enterprises and use biodegradable packaging.

Home-grown, digitally native wellness brand VAHDAM® India has witnessed strong growth & ended FY21 with a delivered net revenue of 159 crores, up from 75 crores in FY20, registering a 110% YoY growth.

The brand also achieved net profitability in FY21, which is a key milestone in the fast-growing consumer brands journey.

“The pandemic has accelerated our growth, given the shift towards high quality & trusted wellness products, larger adoption of e-commerce globally & a more effective execution capability with a strong leadership team in place,” shared Bala Sarda, Founder & CEO, VAHDAM® India who plans to continue to grow by focusing on 3 key growth triggers i.e going deeper in our current markets (USA, Canada, UK & Germany) & grow omni-channel distribution, strengthen presence in new markets like India & diversify into other relevant product categories.

VAHDAM® India which was awarded the Global SMB by Jeff Bezos in his visit to India, gets majority of its revenue from the US market. It also formally launched in India last year & has witnessed strong early growth.

The brand continues to grow strong & aims to grow 3x over the next 3 years to deliver 500 crores of revenue by FY24.

The brand which is vertically integrated & manufactures all its products in-house has also set up a new state-of-the-art 100,000 square feet factory in the National Capital Region to support its growth over the next few years.

VAHDAM® India retails a range of teas & superfoods with 200 SKUs in its portfolio of products. The brand also has a strong social purpose and is certified climate & plastic neutra. It also directs 1% of its revenue towards the education of tea growers & children & recently partnered with BYJUS, the world's highest-valued EdTech company to make available 100,000 academic programs to the tea grower’s children, absolutely free.

Vahdam India, a global wellness brand, and Goodricke Group Limited today announced a strategic procurement partnership to make available their teas via VAHDAM’s global distribution network.

Goodricke owns reputed tea estates like Castleton, Margaret’s Hope, Badamtam, Barnesbeg and Thurbo in Darjeeling as well as top estates in Assam like Amgoorie, Dejoo, Harmutty, Nonaipara and Borpatra.

Also Read: Vahdam Tea launches organic turmeric latte

“We are glad to formalize our partnership with Goodricke Group which owns some iconic tea estates in Darjeeling and Assam. Our partnership goes beyond procurement of teas : VAHDAM® is also actively working in Goodricke in many tea estates to provide digital learning programs to the children as a part of our TEAch Me social initiative” said Bala Sarda, Founder & CEO, VAHDAM®  India.

At the heart of the partnership is VAHDAM® India’s direct sourcing that procures directly from producers and ensures that farmers get optimum realisation.

“we are glad to partner with a fast-growing and dynamic company like VAHDAM® India whose global ecosystem of consumers in over 130 countries can open so many new opportunities and avenues in the years to come,” added Atul Asthana, CEO & MD of Goodricke Group.

With a net revenue run rate of 200 crores, VAHDAM India is now India’s largest home-grown teas & superfoods brand. It has raised over US$17 million in venture funding from some of India’s top investors including Fireside Ventures, Sixth Sense Ventures, Mankind Pharma, SAR Group, Urmin Group, Chona Family and entrepreneurs like Kris Gopalkrishnan, Pankaj Chaddha, Amrish Rau amongst others.

May Interest: Vahdam Teas Bags Rs 11 Crore From Fireside Venture

Recently, VAHDAM partnered with BYJU’S, World’s most highly valued ed-tech and digital learning company, to make available access to high quality education to children in the Indian tea industry. Together, they have committed full academic program access to over 50,000 children by 2023.

Japan’s naturally brewed soy sauce, Kikkoman Corporation, announced the official launch of Kikkoman India Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary that will expand its operations in India.

With its official entry in India, Kikkoman aims to become the market leader in the soy sauce and Asian sauces category, within the growing FMCG market in India, as it introduces its renowned naturally brewed ‘Honjozo’ soy sauce to India.

“The launch of Kikkoman India will ensure seamless distribution of Kikkoman products exclusively created for India, bringing consumers the opportunity to experience a variety of foods, seasoned with true and authentic Kikkoman Soy Sauce,” shared Harry Hakuei Kosato, Director and India Representative of Kikkoman India.

Kikkoman Soy Sauce is a versatile all-purpose seasoning that can be used for all cuisines, including cooking Asian, Western, Japanese, and Indian dishes.

“We have been working to make Kikkoman Soy Sauce a truly global seasoning while creating new delicious experiences around the world and contributing to richer, healthier lifestyles for decades,” added Osamu Mogi, Director, Executive Corporate Officer, International Operations Division, Kikkoman Corporation, Japan. 

With a history spanning over 350 years and based in Japan. Kikkoman has become a global business, expanding to over 100 countries, with 10 manufacturing facilities worldwide that distribute its products all over the world to millions and millions of customers.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has removed the word from its ‘Red Meat Manual’ after a social media campaign by Hindu right-wing groups and Sikh organisations against halal certification for products in the country.

The agri-export body has also clarified that there was no condition on the part of the Indian government regarding halal meat.

Also Read: Online meat delivery brand Meatigo.com expands its operations in Pune

“It is a requirement by a majority of the importing countries/Importers. Halal Certification agencies are accredited directly by respective importing countries. No government agency has any role in this,” it shared.

However, the Red Meat Manual of the APEDA, which handles agri-exports under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, read “animals are slaughtered strictly according to halal method to meet the requirement of Islamic countries”, it now says “the animals are slaughtered according to the requirement of importing country/importer”.

May Interest: How digital technologies are powering fresh meat start-ups

APEDA has also deleted the line, “The animals are slaughtered by halal system under strict vigilance of (a) recognised and registered Islamic body as per the tenets of Islamic Shariyat. The certificate for halal is issued by the representative of registered Islamic body under whose supervision the slaughter is conducted in order to meet the requirement of (the) importing country.”

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on Tuesday asked state food commissioners to conduct effective enforcement drive to check adulteration in spices.

In a letter to Commissioner of Food Safety of all States/UTs, FSSAI mentioned that there have been media reports about sale of adulterated spices in the domestic market.

Also Read: Restaurant Owners welcome FSSAI move on registration for home-cooked meals

"Instances have been reported recently in media regarding the sale of adulterated spices in domestic market. As per one such report, spices like dhaniya powder is being adulterated with bajra and dhaniya stem whereas turmeric powder is being adulterated with broken rice which is mixed with yellow colour," said the FSSAI letter.

The food safety body has also asked state food commissioners to conduct an effective enforcement drive to check the adulteration of commonly used spices like haldi, dhaniya, lal mirch powder etc in wholesale markets/mandis under their jurisdictions.

May Interest: ‘Best Before Date’ on open sweets mandatory from Oct1, FSSAI

"Further, the necessary action as deemed fit may be initiated against the defaulting Food Business Operators as per the provision laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations 2011 made thereunder," it added

ORCO aka Organic Condiments announces the launch of 32 new products, adding to their vast portfolio of 100% natural, healthy and certified organic condiments and spices.

The brand was established in 2017 with the vision to empower women while providing hand ground, hand pounded and hand cleaned natural spices.

The latest line-up also includes varieties of dry fruits and seeds to satiate every consumer’s need.

Also Read: This Singaporean-Australian Chef Believes in using Lots of Indian Spices in His Cooking

“We are very excited about our latest range through which we strive to expand our horizons by including superfoods and much more to our portfolio catering to multiple segments of the population across India. Our team has done an outstanding job in developing a comprehensive range of products during such a difficult phase,” shared Pragya Agarwal, Co-Founder, ORCO.

The spices at ORCO are free of pesticides or any other hazardous chemicals; they are hand-ground on a hand mill (chakki) to retain their natural properties, taste, color and aroma.

May Interest: 'King of Spices' Dharampal Gulati of MDH dies at 98

The entire range by ORCO will be available in more than 100 retail stores including Modern Bazaar, Krishna Super Marche, Honey Money Top, etc.

They can also be procured online through their own portal (https://orco.in/), Flipkart, Sokastore, Amazon, Organikness etc. all across India.

Online meat delivery brand, Meatigo.com has launched its services in Pune across multiple pincodes.

Customers can now order fresh meat and seafood online by logging on to Meatigo.com as well as the brand’s Android or iOS app.

Empowering thousands of people across Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, and now Pune to ‘Eat Better Meat’, the Gurgaon-based online delivery platform is the brainchild of Siddhant Wangdi that started operations in 2017.

“After receiving a phenomenal response from meat lovers in Mumbai, we have been receiving multiple requests on Meatigo.com website as well as social media platforms from Punekars to bring these offerings to their city. This prompted us to expand our operations in Pune. Now, Meatigo.com services will be available in maximum areas across the city. Our young team ensures zero compromise on quality with stringent tests for freshness and hygiene,” shared Wangdi.

The bootstrapped company functions on an end-to-end supply chain model that starts from procuring fresh meats to processing, storage, and last-mile delivery.

It also has its own delivery team which delivers an on-demand order in 120 minutes to its customers’ doorstep.  Using Meatigo.com, ardent meat-eaters can also schedule deliveries a week in advance.

Makers of Ching’s Secret and Smith & Jones, Capital Foods, one of India’s fastest-growing food companies, have announced Navin Tewari as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1st January 2021.

He succeeds the founder, Ajay Gupta, who will now be the Executive Chairman.

Tewari joined the company in early 2019 as the Chief Executive Officer is now elevated to the new role.

Under his leadership, the company has achieved well-rounded performance with - top-line growth in excess of 50%; expansion beyond the western region to a pan-India presence across categories.

It has also enhanced production capacity with increased footprint in Karnataka, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

Also Read: ​FMCG firm Capital Foods expect 40 percent growth next year

"Capital Foods has registered impressive performance under Navin's leadership as CEO. His ability to drive growth is not limited to exceptional financial performance, but also extends to organization building in areas of capacity expansion, market strategy, product offerings, and people management,” said Shantanu Rastogi, Managing Director, India and Southeast Asia at General Atlantic.

Adding to the same Ajay Gupta, the Executive Chairman of the company shared, "Navin personifies our biggest differentiator - experimentation and disruption. Since his joining Navin has rapidly built and grown the scale of the company while preserving the culture and strengthening partner relationships. I am certain that going forward Capital Foods will flourish under his leadership and contagious enthusiasm."

Capital Foods is backed by marquee private equity firms, The Invus Group and General Atlantic.

“Capital Foods was created on the foundations of innovation, excitement, and a deep understanding of consumer taste preferences. Over the years, we have built a loyal consumer base that loves our range of exciting food products,” added Tewari.

Specialty tea-brand Teamonk Global is planning to raise USD 5 million to expand its business in international markets.

It is also aiming to tap growing demand of green and black teas amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teamonk sells more than 60 variants of premium tea ranging from black teas, white teas, green teas and oolong teas amongst others.

The Bengaluru-based startup, expects its revenue to grow by 55 per cent this fiscal to Rs 10.5 crore and over Rs 30 crore in 2021-22 despite the disruption caused by the pandemic.

"We sell pure and natural teas sourced from mountains like Nilgiri and Darjeeling, primarily through e-commerce platforms,” shared Ashok Mittal, Founder and MD. Teamonk Global.

Also Read: Teamonk Global raises $1 million in pre-series A round

Teamonk has strategic alliances with two tea processing units in Nilgiris. In Darjeeling, it has an alliance with two plantation companies having four tea gardens and a packaging unit in Bengaluru.

“The company's asset light e-commerce distribution model helps in scaling up the business. We will grow aggressive in international market where the price realisation is 2.5 times higher than the domestic market,” added Nalin Sood, CEO and Co-Founder, Teamonk.

The group is planning to raise funds by sometime in the middle of next year.

“We are expecting revenue of around Rs 10.5 crore this fiscal. The company has set a target to reach around Rs 30 crore turnover in 2021-22 and Rs 95 crore in 2022-23 financial years.

Started in 2016, it has so far raised USD 3 million from angel and institutional investors to grow its business. It is backed by Inflection Point Ventures, Hunch Ventures, Roots Ventures and Lead Angels.

The ₹541 crore initial public offering (IPO) of Mrs Bectors Food Specialities, a premium bakery and biscuit brand was subscribed 199 times on the final day of the bidding, according to data available with stock exchanges.

The qualified institutional investor category was subscribed 178.08 times, the non institutional category comprising high net worth individuals was subscribed 625.20 times. Demand from retail individual investors, whose investments can not exceed ₹2 lakh in an IPO, stood at 29.53 times.

Also Read: Burger King IPO kicks off: Why you should subscribe it

The promoters owned a 52.39% stake in Mrs. Bectors before the issue, and post issue it will be at 48.87%. The price band for selling shares has been fixed at ₹286-288 apiece.

The proceeds from the fresh issue will be used for financing the expansion of the company's Rajpura manufacturing facility in Punjab by establishing a new production line for biscuits, according to the draft red herring prospectus.

Farm-to-fork supply chain start-up WayCool Foods has raised $7.8 million (about ₹57 crore) in debt from Sammunati, RBL Bank and Innoven Capital.

This follows the earlier debt financing round of $5.5 million which was guaranteed by United States International Development Finance Corporation (USIDFC) and financed by IndusInd Bank.

They have also raised the Series C round of $32 million led by Lightbox earlier this year.

Also Read: 8 Key Changes Supply Chain Sector would adopt post Covid

The latest funding will be utilised for meeting working capital needs and to boost automation in the existing distribution centres and warehouses, shared a statement.

“The latest debt round completes the funding requirements for the company’s annual business plan. It will be used to support select new lines of growth and build related physical as well as digital assets,” said Chinna Pardhasaradhi, CFO, WayCool Foods.

The supply-chain startup aims to achieve 70 per cent digital and mechanical automation across all distribution units by mid-2021, in turn improving process flow, efficiency, and eliminating error-prone mundane activities.

“Samunnati and InnoVen capital have been our long-term partners in growth, and the present funding lines are a natural evolution of this partnership. We welcome RBL Bank to our platform. The innovative instruments that we are developing in partnership with RBL Bank will free the business from working capital as a growth limiter,” added Karthik Jayaraman, CEO, WayCool Foods.

Started by Karthik Jayaraman and Sanjay Dasari in July 2015, the startup chose to pivot to a farm-to-fork B2B model.

May Interest: Supply chain startup WayCool Foods receives $ 114K from Dutch Development Bank FMO

WayCool’s has categories such as food services (hotels, restaurants, caterers), processing and bakeries; general trade or sale to kirana stores and local supermarkets; and modern trade or sale to national supermarket chains and online distribution players.

WayCool has previously raised three rounds of equity funding from Lightbox, LGT Lightstone Aspada, and FMO, and has raised debt in the past from Caspian Impact Investment and Northern Arc Capital Ltd.

'Mahashay' Dharampal Gulati, the owner of Mahashian Di Hatti (popularly known as MDH), breathed his last today.

According to report, he was going through post-covid treatment at Mata Chanan Devi Hospital, Delhi and suffered a cardiac arrest on Thursday morning.

Popularly known as the ‘Spice King’, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2019.

The brand was setup in Sialkot, Pakistan by the late Gulati's father Chuni Lal as a small shop.

Also Read: The Bombay Canteen Co-owner Floyd Cardoz dies of Covid-19 in New York, Industry shows Grief

After India-Pakistan partition, Gulati moved to a shop in Karol Bagh in Delhi and opened 15 factories supplying 1000 dealers in India.

Presently, having branches at Dubai and London to name a few it is now a Rs 1500 crore business empire that runs the masala company, a number of schools and a hospital.

The company exports its products to over 100 countries. His son manages the overall operations and six daughters handle distribution region wise.

Gulati was born in Sialkot (now in Pakistan) on March 27, 1923.

The restaurant and food industry showed grief over his sudden demise.

In an Instagram post, Zorawar Kalra of Massive Restaurant paid condolence over his death.

FMCG brand Bikano has launched two variants of multigrain chips for health conscious food lovers and patrons.

Bikano has positioned the multigrain products, named Chatak Masala and Tangy Tomato, as a healthier alternative to the conventional potato chips.

Bringing together the goodness of an assortment of grains including rice, wheat, corn and pulses, the brand aims to give the food lovers the sheer joy of savouring the crispiness and crunchiness in terms of taste of regular potato chips while also taking care of their nutritional requirements.

Both the product variants have been launched at a convenient price point of Rs. 5 only.

“With more and more people increasingly becoming health conscious and wanting to opt for healthy and nutritious snacks, there has been a latent demand for healthy snack products which could be similar in taste and texture to the widely popular potato chips. We wanted to meet that demand by coming up with these two multigrain chips products. While Chatak Masala is a classic spicy savoury in a healthy form, Tangy Tomato again offers a nutritious alternative to traditional potato chips,” shared Manish Agarwal, Director Bikano.      

The two products are available through Bikano’s wide network of retail and modern trade outlets both within the country and outside. 

Indian sweet and snack makers Bikanervala is now onboard with E-commerce enabler ANS Commerce.

ANS Commerce is looking at expanding the brand’s portfolio and offering services under a single umbrella.

The FMCG brand will gain unrestricted access to ANS Commerce’s tech-powered e-commerce solution with pre-integrated payment gateways, omni-channel delivery and real-time inventory sync, shared a statement from ANS.

“Through this association, Bikanervala will be able to feature its products on ANS Commerce’s brandstore giving it a digital platform and wider reach,” added the statement.

“We have created Kartify, an international standard tech platform to serve brands in India,” shared Amit Monga, Co-Founder, ANS Commerce.

Other brands the group works with include Vero Moda, Piramal NSE -0.04 %, Marico NSE 0.91 % and ITC.