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20 stories for “brands”

Assorted sealed consumer packs and bottles arranged on plain metal warehouse shelving under cool lights

Opinion · Platforms

Why Blinkit’s no-private-label stance reshapes brand maths

Eternal’s decision to stay clear of own brands on Blinkit keeps the platform open for third-party labels just as festive ad rates climb and store density rises.

The Desk · 22 Oct · 4 min read

Empty glass-fronted convenience store shelves and a darkened interior seen from the pavement at night

Retail

Reliance Retail shuts all 31 7-Eleven stores ends franchise

Japanese parent confirms September closure of Mumbai-Pune outlets after five years, leaving convenience format economics under fresh scrutiny for operators.

Meera Iyer · 22 Oct · 4 min read

Open cardboard cartons and poly mailers stacked on a warehouse packing table under overhead lights

Ecommerce

Flipkart DAUs hit new high as festive ecommerce opens strong

Non-metro shoppers drive 60% of demand and new customers rise 34% on Big Billion Days day one, lifting marketplace sellers’ festive volume bets.

Ananya Rao · 22 Oct · 4 min read

Stacked cardboard boxes and delivery crates inside a brightly lit warehouse aisle at dusk

Ecommerce

Eternal raises Blinkit target to 3,500 stores after 92% profit rise

Q2 net profit hits ₹125 crore and network reaches 2,751 as smaller-city economics improve for dark-store operators and brand suppliers.

Ananya Rao · 22 Oct · 4 min read

Wide supermarket aisle with stacked cartons and price wobblers under bright lights

Opinion · Retail

Why value retail’s store race now collides with margin reality

DMart and Trent keep adding boxes while stock prices and EBITDA edges signal the cost of defending price against quick commerce.

The Desk · 18 Oct · 4 min read

Flat-pack cardboard boxes stacked in a wide warehouse aisle under skylights

Retail

Ikea bets ₹21,000 crore to hit 30 stores and 4x revenue by 2030

Current eight stores to expand fourfold; double-digit growth and 2027-28 profit target put pressure on furniture rivals and mall landlords.

Meera Iyer · 18 Oct · 4 min read

Empty corridor of a multi-level shopping mall with closed shutters and overhead skylights

Retail

Mall leasing falls 37.8% in Q3 across top eight cities

Grade-A supply stays tight while main-street deals take nearly 68% of the 2.22 million sq ft leased, forcing brands to rethink formats.

Meera Iyer · 16 Oct · 4 min read

Stacked smartphone boxes and TV cartons inside a warehouse bay

Ecommerce

Festive e-commerce GMV hits ₹24,000 crore in two days

Smartphones take nearly 40% share as Amazon Flipkart Meesho and Ajio open the season.

Ananya Rao · 12 Oct · 4 min read

Empty premium retail floor with soft lighting and display plinths

Opinion · Retail

Premium festive demand is rewriting the retail P&L

Shoppers stretch for upgrades while platforms and stores race to capture higher tickets without margin bleed.

The Desk · 11 Oct · 4 min read

Retail

Shoppers Stop opens debut premium format store in Pune

Three-floor experiential outlet aims to lift average ticket as personal shopping already delivers 26 percent of revenue.

Meera Iyer · 11 Oct · 4 min read

Open cardboard boxes of electronics on a packing table under warehouse lights

Ecommerce

Amazon doubles products ordered as Great Indian Festival opens

Premium smartphones and wearables surge force brands to protect margins while chasing volume.

Ananya Rao · 11 Oct · 4 min read

Smartphone boxes and appliance cartons stacked beside a payment terminal on a retail counter

Opinion · Ecommerce

Why festive premiumisation leaves value merchants exposed

Platform data shows shoppers stretching for higher ASP goods; pure discounters without credit or exchange tools risk basket shrinkage.

The Desk · 10 Oct · 4 min read

Retail

Nykaa adds 14 stores to 338 as Q2 beauty fashion steady

Beauty chain keeps physical expansion while fashion NSV runs high-40s; omnichannel sellers gain another branded counter.

Meera Iyer · 10 Oct · 4 min read

Smartphone screen glowing on a wooden table beside small product sachets and a delivery bag

Ecommerce

Quick-commerce ad rates climb 30-40% and squeeze D2C festive budgets

Brands cut discounts and shift spend to own channels as Blinkit and Instamart visibility costs jump ahead of peak.

Ananya Rao · 9 Oct · 4 min read

Stacks of polybags and hanging garment samples on a metal rack in a small warehouse corner

Platforms

Flipkart fashion seller base jumps 77% after zero-commission

New listings more than double as Big Billion Days begin, giving smaller apparel makers direct festive access.

Rhea Kapoor · 9 Oct · 4 min read

Empty apparel racks and folded garments on tables inside a brightly lit value fashion store

Retail

Trent Zudio crosses 1,000 stores as Q2 revenue rises 23%

Value fashion chain hits milestone in smaller cities while Westside eyes 100 annual openings funded by ₹2,500 crore.

Meera Iyer · 9 Oct · 4 min read

Open beauty product testers and mirrors on a clean white retail counter under soft spotlights

Ecommerce

Nykaa adds 14 stores to 338, clocks strong Q2 growth ahead of festive

Beauty and fashion both beat estimates; House of Nykaa brands and Nike drops keep the till busy while SuperStore scales.

Ananya Rao · 7 Oct · 4 min read

Stacked grocery cartons and bulk packs on metal shelves in a large supermarket back aisle

Retail

DMart lifts store count to 518 as Q2 revenue rises 18.4% to ₹19,206 crore

Strong top line failed to calm investors worried about same-store growth and quick-commerce leakage; shares fell over 6%.

Meera Iyer · 7 Oct · 4 min read

Modern empty fitting room with wall mirrors, bench and wall-mounted tablet under soft spotlights

Retail

Reliance Brands opens first Fabletics store in Delhi

Exclusive tie-up brings RFID fitting rooms and membership model to Indian activewear shoppers.

Meera Iyer · 6 Oct · 4 min read

Retail

Reliance Brands opens Fabletics store in Delhi

US activewear label debuts at DLF Promenade with RFID fitting rooms; Mumbai outlet planned next under exclusive pact.

Meera Iyer · 5 Oct · 4 min read