Mumbai, 20 February 2025: E-commerce has become a fulcrum of change for the Indian retail industry, finds a joint report by ANAROCK and ETRetail released today at The Economic Times Great India Retail Summit 2025 in Mumbai at the Jio Convention Centre.

The report finds that Indian e-commerce is expected to touch USD 550 Bn by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 15%. In 2024, the value of this vibrant and disruptive retail segment was estimated at USD 125 Bn. It is likely to touch USD 345 Bn by 2030-end.

Increasing Internet penetration, smartphone adoption, digital payment infrastructure, and a young, tech-savvy population are driving this growth. Government initiatives like ‘Digital India’ and rapid improvements in the country’s logistics and supply chain networks have further boosted its growth prospects.

“Besides the metros, e-commerce players are also tapping the growing demand from smaller towns and cities. Resultantly, the share of online shoppers from Tier 2 and 3 cities has increased to 56% in FY2024 from 46% in FY2020, and is expected to reach 64% by FY2030,” says Anuj Kejriwal, CEO & MD – ANAROCK Retail. “Meanwhile, the overall Indian retail industry’s market size is expected to touch USD 2,500 Bn by 2035, witnessing a three-fold increase compared to 2019. The report states that this growth is powered by rising disposable incomes, increasing urbanization, a young and tech-savvy population, and an ever-expanding middle class. Today, the industry is defined by sprawling malls and thriving e-commerce alongside traditional bazaars.”

” New mall supply across the top 7 cities was a mere 1 Mn sq. ft. in 2024, while absorption stood at 6 Mn sq. ft.,” says Anuj Kejriwal. “New supply is lagging far behind demand. Current supply and demand trends for mall spaces indicate a post-pandemic rebound in leasing, now largely driven by experiential retail. Apparel and the F&B sectors consistently contribute nearly 45% of demand, remaining the top footfall drivers. Also, post-COVID, the mall vacancy rate has declined from 15.4% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2024.”

The report highlights that major domestic and international retailers have ambitious plans to increase their footprint in India’s smaller towns and cities, resulting in a surging supply of malls in tier 2 and 3 markets which will, potentially, account for over 26 million sq. ft. of mall spaces by 2030.

STAMFORD, Conn., February 20, 2025 — Thirty percent of chief data and analytics officers (CDAOs) said their top challenge is the inability to measure data, analytics, and AI impact on business outcomes, according to a new Gartner, Inc. survey.

The annual Gartner Chief Data & Analytics Officer Agenda Survey was conducted from September through November 2024 among 504 data and analytics executive leaders across the world.

“There is a massive value vibe around data, where many organizations talk about the value of data, desire to be data-driven, etc., but there are few who can substantiate it,” said Michael Gabbard, Sr. Director Analyst at Gartner. “Often, organizations that regularly align to data themes outperform their peers.”

For the overwhelming majority (more than 90%), value- and outcome-focused areas of the data and analytics (D&A) leader’s role have become their main remit over the past 12 to 18 months and will continue to be a concern going forward. However, only 22% of the surveyed organizations have defined, tracked, and communicated business impact metrics for the bulk of their D&A use cases.

“Organizations are increasingly prioritizing the development of a robust D&As strategy to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency and this falls to D&A leaders,” said Gabbard. “CDAOs must accelerate data-driven and decision-centric vision by spotting important trends early to make proactive, informed choices about D&A strategy and building operational context around these drivers.”

According to the Gartner survey, 91% of CDAOs said that creating an actionable D&A strategy is a primary responsibility for them.

“We found that while creating an actionable D&A strategy is a primary responsibility for these CDAOs, more than one-third of them do not identify establishing and evolving the operating model as a primary responsibility,” concluded Gabbard. “There is a perennial gap between planning and execution for D&A leaders.”

Gurugram, 20 Feb 2025 – NOTO Ice Cream, India’s leading guilt-free ice cream brand, has raised ₹15 crore in its latest funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), with participation from JITO and Lets Venture. The funds will be utilized for expanding into Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, launching innovative flavors and formats for the summer, supporting marketing on food-tech aggregators and quick-commerce platforms, upgrading infrastructure, and boosting brand awareness through experiences.

Founded in 2019, NOTO Ice Cream has disrupted the ice cream industry by offering indulgent, healthy ice cream options that don’t compromise on taste. With a mission to provide healthier alternatives without sacrificing flavor, NOTO is rapidly becoming a market leader in the good-for-you ice cream category. The brand is also backed by well-known personalities such as John Abraham, Rannvijay Singha, and Kunal Bahl, who share NOTO’s vision of making guilt-free indulgence accessible to all.

NOTO was co-founded by Varun Sheth, a chef and serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in the hospitality industry, and Ashni Shah, a design and fashion enthusiast with expertise in marketing and operations. Varun’s entrepreneurial journey began with 1Tablespoon, which pioneered the concept of sourdough pizzas in Mumbai, while Ashni’s background in creative entrepreneurship helped establish her as a force in the hospitality sector.

Vinay Bansal, Co-Founder, Inflection Point Ventures, says: “Health-conscious consumers often struggle between satisfying their sweet cravings and adhering to a healthier lifestyle. The existing options often compromise on taste or nutritional value, creating a gap in the market for truly guilt-free indulgence. NOTO ice-cream is solving this problem with its unique flavours that don’t compromise on either taste or nutritional values. At IPV, we are drawn to the startup’s commitment to address a real consumer need. Their vision to redefine desserts aligns with lots of Indians, making it a scalable startup with meaningful impact.”

NOTO is operational across multiple cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune, and is expanding aggressively into new markets such as Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Lucknow. The brand is listed on food delivery platforms like Swiggy and Zomato, as well as quick commerce platforms such as Zepto, Blinkit, Instamart and Flipkart.

NOTO stands out in the competitive ice cream market by offering guilt-free indulgence with premium quality ingredients that ensure no compromise on taste. Its innovative flavors and formats, combined with its focus on healthier alternatives like low-calorie, low-sugar ice creams, have made it a top choice among health-conscious consumers. The brand’s ethos, “Eating, Not Cheating,” resonates strongly with customers.

Varun Sheth, Co-Founder & CEO, NOTO, says “At NOTO, Eating, Not Cheating is at the heart of everything we do – we serve desserts that are guilt-free and full of flavor. This funding fuels our expansion into Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, paves the way for more NOTO-riously good innovations. As we continue to redefine the ice cream experience, we’re excited to scale new heights. We appreciate IPV’s support in this journey.”

NOTO Ice Cream has garnered significant recognition, with notable achievements including being awarded “Product of the Year” for Chocolate Mini Bites at the Channelier FMCG Awards in 2022, being named “Most Loved Brand on Social Media” and “Top Consumer Packaged Brand” in 2023 by LBB x Nykaa, and receiving the title of “Best Vegan Ice Cream” for its Vegan Mango Raspberry flavor at the Peta India Vegan Food Awards in 2023.

The Indian ice cream market, valued at ₹228.6 billion in 2023, is projected to reach ₹956 billion by 2032. With a shift towards premium, healthy, and innovative ice cream offerings, the market is poised for significant growth, driven by higher disposable incomes and the increasing penetration of quick commerce platforms.

New Delhi, February 20, 2025: Engineers India Limited (EIL), a Navratna CPSE, is proud to announce that it will host the 43rd PSPB Inter Unit Badminton Tournament at the prestigious Thyagraj Stadium, New Delhi. Scheduled to take place from February 19 to 22, 2025, the tournament will witness participation from top players representing leading Oil and Gas companies, including ONGC, IOCL, GAIL, BPCL, Oil India, HPCL, NRL, EIL, IGL, and Petronet LNG.

The event is set to feature an impressive line-up of national and international badminton stars who will represent PSPB member organizations. Renowned players such as Lakshya Sen, Ashwini Ponappa, H S Prannoy, Aditya Joshi, Guru Saidut, Ruthvika Gadde, Saurav Verma, and K Sathish will take center stage, showcasing their exceptional skills and making the tournament a thrilling experience for badminton enthusiasts.

As one of the most prestigious sporting events in the petroleum sector, the PSPB Inter Unit Badminton Tournament serves as a significant platform for talented shuttlers from PSPB member organizations to compete at an elite level. The competition not only fosters sportsmanship and camaraderie among industry professionals but also underscores the commitment of the Oil and Gas sector to promoting excellence in sports.

With intense matches and an electrifying atmosphere anticipated, the tournament promises to be a spectacular display of skill, determination, and competitive spirit. EIL is honored to host this esteemed event and looks forward to welcoming players, officials, and spectators to witness world-class badminton action.

With her wedding to Adar Jain (Kareena Kapoor Khan’s cousin) just around the corner, Alekha Advani is setting major bridal beauty goals. Effortlessly blending modern elegance with traditional charm, Alekha’s look is a masterclass in understated glamour. From her perfectly contoured makeup to her soft, dimensional hair color, every detail was meticulously crafted to complement her radiant bridal aura.

Alekha’s makeup look was all about enhancing her natural beauty while adding a touch of bridal opulence. A flawless matte base, sculpted cheeks with a healthy flush of pink, and defined yet soft eyes gave her an ethereal glow. Her fluttery lashes and kohl-rimmed eyes created a captivating gaze, while nude-pink lips tied the entire look together with effortless sophistication.

Her hair, styled in voluminous waves, added the perfect romantic touch to her bridal glam. Ahead of the big day, Alekha entrusted Sneha J. Jhaveri and Neetu Jha at Vous Salon to achieve her dream hair color. Sticking to cool, ashy tones, Sneha customized baby lights with tip-outs using Schwarzkopf Professional, Olaplex, and Epres, ensuring soft dimension and subtle pops of color towards the ends. This carefully curated color gave her hair a luminous, multi-tonal effect, especially when styled in cascading curls, perfect for her wedding celebrations.

Talking about her wedding tresses, Alekha said, “For my wedding, I wanted a more natural and fresh look with tones of brown and ash so I came to meet Sneha at Vous salon. I enjoyed my experience because she was so particular about my hair color, and the process, she made me feel calm throughout, gave me a deep conditioning treatment as well, and made me feel special as I prepared for the big day!”

Draped in a gold mirror-work lehenga, Alekha exuded modern royalty, completing her bridal vision with statement polki jewelry featuring emerald accents. As she steps into this new chapter, her bridal beauty, crafted to perfection from hair to makeup makes for a moment truly worth bookmarking.

New Delhi, 20th February 2025 – Priyanka Kanwar, Co-founder and CEO of Falcon has been recognized as the “Fintech Leader of the Year” for her significant contributions to advancing financial services, technology, and inclusion in India. This recognition was awarded at the third edition of Digital Fifth’s Bharat Fintech Summit 2025, held in Mumbai. The award is the testament to Priyanka’s visionary leadership and relentless drive in revolutionizing fintech, exemplified by Falcon’s rapid innovation, including groundbreaking solutions like the Credit Line on UPI and the Falcon Portfolio Maximisation Tool.

The “Fintech Leader of the Year” award is presented to individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the growth and innovation of the fintech sector in India. The recognition highlights both business achievements and the broader influence a leader has in reshaping financial infrastructure.

Under Kanwar’s leadership, Falcon has processed over INR 10,000 Cr in transaction volume, and partnered with leading institutions, including ICICI Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, PNB, NSDL Payments Bank, and DMI Finance. By focusing on sustainable scaling, Falcon is building a foundation to drive transformative impact at scale while unlocking financial access for millions.

The Bharat Fintech Summit is a two-day event focused on the evolving BFSI sector, with an emphasis on digital transformation. It provides a platform for regulators, BFSI stakeholders, fintech innovators, investors, industry associations, and technology providers to share insights and collaborate. The summit’s goal is to empower participants with knowledge, drive innovation, and accelerate digitization, ensuring financial services reach even the most remote areas. This event aims to foster industry-wide collaborations and contribute to the widespread dissemination of the benefits of the digital revolution, advancing financial inclusion across society.

New Delhi, 20th February 2025: Leading luxury watch company, Ethos, has deployed Unicommerce’s Uniware suite of solutions to elevate the experience for customers to optimize order management and streamline delivery processes for its growing base of online buyers.

Established in 2003, Ethos operates over 70 Watch Boutiques in 23 cities across India. As an authorized retailer of luxury watches, it offers more than 70 premium watch brands, including Rolex, Tissot, Breitling, BVLGARI, Maserati, Corum, Hublot, Rado, Tag Heuer, and Armin Strom, among many others. Ethos also sells through its website and multiple marketplaces.

Ethos has adopted Unicommerce’s multi-channel order and warehouse management systems to streamline order processing from its brand website and various marketplaces. With this, Ethos aims to leverage cutting-edge technology to automate processes previously done manually.

By managing orders via Unicommerce’s unified dashboard, Ethos can optimize its order processing across multiple platforms, enable seamless check-out for high-value items, and also make after-sales more efficient. The automated shipping allocation also makes order tracking updates available to the end customer from the point when the product is shipped. Unicommerce’s technology also powers Ethos’ returns management operations. This ensures customers enjoy a hassle-free experience for all orders placed across different platforms.

The Unicommerce platform also allows Ethos to offer a wider assortment of products online, making store inventory available to shoppers across smaller towns and cities where their physical stores are not present, ensuring their commitment to making luxury products accessible to tier 2 and tier 3 buyers.

Speaking on the partnership, Nikhil Adhlakha, Head of E-Commerce at Ethos, said, “We are seeing a tremendous growth opportunity in the Indian market. We are optimistic that this partnership with Unicommerce will further strengthen our operational efficiency to meet growing demand.”

Kapil Makhija, MD & CEO of Unicommerce, said, “We are excited to support Ethos in scaling their operations and achieving their e-commerce goals. Our technology solutions have consistently registered faster order processing and reduction in operational errors for our clients. We are confident that we will add value to Ethos’ luxury e-commerce operations. ”

According to consulting firm BCG, the luxury retail market in India is currently valued at approximately $8 billion and is expected to grow to $14 billion by 2032. This rise in wealth is contributing to an ever-expanding demand for luxury goods across the country. The growth in luxury retail is not limited only to the big metros. Towns like Dehradun, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Guwahati, and many more are also showing a keen interest in premium goods.

Mumbai,20 February 2025: Only Women, an eight-month-old community of senior women professionals, began its giving-back-to-society initiative, Helping Hands, this Saturday with a visit to Mumbai Roti Bank’s kitchen at Chembur and handed over a cheque to the NGO’s Managing Trustee, D. Sivanandhan, former Director General of Police – Maharashtra.

Five members of Only Women were given a tour of the kitchen by Mr. Sivanandhan and the staff of Roti Bank. Nutritious meals including dal, rice, roti, and sabzi are cooked for thousands of underprivileged people, including children and patients, every day in a nutritious manner without any contact with hands. Only Women members later had lunch with Mr. Sivanandhan and ate the food cooked at Roti Bank.

Founded in December 2017 under Mr. Sivanandhan’s leadership, Mumbai Roti Bank has distributed about 20 million nutritious meals in eight states till now. Narrating the story of its creation and reiterating its vision that ‘no individual should have to endure the hardships caused by hunger’ Mr. Sivanandhan said, “95% of Roti Bank’s benefactors are the corporate houses. Students too collect money and donate to us, which I humbly accept. Some give us grains, some give us mobile vans to transport food and some give us money. I am thankful to all of them”.

Roti Bank is now looking for a 3000 sq.ft. built-up area to have its permanent kitchen. “I will pay for it,” says Mr. Sivanandhan, NGO’s Managing Trustee, and former Director General of Police – Maharashtra.“But I do not want to leave this mission incomplete. What happens tomorrow when I am not there? I want it to run even after I am gone. I want to hand over a permanent kitchen to the people who have stayed with me all these years, who can take forward this mission of providing food to those in need”. The area Roti Bank is looking for can be anywhere between Mumbai and Palghar.

“I have known Mr. Sivanandhan for over 20 years now and I haven’t stopped learning the art of humility, integrity, and dedication from him till today,” said Vidyottama Sharma, Founder & CEO, of Only Women and a former journalist. “For someone who wielded such amazing power as Mumbai’s police commissioner and as Joint Director of CBI, and is even credited with neutralizing the underworld in the city, it is so humbling to see him leave no stone unturned in feeding the underprivileged children and patients without taking a break. Only Women feels privileged to begin its Helping Hands project with a worthy cause,” said the former journalist.

Mr. Sivanandhan, equally happy with the visit, said, “Many people and organizations have visited the Roti Bank kitchen over the years. Only Women team’s visit is close to my heart as it was led by Vidyottama Sharma, a senior journalist, who I have known for over 20 years. It was touching that Only Women, a new community of women professionals, offered to help Roti Bank in any way they could. We all had lunch together. It was a happy meeting for all of us”.

Incorporated in May 2024, Only Women is a domain agnostic networking community and think tank of women thought leaders, with C-Suite executives, founders/ entrepreneurs, and senior independent professionals as members, who meet periodically to enhance their learning curve, deliberate on and take up issues related to women professionals, mentor younger leaders, strengthen bonding and support and have shared experiences. Only Women’s initiatives include expert talks series, knowledge series/ leadership series, roundtables, panel discussions, annual summits, sports events, job fairs for women, mentorship programs for young leaders, sensitization and knowledge workshops, social causes, education of children, and experiential events. Within 15 days of its inception, Only Women was invited to an international summit held in Athens, Greece and it participated in it with a six-member delegation. It also partnerswith  Vinayaka Law School Mission, Chennai in training students.

A cheque was handed over by the Only Women members to Mr. Sivanandhan. They included Vidyottama Sharma, Aavrutti Sharma, Nilu Kohli, Ashmi Parekh and Sapna Sharma.

Mumbai, February 20, 2025: Sony SAB is set to captivate audiences with its upcoming mythological, Veer Hanuman – the story of Lord Hanuman’s discovery of his powers. The show explores the incredible journey of Maruti’s transformation into the powerful Lord Hanuman, whose name is now synonymous with unwavering strength, loyalty, and devotion. The young and talented child artist, Aan Tiwari, will be seen portraying the young Lord Hanuman.

Keen to make a mark as the lead character, Aan has devoted himself to learning chaste Hindi and Sanskrit specifically for this show. As part of his preparation for the role, he has not only learnt the language but has also developed a deep devotion to Lord Hanuman and he has memorized 30-35 mantras while his parents have read him 12-14 books on Pavanputra Hanuman. His love for singing also plays a role in his preparation, as he often devotedly chants shlokas. Aan frequently discusses his character in detail with his parents, deepening his understanding of the role and ensuring an impactful performance.

An excited Aan Tiwari said, “I love to learn new things, and I took learning Sanskrit as a fun challenge. At first it was a bit difficult, but now I find it easy! Also, saying Hanuman ji’s special prayers makes me feel happy and close to him. I feel so lucky to play Lord Hanuman in the show and my friends are waiting to see me onscreen.”

Stay tuned to witness the beginning of an epic journey as ‘Veer Hanuman’ premieres on 11th March and will air every Monday – Saturday at 7.30 pm on Sony SAB!

February 19, 2025 – JBI Aerospace and VIK-COMPOSITE GmbH, Germany have announced a strategic alliance to strengthen the Indian composite industry, with a sharp focus on Aerospace, Space, and Defence applications.

Jayanthi Bhagatha, Founder and CEO of JBI Aerospace, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “VIK-COMPOSITE is committed to delivering tailored solutions that address complex challenges. Their emphasis on innovation, quality, and customer-centric solutions makes them an ideal partner. This collaboration will leverage joint efforts in manufacturing, material processing, and market strategies to advance the industry.”

Victoria Ruppel, Executive Director of VIK-COMPOSITE GmbH, Germany echoed this sentiment: “We are pleased to join forces with JBI Aerospace, a trusted and valuable partner in India’s Aerospace, Aviation, Wind Energy, Space, and Defence sectors. Their deep understanding of end-user requirements, combined with their market expertise, aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver high-quality composite manufacturing solutions.”

As part of its expansion strategy, JBI Aerospace is set to establish a state-of-the-art facility in India, aimed at reducing costs, shortening lead times, and addressing specific customer needs. This initiative will not only fortify support for the local composite industry but also enhance indigenous manufacturing capabilities through innovation and collaboration.