Franchise Business Opportunities In India

Urban mobility startup Rapido has secured $240 million in a funding round led by Prosus, valuing the company at $3 billion. This raise is part of a larger $730 million round and will be used to expand markets, grow its captain network, and enhance technology. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/e-commerce/e-tailing/rapido-raises-240-million-from-prosus-westbridge-accel-at-3-billion-valuation/131113004

In a dynamic development for the Indian electronics sector, Skyworth Group from China has teamed up with Jaina Group to manufacture and promote Panasonic televisions within India. With Jaina Group likely to own the majority share in this venture, the partnership, formalized through a recently signed agreement, is poised to bolster the Panasonic TV brand and enhance local supply chains. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/consumer-durables-and-information-technology/consumer-electronics/skyworth-and-jaina-group-form-jv-to-make-panasonic-tvs-in-india/131108062

SoftBank's Indian investments faced a significant downturn in the January-March quarter. Several prominent companies like Swiggy and Ola Electric saw their market value drop. This led to substantial paper losses for SoftBank's Vision Fund. Despite overall gains from other investments, the Indian portfolio's performance highlights recent market challenges. SoftBank has been a major investor in India's startup ecosystem. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/softbank-logs-600-million-paper-loss-on-india-listed-portfolio-in-march-quarter/131080666

Zoho Corporation has invested Rs 70 crore in ONDC to bolster India's sovereign technology and empower MSMEs. This move aims to make digital commerce more accessible, enabling small businesses to expand their reach and achieve growth. ONDC, backed by various financial institutions and government bodies, facilitated 218 million transactions in FY26. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/e-commerce/e-tailing/enterprise-software-company-zoho-invests-rs-70-crore-in-ondc/131062611

India's vegetable oil imports surged 13 percent to 7.94 million tonnes in the first half of the 2025-26 oil year. Palm oil shipments nearly doubled, boosting overall imports. This increase occurred despite rising global cooking oil prices and a depreciating Indian rupee. Edible oil imports formed the bulk of the total. Stocks are now higher, indicating improved supply availability. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/personal-care-pet-supplies-liquor/indias-vegetable-oil-imports-jump-13pc-in-first-half-of-2025-26-on-palm-oil-surge/131058442

Flipkart's bid to exempt delivery charges from GST by classifying itself as a Goods Transport Agency has been rejected by the West Bengal Appellate Authority. The ruling found Flipkart's model to be a 'legal fiction,' not a genuine GTA service, emphasizing its organized logistics operations. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/e-commerce/e-tailing/west-bengal-tax-body-rejects-flipkarts-gst-exemption-model-for-delivery-charges/131054111

Amidst calls to conserve forex, the All India Jewellers and Goldsmith Federation proposed a dedicated bullion bank and revamped gold monetisation schemes. These initiatives aim to reduce India's annual gold import dependence by 200-300 tonnes. High gold imports, driven by price surges, have significantly widened the trade deficit and impacted the current account deficit. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/apparel-fashion/jewellery/pm-modi-wants-indians-to-buy-less-gold-but-jewellers-suggest-three-ways-to-save-forex-without-any-sacrifices/131029782

India will not restrict international card usage or increase import duties on gold and silver. Government sources clarified this amid concerns over the country's import bill and foreign exchange reserves. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier urged for reduced spending on imported commodities like fuel and gold. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/apparel-fashion/jewellery/india-has-no-plans-to-raise-gold-silver-import-duties-govt-source-says/131028552

Tata Consumer Products is set for strong growth by 2027. The company will use its popular brands and varied products to achieve this. Smart price adjustments will help manage rising costs. Easing coffee prices and stable tea costs also support this positive outlook. Investors are showing confidence in Tata Consumer's future performance and its ability to handle market challenges. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/personal-care-pet-supplies-liquor/tata-consumer-banks-on-strong-brands-selective-price-hikes-to-fuel-double-digit-growth/131007121

Wingreens World has acquired Safe Harvest in a share swap deal, marking Wingreens' fifth acquisition. The company also secured over ₹120 crore in Series D funding. Wingreens is working towards a public listing in two years. Recent months have seen significant consolidation in the consumer health and wellness sector. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/personal-care-pet-supplies-liquor/wingreens-world-goes-for-safe-harvest-via-share-swap-route/131002877

India's top retailers added 2,182 stores in FY26, the highest in three years, driven by rising demand, tax cuts, and growing consumer preference for organised retail in smaller towns. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/retail-chains-like-reliance-retail-dmart-go-on-store-expansion-spree-as-demand-recovers/130970566

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 559.13 crore in the January-March quarter a year ago, according to a regulatory filing by Britannia Industries. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/personal-care-pet-supplies-liquor/britannia-q4-profit-rises-21-pc-to-rs-679-cr-fy26-revenue-up-16-5-pc/130948535

In an internal email sent to its employees, reviewed by ET, the company said, “...your role has been impacted as part of our transition from Bangalore to base locations.” It added that the affected employees will receive severance pay equivalent to two months of their salaries. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/e-commerce/e-tailing/grocery-delivery-startup-apna-mart-culls-10-of-staff-moves-base-to-gurugram/130879601

Zappfresh is in discussions to acquire a majority stake in GM Foods. This move aims to expand Zappfresh's product offerings. The company is also strengthening its presence in the frozen vegetarian snacks market. This potential deal follows Zappfresh's recent acquisitions. It signals Zappfresh's strategy to increase competition in the food delivery sector. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/personal-care-pet-supplies-liquor/zappfresh-in-talks-for-majority-stake-in-gm-foods/130843839

“At Croma, our expansion into the healthcare and fitness segment is centred on building a comprehensive portfolio of advanced wearables and preventive health technologies… This includes smartwatches, fitness trackers and smart rings, with a clear focus on products that go beyond basic tracking to deliver deeper, personalised insights,” said Shibashish Roy, CEO and MD, Infiniti Retail. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/consumer-durables-and-information-technology/consumer-electronics/croma-bets-on-health-tech-push-brings-in-smart-rings-partners-oura/130822112

US video game retailer GameStop made a takeover bid on Sunday to buy eBay for about $55.5 billion in an attempt to turn the online marketplace into a competitor to e-commerce giant Amazon. "It could be a legit competitor to Amazon." from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/e-commerce/e-tailing/gamestop-makes-56-billion-takeover-bid-for-ebay/130815723

The maker of Maggi noodles, Nescafe and KitKat struck a cautious note, saying it will "wait and watch" as "nobody can predict the situation two months down the line" amid "geopolitical tensions, some concerns around the monsoon", and fluctuating commodity costs. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/personal-care-pet-supplies-liquor/nestle-india-looks-for-volume-led-growth-despite-price-volatility-amid-geopolitical-uncertainties/130746204

Raju Antony Pullan, head of Samsung India's mobile phone business, has resigned. Pullan, a senior vice president, served the company for 18 years. He was responsible for sales, marketing, and all smartphone business functions. The Korean giant has not yet announced his successor. Samsung faces pressure in the mobile market, having lost leadership to Chinese brands. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/consumer-durables-and-information-technology/mobiles/samsung-india-mobile-head-raju-antony-pullan-resigns-after-18-years/130673850

Amazon Now's quick commerce orders are experiencing 25% month-on-month growth, with Prime members tripling their shopping frequency. The company plans to expand the service to 100 cities, supported by over 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers, as part of a significant investment in Indian infrastructure. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/e-commerce/e-tailing/amazon-now-orders-growing-25-month-on-month-ceo-andy-jassy-in-q1-earnings-call/130624885

Adidas, the iconic German athletic apparel company, has kicked off the year on a high note, revealing first-quarter results that have left analysts thrilled. Operating profits soared beyond expectations, thanks to strong consumer appetite for their products, even as they faced hurdles in particular regions. from Top Retail News | Latest Retailing & Retail Industry Information and Updates: ET Retail : ETRetail.com https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/apparel-fashion/footwear/adidas-reports-strong-first-quarter-sales-and-profit-despite-very-volatile-market/130599729