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Tag: trend

  • Apple sales and profit slip as demand falls

    Apple sales and profit slip as demand falls

    Tumbling iPhone demand drove an uncharacteristic decline in Apple sales in the first quarter trimming back its profit for the period. Sales of its iPhone range slumped 15 per cent year on year, and although burgeoning revenue from services like digital media subscriptions – up 19 per cent to a new high of US$10.9 billion – and other products compensated, total sales were down 5 per cent to $84.3 billion.

    Sales in China slumped 26.6 per cent during the period.

    Net income fell by $100 million, from $20.065 billion in the December 2017 quarter to $19.965 billion in the latest quarter. While the company championed setting “an all-time earnings per share record” that was a consequence of a share buyback program reducing the share pool rather than an improved bottom line.

    Commenting on the results, GlobalData Retail MD Neil Saunders said while Apple is still a money-making machine, the sales decline “symbolises a company that is starting to run out of steam”.

    “In our view, this is something to be corrected, not least because Apple is a costly company to run and it relies on strong revenue growth to drive up the bottom line. As this quarter’s figures show, failure to achieve that results in profit erosion.”

    Saunders said the slowdown in iPhone sales reflected Apple’s inability to come up with meaningful and valuable innovations that wow consumers.

    “The latest iPhones might be works of art from an engineering perspective, but they are essentially incremental products that lack the excitement and newness of earlier models. With the higher price points of top-end models, consumers expect a lot more for their money. The blunt truth is, Apple’s latest line up of phones doesn’t do that much more than the generations that came before.”

    He said the slowdown in China is a problem Apple shares with many other companies.

    “The country is suffering from more sluggish consumer demand which has put the brakes on retail growth rates across many sectors. However, the issue for Apple is that this has coincided with a rise in competition from local phones and devices which has helped to eat into its own growth. In short, China is no longer the engine of growth for Apple that it once was and this makes Apple uncomfortably more reliant on mature markets to drive revenues. Some of those markets, like Europe, are also not delivering – thanks to very high price points and consumers that are hesitant to spend on big-ticket items.”

    From must have to might buy

    Saunders said Apple’s iPads and some of its Macs are good, quality items, however they are simply not impressing the market and Apple is losing its lustre in terms of producing compelling products.

    “In our view, Apple has moved from a position of ‘must have this and must have it now’ to ‘might buy this at some point in the future’. Price increases may mitigate this but, ultimately, such a shift can only ever result in a softer sales performance.”

    While services are performing well, Saunders said Apple must push much harder.

    “Amazon is successfully creating an ecosystem of services through Prime. Apple needs to do something similar by building on its Apple Music subscription and its App Store offering. Movies and television content are also needed to propel sales.

    “In our view, Apple should seriously consider a big acquisition such as Netflix. Content is a big growth area and is becoming increasingly linked to devices. Apple needs to play more heavily in this space both to generate new opportunities but also to defend its own device business.”

    While Apple remains a solid and financially successful company, he said, a lack of serious and significant innovation means it runs the risk of diluting future earnings.

    “Apple thrives off serving a mass market; at the moment its moves to provide more expensive items to fewer people will ultimately do further harm to the bottom line. The clear blue water that once existed between Apple and its rivals is much diminished. The company has time to reopen the gap, but to do so, it needs to pull something new and unique out of its hat sooner, rather than later.”

    Cook’s positive spin

    Apple CEO Tim Cook delivered a positive spin on the results: “While it was disappointing to miss our revenue guidance, we manage Apple for the long term, and this quarter’s results demonstrate that the underlying strength of our business runs deep and wide. Our active installed base of devices reached an all-time high of 1.4 billion in the first quarter, growing in each of our geographic segments. That’s a great testament to the satisfaction and loyalty of our customers, and it’s driving our services business to new records thanks to our large and fast-growing ecosystem.”

    At the end of the quarter, Apple’s net cash balance was $130 billion.

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  • Ready-To-Eat Food: Millennial’s new favourite

    Ready-To-Eat Food: Millennial’s new favourite

    Convenience food is a concept that has been prevalent and popular in the western countries for a long time now. Globally, the demand for ready-to-eat (RTE) food products has been increasing over the last few years on account of busier lifestyle of consumers and their rising income levels. Similar factors are fuelling the growth in the packaged food sector in India.

    Increased employment opportunities have increased migration of people from tier 1 and tier 2 cities to metropolitans, which is an important driver for RTE food products in the country. Nuclear families and bachelors residing in metros for study or employment purpose are among the major consumers of RTE food products in India. The number of working women is particularly on the rise, which is again driving the demand. All these factors are creating significant awareness about ready meals among consumers. Growth in retail chains and outlets is also adding to the product awareness among consumers in the country’s, supermarkets, convenience stores and hypermarkets, which are emerging as the key points-of-sale for offering a wide range RTE food products.

    The Indian cooking styles have undergone considerable changes over the past few years owing to the advent of modern technology and several other changes such as urbanization, increasing working population, increase in female work population and the rise of nuclear families. People have been increasingly shifting to ready-to-eat food items in order to save the time involved in preparing meals.

    With the growing media awareness, literacy rates and standard of living, people have grown more responsive towards the health and hygiene standards associated with food products. There has been a shift witnessed in the customers focus from price to quality in the recent years, particularly in the urban and a few semi-urban areas. Consumers have been drifting from openly or loosely sold food products to the consumption of hygienically packaged fortified RTE foods.

    The Indian food and grocery market is the world’s sixth largest, with retail contributing 70 percent of the sales. The Indian food processing industry accounts for 32 percent of the country’s total food market, one of the largest industries in India and is ranked fifth in terms of production, consumption, export and expected growth. It is believed that the Food Processing industry will be a US$ 25 billion market in India by 2020. Out of which, the serviceable metro market is expected to be close to almost US$ 20 billion. The past couple of years have seen a tremendous growth of this segment due to high consumer acceptance for convenience food nationwide.

    A recent survey done by Assocham (Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India) says about 79 percent of Indian households today prefer to have instant food due to time constraints. With two working parents and families becoming nuclear, people prefer authentic, nutritious store bought options rather than spending hours in the kitchen after work. In recent years, the focus of the ready-to-eat market has gradually shifted from just homemakers or students to young professionals and families.

    It is found that 76 percent of parents in big cities, mostly both working with children under the age of five, are serving easy-to-make meals in some form or the other, at least 10-12 times every month! No wonder that the RTE market continues to expand at a brisk pace. The market for spreads, sauces and dips is now close to US$ 2 billion and growing at 22 percent CAGR. The RTE meals market is currently valued at INR 23 crore. It grew at a compounded annual growth rate of 3-5 percent in the last five years. According to data research company Nielsen, the breakfast mixes market is growing at 17 percent and is currently pegged at Rs 275 crore.

    However, as fancy as the various breakfast cereals available in the market might be, we crave the satisfaction that only a traditional dish can give. And hence the traditional brands are coming up with options that are suitable for the Indian palate. The traditional brands such as ITC and MTR have forayed into items such as bhel bar, pot upma, poha which can be had on the go, anytime, anywhere.To fulfil the demand of this large section of consumers, one will find a lot of new RTE brands in the market.

    Unlike the giant brands though, the new entrants are trying to create a niche category for themselves, be it breakfast cereals, canned, frozen foods, spreads, chutneys, and so on. Companies are looking to attract consumers within areas like olive oil, spreads and ready meals by offering promotions, new product developments, health and nutritional benefits and attractive packaging.

    The Indian consumer behaviour has been influenced by exposure to other cultures primarily in the West through travels, and popular literature. The ready-to- eat market is somewhat saturated in the West, hence developing countries like India are attracting the majority of big players in the promise of a high growth opportunity. The booming food sector, multiple food outlets, the popularity of international brands and distinctive distribution channels adopted by players are expected to help the market grow at a continuous pace.

    Consumers are increasingly realizing that majorly RTE foods are loaded with preservatives for a longer shelf life. Increasing health awareness, particularly in the young generation, is hindering the growth of this market. Still a large Indian population is price sensitive and therefore the price factor of RTE food makes them affordable only to select economic classes of the society. Hence it becomes all the more essential for new players in this field to marry convenience with health benefi ts to ensure convenience food does not mean compromising on quality. The key is to provide RTE food options focused on Indian taste for everyday consumption, which are is not harmful in the long run.

    This is the challenge taken up specifically by food tech start-ups who want to be considered as serious players and are getting into the game after years of R&D. With state of the art technology in packaging and processing to ensure the end product is not just a world class product that can eventually be on the shelves in countries across the globe but a product that is a strong contender in being a game changer.

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  • Food trends and their impact on consumption

    Food trends and their impact on consumption

    We are a young nation of 1.2 billion consumers. We are more connected to each other and the rest of the world than ever before. We travel within India and outside India more frequently. We are more informed about ourselves, about what we eat, about our environment and also about the impact of our consumption on environment. We see a large number of trends and counter trends that influence us. Some of these are fads that just pass away and some are here to stay. Here are some key trends that will have an impact on the way we consume.

    Food is an experience

    Indians have historically valued pure, freshly cooked home-made meals. The trend of eating out, widely prevalent in the West, has slowly emerged in India over the past few years. Eating out is no longer considered as a means of satiating hunger nor is it limited to the rare occasions. Shopping and casual outings, spending free time and experimentation are, not surprisingly, the new reasons for eating out!

    As per a recent Nielsen report, on average, Indians spend Rs 6,300 per year on eating out with affluent Indians spending approximately twice as much as their middle class counterparts.

    Usage of “Let’s Do…” for food is a true reflection of Food as an Experience. Consumers are frequently experimenting with a variety of cuisines, flavors, and combinations of food that were hitherto either unavailable or unheard of in the Indian market.

    Cross-cultural influences abound in dishes. Some examples of the innovative confluence of flavors are peri peri bhel, Schezwan and chocolate dosas and a wide variety of Frankies. Even the quintessential lassi can be found with a multitude of western influences such as chia seed additions and imported fruit flavors. Tikka and tandoori flavored mayonnaise, Indian versions of Chinese dishes, Chettinad sandwiches and paneer tikka pizzas are instances of Indian flavors seeping into western culinary dishes. The same is reflected in some of the food product launches.

    Variants range from quinoa rawa upma insta mix, smoky tikka mayonnaise & tamarind date chutney to beverages such as jamun kalakhatta, kokum, gol gappe ka pani, aam panna, and jal jeera made specifically as substitutes to fruit- based juice. These immensely popular products reveal the inclination of the Indian consumer towards mixing flavors.

    Health is Imperative

    As a nation, India is performing better on all indices of health such as quality and longevity of life. Indians are living better, longer and have healthier life spans. Thanks to mobile apps and wearable devices, it is possible to constantly monitor the heartbeat, quality of sleep, blood pressure and even the number of steps taken during the day. The entire idea of health has transformed from being curative to becoming preventive in nature.

    Although consumers are time constrained due to hectic work schedules, especially in urban areas, they are looking for avenues to build and maintain a healthy life style. While physical activity forms a core part of this endeavor, Indians are proactively choosing the right food products to meet their diet and health goals.

    Food products in the market range from breakfast cereals such as oats and muesli to vitamin pills. There is a marked rise in the consumption of baked goods, health biscuits, multi-grain flours, green tea and other health drinks. Furthermore, consumers are willingly buying premium products that promise health benefits. Some of the health attributes perceived to be the most important are high protein, high fiber, low cholesterol and low fat.

    Oats-based mango flavored, calcium and fibre-rich ready-to-drink breakfast option and power sprouts, honey dates flavored malt-based food drinks are good illustrations of healthy beverages available on the shelves. Snack packs of sweet and savory yoghurt and snack combos such as the Jalapeno Greek yoghurt with barley puffs are healthy replacements for the “in between meals” snacks that Indians are prone to eating. Packed khichdi mix infuses the health quotient of broccoli, carrots and almonds in the consumer’s diet. Another unique example is the gluten-free alternative to spaghetti made by cutting vegetables into thin noodle shapes or curls.

    Consumption of dietary supplements, especially in relation to adult nutrition, has also boomed. There is an emergence of “immunity boosting” foods as a major category in the market.

    These supplements can induce weight gain or weight loss or nourish the body with vital elements such as calcium, iron, omega 3 and vitamins. Moreover, active adults are consuming copious amounts of whey proteins and energy beverages.

    Consumers are as conscious of the wellness of their children as they are of their own. For instance, consumers are willing to experiment with chocolate-flavored nutritional supplements for children in a bid to ensure holistic growth. Busy parents who rely on prepackaged food or ready-to-eat meals are some of the key purchasers of probiotic drinks meant for children.

    The wide acceptance of health and wellness foods has created a Rs 10,352 crore market with a growth rate of about 10 percent. The sales contribution is the highest in non-metro but urban cities, at 40 percent. This is closely followed by rural areas at 32 percent and urban areas at 28 percent. The category penetration is highest in the south followed by the east.

    Natural & Ayurvedic Way of Life

    We see both these trends- Health and Tradition- coming together in Ayurveda and Natural Foods. The growing belief that natural products are uncontaminated and best is getting firmly ingrained in the minds of Indian consumers as the word “processed” implies a negative connotation of unoriginality. Ingredients recommended by our ancestors such as tulsi, turmeric, neem, lemon, mustard oil, ghee, saffron, amla juice, cold pressed oils of nuts and seeds are all finding their way on to the consumer’s plate. Food items made with these ingredients are not only considered as healthy but also as comfort food since consumers perceive that they have made a special effort to look after themselves. The re-emergence of yoga has only served to boost this trend. Consumers will continue to turn to nature to search for viable but healthy food options. This trend also manifests itself in organic foods though they are still a niche and are hampered by a lack of trust and high premiums. We foresee that the natural and ayurvedic trend will be stronger in the years to come and that multiple entrepreneurs will establish profitable ventures in these categories.

    Increasing Share of Proteins & Dairy

    The biggest trend as a Nation that we see is the shift to Proteins and Fats. For the first time in Indian history, milk has become the biggest agriculture crop at almost INR 5 lakh crore. It’s now bigger than all cereals and pulses put together and is 20% of the agricultural output. This shift towards fats and proteins from the traditional intake of carbohydrates for subsistence is the biggest perceptible proof of prosperity of the people. Though India is 70% non-vegetarian, it apparently has not yet crept into daily dietary preferences. Milk appears to be the most economic and culturally accepted protein source of daily diet in our country. It can also be seen as the reflection of the dietary habits of a younger India. In Modern Trade, we have seen milk and value-added milk products increasing their share and new entrepreneurs and new products coming up. We envision this trend to become stronger in the times to come.

    Startups in Food

    The emergence of modern trade and e-commerce has made it easy to be a single product company and has fostered innovation and entrepreneurship. Launching a new FMCG product is no longer the domain of multinationals or big players with financial and distribution muscle. Small and medium enterprises that were previously deterred by the huge capital investments required for distribution networks while launching new products can now easily develop and bring their products to the market in a cost effective manner.

    This has had a profound effect on the number of launches of innovative products in the market. Quinoa puffs, butter spreads, health and energy bars, pasta kits, packaged ready to cook idli/ dosa batters, raw juices, water based functional beverages, are all excellent examples of new age products built and marketed by small companies being widely accepted by the consumer base.

    In conclusion, the purchasing decisions of consumers are affected by trends to a large extent. As enablers in the consumer’s shopping journey, recognizing and translating these trends into viable business opportunities remains a key concern for manufacturers and retailers today.

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  • Chinese New Year to drive sales for businesses

    Chinese New Year to drive sales for businesses

    Despite lacklustre consumer sentiment, businesses are gearing up for brisk sales as consumers do their Chinese New Year (CNY) shopping for the much celebrated festival next week, with many businesses citing CNY as an important sales contributing season. LG Electronics Malaysia general manager of marketing Kong Mun Keen said festive season campaigns, whether CNY or Hari Raya, contributes bigger sales for LG.

    “We often see a spike in sales whenever festive seasons are fast approaching,” he said, adding that this year, LG Electronics Malaysia has allocated a “substantial amount of budget” for its CNY campaign.

    Although only a month into 2019, he said LG Electronics is “on the right track” in terms of sales.

    By distinguishing itself with its technology and product experience, Kong said LG’s strategy has always focused on reaching out to all Malaysians, evident through its brand store openings in 2018, where it works with partners to drive new consumer touchpoints.

    “Malaysia has always been a priority market, given that LG has secured and maintained a strong position in the home appliances and home entertainment segments here. With our premium and unique positioning coupled with innovative and consumer-centric products line-up, we are confident that there will always be a demand for our products here,” said Kong, adding that it is constantly ensuring that its products can integrate seamlessly into consumers’ lives.

    For big-ticket items like cars, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) executive director Tan Keng Meng expects its CNY sales to be about the same as last year’s or better.

    “It’s always CNY and Raya. These are the two peak seasons,” said Tan.

    In conjunction with CNY, ETCM added the new imperial red colour to the popular Nissan Serena 2.0L S-Hybrid Premium Highway Star, featuring a two-tone theme. Additionally, ETCM continues the introduction of Nissan X-Trail X-Tremer in passion red and two additional colour options.

    Meanwhile, a Uniqlo Malaysia representative said festive periods are traditionally good opportunities for retailers to grow their sales, adding that it continues to experience healthy sales growth this year.

    “We believe this is due to our commitment to produce high-quality products at accessible prices while keeping with today’s fashion trends. Customer service is also a top priority to ensure that our customers have the best shopping experience possible.”

    As with previous years, it believe that customers are always looking for something new and fresh to start their new year.

    “We are bringing many new items to the store for customers to choose. We will also be launching the Uniqlo U collection on Feb 1 for last minute shoppers to get their new year clothes.”

    The representative said customers are consistently looking for items that are value for money and Uniqlo is well positioned to meet their needs.

    Tohtonku Sdn Bhd head of marketing Vicky Lim said CNY is one of the peak seasons for sales with its back-to-back promotions in December and January.

    But instead of spending on CNY promotional campaigns, Lim said, the company, which markets personal care and household products with brands like Follow Me, Nutox and Nanowhite, still focuses on brand communications.

    A representative for The Body Shop said although CNY is not its largest festive season sales contributor, it dresses up its stores with decorations that symbolise the blooming of spring and the festive mood of CNY.

    “We offer prosperous gifts such as hampers. This year we picked British rose as the main product that appeals to a wider target audience and with its colour of pink, it’s in line with the colour scheme that represents CNY.

    “Our staff are also dressed in mandarin Oriental tops and we play both instrumental and vocal music that reminds you of CNY.”

  • The We Company Debuts Made by We

    The We Company Debuts Made by We

    Co-working firm The We Company (previously WeWork) has opened a retail venture and public workspace in New York. The Made by We retail space, cafe and workplace can be used by anyone without the need for a membership, with workstations and meeting rooms available for rent by the minute. The work space features products made by current WeWork member companies available for sale, from apparel to snacks to audiotech gear. It also houses a Bluestone Lane cafe.

    While headquartered in New York City, The We Company has WeWork shared office spaces in major cities across Mainland China, Japan and India, as well as in Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Busan, Seoul and Bangkok.

    “Made by We was launched with a vision to connect the We community with the rest of the world, and provide people with the best on-demand workspace, services and products, no membership required”, said company partner Julie Rice.

    “Everything we do at The We Company, from the spaces we curate to the service offerings we provide, is intended to create meaningful human connections.”

    View the gallery below for pictures (7 images) :

     

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  • Net-a-Porter launches kidswear with Gucci

    Net-a-Porter launches kidswear with Gucci

    After its Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana childrenswear pop-up e-shops generated a resounding “more!” from Net-a-porter.com customers, the retailer is launching a multi-brand kidswear collective. By “collective”, Net-a-porter.com means, quite simply, a tight edit of brands which have all created exclusive capsule collections for the website. Yeah Right NYC Kids, Alanui Kids, ATM Kids, Chinti & Parker Kids, Lingua Franca Kids, Golden Goose Deluxe and Veja make up the list of seven labels for girls and boys ages one to 12.

    “The new year felt like the perfect time to launch this collective,” Elizabeth von der Goltz, Net-a-porter.com’s global buying director, tells Mini Vogue. “It’s January – kids are back to school but there’s this idea of cosiness and wanting to feel comfortable.”

    The capsules, accordingly, reflect this: cashmere sweaters, comfy cardigans, track pants and trainers populate the new section. “Whether it’s for ourselves or for our kids, we are always thinking about wellness in January so this this an extension of that – it’s luxe athleisure for kids!”

    If the list of brands feels more offbeat than the global labels Net-a-porter.com first dabbled in the kidswear market with, this was intentional.

    “As an online global retailer known for our distinct fashion point of view, we wanted to take this and bring it to the kidswear market, creating something different from traditional retailers.”

    Von der Glotz is particularly excited about the patterned cardies from Alanui Kids collection and the mini-me versions of Golden Goose and Veja sneakers – two of Net-a-porter.com’s best-selling shoe styles.

    The e-tailer is confident it has quietly developed a recipe for success: “Our customers have been highly engaged with all of our kidswear pop-ups with most styles selling out within just a matter of weeks of launching,” she continues.

    Four out of five of the Gucci products sold were logo T-shirts, and the fifth was the belt bag. “It’s so interesting to see, as the pieces are in such high demand in our adult range too.” Starting them early is certainly paying off for the business.

  • International Food Business: Current scenario and future in India

    International Food Business: Current scenario and future in India

    The misconception about Gourmet Food in India is amazing. There are many who equate gourmet with imported food, which is far from the reality. To encapsulate what the concept of gourmet is all about, let me say that it is less about the food than about the person who is the subject of the word. The term and its associated connotations are used positively to describe people with a refined taste and passion towards food.

    Add the word gourmet to any food or drink and, voila, it feels fancier, more upscale and generally more desirable. Gourmet food connotes food and drink that takes extra care to make or acquire. Gourmet food has a certain flair around it as it is usually found or made only in certain locations. The ingredients used are usually exotic, hard to find in regular grocery stores, and they are usually unique in flavor and/ or texture. Gourmet ingredients usually blend herbs and spices in an interesting manner to add flavour to the food. For example, lemon olive oil spray, black truffle balsamic glaze, and white wine vinegar are a unique take on the otherwise simple ingredients.

    Being an advocate of international food business for over 20 years now, I have seen the F&B sector in India go through various highs and lows over the years. But the one thing that I can say with absolute certainty is that the gourmet food category in the country has a tremendous scope and potential to grow in multiple areas, many of which still remain a virgin territory for food companies wanting to explore the business of international foods. We have been working diligently to bring new and exciting global gourmet food brands from all around the world to India. We have built our reputation through a commitment to offer unique products at competitive prices and we strive to never compromise on the quality of products or services that we offer. It is a passion for many of us who function in the realm of international food business and we aim to bring diversity to our Indian consumer base.

    Two-Way Trade is the Key to Future

    We firmly believe in two-way trade and in the current globalized world, it is a grave mistake to keep our consumers deprived of food options and opportunities available elsewhere in the world – from gourmet cheese to epicurean chocolates to the varieties of rice or spices or fresh fruits or exotic vegetables. The list is never ending and we must continue to explore to make it even more expansive. Unfortunately, our trade figures have been none too encouraging on this count. In the calendar year (CY) 2016, India exported consumer foods worth US$ 11 billion and imported consumer foods valued at US$ 4.25 billion. While our exports grew by 0.50 percent over the previous year, imports showed a decline of about five percent.

    The low takeoff of international food in India is surprising considering that there are quite a few success narratives around it: Italian pasta, Vietnamese basa, mayonnaise, Californian almonds, Canadian canola oil, Chileans walnuts and Washington apples, to name a few. When we look at Italian pasta, considered to be one of the most gourmet ingredients in Italian cuisine, the product is widely available in the country – from hand made to artisanal to commercially made – and it has penetrated the deepest corners of the Indian market with extensive marketing, transforming the kitchens of the aspirational Indians.

    A commodity like Californian almonds, which has about 80 percent of almond market share in India, touched a whopping US$ 693 million sales figure in India for 2016.

    For imported foods to expand their consumer base in India, it must be kept in mind that Indian consumers are rational shoppers who want value for money.

    Obviously, there is no one-size fits-all concept for a country as big as India but to have a deeper market penetration it is important to learn from the market leaders and try to do things the right way. Many of us confuse India with China, which is just not the case as the Indian market has its own set of business dynamics and consumption patterns here continue to evolve and offer valuable lessons in business.

    Teething Issues and Role of Associations like FIFI

    While on the one hand, we are facing teething issues like those associated with demonetization or Goods and Service Tax (GST), on the other hand, we also have government agencies like the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India that is willing to think out of the box and listen to the version of the trade side. We, at the Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI), have given numerous representations to Government of India and are pleased to note that several of our suggestions have been entertained as we always had a logical and scientific presentation to make. We still have some pending areas of concerns but are pretty confident that the regulator and trade will be able to come together on a common ground in the interest of the greater good of the food industry and consumers. Food safety is of utmost priority for us and, as industry representatives, we want global suppliers to understand the fact that Indian consumers have become very demanding and want only quality products. We are clearly out of the era when international companies looked at India as a not very important market for their food products. For many global food companies, India is now a critical country for doing international trade.

    Government’s Initiatives

    The Food and Beverage sector is governed by several Government of India agencies like Ministry of Health’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Food Processing and Industries (MoFPI), Ministry of Consumer Welfare, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, and Ministry of Finance.

    With Government of India’s “Make in India” campaign, MoFPI aims to boost growth in the food processing sector by leveraging reforms such as 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in marketing of food products and by offering various incentives at the central and state government level along with a strong focus on supply chain infrastructure.

    – Government of India has relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) norms for the sector, allowing up to 100 percent FDI in food product e-commerce through the automatic route.

    – FSSAI plans to invest around Rs 482 crore (US$ 72.3 million) to strengthen the food testing infrastructure in India, by upgrading 59 existing food testing laboratories and setting up 62 new mobile testing labs across the country. Additionally, FSSAI has been aggressively introducing numerous notifications pertaining to imported Food and Beverage category.

    – The Indian Council for Fertilizer and Nutrient Research (ICFNR) will adopt international best practices for research in the fertiliser sector, which will enable farmers to get good quality fertilizers at affordable rates and thereby achieve food security for the common man.

    International Chains Entering Indian Market

    With India opening the doors to numerous international restaurant chains, the youth is able to break the tradition and try several new international cuisines. This exposure is generating employment, changing the F&B scenario in India, bringing in international business practices, world-class technology, standard operating procedures and opening the way for trade. These chains buy imported ingredients or products to get a marketing edge or when such ingredients are not available domestically. They are able to lead the way for upscale manufacturing in the country and create more avenues for employment. It is important for us as an industry to understand that our strategy should be to grow hand-in-hand with these international chains and to open more ways for doing business with all stakeholders. Some of these chains, which already have a sizable market presence in India, are Chilli’s, Barista, Café Coffee Day, Au Bon Pain, McDonald’s, Subway, KFC, Starbucks, Tacobell, among others.

    Market Size Growing Despite all Odds:

    Despite numerous challenges such as high base tariffs and the fallout from the implementation of new regulations like demonetization and GST, the Indian market for imported and international foods is showing a noticeable growth trend. India is emerging as a favorite market destination for many national and international players in the food business. The Indian foodservice sector is valued at US$ 48 billion and is anticipated to grow to US$ 77 billion at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10 percent by 2021. The Indian food and grocery market is the world’s sixth largest, with retail contributing 70 percent of the sales. The Indian food processing industry accounts for 32 per cent of the country’s total food market, is one of the largest industries in India and is ranked fifth in terms of production, consumption, export and expected growth. The Indian gourmet food market is currently valued at USD 1.3 billion and is growing at a CAGR of 20 percent. India’s organic food market is expected to increase three times its current size by 2020.

    The online food ordering business in India is in a nascent stage but has a huge potential and a promising future. The online food delivery industry grew at 150 percent year-on-year with an estimated Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of US$ 300 million in 2016.

    Emergence of Social Media

    We should not underestimate the role of the new generation bloggers and social media enthusiasts who are instrumental in shaping the trends and are helping brands and products to get visibility and gain popularity with the consumers. They are emerging as an alternative to the traditional media and are a less expensive media tool. However, they also act as watchdogs of quality and standards for the foodservice industry. Social media is helping to generate exciting stories around the foodservice industry but at the same time, we need more honest voices that understand the food business and its nuances better.

    Traditional Marketing Avenues Still Hold True

    While new marketing tools are becoming popular, the traditional methods should not be considered obsolete as they continue to have deeper penetration and visibility. Participation at trade shows and conferences, print and electronic media activities continue to rule the game and offer a range of visibility without comparable alternatives.

    Way Forward for the Imported F&B Industry

    The Indian consumers represent a community of diverse sentiments. A majority of them favour an experimental palate, which creates a plethora of opportunities for the international F&B sector in country. While maintaining a balance between aspiration and tradition agrees perfectly with the Indian palate, culinary trends originating in the West are promptly picked up by Indian social media and are translated on the ground with an instant recognition. The earlier practice of trends coming to India after three to five years of introduction in the Western world is now a thing of the past. This willingness to accept international trends without any inhibition has played a pivotal role in the marketing of international brands in India and has opened up the entire market for international foods. As a result, recent years have seen the launch of numerous new categories like gluten-free breads, organic chocolates and many others products in country. However, as mentioned earlier, it is important for us to ensure quality delivery to our consumers and adhere to the food safety regulations. We need a more organized voice in trade to echo the this message and to take the India story to many more global markets.

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  • How technology is revolutionising the foodservice industry

    How technology is revolutionising the foodservice industry

    We are at the beginning of the most radical transformation of the foodservice industry. Until now, technological innovations in the industry meant ordering food from an app or paying bill through tablets. But now restaurant owners are upping the ante, taking the game to the next level by experimenting with technology like never before. From introducing interactive smart tables and virtual bars to replacing servers with robots, restaurateurs are revolutionising the foodservice industry in the best way possible to enhance the overall customer experience.

    Interactive Smart Tables

    Mumbai-based Drinx Exchange has introduced electronic tech tables, where customers can interact with an electronic screen on the table they’re dining on. From watching live scores of sports, to receiving personalised offers, tracking their orders, paying their bill, and even singing along with the music in the bar, these tech tables will ensure consumers remain engaged through the time they’re in the restaurant. The screen also keeps giving them live offers that are just right for what they drink.

    The electronic table also splits the bill among the number of diners on the table and the payment can be settled on the table itself by scanning a Paytm QR Code on the screen

    Furthermore, the prices of drinks also fluctuate just like the stock exchange and customers can vote to crash the market price. Apart from this, the table also helps the customers in checking the status of their cab if they book it from Drinx Exchange app.

    According to Founders, Drinx Exchange, Rahul Dingra and Dibyendu Bindal, “The bar aims to ease the experience of ordering and makes it less stressful and more exciting for its millennial customers.”

    Virtual Bar

    The Beer Café has recently introduced ‘URBAR’, a virtual bar which allows patrons to reserve and consume their favourite brands.

    One can explore from a wide selection of alco-beverage, pre-pay and stock them in ‘URBar’. The latest ‘wallet for customer’s drinks’ initiative highlights the brand’s vision to redefine the alco-beverage space through technology differentiation and further strengthen its position as a pioneer.

    The patrons can log in to The Beer Café’s mobile app, and click on the URBar icon, reserve in the form of bottle (for spirits), keg (for draught beer), or case (for bottled beer) and start consuming.

    This not only gives patrons the privilege to buy their favourite brands at a special price but also benefits in the form of one price across the nation. A consumer can choose any portion he/she wishes to consume at any Beer Café outlet spread across 12 cities and save the rest for their next outing. The bottle/ keg purchased stands as a prepaid instrument and stock diminishes as the consumer opts to consume.

    There are multiple convenient ways of recharging the account. Customers can use an ‘online’ mobile wallet to add balance to their brew bucks – which is The Beer Café’s own currency. Or ‘pay at store’ by just walking into the closest The Beer Café outlet and the brew crew will be happy to assist the customers.

    What’s more, it also gives patrons the option to spread the cheer around by gifting customisable amounts of their reserved stock to friends, family and colleagues.

    Rahul Singh, Founder & CEO, The Beer Café says, “At The Beer Café, we believe that social drinking should first and foremost be about the experience. Our focus is to improve customer’s real world experience, their choices of brand and location. With the URBar feature, we are giving the users a chance to experience our differentiated proposition in the virtual realm. It is a delightful addition to the existing feature on The Beer Café mobile app. With this initiative we have raised the bar – quite literally!”

    Futuristic Robot

    Travel Food Services (TFS), travel food and retail company, unveils the latest in technology – Mitri, the robot, to make the experience of travellers interactive and fun.

    Mitri will be engaging with customers at TFS’s Dilli Streat outlet at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, and is the first ever airport installation in the F&B segment.

    Visitors to the Dilli Streat outlet will be met and greeted by Mitri, who will facilitate activities and engage with them by providing menu detail. It would also be offering food recommendations. Mitri is a testament to Travel Food Service’s commitment of enhancing the travel experience in India, and presents a true example of how technology like Artificial Intelligence can help improve customer satisfaction, and drive productivity and sales.

    Commenting on the latest technology, Gaurav Dewan, COO and Business Head, Travel Food Services said, “We are always on the lookout for latest innovative technologies that can enhance the experience and satisfaction of our customers. We are extremely excited to present Mitri at our Dilli Streat outlet at the Delhi Airport. With Mitri being such an innovative and futuristic concept, and given her success, we are hopeful to bringing her to more outlets across India.”

    Robots Replacing Servers

    At a restaurant in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s futuristic ‘FlyZoo’ hotel, tall capsule-shaped robots deliver food that guests have ordered via the FlyZoo app. Meanwhile, at a separate bar, a large robotic arm can mix more than 20 different types of cocktails.

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  • The rise of men’s cosmetics

    The rise of men’s cosmetics

    Chanel is launching a make-up line entirely for men Boy de Chanel collection in 2019, and other brands might follow. Just as Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel rocked the boat by flouting gender dressing rules in order to marry style and comfort in the early 20th century, the iconic fashion house is stirring the waters once again with a male make-up line.

    Striving to rewrite the rules and break free of gender codes, Boy de Chanel will boast three products to add to the luxurious French cosmetics collection in 2019.

    Almost a century after the European empire launched a make-up line for women, Chanel’s first cosmetic collection for men will see the products encapsulate the brand’s classical elegance through its midnight blue and white packaging, highlighting only the essential products.

    Touted as being a name that captures the essence of masculinity, the foundation, lip balm and eyebrow pencil are aimed at boosting confidence and erasing imperfections through a long-lasting formula that creates natural results.

    Chanel says its first make-up line for men “reaffirms the ever-changing codes of an unchanging vision” because beauty is not a matter of gender, it is a matter of style.

    You can expect the SPF 25 foundation Le Teint to have an “undetectable result” as it is described as being invisible to the eye and touch while offering a second skin with natural correction and high protection. It will protect skin from aging while allowing it to breathe through an airy micro-mesh leaving it shine-free.

    Promising to keep lips supple for eight hours, the moisturising lip balm is packed with jojoba oil and shea butter that leave a “featherweight effect”.

    Offering to boost self-confidence in one stroke, the Boy de Chanel eyebrow pencil defines and fills out the brow line with the spiral brush and tapered twist tip.

    Drawing inspiration from the female world of style to craft the timeless products, Chanel strives for inclusivity with “no absolutely feminine or masculine prerequisites” to empower cosmetic fans to be whomever they desire.

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  • Brands planning to cash in on rising menswear trend

    Brands planning to cash in on rising menswear trend

    This week, Nike launched its new collection of yoga wear for men. While this was the company’s first foray into men’s yoga apparel, the move was very much in line with competitors who have been making a push into the menswear apparel market recently. Lululemon, whose bread and butter has long been women’s yoga trousers, is one of those competitors. Former CEO Laurent Potdevin described menswear as one of the brand’s “best-kept secrets.” The company is now looking to grow this division into a billion-dollar business.

    Gap also jumped on the bandwagon last year, with its new casual menswear brand Hill City. But a push into menswear stretches beyond the athletic wear market – Madewell rolled out menswear in September, Saks Fifth Avenue recently closed its womenswear store in Brookfield Place but kept its menswear location open, sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen launched their own menswear collection for fashion brand The Row last year, and the list continues.

    These brands are all looking to capitalise on a big change in fashion, and that is that in the not too distant future, menswear may outgrow womenswear.

    Business intelligence firm Gartner L2 estimated that in just two years, revenue growth of men’s clothing will surpass that of women’s clothing. This data is backed up by Euromonitor International, which estimated that men’s lines will outperform women’s over the next six years. 

    “Fashion has always been about women but men are finally having their time,” says Lizzy Bowring, catwalk director at trend-forecasting agency WSGN.

    Bowring believes that the rise of a young, fashion-conscious male consumer is a key reason for this. “It’s the younger men that are driving the push for menswear,” she says. “These men are more savvy and aware, and there is a lot of competition to look the part.”

    Ayako Homma, beauty and fashion consultant at Euromonitor International, echoed these thoughts in an email.

    “One key trend is men’s changing perception of fashion. Men are spending more time, effort and money on their grooming and appearance,” she wrote.

    Experts say that this peak in menswear can be traced back to a boom in streetwear clothing, which has been driven by brands such as Supreme, Yeezy, and Off-White. These brands have experienced explosive growth in recent years and are considered to be redefining the fashion landscape.

    These labels have been embraced by luxury players, a move that has in turn given new life to some of the luxury brands.

    Louis Vuitton recently hired industry pro Virgil Abloh to become its new artistic director. Abloh is responsible for setting up perhaps the buzziest streetwear brand of all, Off-White, which was recently ranked the hottest label in the world.

    “The men’s business has exploded in the past five years,” Roopal Patel, fashion director of Saks Fifth Avenue said. Patel said the focus had shifted to bringing in newer menswear-focused labels such as Off-White.

    “We’ve gone from just category addressing to designers looking at how they’re going to wardrobe a man’s lifestyle, everything from work to evening to weekend to sport,” she said.

    Industry insiders say this trend is here to stay. “It’s more than a buzz. It’s a deeper trend,” said Sidney Toledano, head of LVMH’s fashion group. He continued: “There’s strong demand across the men’s fashion industry, in all its shapes and forms, and which comes in part from a younger clientele. We see it very clearly in the sales.”

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  • Love Yourself a BTS-themed coca cola

    Love Yourself a BTS-themed coca cola

    Coca-Cola launched BTS-themed bottles as part of its “Share a Coke” campaign on Monday. The bottles come in seven different designs – each one representing a member of the K-pop boy group – with inspirational messages referencing the group’s song titles. This year, the special Coke bottle labels read in Korean “Your spring day is today,” “I’m fine if it’s you,” “Run like yourself,” “You’re really dope,” “You are my idol,” “Go instead of worry” and “This year is blazing fire.”

    Bottles are also decorated with images of the members’ faces and vivid colors like pink, yellow and green.

    The BTS-themed drinks are available in grocery stores and convenience stores across Korea. They come in 350-milliliter (12-ounce) aluminum cans and 500-milliliter, 1.5-liter and 1.8-liter bottles.

    Coca-Cola in Korea has been launching special edition Coke bottles as part of its Share a Coke storytelling campaign since 2014. The campaign’s goal is to help consumers share hopeful messages with friends and family by exchanging the drinks with one another.

  • Era when eggs taking over Instagram

    Era when eggs taking over Instagram

    Eleven days ago, the anonymous Instagram account world_record_egg posted its first image, what appears to be a simple stock photo of a brown egg. “Let’s set a world record together and get the most liked post on Instagram,” the caption read. The photo has now reached that goal, with over 42 million likes as of Tuesday afternoon. It blew past the previous record holder over the weekend, the first photo Kylie Jenner shared of her daughter Stormi, which garnered only around 18.5 million likes after it was posted last year.

    It is easy to root for the Instagram egg and its other nihilistic siblings, like the halved white onion that only wants more Twitter followers than President Donald Trump.

    These accounts are not inherently interesting or important—many of them post barely any content at all—but they are made so because the internet decides they should win the attention lottery. In an era of rampant spam, thirst traps, and stolen memes, the egg became popular by straightforwardly asking for likes and nothing else. It is absurd. It is delightful. It feels righteous, charitable even, to help these accounts amass larger online followings than those of world leaders or members of the Kardashian family.

    Anything can be mapped onto the canvas of a blank brown egg, and so thousands of remixes have predictably been created that riff on the original. Ellen DeGeneres, for her part, put Kylie Jenner’s face on the egg on Monday, in the hopes that by putting them together, she can attract more engagement than the two most popular Instagram posts combined.

    Why did this egg take off where others have failed, that’s not clear. But the creator is clearly familiar with some of the engines of online fame. They tagged a number of people and publications that regularly cover viral memes like LADBible, Mashable, BuzzFeed, the Daily Mail, and YouTube star PewDiePie in the egg photo itself. Once the account took off, they began to sell “official” merchandise, including T-shirts that say “I LIKED THE EGG,” which go for $19.50. A request for comment sent to the email listed on the egg’s Instagram page went unanswered.

    The account behind the egg, which has nearly 6 million followers, is also an incredibly valuable marketing vehicle. Brands could spend thousands of dollars to advertise with it, according to sources in the influencer marketing industry who spoke with Recode. When the egg goes out of style, its creator could also sell the account or pivot to sharing another type of content with the massive audience they’ve already attracted.

    The egg’s creator may instead simply continue to try to profit off the popular meme, as other viral food sensations have before them. In 2014, after Zack Brown went viral for raising more than $55,000 on Kickstarter to make potato salad, he threw a potato-themed party and two years later released a potato salad cookbook. Carter Wilkerson—the teen who became famous in 2017 after Wendy’s promised a year of free chicken nuggets if he achieved 18 million retweets—went on to sell nugget-themed apparel for charity. Max Miller, the guy behind the half onion, also sells merchandise and claims a portion of sales are donated to charity too.

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  • Living Coral proves Color of the Year sells well

    Living Coral proves Color of the Year sells well

    After color forecaster Pantone announced its annual Color of the Year in December, Korean companies, spanning cosmetics brands to hiking-gear makers, have rushed into releasing products in the vibrant hue. According to Pantone, the color was chosen for being “animating and life-affirming” able to energize and enliven with a softer edge. The color, which stands somewhere between pink and orange, is also a reminder of the beauty of coral reefs, “a source of sustenance and shelter to sea life” that is only visible in a healthy environment.

    Coral is already a popular color for many cosmetics brands in Korea, and is annually one of spring’s trendiest colors.

    One of the first local collaborators with Pantone is cosmetics brand VDL. Early this month, the company released its “2019 VDL + Pantone Collection,” including a 12-color eye shadow palette, lipstick, primer and cushion packs, all featuring the trendy hue.

    This is the company’s fifth collaboration with Pantone since 2015; every January, VDL releases a lineup of cosmetics featuring the Color of the Year.

    Olive Young, a chain of health and beauty brands, saw a 45-percent sales increase in their coral- and orange-toned cosmetics from Dec. 17 to Jan. 7.

    According to the company, the major reason behind the increase was Pantone’s annual announcement.

    Unlike previous Color of the Year picks – such as Ultra Violet in 2018 and Greenery in 2017 – which are relatively difficult to apply as makeup, Living Coral goes well with many skin tones, while “naturally brightening” one’s face.

    In recent weeks, YouTube has been dominated with hundreds of videos of beauty bloggers applying Living Coral makeup collections.

    Living Coral is also influencing the design and fashion industries.

    Korean furniture brand Modern House teamed up with Pantone to develop a special series of home goods, ranging from kitchen items and bathroom utensils to home decorations and tumblers in the beginning of the year.

    Casual wear brand Uniqlo Korea set this year’s fashion key word as “24/7 Relax & Comfort” and revealed a series of spring clothing featuring vibrant colors, including Pantone’s Living Coral.

    Sportswear brand MLB has also released a collection of hoodies, puffer jackets, beanies and pants in different shades of coral.

    “Coral [is a very popular] color in various categories – from lipsticks to blush and eye shadows,” Olive Young said in a statement on Jan. 8.

    “The sales of coral-colored products have been increasing since the beginning of the year. ”

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  • ‘KAWS:HOLIDAY’ lands in Taipei

    ‘KAWS:HOLIDAY’ lands in Taipei

    After KAWS announced that a massive 36-meter-long COMPANION piece would be making its debut in Taipei, the collaborative project with creative studio AllRightsReserved has finally been revealed to the public. The largest sculptural work by the artist to date, KAWS:HOLIDAY depicts the recognizable COMPANION character in a seated position, overlooking Liberty Square in front of the famed Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

    Teaming up with Singaporean singer JJ Lin’s JFJ Productions, the exhibition kicked off with a grand opening event Friday evening, coupled with an exclusive merch release.

    The items include a range of vinyl figurines, ceramic plates, tees and tote bags that are available online and offline at the exhibition’s pop up shop.

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  • Organic Footwear: Is the Indian consumer ready?

    Organic Footwear: Is the Indian consumer ready?

    Footwear brand Neeman’s has partnered with The Woolmark Company – the global authority on wool – to launch a range of shoes made from 100 percent Merino wool. The eco-conscious brand showcased its attractive range of men’s shoes in New Delhi.

    Neeman’s is India’s first footwear brand to use natural, renewable and biodegradable fibre in its shoes. The brand’s footwear collection comprises joggers (multi-functional, lightweight running shoes), classic sneakers with a modern twist, and simple, yet elegant, loafers in subtle colours, fit for all occasions. Its shoes are suitable to wear throughout the year with the ability to withstand every weather condition.

    Celebrating the unique organic inclusion in Indian lifestyle through their exclusive men’s shoes, Taran Chhabra, Founder, Neeman’s explains that it was his own personal struggle to find a shoe that could truly provide all-day comfort. “This led me to look beyond synthetic fibres and my search ended with the naturally versatile Merino wool fibre,” he stated.

    Ajay Pradhan, Marketing Manager, The Woolmark Company, India says, “The Woolmark Company is looking at innovative ways to showcase the versatility of the Merino wool fibre and this collaboration with Neeman’s allows us to do exactly that. Merino wool is the world’s most revolutionary natural fibre that’s trans-seasonal, breathable and has a variety of eco-credentials, making it the perfect addition to your wardrobe be it in the form of luxury apparel or innovative. We cannot wait for consumers to try them and experience the natural benefits and versatility of Merino wool.”

    The Idea Behind Neeman’s

    Neeman’s focuses on two core principles – true comfort and creating a culture of sustainability.

    “We are focused on bringing truly comfortable footwear that looks good, feels good and is good for the planet. Today, when the whole world is talking of organic and natural resources, we decided to take undervalued ‘comfort’ for wearers to the heart of the shoe industry and follow nature’s path of environmental sustainability using natural fibres along with recycled and renewable materials,” Chhabra says.

    While in the pursuit to understand footwear manufacturing, Taran Chhabra had travelled to many footwear manufacturing hubs around the world and what he saw left him perplexed. He found that footwear manufacturing units use too many synthetic materials like nylons, polyesters and leathers and consume a lot of non-renewable resources like petroleum in the manufacturing process. Apart from this, the industry is responsible for emitting a huge amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

    “According to a recent study, around 10 percent of the carbon dioxide that is emitted in the atmosphere is by footwear units alone. So these things kind of hit me,” he explains.

    As a result, while making Neeman’s, he made a conscious decision to remove everything synthetic and unnecessary, and kept only the stuff that was required to actually make shoes. He chose a natural fiber like Merino wool from Australia in-place of synthetic materials. Merino wool is a superfine and lightweight fiber with features like moisture-wicking and breathable, naturally odour resistant and keeps skin cool and dry even in extreme temperatures.

    “Merino wool comes from Merino sheep, and all it takes is water, sunshine and grass to raise them. So we are not spending any energy, we are not emitting any carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, we are not using any petroleum based oils and we are preserving our environment,” he says.

    Another important component within a shoe is the insole. Traditionally the insole is made of petroleum based foams. Neeman’s also reduced the amount of petroleum based foam with a natural plant-based castor bean oil and recycled rubber.

    A Global Brand

    The shoes—conceptualised in America and designed in London—are made from the finest Merino wool sourced from Australia. The Merino wool then travels to South Korea, where it goes through a proprietary process of combing, drawing, steaming and being made into a fabric. There, three different type of fabrics are being produced, one for the shoe upper, another for the insole and a third for lining the shoe. Then the fabric travels to China, where a highly specialised women-owned shoe manufacturing unit—which has been in operation for the past 30 years—assembles the shoes. After that the shoes finally reach India to be sold.

    Market, Consumer & Retail Strategies

    The opportunity for brands like Neeman’s in India is immense. “The Indian footwear market is very vast. India is the second largest in terms of footwear manufacturing and the third largest in terms of consumption. It is just behind China,” says Chhabra.

    Operating within the premium range, the brand’s target consumers are the one who seek comfort. Precisely, any male from 26 to 40 years is its target customer. “Just by looking at the consumption rate in India, there is a vast segment that looks at economy range but there is still a major segment that looks at premium range and we fall within the premium segment,” he says.

    At present, it is being sold through its website (www.neemans.com). Being a direct-to-consumer, the brand has excellent customer acquisition strategies to share, such as educating its consumers through content on social media. “We plan to travel and organise several demo locations, pop-ups locations within major places where people can come and experience our products,” Chhabra says.

    The brand is taking expansion slowly

    “We aren’t giving our shoes to outlets for now. The focus is to drive people to our website and help them understand what Neeman’s stands for. So right now we are keeping a very close hold on how and where our product is being represented. Right now our focus is India and then may be to spread Neeman’s to different countries within Asia in the next year,” he concludes.

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