Business

Flipkart has announced a 50 per cent year-on-year growth in its food and nutrition category, driven by increasing demand from Gen Z consumers and shoppers in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, reinforcing the rapid evolution of India’s digital food commerce ecosystem. The company said Flipkart Minutes contributed 25 per cent of total category demand, while Tier 2+ markets accounted for 65 per cent of overall demand, reflecting the growing adoption of healthier, premium and discovery-led food choices across Bharat. According to Flipkart, Gen Z recorded 60 per cent annual growth, with protein oats, high-protein peanut butter, protein muesli and gourmet chocolates emerging as key demand drivers. Korean-flavoured snacks are also witnessing strong traction in metropolitan markets, while searches fo...

Flipkart Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Meghalaya State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) under its Flipkart Samarth Krishiprogramme to strengthen market linkages and create new sourcing opportunities for farmers in the state. The partnership aims to provide direct market access for Meghalaya's fresh produce, including pineapples, by connecting farmers with consumers across India through digital commerce. The MoU was exchanged in the presence of Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region and Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. Under the agreement, Flipkart will assist MSAMB in product quality guidance, demand-based quantity planning and onboarding into its digital commerce ecosystem. In return, ...

Vodafone Idea (Vi) has expanded its home broadband offerings by introducing a new plan that combines high-speed internet connectivity with access to popular over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms. The bundled package is aimed at customers seeking an all-in-one digital entertainment solution, allowing users to enjoy seamless internet services along with subscriptions to select streaming apps under a single plan. The move reflects the growing trend among telecom operators to enhance customer value by integrating entertainment services with broadband connectivity. As demand for video streaming, online gaming, remote work, and digital learning continues to rise, telecom companies are increasingly offering bundled plans to attract new subscribers and improve customer retention. The broadband p...

Fintech major PhonePe has appointed Srijon Biswas as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective immediately, as the company strengthens its technology leadership to support its next phase of growth. Biswas, who has been associated with PhonePe for nearly a decade, previously served as the Head of Engineering and will now lead the company’s entire engineering organisation. He will continue to report to PhonePe co-founder Rahul Chari. As part of a broader leadership restructuring, Rahul Chari, who previously held the position of CTO, has been elevated to Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO) while continuing as a co-founder of the company. His expanded role will cover technology, product, trust and safety, data sciences and analytics, customer experience, artificial intel...

Reinforcing its commitment to community healthcare and well-being, Shree Cement Limited, in partnership with VisionSpring Foundation, successfully implemented a comprehensive vision care initiative across East Jaintia Hills district in Meghalaya under the See to Earn program. Conducted between May and June 2026, the initiative sought to improve productivity, quality of life and overall well-being by providing accessible vision screening and corrective eyewear services to underserved communities. The program reached 1,500 beneficiaries, including 742 men and 758 women, reflecting a balanced and inclusive approach to community outreach. Through a series of eye screening camps organised across villages in East Jaintia Hills, residents received access to quality eye care services closer to...

**New Delhi, June 25:** Stayfree has expanded its menstrual hygiene portfolio with the launch of **Stayfree Xpert XL**, as the brand looks to strengthen its presence in India's growing feminine hygiene market through product innovation and wider consumer reach. The new offering reflects increasing demand for convenient, high-performance hygiene products tailored to modern lifestyles. Stayfree Xpert XL has been introduced with **3-in-1 protection**, combining **Gel Lock Pockets** for deep and instant absorption, an **Air Soft Cover** for a breathable and gentle feel on the skin, and a compact, individually wrapped design that fits easily into a pocket, making it convenient to carry and dispose of. The company said the product has been developed to address women's evolving period managem...

Vi Business has released the MSME Growth Insights Study 2026, revealing that India's small and medium enterprises are increasingly embracing artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital technologies to drive business growth and long-term resilience. The study found that 57 per cent of surveyed MSMEs consider AI a critical growth enabler, while 25 per cent have already integrated AI into their business operations. Drawing insights from over 2.5 lakh MSMEs across 16 sectors through the company's ReadyForNext digital advisory platform, the report recorded an increase in India's Digital Maturity Index (DMI) to 60.8, up from 58.0 in 2025. It also highlighted that 46.3 per cent of MSMEs have implemented cybersecurity solutions, while women-led enterprises outperformed male-led businesses ...

Vi's strategic partnership with global audio streaming platform Spotify signals the increasing importance of digital entertainment as a competitive driver in India's telecom industry. By bundling three months of complimentary Spotify Premium with eligible postpaid plans, Vi is seeking to enhance customer value, improve subscriber retention and strengthen its position in the premium telecom segment. The offer is available on Vi's individual postpaid plans priced at Rs. 451, Rs. 551, Rs. 751 and Rs. 1,201 (REDX), along with select family postpaid plans, where the benefit will be available to the primary member. Customers will receive access to Spotify Premium features including ad-free streaming of more than 100 million songs, offline downloads, over seven million podcast titles, unlimit...

Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) on Monday announced partnerships with five startups under the fifth cohort of its Maruti Suzuki Incubation Program (MSIP), aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, customer engagement, and sustainable manufacturing solutions, including electric vehicle battery recycling. The selected startups—MiniMines, Easework AI, Sarvam AI, Siftly, and CodeMate AI—will work on a range of technology-driven solutions. MiniMines will focus on environmentally responsible recycling of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and recovery of valuable materials, supporting MSIL’s sustainability goals. Easework AI will deploy agentic AI to automate procurement processes for non-production items, while Sarvam AI will enhance multilingual customer interactions using generative AI. Sif...