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• Godrej opens Asia’s largest soap factory in Madhya Pradesh

  Godrej Consumer Products inaugurated its new unit in Malanpur, which is now Asia's largest soap factory. This facility, costing over Rs 450 crore, will produce 4,000 soaps every minute. The Chief Minister highlighted Madhya Pradesh's successful implementation of investment MoUs. He also noted the state's increased foreign export potential reaching Rs 76,000 crore. Godrej expressed readiness to work towards malaria-free status by 2030.

  

• Japanese textile firms, including Uniqlo, eye higher investment, sourcing from India: Goyal

  Japanese textile giants, notably Uniqlo, are eyeing deeper investments in India, indicating a shift towards sourcing products locally for their international lines. During a recent meeting, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal engaged with Uniqlo's CEO to explore opportunities in retail and manufacturing partnerships. With a keen focus on quality, Indian enterprises are gearing up to align with Japan's stringent textile and food industry standards.

  

• Capital Group sells 1 pc stake in D-Mart for Rs 2,537 cr

  Capital Group has divested a 1.04 percent stake in Avenue Supermarts for a hefty Rs 2,537 crore, selling over 67 lakh shares at an average of Rs 3,750.58 each. This decision led to a dip in Avenue Supermarts’ stock price, which is the parent company of D-Mart. However, the company recently boasted an impressive 11.33 percent rise in net profit and experienced significant growth in revenue during the June quarter.

  

• Hisense plans pan-India expansion, eyes top three position among TV brands

  Hisense, the Chinese electronics powerhouse, is embarking on a major expansion in India. The company plans to introduce a range of home appliances, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines across the nation. In addition, Hisense aims to solidify its presence in the premium television market, targeting a spot among the top three TV brands in India within two years, featuring its new 116-inch 4K Mini RGB television.

  

• Nestle backs stricter food labelling norms, says transparency key for consumers

  Global CEO of Nestle, Philipp Navratil, expresses support for FSSAI's actions against deceptive food labeling, highlighting the necessity for consumers to be informed about food contents. He affirmed Nestle's existing practice of ingredient and calorie disclosure in India and expressed approval for new front-of-pack labeling regulations that encourage healthier consumer decisions. Recognizing India's potential, Navratil reaffirmed Nestle's dedication to aligning with consumer priorities.

  

• India's D2C boom is entering a new phase: Less big-money chasing, more business building

  India's direct-to-consumer sector is maturing, with investors becoming more selective. Funding has shifted towards younger companies and early-stage ventures. Established brands like Lenskart and Licious continue to lead in funding. The stock market and acquisitions by large firms are now key exit routes.

  

• Nestle CEO outlines new road map for "very attractive" India market

  Nestle SA is gearing up for major investments in India, positioning it as a key player in its global operations. With a vision to rank among its top five markets, Nestle recognises the potential of the burgeoning middle class and rising consumption, the company's CEO said. The new strategy will emphasize growth in volume and product quality while enhancing India's significance as a manufacturing and export hub.

  

• Wipro Consumer Care enters pet food market with launch of Snuggles

  The launch of Snuggles marks Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting's debut in the booming pet food market of India. This new brand features dry dog food crafted from human-grade ingredients, promising exceptional taste and nutrition accessible to all pet owners. Snuggles targets various life stages, highlighting Wipro's ambition to become the preferred pet food brand in the nation, fostering a loving bond between pets and their families.

  

• The business shift in India's ₹7 lakh crore market amid gold cost pressure

  Indian jewellery sales show resilience despite lower gold volumes. Consumers now buy lighter pieces and focus on value per gram. Organised jewellers are expanding by offering diamonds and newer designs. Recycled gold is becoming a significant growth driver for retailers. The market is shifting towards branded retail and experience-driven environments.

  

• Dmart owner eyes debt market comeback after 7-year hiatus, bankers say

  Avenue Supermarts is preparing to venture into the corporate debt market shortly. The retailer intends to secure around ten billion rupees via bonds with a maximum maturity of three years. Notably, the company last issued bonds back in October 2019. There is significant interest from mutual funds in these investment opportunities.

  

• India’s next fashion opportunity lies in profitable premium brands, not scale at any cost

  At the trialogue “From Managing Brands to Creating Brands: What Does It Take to Build the Next Fashion Success Story?” at the 4th ETRetail ShopFWD Summit 2026, Vineet Gautam, Founder, 91Brands, and Rajesh Narkar, Co-Founder & CEO, Confluxe, said India’s rising aspirations are opening room for multiple premium fashion businesses, but sustainable growth will depend on disciplined positioning, strong unit economics, technology and profitability rather than chasing topline alone.

  

• Omnichannel growth demands one customer journey, not competing channel P&Ls

  At the panel discussion “The Omnichannel Imperative: How Brands Are Winning Beyond Direct” at the 4th ETRetail ShopFWD Summit 2026, leaders from TEN x YOU, Tresmode, Koskii, Banana Club, Kushals Fashion Jewellery, Express Avenue, Escape Plan and Unity Group said brands must move beyond online-versus-offline thinking, using data, speed, localised assortments and aligned incentives to follow consumers seamlessly across channels.

  

• Brands must give creators creative freedom to turn influence into commerce: Kaviya Ravichandran, Vibha Sree

  At the trialogue “From Content to Commerce: How Creators Are Redefining Fashion Retail Experiences” at the 4th ETRetail ShopFWD Summit 2026, lifestyle creators Kaviya Ravichandran and Vibha Sree said branded content converts best when it remains authentic to the creator’s voice, audience and price context, cautioning brands against forcing conventional advertising formats into creator-led commerce.

  

• Fashion retail’s inventory race is shifting from ‘less stock’ to ‘smarter stock’

  At the panel discussion “Inventory in the Experience Era: Less Stock, More Stories?” at the 4th ETRetail ShopFWD Summit 2026, supply chain and merchandising leaders from Taniera, Bazaar Style Retail and Triumph Group said the real opportunity lies not in indiscriminately cutting inventory, but in improving availability, speeding replenishment, localising assortments and using data to put the right product in the right store at the right time.

  

• Mixed-use developments can lower costs and unlock more footfall: Unity Group’s Harsh Bansal

  Speaking with Charu Lamba, Deputy Editor, ETRetail, during the fireside chat “Beyond Single-Use: Is Mixed-Use the Smarter Development Model?” at the 4th ETRetail ShopFWD Summit 2026, Harsh Bansal, Co-Founder, Unity Group, said combining retail with offices, hotels, serviced apartments and entertainment can improve infrastructure utilisation, reduce operating costs and create complementary demand across the week.

  

• Analog watches are back as young consumers build ‘watch wardrobes’: Fossil India’s Johnson Verghese

  Speaking with Charu Lamba, Deputy Editor, ETRetail, during the fireside chat “From Time Keeping to Self Expression” at the 4th ETRetail ShopFWD Summit 2026 in Bengaluru, Johnson Verghese, MD, Fossil India, said watches are increasingly shifting from functional timekeeping devices to expressions of identity, occasion and personal style, with younger consumers driving collection-led buying and premiumisation.

  

• Retail’s next tech challenge is turning customer data into real-time action inside stores

  At the panel discussion “Can Tech Truly Personalise Physical Retail by 2047 or Will Pave Way for Something New?” at the 4th ETRetail ShopFWD Summit 2026, leaders from GIVA, Titan Watches, Bangalore Airport City, Ramraj Cotton, SAS Infra and Urbanic said technology will increasingly connect discovery, inventory and customer intelligence, but physical retail will continue to depend on human interaction, trust and experiences strong enough to create desire.

  

• Onion price rise: Centre to sell onions at Rs 35/kg in Delhi from Thursday

  Starting Thursday, the government will sell onions in Delhi at a subsidised price of Rs 35 per kg. This initiative is designed to tackle the recent surge in onion prices nationwide. Consumers can purchase these subsidised onions from Nafed, NCCF, and Kendriya Bhandar outlets as the Centre uses its buffer stock to maintain a steady supply.

  

• Biryani Bees raises funding from Vivek Oberoi family office to expand across Tier 2 cities

  Biryani Bees aims to build what it describes as the “McDonald’s of Biryani” — a standardised, affordable and scalable Indian food brand focused on everyday meals.

  

• Bikaji Foods sells 30 per cent stake in baked foods subsidiary to Bakemart founder

  Bikaji Foods International announced selling a thirty percent stake in its subsidiary. This significant stake was acquired by industry veteran Thayekunni Khaleel. Bikaji Bakes Private Limited is no longer a wholly owned subsidiary of Bikaji Foods. Bikaji Foods International retains the remaining seventy percent ownership of the subsidiary. The company's shares saw a notable increase following this strategic business announcement.