Beyond Meat, Plant-Based Meat Brand of USA Forays Into India Through Allana Consumer Products Private Limited

Allana Consumer Products Private Limited, a subsidiary of the reputed Allana Group has furthered its offerings in India to include plant-based meat by introducing Beyond Meat. Through the introduction, Allana Consumer Products aims to cater to the growing demand of healthier and guilt free foods in the country and offer the best quality product available in the globe.

Beyond Meat is the pioneer and market leader in the United States for plant-based proteins, offering unrivalled taste and quality which many traditional meat eaters often find hard to distinguish. One of the brand’s key attributes, is offering consumers a chance to be part of the green revolution taking place around the world, without compromising on taste.

Allana Consumer Products has allied with Beyond Meat on a pan India basis to distribute their globally acclaimed offerings in the Indian market. The range includes delicious Beyond Burger, Beyond Sausage, Beyond Meatballs and Beyond Mince which are made of simple, plant-based ingredients and designed to deliver the same taste and texture as that of animal-based meat, while being better for people and the planet. It may be mentioned that Beyond Meat products do not contain any GMO, gluten, soy, or cholesterol.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Milind Pingle, CEO of Allana Consumer Products Division says, “India is moving towards healthier lifestyle choices and people are looking for products which are sustainable and better for the environment.  Our aim is to encourage such changes for the betterment of health and lifestyle. Thus, it is our immense pleasure to announce Allana Consumer Products’ collaboration with Beyond Meat to bring the premium taste of meat to the ever-growing demand for vegan and healthy living community in India”.

These products are a great alternative for conflicted carnivores who are reducing meat and looking to nourish themselves (and often their families) with better protein options. While highlighting how indistinguishable the products are, Mr. Pingle stated, “Beyond Meat is a brand that offers a wide range of products that are rich in terms of quality, starting from the texture that gives the consumer a feeling of eating meat and appetising taste which satisfies the taste buds. Infact, the world-class Beyond Meat range resonates with the forward looking, innovative and progressive values Allana Consumer Products stands for.“

Beyond Meat’s range of products are currently available in more than 26 cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and are available through gourmet stores such as Nature’s Basket, Le Marche, Modern Bazaar, Spencer’s etc. and also on reputed E-commerce portals such as Urban Platter, Vegan Dukan, Vegan World, Vvegano, Alt Mart and many more.

According to Industry estimates, the plant-based meat market is currently around Rs 300 crores and is expected to accelerate to Rs 3500 crores by 2026. 

SBI Surpasses Rs. 6 Trillion AUM In Residential Home Loans, Announces Festive Bonanza For Home Loan Buyers

·         The first bank in the country to achieve Rs. 6 Trillion (Rs. 6 Lakh Crore) milestone in the category

·         To mark this milestone and celebrate the season of festivals, SBI announces a bouquet of offerings for its home loan buyers

·         Offering a concession of up to 0.25% with the loans now starting @ 8.40%

·         The interest rate will also apply to balance transfer cases

·        Bank has waived processing fees on Home Loans till 31st January, 2023

India’s largest home loan provider, the State Bank of India continues to lead the Home Loan segment and has surpassed Rs. 6 Trillion in Assets Under Management. To celebrate this milestone and welcome the festivities, SBI has launched the Festive Bonanza for its home loan buyers. SBI crossed Rs. 5 Trillion mark in January 2021.  

SBI aims to make home loans affordable for all prospective buyers amidst the ongoing festive season. As a part of the Festive Bonanza, SBI will offer a concession of up to 0.25% on Home Loans, 0.15% on Top Up Loans, and 0.30% on Loan Against Property. Bank has further sweetened the deal, by waiving off the processing fees on home loans up to 31st Jan 2023. The offers are specially curated keeping in mind the diverse needs of buyers across segments. SBI is consistently striving to make affordable housing conveniently accessible to customers who dream of owning a home.

Commenting on the milestone of Rs. 6 Trillion AUM, Shri Dinesh Khara, Chairman, said, “SBI being the leader in home finance, takes ownership to enable the housing dream of every Indian.  We are extremely grateful to our customers comprising more than 28+ lakh families, who have trusted us and chosen us, to be their partner in the home-ownership journey. A series of process and digital initiatives undertaken over the past few years played a crucial role in our journey to the Rs. 6 Trillion mark. We are committed to being partners in Nation Building and are striving to realize the dream of our Hon’ble Prime Minister towards - Housing for All.”

Commenting on the Festive Bonanza, Shri Alok Kumar Choudhary, Managing Director, Retail Banking & Operations, said, “SBI has always been at the forefront in boosting consumer sentiments by launching various offers consistently. As we enter the festive season after a long period of muted celebrations due to COVID restrictions, our offers this festive season are aimed to provide much-needed support for prospective home buyers as they embark on their journey for home ownership. Looking at strong interest for home loans across the country, we are happy to announce a concessional rate of interest and waiver in processing fees for a limited period.”  

SBI, for the first time, has launched a series of unique offerings across the home loan segment. The interest rate for buyers of New Home Loans as well as Takeovers starts at 8.40% and Top-up loans for furnishings/renovation/home makeover start at 8.80%.   

FedEx ExpressI Introduces Exclusive Offer For Festive Season From Diwali To Makar Sankranti

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, announces the launch of its festive offer. This unique offer adds to the festive cheer by providing customers with a 40% discount on freight charges for gift shipments weighing from 1kg to 5kg. The offer is valid from October 10, 2022 to January 15, 2023.

A recent FedEx-commissioned research revealed that shopping festivals will remain an important part of the e-commerce landscape in India, with over 90% of consumers taking part in these festivals. Majority of SMEs will hold e-commerce events over the next 12 months – with seasonal discounts being the most common[1]. Customers require access to reliable logistics services to ensure that their gifts reach in time, this festive season. With FedEx International Priority® Express - a time-definite, international priority shipping option, customers in AMEA  including in India have the flexibility to schedule delivery by 10:30am or noon to select markets* in Asia (Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Australia), United States, Canada and Europe.

“E-commerce is growing at an unprecidented rate in India, which has resulted in more consumers shopping and shipping during the festive season. FedEx makes it easier for Indian consumers to connect with people and possibilities worldwide through the strength of our global network, tailored solutions, and value-added services. With the FedEx festive offer, we aim to bring our Indian consumers closer to their loved ones at a cost-effective rate, no matter where they are in the world,” said Suvendu Choudhury, Managing Director, International Operations, FedEx Express.

The festive offer can be availed by visiting any of the FedEx retail outlets across India. Alternatively, customers can also schedule a pick up through customer service.

About FedEx Express 

FedEx Express is the world’s largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air and ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date.

*Service availability in 1 to 3 business days and exact delivery time depends on origin and destination postal codes. Terms and conditions apply. For detailed information, please log in to fedex.com to obtain a quotation, or refer to Rate & Transit Times.

ECOVACS ROBOTICS Onboards Yami Gautam As Their First Indian Brand Ambassador

~Under the partnership, Yami will engage with the consumers to further cement the brand’s market leadership position and promote DEEBOT - the robot vacuums to the Indian consumers~

~ECOVACS also released a brand film featuring the brand ambassador that unveils the ECOVACS DEEBOT robotic vacuum cleaners~

ECOVACS ROBOTICS, a leader in home service robotics, has unveiled Bollywood actress Yami Gautam as their first Indian brand ambassador. Aligning with the brand ethos, Yami will become a strong advocate for the brand’s legacy of innovation and robotic transformation that will be pioneering in the Indian market.

The partnership with Yami Gautam will mirror the brand's vision of ‘Robotics for All’ with ECOVACS’ full range of home service robotics. As the brand ambassador, Yami will have a crucial role in revolutionizing customer recall, supporting the vision of creating accessibility and promoting the availability of robotics technology in India for the audience. Through her evolved audience, ECOVACS is optimistic to expand its horizons in the country and continue the innovation in smart robotics. 

The brand has signed multi-platform advertising and marketing campaigns with the actress and has released its first film, mirroring the pulse of most households in the country. Summing the messy moments that one may witness, the film unveils all the hero DEEBOT offerings made by the brand to the Indian market. Through the partnership, ECOVACS and Yami Gautam together aim to simplify lives with tech and robotic advancements in India.

The film will be live across all social media and other digital platforms.

Link to the DVC - https://youtu.be/O3tDsV27r38

MADAME's Strategy To Democratize Fashion Bears Fruits; Looking At 35% Surge In Sales During Festive Season

In a resurgent market post the 2-year Covid-induced lull, leading western fashion brand MADAME is looking at a 30 to 35% surge in sales during the upcoming festive season riding on the back of its strategy to democratize fashion in India by taking it Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. In the last 12 months alone, MADAME has opened more than 20 stores in Tier 2 cities to enable customers in these smaller towns to access clothing of their choice in the shortest time possible.

“Today our biggest growth markets are Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as the aspirations of the customers in these cities is no different from those in the larger cities”, says MADAME’s Executive Director Akhil Duggar Jain.  To cater to the rising fashion-consciousness in smaller cities like Guwahati, MADAME has introduced a new range that will be delivered through a dedicated distribution channel in the Eastern region.

MADAME has activated plans to invigorate customer demand with a range of discounts and innovative offers across categories while simultaneously strengthening the backend with increased inventory and efficient logistics. The company is already witnessing an upswing in order frequency of twice and thrice weekly in the run-up to the Durga Puja season in the eastern region of India.

In keeping with their brand philosophy of taking fashion to every corner of India, MADAME’s apparel is available through multiple channels - online through the brand’s official digital portal Glamly.com and other popular e-commerce websites like Myntra, Amazon and others. In the brick-and-mortar space, MADAME is available at over 150 storefronts and another 700+ retail touchpoints across the country.

MADAME’s brand philosophy to inspire young women to express their individuality and spirit through accessible fashion. At MADAME, personal expression through fashion is not just about clothing, but about giving confidence to young women in India. In keeping with this vision, MADAME is positioned as a value-fashion business in the minds of loyal customers. MADAME’s fashion keeps up with the latest trends but is also easy on the pocket.  Thanks to this clear focus, MADAME’s marketing campaigns like “Season to Shine” led by brand ambassador Tara Sutaria has received a lot of customer engagement and interest.

MADAME is a well-known name among western fashion lovers in India who look for an affordable and trustworthy western fashion brand. MADAME was created in 1993 to meet the fashion needs of progressive and modern Indian women. It has a strong client base and provides high-quality, reasonably priced clothing for Indian customers. Having started its first store in 2002, MADAME achieved a turnover of over Rs 270 crores in FY 2021-22.

About MADAME:

Madame is a retail fashion brand, launched in 1993 a wide catering range of apparel, handbags, footwear & accessories for women. Founded by CL Duggar Jain, the brand provides fast fashion in-trend merchandise, casualwear, and partywear. Madame is known for its vast variety, latest styles, and fast turnaround with new collections up to seven times a year.

In-Line with its global image, currently, Madame has 150+ exclusive stores in metros, Tier I & Tier-II cities. Ever since the takeoff of its first-ever store in 2002, the brand has briskly grown across India and has 150+ exclusive brand outlets across the country and is available in 500+ Multi-Brand Outlets (MBOs) and Large Format Stores. The brand is vented through online markets including Myntra, Ajio, Flipkart, and Amazon, and its own online store, Glamly.com.

Madame recently collaborated with Warner Bros to launch a Wonder Woman-inspired collection with a clothing line curated to be as powerful and confident as the iconic DC Super-Hero, launched along with the popular movie in December 2020.

Tata Motors Partners With Tata Power To Develop 7 MW Solar Project At Pantnagar Manufacturing Facility

* This solar plant will generate 215 million units of electricity, mitigating over 1.7 lakh tonnes of CO2; equivalent to planting 2.72 lakh teak trees over a lifetime.

Reaffirming Tata Group’s commitment towards promoting sustainable manufacturing, Tata Motors and Tata Power have entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for a 7 MW captive solar power project at its Pantnagar plant in Uttarakhand. Collectively, this installation is expected to generate 215 million units of electricity, potentially mitigating over 1.7 lakh tonnes of carbon emissions. This is equivalent to planting over 2.72 lakh teak trees over a lifetime.

Mr. Anal Vijay Singh, Plant Head, Pantnagar Plant, Tata Motors, said "Having won several awards, our Pantnagar plant has always been lauded for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to achieve net-zero emission goal. The plant has been recognized across the industry for its long-successful energy conservation measures. With this agreement, we will further strengthen our journey towards a cleaner and greener future. "

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Shivram Bikkina, Chief – Solar Rooftop Business, Tata Power, "We are delighted to partner with Tata Motors to achieve their long-term green energy mandate. We are especially happy to be a part of the Pantnagar plant that makes Tata Ace, one of the most successful commercial vehicles of the country.  We expect to expand our collaboration in the coming years to provide more such green energy solutions to Tata Motors and regard them as a vital partner to achieve the larger group mandate to reduce our carbon footprint towards a Net Zero future. "

Tata Power is working closely with Tata Motors on installing solar rooftop projects at some of their plants in India. These projects represent a significant step towards building a resilient and sustainable future for these manufacturing plants. To date, Tata Power has cumulatively installed 45 MW of solar rooftop across Tata Motors' PV and CV plants in Pune, Pantnagar, Jamshedpur and Dharwad. 

Tata Motors, as a signatory to the RE100, is committed to using 100 percent renewable energy in its operations and has taken many steps toward this objective by gradually increasing the proportion of renewable energy used in its operations. The company also plans to obtain renewable energy with greater rigour to reach its goal of procuring 100% renewable energy by 2030. In FY22, across all its plants in India, the company generated 92.39 million kWh of renewable electricity for its manufacturing operations, which is 19.4% of the total power consumption, leading to an avoidance of 72,992 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and financial saving of Rs. 27.37 crores.

TiE Announces TGS 100; An Initiative In Collaboration With ISB To Recognize And Accelerate Growth of Nascent Startups

* Startups worldwide to contend for TiE’s recognition in ‘The Emerging Top 100 Innovators’ Publication 

* Indian School of Business to furnish TiE with a contemporary framework to implement the process 

TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), the internationally prominent NPO devoted to the growth of entrepreneurs, has today announced the TGS100 initiative, which aims to recognize 100 innovative and adept startups from all over the world. The out-of-the box initiative is masterminded in collaboration with ISB (Indian School of Business), which is nationally reputed for its I-Venture initiative that facilitates the conversion of start-ups into profitable entrepreneurial ventures. The announcement foreshadows the upcoming TiE Global Summit being held in Hyderabad, where Mr. K.T. Ramarao, Minister of Industries, Commerce and IT, Telangana Government, as the Grand Keynote Speaker, will divulge the TGS100 champions. TiE Global Summit fuels the organization’s mission of fostering entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking and funding, through the year’s theme of 3.2.1, i.e., Technology 3.0, Entrepreneurship 2.0 and Sustainability 1.0. 

The cardinal objective of the initiative is to recognize the startups borne out of unparalleled vision and revolutionary innovation. The eligible and registered startups will be shortlisted and critically vetted by an internationally distinguished jury of successful entrepreneurs and highly sought-after venture capitalists before the official declaration at the TiE Global Summit 2022. With the ingenious framework provided by ISB’s I-Venture, the 100 startups recognized in TGS100 will benefit from prodigious exposure to venture capitalists, angels, and entrepreneurs: online virtual showcasing, technology and business networking.  

During the announcement Mr. Raj Samala, TIE Hyderabad Charter Member & Chair for TGS 100 initiative said, “The TiE Global Summit 100 is a critical step towards enabling visionaries lead the revolution towards entrepreneurial empowerment. We aim to identify high-potential startups across the globe and capacitate them with all conceivable platforms for growth. TiE Global Summit 2022 will be a podium for vital identification, discussion, empowerment, and advancement of the next generation of top-tier organizations”. 

TGS100 is a unique recognition kickstarted to elevate startup ideas that are scalable, sustainable, and responsible, with a vision to innovative solutions that can solve real world problems. The recognized startups will be published in The Emerging Top 100 Innovators publication, that is circulated worldwide.  

Mr. Suresh Raju, President TiE Hyderabad said, “TGS100 is a synergistic dream of the national and international TiE chapters come to life. This is the very first edition of TGS100 and we are immensely proud to share this opportunity with today’s class of ambitious entrepreneurs. We urge them all to partake in TiE Global Summit 2022 and tap into the opportunities for growth”. 

TiE Global Summit hosted by the TiE Hyderabad chapter is scheduled from the 12th-14th of December 2022 in Hyderabad. 

 For further information,  visit https://tgs2022.org/