Tata Motors Showcases Range of Sustainable Mobility Solutions at the AutoExpo 2020

Key Highlights of the pavilion:

* Focus on CESS – Connected, Electric, Shared and Safe, as the future of mobility
* 4 Global Unveils, a pre-production and a commercial launch, 14 Commercial & 12 Passenger Vehicles
* Widest range of BSVI ready portfolio on display
* Unveils the ‘HBX Show car’, based on the ALFA ARC, and the ‘Sierra EV Concept’ – a legend reborn
* Introduces the ‘Hexa Safari Edition’
* Launches the much-awaited ‘Harrier 2020’, based on the OMEGA ARC, with One India, One Price, starting at INR. 13.69 lakh for the manual version and INR. 16.25 lakh for the automatic version.
* Teases the pre-production version of its flagship SUV – the Gravitas, scheduled to be launched in H1 FY2021
* Announces the global unveil of the all-new Tata Winger and the Tata Prima facelift 5530.S
* Displays the single largest EV portfolio across passenger and commercial vehicles
* Brings to life, a very unique and ‘first of its kind’ experience for its customers with the Nexon EV dynamic test drive, live at the pavilion
* Creates innovative and immersive means for visitors’ engagement by gamifying the EV drive experience, with a runner quiz on the Tata Motors AutoExpo app

Tata Motors has always been at the forefront in contributing to nation building by providing innovative and sustainable mobility solutions for aspiring Indians. Today, at the country’s largest auto show, the AutoExpo 2020, the company takes great pride in showcasing an all-new range of passenger, electric and commercial vehicles with a focus on Connected, Electric, Shared and Safe.

With a firework of 4 global unveils, a pre-production preview and a commercial launch; Tata Motors raises the bar by bringing innovative products, engineered and made in India – for India. With a hall, spanning across 6000 sq. mtrs, the Tata Motors pavilion is divided into 4 thematic zones - Live, Play, Move and Build Zone. Each of these zones has been designed to reimagine the scope of what Tata Motors can offer, complemented by digital engagements to excite our visitors, from all age and choices.

Commenting at the launch, Tata Sons Group Chairman, N Chandrasekaran said, “The theme of our pavilion is a thoughtful representation of what India needs, how Tata Motors can contribute, and how we as the Tata Group are taking the lead in providing a transformative ecosystem solution in India. We are proud to offer one of the largest range of BSVI portfolio and this shows our commitment towards a clean and green environment. Tata Group has taken lead in driving the Government’s vision of electrifying India and building a comprehensive and sustainable ecosystem, by leveraging the Group’s rich experience and diversified competencies. The recently launched Tata uniEVerse is a holistic approach addressing all aspects of e-mobility solutions, from infrastructure to charging network and phase wise manufacturing plan, to provide our consumers a future ready sustainable and efficient e-mobility environment.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Guenter Butschek, CEO and MD, Tata Motors Ltd. said, “We’re super excited to showcase our new and upgraded products across passenger, electric and commercial vehicles, as they are not only BSVI ready, but they go beyond in terms of value, technology, features, experience, to meet the mobility aspirations of our customers. Each product at the Tata Motors pavilion is a careful, practical and emotional work of art, designed to provide more delight to its customers. The pavilion is designed on CESS, our four technology pillars that are revolutionising the mobility agenda. We are confident that our pavilion will offer the visitors and our customers, a unique sense of belonging and a feeling of pride, for what we have always stood for – Connecting India, responsibly and sustainably.”

The Stars of the Show

The all-new BSVI range of Commercial Vehicles

Tata Motors unveiled the all-new Winger, setting new standards in the commercial passenger segment in terms of style, safety, comfort and space. The new Winger is an all-rounder with superior aesthetics, better economics and comfortable ergonomics, making it an absolute winner in its category. Tata Motors also unveiled the New Tata Prima 5530.S Facelift – the epitome of engineering and the flagship of Tata Motors’ extensive commercial vehicle line-up. It comes with a power-packed drivetrain of ISBe 6.7L, 300HP, BSVI engine and G1150 gearbox, known for its robust durability and reliability. It is designed specifically to deliver high performance, unmatched fuel efficiency and better TCO.

The company displayed 14 all-new BSVI range of products across segments covering sub 1 ton to 55 ton GVW, with 140+ type approvals and 19 engines (including alternate fuels options), thus providing a vast array of product offerings to its customers.

The NEW FOREVER Passenger Vehicles

Tata Motors showcased the NEW FOREVER range of its Passenger Vehicles today with 12 exhibits exemplifying the IMPACT DESIGN 2.0 across Cars and Utility Vehicles.

Two path-breaking concepts based on the versatile ALFA ARC, ‘Agile Light Flexible Advanced’ Architecture, were unveiled. The ‘HBX Showcar’ as a natural extension of the ‘H2X Concept’ - readying for production, Capturing the spirit of adventure. The ‘Sierra EV Concept’ – a legacy reborn, with modern, progressive look into the future of SUVs. The ‘Sierra EV Concept’ is fully electric and goes beyond a SUV. Tata Motors also unveiled the ‘Hexa Safari Edition’ – a soul-stirring combination of two of our most loved SUVs – the iconic Safari and the ultra-capable Hexa.

Derived from the Land Rover’s legendary D8 platform, and customised as ‘Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced’ Architecture (OMEGA-ARC) for India, Tata Motors launched the much-awaited ‘Harrier 2020’, which comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission, mated to the next-generation 170PS BSVI Kryotec diesel engine. The feature-loaded SUV comes with a host of new features like panoramic sunroof, powered driver seat, amongst others. The ‘Harrier 2020’ comes with ‘One India, One Price’ starting at INR. 13.69 lakh for the manual version and INR. 16.25 lakh for the automatic version. Bookings are open and the car would be available at the dealerships later this month. Tata Motors also showcased its new flagship SUV – the Gravitas, in its production spec, scheduled to be launched later in H1FY21. The Gravitas is a true personification of Power, Indulgence and Capability.

Representation of the largest range of Electric Vehicles portfolio

Tata Motors today showcased the single largest portfolio of EVs in India, with the newly-launched Nexon EV – India’s Own Electric SUV, the Altroz EV – a modern city car, resetting the rules for the industry, catering to maturing customers. In the commercial vehicles space, the company displayed the Tata 4/12m Low Floor Entry Electric Bus – the first full-electric drivetrain. It is a state-of-the-art solution for urban transport requirements. The Tata Ultra T.7 Electric was also on display, as India’s first-ever intermediate commercial electric truck. The Ultra T.7 Electric is designed to foster the agile goods movement across all business applications, making it the best fit for city transportation requirements.

Tata Motors has made significant contributions to the country’s automobile sector in the last 75 years. By showcasing sustainable and green solutions at the AutoExpo 2020, Tata Motors will drive the future of mobility in India.

Blue Dart Enhances ‘Domestic Priority Dutiable’ Service to Deliver Shipments of High Value Across India

Blue Dart Express Limited, South Asia's premier express air and integrated transportation & Distribution Company and part of Deutsche Post DHL Group (DPDHL), enhanced its exclusive ‘Domestic Priority Dutiable’ service to enable customers to send shipments of high value across India. Customers can now send imitation jewelry, mobile phones, watches, high end/value designer clothes, cutting tools, machine parts etc. that require a 24x7 visibility status scans through a securitized and compliant environment.

As a preferred logistics service provider, Blue Dart will also enable e-way bill process and complete documentation to ensure requirements are complied with.

Customers can avail of the exclusive ‘Domestic Priority Dutiable’ services at all Blue Dart retail stores across India or by calling 1860 233 1234.

Commenting on the launch of the service, Ketan Kulkarni, CMO & Head - Business Development, Blue Dart said, “At Blue Dart, we understand the value of our customer’s shipment and the business critical function they fulfil. This is why we go the distance to make fast and securitized delivery of their shipments our priority. Our Domestic Priority Dutiable service is specially designed to offer customers a competitive edge with the fastest and most secure delivery service when shipping high value goods. This will be of great service to B2C and C2C shippers. We ensure complete peace of mind for our customers by enabling the required e-way bill process and complete documentation in alignment with all regulatory requirements. Moreover, customers have complete visibility of their shipment while it travels in our network through our state-of-the-art track and trace technology and be rest assured that their valuable consignments are in safe hands”.

ServiceNow to Acquire Passage AI to Help Work Flow More Smoothly

ServiceNow, the company making work, work better for people, today announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Passage AI, a Mountain View, Calif.-based conversational AI platform company. The transaction will advance ServiceNow’s deep learning AI capabilities and will accelerate its vision of supporting all major languages across the company’s Now Platform and products, including ServiceNow Virtual Agent, Service Portal, Workspaces and emerging interfaces.

“Work flows more smoothly when people can get things done in their native language,” said Debu Chatterjee, senior director of AI Engineering at ServiceNow. “Building deep learning, conversational AI capabilities into the Now Platform will enable a work request initiated in German or a customer inquiry initiated in Japanese to be solved by Virtual Agent. Passage AI’s technology will enable us to accelerate our vision of empowering great employee and customer experiences by delivering great workflow experiences. ServiceNow believes in making work flow more smoothly across the enterprise, in all major languages.”

Passage AI’s conversational AI platform is built on deep learning models that can be trained to understand text in all major languages. Bringing together Passage AI’s conversational AI capabilities with it’s Now Platform and digital workflow capabilities, ServiceNow will expand its chatbot support for non-English languages and empower organizations to better understand the meaning behind work requests so they can take action to get the job done.

As a strategic partner to the world’s largest enterprises, ServiceNow is focused on enabling digital transformation and driving customer success. The Now Platform includes powerful AI and machine learning capabilities, which enable customers to deliver great employee and customer experiences and unlock productivity. This deal builds on ServiceNow’s previous AI acquisitions, including transactions with Loom Systems, Attivio, Parlo, FriendlyData, Qlue and DxContinuum.

Passage AI was founded in 2016 by CEO Ravi N. Raj, CTO Madhu Mathihalli and CTO Mitul Tiwari.

ServiceNow expects to complete the acquisition by the end of Q1 2020.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

JK Tyre Launches Revolutionary 'Smart Tyre' at the Auto Expo 2020

Leading Indian tyre manufacturer JK Tyre & Industries Ltd., today launched their new SMART TYRE range at the Auto Expo 2020. The company is the first in the sector to launch Smart Tyres Technology.

A first-of-its kind cloud based monitoring system; Smart Tyres warrants maintenance of tyres through timely diagnostics by using sensors integrated with a Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). The sensors thus augment updates on tyre health via multiple digital platforms like the company’s indigenous TREEL Care app and web page.

The Smart Tyre technology allows for early detection of issues and deployment of timely preventive measures to avoid them and also deliver higher fuel efficiency upto 4-5% leading to reduction in carbon emission. In addition, through this technology, the tyre life is enhanced thereby minimizing operational expenses.

Monitoring all aspects of the tyre, Smart Tyre screens tyre’s vital statistics, including pressure and temperature. The information collected by this smart monitoring system is relayed on a real-time basis to the vehicle owner’s smartphone via Bluetooth on to a mobile application. Additionally, the sensor-enabled technology helps the customers maintain optimal tyre pressure, which not only helps the environment but also provides better safety on road.

The Smart Tyre technology is compatible with cars, bikes and trucks/buses. It is available in three variants for cars- Smart Tyre Sensor Car Kit: Valve, MTrac Smart Sensor Car & Truck Kit: Valve and MPower Smart Sensor Car Kit: Valve. Similarly it is available in two variants for bikes- Smart Tyre Sensor Bike Kit: Belt and MTrac Smart Sensor Bike Kit: Belt.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director said, “JK Tyre has always been on the forefront of innovation and technology. Being the market leaders in the Indian tyre industry, we have once again lived up to our leadership role by delivering ‘Smart Tyre’ - an extension to our promise of providing advanced mobility solutions to our customers. This technology provides an enhanced value proposition to vehicle owners, particularly fleets, by reducing their operational costs. Along with this, we have also showcased our new range of concept tyres here at the Auto Expo and we have a roadmap laid in front of us, as we plan to move ahead with a number of new products including some breakthrough innovations this year.”

Concept Tyre Zone:

Along with the launch of Smart Tyre Technology, the company also showcased an exciting array of concept tyres at the Auto Expo 2020:

Puncture Proof Tyres: Punctures are common on Indian roads. This unfortunate situation that can jeopardize a driver’s safety. Tyre puncture repair is a tedious task and to address this issue, JK Tyre has introduced Puncture Resistant Technology. A concept developed for cars and two-wheelers, the Puncture proof tyre has unique sealants forming a protective layer which repairs punctures automatically thereby ensuring a hassle-free and safe drive.

EV Tyre: The electric vehicle industry in India is evolving and JK Tyre is ready to cater to the needs of the EV industry. These next-gen tyres have an optimized tread pattern which are ideal for Electric vehicles. Loaded with features like Low Rolling Resistance, low noise emission and superior wet traction, these EV Tyres offer a greener and environment friendly drive.

Colored Tyre: One of the most attractive and eye-catching product from the JK Tyre stable, these coloured tyres are for the auto freaks who do not think conventional. These colored tyres are made from specially formulated colored rubber compound and is available for Cars and Two Wheelers.

Fuel Saver Tyre: The next generation of fuel-efficient tyres-the XF series, is built on the cutting edge advanced JETOCT technology, which helps improve tyre efficiency by saving up to 8% fuel in comparison to normal radial tyres.

Tubeless Radials: Designed to meet the emerging needs of the Indian fleets, these next generation of Tubeless Radial Tyres for Trucks and Buses are developed with new silica compound, which provides longer life, fuel savings and lower cost of operations.

With these industry first moves to deliver advanced mobility solutions to both commercial and passenger vehicle owners, JK Tyre reiterates its commitment to innovation and aims to further consolidates its position in the Indian automotive market.

GWM Announces Global Premier of Haval Concept H & India Debut of its Concept Vehicle – Vision 2025

Great Wall Motors, China’s largest SUV manufacturer, today globally premiered its Haval Concept H & announced the India debut of the concept vehicle – Vision 2025, during the press conference organized at Auto Expo – The Motor Show 2020. Emphasizing on the theme of Intelligent Mobility Redefined, GWM had on display among other models - Haval: H9, F7, F7x, F5 and the GWM EV: iQ & R1. At the GWM pavilion on display was a functional area that had a showcase of Lithium Ion Battery, Haval Intelligent Home, Haval Intelligent Safety Display, and Great Wall Autonomous EV.

Over the past decade, GWM has invested more than 1.5 billion USD for research the development of cutting-edge technologies such as new energy, intelligent network connection and autonomous driving, and build exclusive platforms and product lineup for new energy vehicles. GWM plans to invest an estimated total of 1 billion USD (approx. INR 7000 cr) in India in a phased manner, covering manufacturing plant, vehicle research and development, production of power batteries and electric drives, vehicle and component manufacturing. At the same time, it plans to provide estimated 3,000 direct employment in a phased manner.

Taking the opportunity of the Auto Expo 2020, GWM today made India Debut of its Haval and GWM EV brands and hopes to offer high technology premium products to Indian consumers, and also contribute to Govt vision of a pollution free renewable energy based society. The GWM pavilion showcased its technological strength in the areas of Smart, Intelligent and Autonomous vehicles, which are expected to be a major attraction in this edition of AutoExpo2020. They also showcased Intelligent Home concept where one can control home appliances connected with the Intelligent Connected vehicles, Intelligent Safety of HAVAL SUVs, New Energy Products and many more interactive activities for engagement of visitors of the AutoExpo.

Speaking on the occasion Hardeep Singh Brar, Director (Sales & Marketing) said, “India has become one of the world's fastest growing major economy, and the auto market is promising, making it a preferred investment destination for most auto companies. At this 15th edition of the Auto Expo 2020, we are introducing our Global Intelligent SUV Expert brand – HAVAL and plan to cover the complete range of SUVs which will be the preferred choice of the young, dynamic and new generation consumers of India.”

In alignment to the development goals of a clean India and "vehicle electrification" advocated by the Indian government, GWM also plans to launch a new energy brand - Great Wall EV. GWM also plans to invest in battery research and development and manufacturing in India to reinforce and accelerate India's Electrification Strategy.

On January 17, 2020, Great Wall Motors and General Motors signed an agreement to acquire the General Motors India’s Talegaon factory. This transaction will lay an important foundation for Great Wall Motor’s entry in India. The acquisition will be completed in the second half of 2020. Great Wall Motors will realize the production of EV and SUV models under Great Wall at this plant.

Details on Models at Display

Haval Concept H Plug-in Hybrid Electric SUV (Global Debut) - This is one of our global concept models, and we are excited to present the global preview, right here in India. With this, we reinforce our focus on the global consumers, and also the young consumers of India in particular.  This car is designed to be young and sporty. Haval, as the leading SUV brand, moves forward with determination. Concept H creates an opportunity for the brand to communicate with young consumers at a deeper level. It aims to make the vehicle a part and extension of the consumers’ lifestyle.

Vision 2025 Pure Electric SUV– Concept Vision 2025 is HAVAL’s vision for its smart, capable, intelligent vehicle for 2025. A Next Generation Vehicle or “NGV”, not simply an SUV. HAVAL’s designers and engineers are constantly exploring new ways to develop the SUV using advanced technology, developed in our ten global Research and Development centers.  Vision Concept features face recognition, it has next-generation 5G in-car infotainment and services and it has Automated Parking and Advanced Autonomous Driving modes this is an intelligent vehicle able to think, communicate and take care of the driving for you.

Haval F7 - Positioned as the artificial intelligent (AI) connected SUV, Haval F7 is the first marque product of Haval’s shift to a Global design language and diversified product style. With the five product advantages, that are: connected, intelligent safety, ultimate comfort, powerful performance, exciting design Haval F7 has been popular among young consumers since its launch one year ago. In China, it has sold 140,770 units within a year of its launch. Haval F7 is a sophisticated, innovative, sleek, and smart SUV and is the new frontrunner for urban transportation leading the globalization of Chinese SUVs since its inception at Great Wall Motor’.

Haval F7x - Haval F7x is positioned as the artificial intelligent (AI) coupe SUV. Haval F7x looks more dynamic featuring a fastback styling with a strong personality leading the growing coupe segment & showing Haval’s global design language in its true form.

Haval F5 - As the first model of Haval F Series, Haval F5 is positioned as the trendy intelligent connected SUV. Haval F5 is specially designed for young users. The four aspects of Connected Intelligence, Superior Aesthetics, Exciting Driving Experience and Intelligent Safety are deeply rooted in the DNA of HAVAL F5. As a pioneer of comprehensive youth transformation of Haval brand, Haval F5 fully demonstrates its youthful spirit and determination to understand young users and build cars for them with technovation, and global trends.

Haval H9 - Haval H9 is a Smart All Terrain True Blue Blood   luxury SUV that integrates powerful off-road performance, connected intelligence, advanced safety technology and luxurious interior design with Nappa Dermis leather.  H9 is equipped with three differential locks (front/middle/rear), cruise control off-road, offering super strong off-road and breakthrough performance. It is committed to bringing customers a dynamic off-road drive experience.

GWM R1 - The vehicle is built on ME platform, the first exclusive platform for electric vehicles in China, R1 is a smart mobility vehicle with large space and safety features. The Lightweight design provides the product with characteristics of longer endurance mileage and low power consumption. R1 has a mileage of 351 km. The vehicle is gorgeous and compact, flexible and lively. The rear part also adopts a smooth and lovely modeling style. With multiple layers in line representation, it is a trendy product with gorgeous exterior. The vehicle is truly a new generation EV.

GWM iQ – The vehicle iQ is positioned as a new generation of pure electric compact Fastback Sedan which is equipped with ternary lithium-ion power battery and permanent magnet synchronous motor, with comprehensive distance of 401 Km per charge. The overall design style of iQ is fashionable and futuristic. The interior space and design compliments the beauty of simplicity and smart mobility.

About Great Wall Motors

Founded in 1984, GWM is the largest SUV manufacturer in China. Currently, it owns Haval, Great Wall EV and Great Wall Pickup brands. The products cover traditional fuel-powered, pure electric, hybrid and other new energy models, and now GWM is actively developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. At present, GWM has more than 70 holding subsidiaries worldwide and employs nearly 70,000 people. It has 10 R&D centers in 7 countries, including China, India, the United States, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Austria. It has 14 global manufacturing facilities.

Xebia Ties Up with JECRC University; Enabling Students in Rajasthan to Become World-Class Technology Experts

In its first tie-up in Rajasthan, Xebia Group through its education business Xebia Academy Global, has recently inked an MoU with JECRC University to offer specializations under the B.Tech Computer Science Engineering programme. This is a huge opportunity for students across Rajasthan who are keen to build careers in digital technologies. As part of this MoU, JECRC University will offer their B.Tech (CSE) programme with specializations in Cloud Engineering and DevOps, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Big Data and Analytics.

Mr. Brijesh Kohli, Director, Xebia Academy said, “The IT Talent pool is at a critical juncture today. In spite of many educational institutions, the gap between industry and academia continues to widen. The industry today faces an acute shortage of skilled manpower across digital technologies. Xebia aims to bridge the gap with their technology expertise and educational acumen.”

“Xebia believes in hands-on learning for all students so that they actually get schooled in what the core of the industry demands. We demonstrate our commitment to this by setting up dedicated Centres of Excellence for these technologies, providing industry researched curriculum, running student engagement and faculty development programs. The company will also help students to demonstrate their skills by offering technology relevant internships and placement opportunities”, Mr. Kohli further added.

Through this partnership, students will get access to Xebia’s knowledge repository and access to a global talent pool of industry practitioners and Xebia experts as mentors.

These specializations are incredibly future oriented and aim to build industry ready professionals up for grabs. The course structure is being designed by practitioners who have put in their real-time experiences in the form of use cases and case studies to ensure that the students learn the most of what is relevant today. The idea is to inculcate the right mindset, the right skill set and the right ethos that will enable the students to take on the world tomorrow.

Mr. Arpit Agarwal, JECRC said, “The acceleration in automation brings the promise of productivity, economic growth, increased efficiencies, safety and convenience. However, they also raise issues about the broader impact on jobs, skills, wages, and the nature of the work itself. And hence, it has become crucial for a student to be well-equipped with these technologies, before setting foot into the professional world. As a part of the education sector, we all are jubilant to gear up our students for the corporate sector, honing with the professional skills required by future employers. Indeed, with the support from Xebia, known for its expertise in new technologies, our students will become professionals who have the right skills to implement the innovation effectively.”

Xebia has already partnered with many such prestigious institutions across the country and takes pride in the fact that not only do they design the curriculum keeping the industry in mind, but also consider what academia needs. Xebia believes that true transformation can only happen when real problems plaguing real people are solved. Technology is a beautiful way to do that!

Market Intelligence, Innovation, Self-Disruption, Localisation the Major Trends in India’s Food Retail Sector

At India’s largest food retail intelligence event, India Food Forum 2020, industry leaders from food retail and market research threw out sharp insights on the Indian industry and presented ideas to drive its growth. India Food Forum 2020 began today at the Renaissance Hotel, Mumbai.

In the opening session — on Indian Food & Grocery Markets: Trends and opportunities — Saloni Nangia, President, Technopak, identified five top trends that will shape the Indian Packaged Food Space.

According to her, the first trend is the presence of smaller disruptive players that are making sure that success is beyond few food majors. The second trend is that the brands which focus on regions or clusters will achieve success and scale. The third important trend is that companies are now wanting to be present in multiple product categories. Fourthly, gourmet and health are new niches that will see higher growth and lastly, she observed that interest from investors like PE and Venture Funds and government would provide the growth impetus, given the fact that more than 10,000 crore rupees have already been invested in Packed Food and F&G E-commerce since 2015.

In his address, Kishore Kumar, Head- Brand Intelligence and bb accelerate, Big Basket, showcased the trends in consumer behaviour observed at the India’s largest online food and grocery store. According to him, the key trends included what he called “Grandma is Right”, which is the growth in A2, desi cow ghee and Ayurvedic products. He also felt that the consumers were veering more towards what was better for them and not just a value add. Exposure to DIG/ cuisines/ eating occasions have given rise to food-on-the-go and RTE meals.

Raising the consciousness of healthy lifestyle, increased activity and fitness eco-system has led to a growth in protein foods, healthy food and vitamins and minerals. There is a growing preference for Indian brands for food and personal care products. More and more consumers are demanding both taste and health in their food item. Another trend is the drop in the consumption of sugar in favour of healthier alternatives like honey, jaggery, etc.

Talking about the ‘snackification’ of food, Pradeep Srinivasan, Senior Analyst, Euromonitor, highlighted the fact that time-pressed lifestyles and on-demand economy have led to people looking increasingly at convenience. More and more people are opting for foods with less preparation time and more convenience, thereby increasing the opportunity for pre-prepared foods. Fluid eating habits is another opportunity for snack manufacturers. While snacking has increased, there is a visible difference in treating and snacking. This has led to the demand for healthier snacks. He believes that the pack size of pre-packed snack is also reducing. The growth in this segment will be driven by cross merchandising through new food delivery models.

The second session included Mr. Devendra Chawla, CEO & MD, Spencer’s Retail, Mr. Sadashiv Nayak, Business Head- Big Bazaar, Future Retail and Mr. Arvind Varchaswi, Managing Director, Sri Sri Tatva.

Mr. Devendra Chawla, very lucidly explained How India will consume food in the days to come. He highlighted the fact that India has the largest population in the with an average age of 29 years. This young population will demand newer ways to market to them.
According to him, no longer will one size fits all strategy work. Companies will have to use AI based to reach out to targets. Each of these targets demand personalized marketing messages. He also feels that buying behavior is no longer influenced by peer pressure but Peer wisdom. This is to be supported by webrooming and showrooming.
He opined that brands need to enable a high level of personalization and technologies like block chain will help in the traceability of products.
Mr. Sadashiv Nayak, spoke about the relevance of supplementing the digital presence with physical space. He believes the companies which use this strategy will take the lead.

Mr. Arvind Varchaswi, expounded the importance of  Art of living in retail. In this presentation he said that the retail will grow more on the back of demand for organic food. E commerce growth has been instrumental in reaching out of tier 2 and tier 3 consumers for organic food. This coupled with the increased spending capacity of consumers augers well for the category.

This was followed by an eminently entertaining panel discussion, Serving the Fast Changing Consume Market of the World, which was moderated by B S Nagesh, Founder Trrain.
The panelists included Anurag Katriar, ED and CEO, deGustibus Hospitality & President, NRAI, Arvind Varchaswi, Devendra Chawla, Sadashiv Nayak and Sharang Pant, Market Leader- Retail Vertical, Nielsen South Asia.

There are 200+ presenters, panellists and speakers at this mega annual congregation, representing leading food and FMCG brands, retailers, foodservice giants, technology companies and global market research leaders.

Commenting on the key highlights and objectives of India Food Forum 2020, Amitabh Taneja, Chief Convenor, India Food Forum, said, “The Indian food consumption market — including food retail and foodservice sectors — is valued at USD 900 billion. It is a tremendous opportunity, but also a very challenging time for operators as consumer behaviour and technology are seriously disrupting traditional models. The deep intelligence and wide-ranging innovations showcased here are aimed at driving businesses towards higher growth and profitability despite the challenges.” 

The forum’s speakers list includes retail and foodservice business giants such as Sadashiv Nayak, Business Head – Big Bazaar, Future Group; Arvind Varchaswi, CEO, Sri Sri Tattva; Devendra Chawla, Managing Director & CEO, Spencer’s Retail Limited; Sunil Sanklecha, Founder & Managing Partner, Nuts n Spices; Kirit J Maganlal, Founder and CEO, MAGSONS GROUP, Goa; Saurabh Makhija, Head Modern Trade, Nestle; Seshu Kumar, National Head, Buying & Merchandising, Big Basket; Anurag Katriar, ED & CEO, deGustibus Hospitality (President, NRAI); B S Nagesh, Founder, TRRAIN; Benu Sehgal, CEO, Freeport Retail; Sharang Pant, Market Leader- Retail Vertical, Nielsen South Asia; Damodar Mall, Author, Supermarketwala & CEO- Grocery Retail (Reliance Retail); Dheeraj Arora, Head — Modern Trade & Ecommerce, Unilever; Pradeep Srinivasa, Senior Analyst, Euromonitor International, to name a few.