Short Takes

Short Takes

Alibaba plans BigBasket investmentChina's Alibaba and its Indian online marketplace investment, Paytm Mall, are in talks to pick up a significant stake in online grocer BigBasket.The online marketplaces are seeking to invest around $200 million in one of India's largest online grocer, BigBasket, at a valuation to be decided after due diligence is completed, according to Indian media reports. A estimate figure of around $1 billion has been doing the rounds for BigBasket.Part of BigBasket's appeal is its express grocery delivery feature, which lets customers receive grocery deliveries within 60 minutes. Its main competitor is Grofers India, which is backed by SoftBank. Amazon is said to be eyeing a stake in Grofers to counter Alibaba.Grocery is one of the fastest-growing segments of India's e-commerce industry. According to eMarketer, India's retail e-commerce market will be worth $55.3 billion by 2018 - up from $6.1 billion in 2014.Burger King wants more India outlets[caption id="attachment_11288" align="alignleft" width="282"]

burget king[/caption]American fast-food giant Burger King is keen to add up to 35 new outlets in India this year.The burger chain crossed its 100-restaurant mark in the country in August, making India a profitable market for the company.Rajeev Varman, CEO, Burger King India, said: “India is one of the fastest-growing markets for Burger King.“We are extremely positive and bullish about the potential of the Indian QSR (quick service restaurant) industry for the next three-five years. We should probably end this year with 130-135 restaurants.”The company, one of the late entrants to the Indian QSR space, is already present in 28 cities. It has recently also been focusing on growing its home-delivery business.Earlier this year, the company launched its first television commercial in India.Pizza Capers eyes India entry[caption id="attachment_11291" align="alignleft" width="263"]

Pizza capers[/caption]Australian gourmet fast food chain, Pizza Capers, has announced plans to venture into the Indian market via a master franchise license with Pune firm Krsna Foods (India) Pvt Limited.Pizza Capers, part of the Retail Food Group Limited (RFG) stable of brands, said it wants to introduce its high quality gourmet pizzas to the Indian market.Chief Executive - International, Mike Gilbert, said: “A surge in consumerism coupled with increasing incomes and changes to lifestyle and eating patterns within India has meant that entry into the territory has long been on our radar.”The company's international expansion model is based on recruiting master franchise partners who develop the brand in a defined territory.Gilbert said that RFG was conscious to partner with a robust master franchisee capable of applying sufficient resources, expertise and resolve to ensuring the successful entry of Pizza Capers into the Indian market.“Krsna Foods (India) Pvt Limited satisfies each of these pre-requisites and we have every confidence of the Brand's success in the territory,” he said.Amazon gets food retail nod in India[caption id="attachment_11292" align="alignleft" width="264"] amazon[/caption]The Indian government has approved US e-commerce major Amazon′s proposed $500-million investment in food retail in India. The proposal was pending before the country's erstwhile Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) stepped in to give its go-ahead to the proposal. As per the proposal, the company will open a wholly-owned subsidiary in India to carry out the business and will stock food products and sell them online.Currently, the government permits 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the food processing sector. As per the norms, a foreign company can open a wholly-owned subsidiary in India to retail food products produced and or manufactured in the country by way of opening stores or online.Amazon has proposed to invest around $500 million in the food retail segment.The Indian government had allowed 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) through the approval route last year for trading, including through e-commerce, for food products manufactured and produced in India.Tesco-Tata JV launches hypermarket

Trent Hypermarket, a joint venture between the Tata Group and Tesco, has launched a new hypermarket store in India.Star Hyper has been set up at Gachibowli in the IT hub of Hyderabad and plans to rapidly expand its network of stores across different formats from 42 to 200 over the next three years.Jamshed Daboo, MD of Trent Hypermarket, said: “This is the second southern market that we have ventured into after Bangalore. It is in line with our strategy to focus and expand in strategic markets.“At Star, we believe in creating value for our customers by offering a range of good quality products as affordable price points. Our store will also offer a wide choice of fresh fruit and vegetables and a dedicated range of meat and fish, fulfilling our customer promise around freshness, variety and price.”The company has set up its chain across Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Hyderabad and plans to expand its network significantly in these markets.Coca-Cola renews India drive[caption id="attachment_11298" align="alignleft" width="272"]

Coca-Cola[/caption]Global beverage giant Coca-Cola has said it expects to return to “vibrant” growth in the Indian market.The popular soft drink brand recorded a decline in sales in India in the last quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017. However, Coca-Cola President and Chief Executive James Quincey has confirmed that the company's plans to invest $5 billion in India by 2020 were on track.During a visit to India this week, he told Indian media: “The most immediate challenge for the country is to become number five in the foreseeable future, but in the end my vision for India is we will be one of the top three markets in the world for Coca-Cola company.“We had a rough few months - end of last year and beginning of this year - but things are starting to come back. India is going to return to a vibrant growth.”He also believes that faster growth in India would come from non-carbonated drinks but fizzy drinks will also continue to grow.

Related Stories

No stories found.
India Global Business
www.indiaglobalbusiness.com