L'Oréal India has inaugurated its largest Beauty Skilling Centre in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), marking a significant step in its ongoing efforts to support skills development and women's empowerment in India. The inauguration took place in the presence of Union Minister of Industry & Commerce, Shri Piyush Goyal.

Established under L'Oréal's flagship Beauty for a Better Life programme, the new centre is located at CII's North Mumbai Skill Centre and spans 4,267 sq. ft. The facility is designed to train nearly 3,000 individuals every year in professional hairdressing, makeup artistry, and beauty services.

The initiative focuses on helping women from underserved communities gain industry-relevant skills and access sustainable livelihood opportunities. Through partnerships with NGOs and industry stakeholders, the programme offers professional training, career guidance, job placement assistance, and trainer development support.

The launch of the centre also coincided with the unveiling of L'Oréal India's first Socio-Economic Impact Study, conducted by Paris-based economic research consultancy Asterès. The report highlights the company's growing contribution to India's economy and employment ecosystem.

According to the study, every direct job created by L'Oréal India supports 39.5 additional jobs across its value chain, contributing to a total of 90,500 jobs nationwide through activities such as logistics, packaging, raw material sourcing, and retail operations.

The report further revealed that 95% of L'Oréal products sold in India are manufactured locally at its facilities in Chakan, Maharashtra, and Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, supporting the Government of India's "Make in India" vision. These facilities also serve as export hubs, supplying products to 25 international markets.

L'Oréal has also played an important role in the growth of India's professional hairdressing industry, partnering with more than 54,000 salons across the country and contributing to the development of a professional haircare ecosystem valued at over INR 2,000 crore.

Over the past decade, the company has upskilled 3.3 million hairdressers and supported 42,000 women through its Beauty for a Better Life programme. Today, women account for nearly 60% of the top stylists in India, reflecting the programme's impact on gender diversity and inclusion within the industry.

An independent PwC Impact Study conducted in 2025 found that L'Oréal's skilling programmes generate a 25x Social Return on Investment (SROI). Beneficiaries have reported an average 44% increase in monthly household income, helping families move towards greater financial stability and independence.

In addition to its skilling initiatives, the company has reached more than 1.3 million people through programmes focused on women's education, social inclusion, and community development.

Aseem Kaushik, Non-Executive Chairman, L'Oréal India, noted: "Upskilling has always been central to L'Oréal India's vision of creating inclusive and sustainable impact. As India's beauty industry continues to evolve and expand, the demand for professionally trained talent is growing across services, retail and entrepreneurship. Our new Beauty Skilling Centre reflects our commitment to equipping women with industry-relevant skills, future-ready capabilities and access to meaningful career opportunities, while contributing to the growth of India's beauty economy."

Jacques Lebel, Managing Director, L'Oréal India, added: "India stands at the forefront of the future of beauty, powered by immense talent, creativity and aspiration. Through this skilling centre, we hope to expand access to high-quality professional education, equip underserved women with industry-relevant skills, and help nurture the next generation of beauty professionals and entrepreneurs who will shape the growth of India's beauty economy."

As India's beauty market continues to grow, L'Oréal India says it remains focused on investing in skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent development to support both the industry's future and the country's broader socio-economic progress.

McDonald’s India – North and East marked World Food Safety Day 2026 with a week-long training and awareness initiative aimed at strengthening food safety standards across its restaurant network. The program reached more than 5,000 restaurant employees across over 50 cities, reinforcing the company’s commitment to safe and high-quality food service.

The initiative covered key operational areas including food handling practices, personal hygiene, equipment sanitation, prevention of cross-contamination, temperature control, water safety, oil quality management, pest control, packaging safety, and proper storage practices. The training sessions were designed to refresh and reinforce existing food safety protocols followed across McDonald’s restaurants.

As part of the programme, McDonald’s also conducted kitchen walkthroughs at select outlets, offering stakeholders and participants a closer look at operational hygiene systems. These walkthroughs highlighted processes such as the segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian products, raw material storage, packaging controls, and warehouse management practices.

Participants also gained exposure to broader organisational initiatives such as McDonald’s for Youth, along with ongoing food safety and hygiene frameworks implemented across the network.

Rajeev Ranjan, Managing Director of McDonald’s India – North and East, said that food safety remains central to the brand’s operations, spanning sourcing, supply chain management, manufacturing, storage, transportation, and restaurant-level execution. He emphasised that continuous training, strict standards, and accountability are key pillars that ensure consistent quality and customer trust.

He further noted that World Food Safety Day serves as an opportunity to recognise restaurant teams, supplier partners, and food safety experts who contribute to maintaining high standards across operations every day.

McDonald’s India – North and East continues to strengthen its food safety ecosystem through ongoing employee training, supplier collaboration, and operational audits. As the brand expands across the region, it remains focused on investing in people, processes, and technology to ensure consistent delivery of safe and high-quality food experiences to millions of customers.

Bela Babhoota, General Manager of Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Bengaluru, has been honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality Award at the International Day of Hospitality celebrations organised by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), Bengaluru.

The award recognises her significant contributions to the hospitality industry through leadership, guest service excellence, talent development and her continued efforts towards enhancing hospitality standards. Under her leadership, Welcomhotel Bengaluru has strengthened its reputation as a preferred destination for both travellers and dining guests.

Receiving the recognition, Bela Babhoota said, “I am honoured to receive this recognition from IIHM. Hospitality is ultimately about people - our guests and our teams. This award reflects the collective efforts of every colleague who contributes to creating memorable experiences each day.”

The International Day of Hospitality celebrations hosted by IIHM brought together hospitality professionals, educators and industry leaders to acknowledge individuals who have made valuable contributions to the sector.

Commenting on the achievement, a spokesperson for Welcomhotel Bengaluru said, “We are delighted to see Ms. Babhoota’s leadership and commitment to hospitality being recognised by one of the industry’s respected institutions. This honour reflects the passion, dedication, and excellence that she brings to the organisation and the wider hospitality community.”

The recognition further highlights Welcomhotel Bengaluru’s focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences while fostering a culture centred on service excellence, innovation and professional growth. It also reflects the hotel's ongoing commitment to maintaining high standards across all aspects of hospitality.