Bihari Thekua Goes Pan-India while Kunafa Rules Kerala: GoKwik Maps the New Festive Taste of India

Bihari Thekua Goes Pan-India while Kunafa Rules Kerala: GoKwik Maps the New Festive Taste of India

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 11, 2025

Indians swapped kaju katlis and barfis for Kunafa chocolates, the famous Bihari Thekua, and even protein bars this festive season, according to a new report by GoKwik.

GoKwik, India’s leading eCommerce enabler, released its analysis of D2C festive food trends, presenting a Great Indian Festive Food Map shaped by three powerful forces, Nostalgia, Viral Trends, and Wellness.

Based on data from October, the report reveals that D2C brands are not just selling sweets anymore, they’re shipping emotion, identity, and a taste of home. Among all categories, chocolate emerged as the clear winner, with order volumes surpassing the combined total of all other festive items. Its long shelf life, versatility, and universal appeal have made it the new digital shagun, redefining how India gifts sweetness online.

While chocolates led the numbers, traditional sweets fueled a Nostalgia Economy. Thekua, a beloved prasad from Bihar made during the ancient Hindu festival Chhath, became the only regional sweet to record sales in every Indian state and union territory. Interestingly, its top buyers were not from Bihar or Uttar Pradesh but from West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Delhi, showing how India’s migrant population now uses D2C platforms to send home a slice of their roots.

Meanwhile, global influences left a strong flavor. Kunafa, the viral Middle Eastern “Dubai chocolate” dessert, saw an extraordinary rise, with nearly half of its D2C orders originating from Kerala, highlighting the state’s deep cultural and familial connections with the Gulf region.

The Wellness Economy also made its mark. Protein bars became the unexpected celebration snack of the season, particularly in Maharashtra, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. The shift showcases a growing preference among health-conscious consumers to seek “guilt-free” indulgence and mindful celebration through D2C platforms.

GoKwik’s report also highlighted untapped opportunities. Sweets like rasgulla and gujiya remain dominated by local halwais and quick-commerce players, suggesting room for “premium D2C fresh” brands to emerge. Similarly, Soan Papdi, the iconic last-minute gifting sweet, reflects a gap for more thoughtful, planned gifting experiences that D2C businesses can capture.

Commenting on the findings, Chirag Taneja, Co-founder and CEO of GoKwik, said,

“Festive commerce is no longer defined by geography, it’s defined by identity. Thekua trending in Mumbai or a Middle Eastern dessert peaking in Kerala shows how migration, media, and modern lifestyles are reshaping what India buys during festivals. For D2C brands, these insights are not just cultural curiosities, but growth signals. The brands that localize, personalize, and adapt to emotion-led commerce will own the next wave of festive demand.”

As the festive D2C economy continues to expand, India’s sweet box tells a modern story, one that blends nostalgia with novelty, tradition with wellness, and emotion with convenience. It mirrors a connected nation that celebrates with both heart and modernity.


Atmosphere Core Unveils ONE Atmosphere, Its Fourth Brand Focused on Extended Living

Atmosphere Core Unveils ONE Atmosphere, Its Fourth Brand Focused on Extended Living

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 14, 2025

Atmosphere Core has announced the launch of its fourth brand, ONE Atmosphere, marking a strategic move into the extended-stay segment. The new brand is designed for a new generation of guests who seek the comfort of a home, the structure of a workspace, and the ease of hotel-style services, all brought together under one roof. ONE Atmosphere will offer fully serviced apartments that balance residential freedom with the consistency and reliability of hospitality.

Designed around today’s evolving work–live–travel flow, ONE Atmosphere combines spacious living with branded amenities, seamless concierge services, and thoughtful design elements. The concept responds to changing guest expectations, where travellers are looking beyond traditional hotel rooms and towards flexible living solutions that adapt to different cities, work patterns, and everyday rhythms.

Speaking about the launch, Salil Panigrahi, Managing Director, Atmosphere Core, said, “As travel becomes more fluid and work becomes borderless, guests expect more than a hotel room, they expect a lifestyle solution. They want a space that adapts as they move through different cities, work patterns, and rhythms of everyday life. ONE Atmosphere is designed to meet this shift by offering a reliable model of flexible living that blends the warmth of home with the precision of hospitality. Our spaces will be consistent, functional, design-led, and deeply attuned to how people live today.”

Building on this guest-focused approach, the design of ONE Atmosphere will emphasise efficient layouts complemented by calming materials and curated local art. Each space is planned to feel welcoming, practical, and visually inspiring, while quietly supported by hotel-style services operating in the background. The apartments are created for living rather than short overnight stays, making them suitable for long stays, relocations, project assignments, holidays, and hybrid travel needs.

Across all destinations, the brand will deliver a consistent ‘ONE Experience’, offering guests a portable sense of home regardless of location. This experience will be supported by a comprehensive range of amenities covering leisure, work, and convenience, collectively forming the ‘ONE Promise’. Together, these elements aim to elevate serviced living into a complete lifestyle offering.

Commenting on the brand’s growth potential, Sandeep Ahuja, Managing Director, ONE Atmosphere, said, “the serviced apartment sector is expanding rapidly yet remains highly fragmented. With ONE Atmosphere, we aim to establish a unified standard that can scale with ease while delivering a consistent, comfortable, and efficient experience. By leveraging the operational discipline we’ve developed across our award-winning resorts in the Maldives, we are confident in our ability to set a new global benchmark for extended-stay hospitality”.

ONE Atmosphere’s development pipeline includes a mix of metropolitan, urban, and leisure destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf countries. Additional international markets are also under evaluation as part of the brand’s long-term global expansion strategy.


Thomas Cook India Launches AI-Powered Assistant TACY for Europe Summer 2026 Campaign

Thomas Cook India Launches AI-Powered Assistant TACY for Europe Summer 2026 Campaign

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 14, 2025

Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company, has launched TACY, an AI-generated digital avatar that will serve as both the brand ambassador and a virtual holiday assistant on its official website. The initiative marks a significant step in the company’s technology-led engagement strategy and begins with the launch of its Europe Summer 2026 portfolio.

Positioned as the digital face of Thomas Cook India, TACY offers AI-powered guidance through conversational engagement, helping travellers explore destinations, understand itineraries, and plan holidays with greater ease. The launch reflects the brand’s focus on delivering personalised and interactive customer experiences through next-generation digital tools.

TACY’s debut coincides with the introduction of Thomas Cook India’s Europe Summer 2026 collection, which features over 1,000 guaranteed departures, more than 15 value-led holidays, and curated itineraries across Western and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Scandinavia. The portfolio caters to families, couples, and groups, offering diverse travel options supported by expert planning assistance through the AI avatar.

As part of the campaign, Thomas Cook India has created a series of AI-generated videos featuring TACY across iconic European destinations. These videos showcase the company’s travel offerings, highlight unique experiences, and guide customers through the holiday selection process in a visually engaging and interactive format. The campaign also integrates QR-enabled print and outdoor media, allowing customers to instantly access digital content and videos via mobile devices.

Commenting on the launch, Abraham Alapatt, President & Group Head – Marketing, Service Quality, Value Added Services & Innovation, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, “India is among the fastest growing digital economies in the world, with one of the youngest and most dynamic traveller demographics. Our customers are digital-first, curious, and expect interactive engagement that goes beyond traditional marketing. With TACY, we are pioneering a new era of marketing innovation by creating immersive, conversational experiences that resonate with new-age travellers. This initiative is perfectly timed with the launch of our flagship Europe Summer 2026 portfolio and will extend to other destinations as well.”

With the introduction of TACY, Thomas Cook India continues to position itself as an industry innovator by integrating artificial intelligence, storytelling, and personalisation into travel marketing. The initiative reflects the company’s broader vision of using technology to enhance human connection and transform how travellers discover, plan, and experience their journeys.


2025 F&B and Real Estate Insights: Industry Leaders Reflect on Challenges and Opportunities

2025 F&B and Real Estate Insights: Industry Leaders Reflect on Challenges and Opportunities

By Hariharan U

Published on December 12, 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, industry leaders are reflecting on a year that tested resilience, discipline, and innovation across the food & beverage (F&B) and real estate sectors.

According to Pulkit Arora, Director, CYK Hospitalities, “2025 has been a defining year for the F&B sector. Consumers pushed the industry toward more specific menus, higher food hygiene standards, and greater transparency in kitchen operations. It was a year that highlighted how trust is built through discipline rather than decoration.”

Simranjeet Singh, Director, CYK Hospitalities, adds, “The year 2025 proved that resilience and intelligent systems were the main sources of sustainable growth. Rising costs and changing consumer preferences meant that only those brands survived which remained consistent and had clear, efficient processes. This wasn't a year of aggressive expansion; it was a year of strengthening foundations.”

Together, they concluded, “Real progress in F&B isn't about scale; it's about the confidence you serve on every plate.”

In real estate and integrated hospitality developments, Vishal Vincent Tony, Managing Director, Aratt Developers & Ayatana Hospitality Pvt Ltd, highlights the evolving landscape: “The real estate sector is entering a cycle where integrated residential, commercial, and hospitality-led developments are emerging as the strongest contributors to long-term value creation. Across major markets, large-scale townships and mixed-use masterplans are witnessing renewed investor confidence, with developments that seamlessly integrate premium housing, modern office spaces, and quality hospitality assets.”

He further explains, “Rising homeownership sentiment, sustained office absorption, and consistent growth in domestic tourism continue to reinforce this shift. As we move into 2026, the most resilient and future-ready developments will be those that prioritise sustainability, intelligent design, and seamless integration across residential and commercial uses. With lifestyle preferences evolving rapidly, developments that offer both liveability and economic productivity are set to define the next phase of India’s real estate growth.”

The reflections from F&B and real estate leaders underscore a common theme for 2026: steady growth through operational excellence, sustainable practices, and intelligent integration, setting the stage for a more resilient and dynamic business landscape.

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