Catch Spices Joins the INR 1000 Crore Club

Catch Spices Joins the INR 1000 Crore Club

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on April 21, 2024

Catch Spices, a flagship brand of the DS Group, has achieved a remarkable milestone by entering the prestigious INR 1000 crore club in the packaged spice industry. With an impressive year-on-year growth rate of 24 percent over the last two years, Catch Spices is now setting its sights on a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of approximately 30 percent over the next five years.

Expanding its horizons, Catch Spices is diversifying its product range to include herbs, gourmet gravies, cooking pastes, and more, catering to the diverse tastes of Indian consumers. This move comes as the packaged spices industry in India witnessed substantial growth, reaching approximately INR 34,000 crores in 2023.

Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman of DS Group, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Catch Spices' relentless commitment to quality and understanding of consumer preferences has propelled us to this milestone. Our focus remains on delivering purity, taste, and convenience."

With over 125 variants and 300 SKUs, Catch Spices has become a household name, reaching more than 2 crore households across India. Leveraging modern trade and e-commerce platforms, the brand has demonstrated remarkable growth, surpassing industry benchmarks.

Supported by brand ambassadors like Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar, Catch Spices has resonated with consumers through its campaign "Kyunki khana sirf Khana nahi hota," emphasizing the emotional connection to food. The brand's increased focus on digital marketing and strategic partnerships further strengthens its market presence.

Catch Spices' journey to the INR 1000 crore club signifies its unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation, promising a flavorful future for Indian kitchens.

With a strategic investment of INR 125 crore earmarked for advertising, marketing, and distribution network expansion, DS Group aims to enhance Catch Spices' presence and market share in the highly competitive FMCG sector. The company is also set to introduce new products tailored to suit the tastes of consumers in South India, further expanding its foothold in the region.

As DS Group continues to focus on growth and market expansion, it remains committed to innovation and consumer satisfaction, aiming to strengthen its position as a leading player in the FMCG sector while delivering value to its customers and stakeholders.


Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 18, 2025

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) announced its financial results for Q1 FY26, recording a net profit of Rs 13 crore. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 154 crore, a 14% increase year-on-year, while operating EBITDA grew 16% YoY to Rs 45 crore. The company maintained an industry-leading occupancy of 92%, reaffirming its leadership in the hospitality sector.

ASPHL’s growth is fueled by expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The company recently signed an MoU to acquire and manage four leisure properties in Goa, Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala, adding 138 rooms under its brand. These steps align with ASPHL’s strategy to broaden its presence in high-potential tourism destinations and double its key count to 5,750 over the next five years.

Flurys, ASPHL’s iconic bakery and confectionery brand, now operates 102 outlets nationwide, reflecting the company’s focus on expanding its market presence while integrating modern amenities with rich cultural heritage.

Commenting on the performance, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said,

"We have delivered an extraordinary and best-ever Q1, setting a strong momentum for the year ahead. With topline growth of 14% and EBITDA growth of 16%, we recorded India’s highest occupancy of 92% and maintained leadership in RevPAR in the upper-upscale segment. ARR improved by 13% and RevPAR increased by 12%. With nearly 600 new rooms added, including a 41% rise in our asset-light model, and nationwide Flurys rollout, we are poised to scale faster, enhance margins, and deliver exceptional shareholder value."

ASPHL’s strong performance in Q1 FY26 underscores its strategic focus on market expansion, operational excellence, and premium guest experiences.


Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 10, 2025

Marriott International, Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 67 cents per share on its common stock, reaffirming its commitment to delivering shareholder value. The dividend will be paid on September 30, 2025, to shareholders who are on record as of August 21, 2025.

Alongside the dividend announcement, the hospitality giant also revealed an expansion of its share repurchase program. The board of directors has authorized the repurchase of an additional 25 million shares of its Class A common stock. This comes in addition to the approximately 7.4 million shares that were still available under previous authorizations as of July 30, 2025.

Marriott has already bought back 6.4 million shares this year, amounting to $1.7 billion. These moves reflect the company’s continued confidence in its financial stability and long-term performance, aiming to strengthen shareholder value through strategic capital allocation.


Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

By Author

Published on August 4, 2025

In what was intended to be a smooth digital transformation, postal services across the Chennai Circle continue to remain disrupted even days after a scheduled upgrade to India Post's new IT 2.0 system. The software transition—part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s postal network—was implemented on August 2nd and 4th across Chennai North and South divisions. However, officials have now confirmed that technical issues still persist, leaving customers and businesses grappling with delayed or inaccessible services.

Key services such as Speed Post, registered mail, parcel bookings, and money orders have either been significantly slowed or paused altogether in many branches. Despite expectations that systems would normalize post-upgrade, the rollout of the Advanced Postal Technology (APT) system has proven more complex than anticipated.

“We are still working on stabilizing the system. There have been unforeseen glitches post-upgrade, and our teams are actively resolving them,” said a senior postal official who requested anonymity.

The disruption has raised concerns across industries—including the hospitality sector—where timely document dispatch, license renewals, vendor payments, and customer correspondence are crucial to daily operations.

Experts and industry stakeholders are now calling on India Post to introduce alternative operational strategies or backup mechanisms during such large-scale transitions.

“In a digital age where seamless service is non-negotiable, a complete blackout due to a software update is avoidable. A fallback process, whether manual or cloud-based, should be in place to ensure continuity,” said a Chennai-based hospitality consultant.

The hospitality industry relies heavily on postal services for legal documentation, international communication, and procurement logistics. The ongoing delays have caused bottlenecks not just in operations but also in customer experience delivery.

As authorities continue to work toward a resolution, the broader question remains: Should India’s essential public infrastructure be this vulnerable to a single system upgrade? The answer may lie in future-proofing core services with hybrid digital models that include disaster recovery plans and parallel systems.


Hospitalitynews.in will continue to track updates as the situation evolves.

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