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By Nithyakala Neelakandan
Published on October 13, 2024
The Indian baking industry is experiencing a surge in innovation, driven in part by the rising popularity of U.S. blueberries. At an event in New Delhi, industry leaders gathered to discuss how USA Blueberries Washington is contributing to the sector's growth, which is projected to reach $29.4 billion by 2032. The event showcased the versatility and health benefits of blueberries.
W. Garth Thorburn Jr., Agricultural Minister Counselor at the U.S. Embassy, emphasized the importance of innovation in food, noting that it extends beyond taste. “Innovation in food is not solely about flavor; it's about creating new business avenues and redefining culinary practices for a healthier future," he asserted. “Incorporating USA blueberries washington into baking not only enhances taste but also boosts nutritional value, creating a unique selling proposition for bakers," he said. The use of blueberries offers both flavor and health benefits, appealing to health-conscious consumers and opening doors for bakers to differentiate their products.
Raj Kapoor, India Representative of the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, reinforced this point, stating, "Blueberries are not just a delicious ingredient; they represent a commitment to healthier eating and present exciting business opportunities for bakers and entrepreneurs." By integrating this superfood into both traditional and modern recipes, bakers can meet the growing demand for nutritious options.
The event, known as USA Blueberries Washington Bakers Day, featured live demonstrations by renowned chefs Rakhee Vaswani and Nishant Chaubey, who showcased blueberry-infused desserts. Attendees were shown how U.S. blueberries can elevate a range of dishes, from traditional Indian sweets to contemporary baked goods. Chef Vaswani highlighted the versatility of blueberries, noting, "Baking with blueberries not only elevates flavor but also introduces a wealth of nutrients essential for modern diets."
Hands-on workshops allowed participants to explore innovative flavor pairings and incorporate blueberries into classic recipes like muffins and cakes. These interactive sessions encouraged collaboration, enabling bakers to share techniques and ideas, fostering creativity within the industry.
A baking competition was a key highlight of the day, with aspiring bakers presenting cakes that featured USA blueberries washington. Judges, including culinary school representatives and food innovation leaders, evaluated the entries on creativity and skill. One standout creation was a blueberry trifle that layered sponge cake with fresh cream and homemade blueberry compote. "Events like this inspire bakers to experiment with flavors and elevate their offerings," Thorburn noted.
A panel discussion on the future of food in India further explored how agricultural innovation, like the integration of U.S. blueberries, can lead to healthier eating habits and new market opportunities. Dr. Shalini Sehgal, President of the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists in India (AFSTI), stated, "As consumers become more aware of what they eat, they will demand higher-quality ingredients, opening doors for businesses that prioritize health and nutrition."
The event also provided networking opportunities, allowing professionals from agricultural organizations, food technology firms, and culinary schools to discuss potential collaborations. The day ended with the announcement of the baking competition winners, and excitement buzzed as participants and attendees reflected on the day's innovations.
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By Nishang Narayan
Published on May 30, 2025
Spalba, a SaaS-enabled B2B venue marketplace, has set its sights on a ₹100 crore turnover by FY 2026. The company recently closed FY 2025 with a consolidated turnover of ₹60 crore, marking an impressive 3000% year-on-year growth since its inception just five years ago. What makes this journey even more remarkable? Spalba remains fully bootstrapped and profitable, a rarity in today’s startup ecosystem.
Driven by innovation, Spalba is expanding rapidly across Asia. The platform has entered six new markets—Malaysia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Nepal—taking its VenueTech vision global. Back home, the company plans to grow its venue inventory from 11,000 to 13,000 and expand property listings from 2,067 to 4,500 by FY26, effectively doubling its offering and increasing its presence in over 80 Indian cities.
“Our journey from a bootstrapped startup to a ₹60 crore revenue run-rate has been driven by continuous innovation and an unwavering commitment to customer success,” said Vishal Puri, Co-Founder of Spalba. “With our tech-first approach—combining AR-powered Virtual Property Tours, an Event Mockup Builder, AI-driven sales tools, and more—we expect to cross ₹100 crore by FY 2026 and continue modernizing India’s ₹200 billion events industry.”
Over 250 marquee properties including The Leela, Radisson Hotel Group, Accor, and The Oberoi have partnered with Spalba to streamline venue sales and boost cross-selling opportunities. The platform not only simplifies the venue booking process with immersive digital walkthroughs but also reduces the need for paperwork and physical site visits—supporting both revenue growth and sustainability for its clients.
Founded in 2020, Spalba is redefining event planning by making venue discovery and booking faster, smarter, and more collaborative. Its roadmap to ₹100 crore highlights a focus on scalable innovation, customer-centric solutions, and long-term value creation—all without raising external funding.
Published on May 27, 2025
Starbucks India posted a 5% rise in revenue to ₹1,277 crore in FY25, but the good news ended there. Losses widened significantly by 65% to ₹135.7 crore, up from ₹82 crore in the previous year, reflecting the growing strain on profitability amid soft demand in the quick service restaurant (QSR) segment.
Operating under a 50:50 joint venture with Tata Consumer Products as Tata Starbucks Pvt Ltd, the company noted that almost half of the losses—₹67.6 crore—were borne by Tata Consumer. According to the brand’s annual report, demand across the QSR space remained muted through most of the year, though a rebound was noted in the latter half. Still, profitability remained under pressure.
Despite the headwinds, Starbucks continued to expand, opening 58 new outlets and entering 19 new cities, including several in tier-2 markets. However, this was a notable slowdown compared to the 95 new outlets launched in the previous year. As of now, Starbucks operates 479 stores across 80 Indian cities.
The company remains optimistic about long-term growth in India. “We remain committed to increasing our store base in India and get to 1,000 outlets by FY28, despite a more moderate number of store openings in the short term,” Starbucks said in a statement.
Tata Consumer Products Chairman N Chandrasekaran addressed the broader economic landscape, noting that India remains a stronghold of economic growth amid global uncertainty. “India’s long-term growth is underpinned by strong demographic and economic fundamentals and ongoing structural reforms,” he told shareholders.
However, rising competition from both international and domestic brands continues to challenge Starbucks’ market share. Rivals like Tim Hortons and Pret A Manger have entered the Indian market with aggressive expansion plans, while homegrown brands like Third Wave Coffee and Blue Tokai already operate more than 250 outlets combined.
A senior QSR official highlighted a key operational challenge: “Starbucks’ revenue per square foot is about 35% lower compared to metros. Also, city stores seem to be cannibalising heavily after it opened stores at a record pace in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi.”
While a strong takeaway culture offers a margin boost, uneven store performance continues to drag the bottom line. Some stores thrive, but others suffer from low footfalls and declining revenue per square foot, affecting overall profitability.
With the coffee wars heating up and Indian consumers spoilt for choice, Starbucks will need more than just store count to brew up sustained success in the coming years.
Published on May 18, 2025
OYO is riding high on its corporate wave. The global hospitality tech brand has added over 3500 new corporate clients in FY25 through its business accelerator division, marking a 20% year-on-year growth in this segment. With this, OYO’s corporate network now exceeds 6500 clients, ranging from large enterprises to traditional business houses and startups.
Mumbai emerged as the top-performing city, onboarding over 700 clients, followed by Hyderabad (400) and Pune (350). Other metros such as Chennai and Bangalore also contributed significantly to the growth.
Some of the key additions to OYO’s client roster include SBI Life, Cult Fit, and Sun TV Direct, further strengthening its footprint among large, pan-India brands.
The growth momentum picked up following the launch of Oravel Travel Solutions in October 2024—a dedicated vertical to meet the end-to-end needs of corporate travellers. From smooth check-ins at over 1100 serviced hotels across 300+ cities, curated meal options and conference support, to tailor-made event and holiday packages, OYO has positioned itself as a comprehensive solution for business travel.
Manish Kashyap, Head of OYO Business Accelerator, noted:
“The growth has been driven not just by large corporations but also by a diverse mix of SMEs, traditional business houses, startups, travel management companies, and even film production houses. These clients are increasingly leveraging OYO’s expansive network, flexible bookings, and tech-enabled tools to meet their evolving travel needs.”
OYO also witnessed a rise in long-term and event-based stays, signaling a shift in how businesses engage with hospitality solutions.
With a strong pipeline ahead, OYO aims to double down on its premium brand offerings like SUNDAY, Palette, Clubhouse Townhouse, Townhouse O, and Collection O.
According to the Global Business Travel Association, India has become the 4th largest business travel market in Asia-Pacific, with rising SME activity playing a major role. These trends have set the stage for OYO to scale faster and meet the evolving demands of modern corporate travel.
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