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From Siliguri to a Chai Empire: How a Women Entrepreneur Brew a Successful Tea selling brand CHAIOM

Sipping her steaming cup of Darjeeling, Payalh Aggarwal reminisces about her journey from a small-town girl with big dreams to a leading name in the Indian tea industry. In 2017, armed with nothing but ambition and a passion for chai, Payalh left the familiar comfort of Siliguri for the bustling capital, New Delhi, with a dream to establish a tea brand that would touch the lives of millions.

Ms. Aggarwal’s venture, Zolina Express Pvt Ltd, launched its flagship brand, ChaiOm, initially offering just one variety of tea. Despite her two decades of experience in the beverage industry, Payalh found the early days challenging, describing them as “daunting” due to a lack of clear direction. It was then that she discovered the Gaurav Bhagat Academy (GBA) and its founder, India’s 10X sales expert. The courses on time management and sales cycles offered by GBA became the catalyst for Payalh’s budding enterprise.

Transformed by these new insights, ChaiOm evolved into a diverse brand, expanding its product line to include a range of specialty teas and introducing Madhom, an artisanal tea gifting sister brand. ChaiOm’s success soared, with its products now featured on Amazon and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), reaching customers nationwide.

Beyond financial success, Payalh is proud of how ChaiOm sustained a positive EBITDA through the pandemic, a testament to the brand’s resilience and strategic planning. Her passion for tea is not just about business growth but also about creating societal impact. Looking ahead, Payalh envisions launching a “Chai Academy” and hosting a tea-centric talk show to deepen appreciation for tea across India.

For budding entrepreneurs and women professionals, Payalh shares her key lessons and learnings, saying, “Resilience, focused learning, and crafting a narrative that connects deeply with our customers have been the cornerstones of our success. What continually drives me isn’t just my passion for tea but my commitment to making a meaningful difference and nurturing a brand that resonates on a personal level with people. Scaling from a few packets to thousands of boxes was not a simple feat. Initially, I knew I wanted to climb higher but lacked clear strategies for growth and networking. Thanks to the targeted modules and personal coaching from the Gaurav Bhagat Academy, and strategic support from Consortium Gifts, we’ve not only expanded our reach but also our product range, ensuring that there’s no looking back for us now.”
As for the future of ChaiOm, Payalh plans to continue innovating and inspiring, one cup of tea at a time.

SBI Card Launches SBI Card MILES for Travel Enthusiasts

Hyderabad, 26th April 2024: SBI Card, India’s largest pure-play credit card issuer, has launched three variants of its first travel-focused core credit card, ‘SBI Card MILES’, in Mumbai today. The card is aimed at bringing holistic travel benefits to travelers of all kinds – from travel aspirants to frequent fliers to travel aficionados. SBI Card MILES offers compelling features that include conversion of Travel Credits to Air Miles and Hotel Points, accelerated rewards on EVERY travel booking, and airport lounge access among others. Empowering cardholders with absolute choice of redemption, the card partners over 20 airline and hotel brands including Air Vistara, Air India, Spicejet, Air France-KLM, Etihad Airways, Air Canada, Thai Airways, Qantas Airways, ITC Hotels, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Accor among others.

According to Mr. Dinesh Kumar Khara, Chairman, State Bank of India, “The strong economic growth and robust consumption landscape has accentuated India’s position in the world. Even in travel sector, today, India is considered amongst the key source markets for outbound travel in many countries including those in Asia and Europe. I congratulate SBI Card on the launch of SBI Card MILES, a strong product that will redefine the travel experiences for Indian consumers.”

Indians are increasingly becoming open to more and varied travel experiences. The three variants, SBI Card MILES ELITE, SBI Card MILES PRIME, and SBI Card MILES, have been designed to elevate these experiences through curated travel benefits. Cardholders can earn up to 6 Travel Credits on every INR 200 travel spend and up to 2 Travel Credits on spending INR 200 on other categories. The offerings under ‘SBI Card MILES’ bouquet enable cardholders to carry out an easy and seamless Travel Credits redemption across multiple renowned flights and hotel partners. One can convert these Travel Credits into Air Miles/Hotel Points of respective partners or directly use them to book air tickets and hotel accommodations by visiting the SBI Card mobile app or website https://www.sbicard.com/. Alternatively, one can redeem them on SBI Card’s Rewards Catalogue as well.

Speaking at the launch Mr. Abhijit Chakravorty, MD & CEO, SBI Card said, “Our customer-centric approach has always driven us to design innovative products, solutions, and services that address the evolving and diverse lifestyle needs and offer customers an extremely rewarding experience. Indian travellers are large global spenders and naturally, with increased and more robust travel plans, consumers are looking for curated benefits to enhance their travel experiences. SBI Card MILES is our endeavour to offer our customers the best of all the travel benefits. The card has been designed to become one true travel partner for the cardholders. We are sure that our cardholders will enjoy the exclusive benefits offered by our travel-centric core card.”

SBI Card MILES ELITE comes with multiple and varied spends milestone benefits. These include up to 5000 Travel Credits on reaching spends of INR 1 lakh in 60 days of enrollment; up to 20,000 Travel Credits on spends milestone of INR 12 lakh; and spends-based fee reversal on reaching spends milestone of INR 15 lakh.

With airport lounge access being an important part of the overall travel experience, SBI Card MILES ELITE offers Priority Pass membership. Using the card, cardholders will be able to enjoy up to 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits and up to 6 international airport lounge visits in a year. What’s more, the card also enables users to earn additional domestic lounge access. Every time a cardholder achieves a cumulative spends of INR 1 lakh, cardholders will receive 1 gift voucher for lounge access that can be used by either the cardholder or the guest.

Importantly, SBI Card MILES ELITE cardholders will also enjoy a low foreign transaction markup of 1.99% and travel insurance cover. The card will be available on Mastercard and RuPay network. The joining and annual fees of SBI Card MILES ELITE are INR 4,999 plus applicable taxes while SBI Card MILES PRIME and SBI Card MILES have a fee of INR 2,999 and INR 1,499 plus applicable taxes respectively.

Key highlights of SBI Card MILES Cards:

UFlex inks an agreement for the supply of renewable power for its packaging films plant in Karnataka

26th April 2024, Noida, National Capital Region: UFlex Limited has entered into a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Amplus Phoenix Private Limited to source renewable power under a group captive power policy. The plant will provide solar power to UFlex’s Packaging Films manufacturing plant in Dharwad, Karnataka. In line with UFlex’s goal of being net zero by 2035, or earlier, this move will strategically reduce UFlex’s carbon emissions by app. 19000 tCO2e.

UFlex’s Dharwad facility is home to a state-of-the-art packaging films plant, commissioned in Q2, 2022. Equipped with a BOPET line, a CPP line, and plasma-enhanced high-barrier metallizers, with a combined capacity of 93,000 TPA, the facility is an addition to UFlex’s global manufacturing footprint — spread across nine countries.

This agreement signifies UFlex’s commitment to adopting renewable energy for its operations and fostering a sustainable future. This strategic agreement, under the group’s captive power policy, aims to play a pivotal role in reducing the company’s greenhouse gas emissions and is aligned with UFlex’s overarching vision for sustainability.

Mr. Apoorvshree Chaturvedi, Director of Global Operations, UFlex Group, affirmed that the company’s investment in renewable energy is a crucial and bold move toward reducing its carbon footprint and fulfilling its commitment to environmental stewardship. “UFlex has a robust and well-defined energy optimization transition strategy for reducing emissions. The organization believes that every company is responsible for adopting sustainable practices that are beneficial for the environment, long-term business success, and stakeholder value. UFlex is a pioneer in recycling multi-layer mixed plastics and aseptic packaging waste and has taken the onus to share its knowledge and expertise with corporations and economies worldwide. The investment in renewable

Non-geostationary orbit constellations redefining the High Throughput Satellites market landscape

Brussels, Hong Kong, Montreal, Munich, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toulouse, Washington D.C. [26th April 2024 ] –Significant and ongoing transformations in the High Throughput Satellites (HTS) market are confirmed in the 7th edition of the ‘High Throughput Satellites’ report from leading space consulting and market intelligence firm Novaspace, a merger between Euroconsult and SpaceTec Partners. The report underscores the pivotal role of Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) constellations in reshaping the satellite connectivity industry, with the latter to emerge as the primary driver in coming years.

Novaspace’s report reveals that to date, approximately three-quarters of the 50+ active satellite operators have invested in HTS systems. The vast majority of HTS players have satellites in GEO orbit. Despite the NGSO potential, high capital expenditure (CapEx) requirements remain a significant barrier for most players, with investments typically between $2-4 billion and exceeding $10 billion for a mega-constellation. As a result, only a select few of the ‘leading’ satellite operators are pursuing plans for full NGSO constellations, with three expected to be operational during 2024. This includes SpaceX’s Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and O3b mPOWER from SES.

Recent NGSO dynamism has been mainly supported by the aggressive launch campaign of SpaceX’s Starlink LEO constellation. Overall, HTS supply tripled between 2021 and 2023 to 27 Tbps, with Starlink accounting for 90% of net new supply during the period.The significant increase in supply has been accompanied with strong growth in Starlink’s customer base with the operator reporting >2.7 million customers globally in April 2024.

The emergence of NGSO constellations has forced HTS operators to adapt their strategies. The past few years witnessed an increase in partnerships among satellite operators, with NGSOs featuring in most of them. The rise in NGSO constellations has triggered a wave of ‘multi-orbit’ collaborations among operators, partnering with cross-orbit players in the industry to maximize reach among their customers and to provide them better services across orbits, showcasing the industry’s innate adaptability to embrace evolving demands and technologies.

The report forecasts a remarkable nine-fold growth in HTS capacity supply from 2023-2028, with NGSO constellations driving 97% of the net increase. HTS demand doubled in 2023 to 6 Tbps, with NGSO accounting for close to 90% of growth and surpassing GEO in total demand. Consumer broadband, corporate networks and civil government are projected to remain the leading demand drivers.

Novaspace Managing Consultant Dimitri Buchs commented: “The HTS market is undergoing unprecedented shifts driven by the rapid expansion of NGSO constellations and evolving consumer demands. Interestingly, the influx of subscribers across a variety of verticals for Starlink has led to HTS market expansion, not pure cannibalization, which is a positive indicator for the industry, as it shows that the improved economics enabled by lower HTS capacity pricing should unlock new opportunities both for GEO and NGSO in coming years, as they will allow for better services.”

He added: “The influx of NGSO constellations has not only expanded market supply but has also fostered market competition. This has pushed GEO HTS operators to adapt their strategies and, in response, there has been a limited number of GEO HTS orders in recent years as operators adopt a cautious ‘wait and see’ approach or opt for fully software-defined satellites.”

Small GEO HTS satellites have gained traction in recent years, accounting for half of the eight GEO HTS orders in 2023. Operators favor small satellites due to their lower CapEx requirements, which make financing less challenging and increase the likelihood of recouping investments.

In addition to supply and demand dynamics, the report delves into revenue projections, forecasting a quadrupling of HTS capacity revenue from 2023-2032 to $22 billion in 2032. Despite the dominance of mega-constellations, the report notes that growth remains positive across the market sector. The fastest-growing segments for HTS include land mobility, corporate networks and civil government, with further substantial growth rates expected over the forecast period.

Siegwerk achieves EcoVadis Silver Medal for Sustainability Excellence

India,26th April 2024 – Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA, one of the leading global providers of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels, has again been awarded an EcoVadis Silver Medal rating. The year-over-year improvement in total points underscores the companies’ unwavering commitment to sustainability across all business units and regions. The current EcoVadis rating places Siegwerk among the top 18% percent of companies in its industry regarding sustainability performance. EcoVadis is a global sustainability ratings provider that evaluates companies based on the maturity of their environmental, social, and ethical management systems. It provides a comprehensive analysis of a company’s performance in areas such as environmental impact, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

Key Highlights:

Environmental Performance was a 2023 scorecard highlight. Strong sustainability management systems, emissions reduction targets, and circular packaging solutions contribute significantly to this achievement. Siegwerk achieved an impressive score of 80 points, out of a possible 100, in this category.

Approved Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validation signifies Siegwerk’s greenhouse gas reduction targets align with scientific evidence and contribute to global climate goals. The SBTi targets reinforce an ambitious climate transition strategy.

Global GreenCATs are Siegwerk’s sustainability change agents, driving sustainable solutions and ideas throughout the organization, multiplying the effects of internal environmental and social training.

The increased rating performance is a testament to the effort and focus we have placed on sustainable business practices in the inks and coatings industry,” said Sarah Mah, Siegwerk’s Senior Global Sustainability Manager. “We are proud of our achievements and remain committed to further enhancing sustainability across our operations and value chain.”

IPL Fever: Justdial reports a 19% increase in searches for DTH installation

26th April 2024, Mumbai – With the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicking off its 17th edition to a record-breaking start, Justdial, India’s leading local search engine, has observed a significant surge in searches for DTH (direct-to-home) installation services across the country.

Justdial reports a 19% increase in searches for DTH installation services compared to the period before the IPL season began. This trend is expected to continue and potentially surpass last year’s impressive 26% rise as the tournament progresses.

Among major cities, Pune takes the lead with a surge of 29% in DTH installation searches, followed closely by Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Bangalore, each witnessing a 26% increase.

The most popular searches within this category include DTH service providers like Tata Play and Airtel Digital, along with installation services for Dish TV and Tata Play set-top boxes.

According to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data, a staggering 35 crore viewers tuned in to watch the live broadcast of the first 10 IPL matches, with the opening day itself registering a record-breaking 16.8 crore unique viewers and a total watch time of 1,276 crore minutes. This immense viewership has translated into a heightened demand for DTH services.

As the IPL continues to captivate the nation, Justdial anticipates a sustained rise in DTH installation searches, reflecting the unwavering passion for cricket among Indians and their desire for a superior viewing experience.

Tata Motors Accelerates Innovation: Record 222 Patents Filed and 333 Grants Secured in FY24

26th April 2024 Tata Motors, India’s leading automobile company, has yet again achieved a significant milestone towards intellectual property rights (IPR) creation with a record-breaking number of 222 Patents and 117 Designs applications filed during the year FY24, the highest in its history. These filings span a wide spectrum of product and process innovations, addressing key automotive megatrends such as Connectivity, Electrification, Sustainability, and Safety (CESS). They also cover various vehicle systems such as powertrain, body & trim, suspension, brakes, HVAC, and emission control. Tata Motors also received its highest-ever grant of 333 patents during the same period, taking its total tally of granted patents to over 850.

Tata Motors’ strong commitment to engineering excellence, cleaner powertrains, design, connectivity, and intelligent safety features ensures that its innovations seamlessly align with real-world needs. By prioritizing both consumer well-being and environmental stewardship, the company’s purposeful research and innovation efforts have yielded more efficient, greener, and safer vehicles, benefiting end-users and transforming the industry. In FY24, Tata Motors received five prestigious accolades and honors of global repute for its excellence in intellectual property rights (IPR).

Commenting on the milestone, Rajendra Petkar, President & Chief Technology Officer – Tata Motors expressed, “Tata Motors’ unwavering commitment to research and innovation has propelled us to new heights in innovation & value creation through intellectual property. With a record number of patents filed and granted, we continue to redefine automotive excellence. Our cutting-edge technologies, greener vehicles, and customer-centric approach position us as trailblazers in the industry. As mobility evolves, Tata Motors remains at the forefront, shaping a smarter, more connected future for all.”