Category Archives: Business

Happy Monk Makes It’s Retail Debut, Brings Gourmet Dim Sums Closer To Home

India, 12th November 2025: After redefining India’s frozen food category with its chef-crafted, preservative-free dimsums, Happy Monk is now stepping beyond its online presence into premium retail within three months of its launch. The brand’s announcement of its offline expansion with Bombay Gourmet Market, will make its products available at eight handpicked stores across Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Goa and Bangalore.

This strategic expansion builds on Happy Monk’s rapid digital growth since its launch and signals a move towards deeper accessibility to India’s growing gourmet-seeking consumers. By partnering with Bombay Gourmet Market, a destination that is synonymous with curated, high-quality food brands – Happy Monk brings its freezer-to-table gourmet experience to neighborhood shelves, driving spontaneous discovery and purchase.

Alongside steady online growth, the brand experienced repeat offline enquiries for its dimsums. This demand underscored the brand’s growing consumer awareness across cities. Recognising this momentum, Happy Monk and Bombay Gourmet Market accelerated their partnership plans, ensuring that their consumers get easy and immediate access to Happy Monk’s offerings.

Founded by seasoned marketers Varun Kapoor and Deepthi Nair, Happy Monk offers more than 20 handcrafted dim sums varieties like Edamame Truffle, Smoked Chicken & Cheddar Cheese & Sriracha Chicken. Crafted without preservatives and flash-frozen to preserve peak freshness and texture, every Happy Monk purchase ensures a high-quality restaurant experience in minutes, right at the doorsteps .

“In just two months, the response to Happy Monk has far surpassed our expectations, “ said Deepthi Nair, Co-founder, Happy Monk. “We initially set out to build the brand through direct-to-home delivery, with a goal to establish the brand and also educate consumers about the new category. However when stores started receiving direct requests for our dimsums, it was clearly a wake up call for us to hasten a solid offline presence that would immediately meet the growing demand. I strongly believe that a retail presence unlocks organic discovery, instant trial, direct engagement and an immersive experience for customers that will further help Happy Monk increase brand awareness! Consumers today are redefining convenience, they want food that feels indulgent, elevated, and effortless all at once,” said Varun Kapoor, Co-founder, Happy Monk. “Our entry into premium retail is about creating those everyday moments of discovery. It allows people to connect with the brand beyond a screen and taste the difference that comes from chef-driven recipes and uncompromising quality.”

“We’re excited to welcome Happy Monk to our retail shelves for their offline debut,” said Akshay Kumar, Founder, Bombay Gourmet Market. “Our mission has always been to curate distinctive, high-quality food brands that spark excitement among shoppers. Happy Monk’s take on frozen foods, marrying chef-crafted recipes with clean ingredients and uncompromising flavour, aligns seamlessly with our philosophy. Their presence not only elevates our offering but also brings a fresh dimension for customers seeking premium, convenient dining experiences.”

The strong early traction highlights the brand’s rapid acceptance in the market. Happy Monk is already clocking a healthy 30–40% repeat rate with many customers placing multiple repeat orders and exploring new flavors with each repeat order. By combining an omnichannel presence across direct delivery and now premium retail, Happy Monk is building a distribution network designed for greater accessibility & scale across local markets.

The offline debut not only cements Happy Monk’s position as a category creator in India’s frozen aisle but also signals the rising demand for gourmet convenience foods. This demand reflects a broader consumer shift, where restaurant- style dining at home is paired with high-quality & clean ingredients, preservative-free indulgence, authentic taste and effortless convenience.

Sundaram Finance partners with Citroen to enhance retail finance accessibility

 L TO R – Mr. Sundar N, Regional Product Head- Auto – Sundaram Finance Limited. Mr. Balachander Gopinath, National Head- Auto – Sundaram Finance Limited, Mr. Shishir Mishra, Business Head & Director- Strategic Partnerships and Institutional Business – Stellantis India and Mr. Ravi Batra, Head- Finance & Insurance – Stellantis India

Strategic alliance to offer tailored financial solutions across Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets

Chennai, 11th November 2025: Sundaram Finance Ltd, one of India’s most respected financial institutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Citroën India to strengthen its retail finance ecosystem. This collaboration is part of Citroën’s ‘Citroën 2.0 – Shift into the New’ strategy, aimed at delivering seamless and customer-centric ownership experiences. With Sundaram Finance’s deep-rooted presence and long-standing relationships across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, the customers will benefit from:

· Competitive interest rates

· Simplified loan processing

· Personalised finance schemes tailored to diverse customer needs

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Balachander Gopinath, National Head- Auto, Sundaram Finance Ltd added, “We are delighted to collaborate with Citroën India to help more customers realise their dream of owning a car. Our extensive branch network and commitment to excellent service will ensure a smooth and affordable purchase experience for all our customers, especially in emerging markets.”

Mr. Shishir Mishra, Business Head & Director, Stellantis India added, “We’re proud to partner with Sundaram Finance, a name synonymous with trust and reliability. Their strong regional presence and customer-first approach align perfectly with our mission to make Citroën vehicles more accessible across India.”

This partnership reinforces Sundaram Finance Ltd.’s commitment to delivering customer service excellence throughout the vehicle ownership journey.

Subhan Bakery Brings Timeless Tastes to Secunderabad with New Café in Sindhi Colony

Hyderabad, November 8, 2025:Subhan Bakery, Hyderabad’s most cherished name for iconic treats like Osmania biscuits and Dum-ke-Roat, officially inaugurated its New Bakery & Café in Sindhi Colony, Secunderabad.

The grand opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Mrs Rasool Bee Sahiba and Shri Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Hon’ble MLA. They were joined by **Syed Irfan, Managing Director of Subhan Bakery, and Syed Luqman, alongside an enthusiastic gathering of devoted patrons and well-wishers.

Known for its authentic Hyderabadi flavors and commitment to high-quality craftsmanship, Subhan Bakery has been a household favorite for generations. The new café aims to bring its signature taste, warm service, and the unique charm of Hyderabad’s baking culture closer to food lovers across the twin cities.

“We are thrilled to open this beautiful new space for our customers,” said Syed Irfan, Managing Director, Subhan Bakery. “It is more than just a bakery; it is a celebration of tradition, family, and the immense love that Hyderabad has shown us over the years.”

Guests at the opening enjoyed Subhan’s beloved signature bakes within a lively, modern setting that successfully blends nostalgia with a fresh aesthetic. The new outlet promises to uphold the same authenticity and warmth that have defined the brand for more than seven decades.

Established as a cornerstone of Hyderabad’s culinary landscape, Subhan Bakery is famous for pioneering the original Osmania biscuit and other traditional Hyderabadi confectionaries. The brand remains dedicated to preserving authentic recipes while offering exceptional quality and service to its community.

VST Tillers Tractors Ltd posted 26% growth in the revenue for the half year ended 30th September 2025

Bengaluru, November 8, 2025: VST Tillers Tractors Limited (VST), India’s leading farm equipment manufacturer, announced its financial results for the quarter and half year ended September 30, 2025, showcasing continued growth momentum and operational resilience.

Quarter ended September 30, 2025 (Q2 FY2025-26):

· Revenue from Operations: ₹315.15 crore as against ₹283.43 crore in Q2 FY2024-25 – an increase of 11.2% YoY.

· Operational EBIDTA: ₹41.16 crore as against ₹37.79 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

· Net Profit: ₹25.43 crore as against ₹44.93 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The decline in net profit is primarily due to lower fair value gains on investments. Excluding fair value gain/(loss), the net profit for the quarter would be ₹27.70 crore as compared to ₹24.35 crore.

Half Year ended September 30, 2025 (H1 FY2025-26):

· Revenue from Operations: ₹597.60 crore as against ₹474.02 crore in H1 FY2024-25 – up by a strong growth of 26.1% YoY.

· Operational EBIDTA: ₹78.66 crore as against ₹51.17 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

· Net Profit: ₹69.99 crore as against ₹67.78 crore last year. The net profit was impacted by lower fair value gains during H1 FY26. Excluding fair value gains/losses), the net profit for H1 FY26 would be ₹48.47 crore compared to ₹28.20 crore in H1 FY25.

VST Tillers Tractors Limited (VST) is India’s leading farm equipment manufacturer. VST was established in the year 1967 by the VST Group of companies. With a legacy of more than 55 years, VST continues to drive farm mechanization and empowerment of Indian farmers. The organization is the largest Indian manufacturer of Tillers, and 4WD Compact Tractors, and amongst the leading producers of the other category of Tractors, Engines, Transmission, Power Reaper, and Precision Components. VST also exports products to European, Asian, and African markets. For more details, please visit https://www.vsttractors.com/

PVR INOX Offers 50 Percent Discount for Patna Voters to Celebrate Civic Spirit

By:  Mr. Gautam Dutta, CEO Revenue & Operations, PVR INOX

“Every vote strengthens our democracy, and we are proud to play a small part in encouraging citizens to step out and cast their vote. To celebrate this civic spirit, PVR INOX is delighted to offer a special 50% discount on movie tickets for all voters in Patna who show the indelible ink mark on their finger. The offer will be valid on 6th and 7th November 2025 at INOX City Centre and Ashok INOX, KP Mall, for tickets bought at the box office counters.

We ran this initiative last year as well, and the positive response from moviegoers was heartening. This time too, we hope to see Patna’s voters turn up in large numbers at the polling booths and then at our cinemas to enjoy a well-earned movie break. Voting and entertainment can go hand in hand when the goal is a more aware and active community.”

Workday Completes Acquisition of Sana

Mumbai, November 8, 2025 — Workday, Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY), the enterprise AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, announced it has completed its acquisition of Sana, a leading AI company building the next generation of enterprise knowledge tools. The addition of Sana will make Workday the new front door for work – bringing a company’s most critical applications and insights into Workday’s platform, enabling employees to start and complete their day in Workday — without needing to switch contexts.

“By bringing Sana’s leading enterprise knowledge and learning to Workday, we’re creating a single, intelligent interface that connects the systems, data, and actions employees rely on — becoming the new front door for work,” said Gerrit Kazmier, president, product and technology, Workday. “We’re unlocking a new era of productivity, focus, and flow across our customers’ organizations with a complete AI solution for the next-generation enterprise.”

“Sana exists to build the UI for AI and bring superintelligence to work,” said Joel Hellermark, CEO, Sana. “Joining Workday means we can drastically accelerate our vision and together create a seamless way for organizations to access knowledge, automate repetitive work, and learn with agentic AI.”

The New Front Door for Work: An AI-Native Employee Experience

With Sana’s leading enterprise knowledge and Workday’s unique data and context around people and money – as well as a rich ecosystem of builders and partners – Workday is establishing a horizontal intelligence layer across the enterprise. This layer will unify data and workflows from across applications and platforms, providing a consistent, AI-powered experience where knowledge, data, and actions converge. The work experience will become more personalized and proactive, intelligently anticipating employee needs based on their role, team, and project.

Launching next year, this transformative experience will become the home base for work and empower employees with AI agents that provide access to tailored information, anticipate needs before they arise, and take action across a company’s most critical systems.

Unlocking a New Era of Enterprise AI and Learning

Sana Agents extends enterprise AI beyond basic search and chat. Users can use the platform’s no-code agent builder to create AI agents grounded in organizational data that accelerate work by automating repetitive workflows, analysing data, and acting proactively on their behalf.

Sana Learn brings learning management, analytics, content generation, and personalised tutoring into an end-to-end AI-native learning platform. Sana Learn will complement Workday Learning’s robust learning system of record, governance, and compliance capabilities. Together, Sana Learn and Workday Learning provide a holistic, enterprise-grade learning suite designed for an AI-first world.

Intellect Reports 34 Percent YoY Revenue Growth and 68% EBITDA Jump in Q2 FY26

Intellect Delivers Consistent Growth Momentum with 34% YoY Revenue Increase to INR 789 Cr and 68% Surge in EBITDA to INR 184 Cr in Q2 FY26

Chennai/New Delhi, 07th November, 2025: Intellect Design Arena Ltd, a global leader in enterprise-grade financial technology, today announced its Q2 FY26 results, reporting strong growth across revenue, profitability, and platform adoption.

Financial Highlights Q2 FY26

• Revenue: ₹789 crore, up 34% YoY, driven by flagship platforms eMACH.ai and Purple Fabric.

• EBITDA: ₹184 crore, up 68% YoY.

• Profit After Tax (PAT): ₹102 crore, up 94% YoY.

• License-Linked Revenue: ₹423 crore, up 69% YoY.

• Platform Revenue: ₹137 crore, up 200% YoY.

• Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): ₹1,080 crore, up 53% YoY from H1 FY25.

• Cash & Cash Equivalents: ₹927 crore, up from ₹755 crore in Q2 FY25.

• Collections: ₹753 crore (vs ₹550 crore in Q2 FY25).

• Deal Funnel: Exceeds ₹12,000 crore, demonstrating strong growth visibility.

For H1 FY26, total income reached ₹1,523 crore (+26% YoY), EBITDA was ₹360 crore (+46% YoY), and PAT stood at ₹197 crore (+55% YoY).

Leadership Perspective
Arun Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, said:
“Q2 was marked by strong execution and platform synergy. Our 34% YoY growth underscores global institutions’ confidence in the combined power of eMACH.ai for composable transformation and Purple Fabric for governance-first Business Impact AI. With accuracy, traceability, and open architecture at the core, we are helping financial institutions modernize with lower risk and higher velocity. This performance validates our strategic investments and reinforces confidence in a robust pipeline and future growth trajectory.”

Suraj Prasad, Chief Financial Officer, added:
“Our disciplined execution and financial resilience position us to continue scaling AI-led digital transformation globally. Strong cash reserves enable strategic investments in innovation, automation, and talent, ensuring sustainable growth.”

Platform Highlights

• eMACH.ai: Intellect’s intelligent open finance platform continues to redefine global financial transformation. Built on 386 microservices, 2,015 APIs, and 650 pre-integrated events, it powers agility and modernization across banking and financial enterprises. Q2 saw 15 strategic eMACH.ai-led deal wins, including 10 multi-million-dollar Destiny Deals and 19 digital transformations spanning Europe, Africa, North America, and Mauritius. Key deployments include virtual accounts for a leading European bank, digital payments modernization in Africa, corporate treasury transformation in the U.S., and lending solutions across five African countries.

• Purple Fabric: The world’s first Open Business Impact AI platform expanded its footprint across the U.S., South Africa, and India’s GIFT City. Launches included PF Credit (AI-driven lending experts) and PF Cloud at GIFT City. During the quarter, the platform secured a multi-million-dollar Destiny Deal with a U.S. national casualty insurance provider, along with two additional strategic wins and three digital transformations, accelerating decision-making, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance for clients.

Industry Recognition

• Received The Economic Times ‘Making AI Work’ Award 2025 for pioneering AI initiatives in financial services.

• Awarded the National AI Award 2025 for multi-agent AI deployment for a UK wealth management client through Purple Fabric, enhancing speed and compliance aligned with FCA Consumer Duty standards.

Leadership Appointments & Infrastructure Expansion

• Vivek Gupta appointed President & Global Head of Consulting, to lead Intellect Consulting across growth, simplification, and innovation using eMACH.ai and Purple Fabric.

• Rakesh Srivastava appointed President & Chief Revenue Officer for the Americas, driving expansion in the U.S., Mexico, and South America.

• Investment in a 7.25 lakh sq. ft. facility at Siruseri, housing Purple Fabric AI Lab & Academy and eMACH.ai Lab & Academy, along with residential learning and collaboration spaces to accelerate innovation and co-creation.

Intellect’s strong Q2 FY26 performance, backed by platform-led growth, global expansion, and strategic investments, positions the company for sustained growth and continued leadership in AI-driven financial technology.

Zomato and Blinkit Launch Nationwide Drive to Help Delivery Partners Access Govt Welfare Schemes

Zomato, Blinkit Kick Off Nationwide Drive to Enable Delivery Partners’ Access to Government Welfare Schemes

Bengaluru, 07th November, 2025: Eternal companies Zomato, India’s food ordering and delivery platform, and Blinkit, a quick commerce platform, in collaboration with Haqdarshak, organised the first in a series of Government Scheme Facilitation Camp in Bengaluru. The initiative aims to enable delivery partners to access critical central and state government welfare schemes. The event was graced by the esteemed presence of Dr. G Manjunath, Additional Labour Commissioner, Government of Karnataka, as Chief Guest.

Since its launch in April 2025, this initiative has felicitated registrations for over 6,000 delivery partners across India under various government welfare schemes unlocking more than INR 150cr in entitlements. The Bengaluru camp helped an additional 280+ delivery partners enroll for relevant central and state government schemes, taking the number of Bengaluru- based delivery partners enrolled to more than 1,000 to date.

Delivery partners have expressed greater interest in schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (health insurance), Ration cards, e-Shram (centralized database of Unorganized Workers), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Beema Yojana (life insurance), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (personal accidental insurance) and Karnataka State Gig Workers Insurance Scheme. A growing number of partners are now opting for multiple coverages combining health insurance, personal accidental insurance and life insurance, reflecting a growing preference for layered protection.

Speaking at the event, Anjalli Ravi Kumar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Eternal, 

“Delivery partner wellbeing has been at the heart of everything we do at Eternal. This, a first of many, Government Scheme Facilitation Camp has been critical in bridging the gap between delivery partners and the government welfare schemes that safeguard their and their family’s futures. We’re also constantly learning and evolving our outreach effort with our facilitation partner – Haqdarshak. For example, we’ve seen that women and PwD delivery partners are more keen on registering for these benefits, revealing the need to enable multi-channel access to these schemes so they are truly accessible for all. We look forward to working closely with Central and State ministries to scale this effort and create lasting impact across the country.”

Umavati, who has been a Zomato delivery partner for over three years, shared,

 “I was able to register for benefits like Ayushman Bharat, pensions and the e-Shram card. These will prove very helpful for me and my family and have given me a sense of security and stability. The Government Scheme Facilitation Camp organised by Zomato and Blinkit made the process simple and easy to understand and I encourage other delivery partners to make use of such camps as well.”

Manoj Joshi, Vice President, Product at Haqdarshak, said,

“Our collaboration with Zomato and Blinkit is making welfare schemes accessible at scale. Through Haqdarshak’s digital platform and eligibility screening engine, we’re simplifying benefit access for delivery partners, combining technology with human support. We’ve observed that delivery partners want comprehensive protection that bundles health, accident and life insurance. These camps are also raising awareness about schemes that support the wellbeing of delivery partners, a growing segment of India’s gig workforce. Together with Zomato and Blinkit, we will continue building scalable social security access  for gig workers.”

In the coming weeks, Zomato and Blinkit along with Haqdarshak will be hosting Government Scheme Facilitation Camps in Mumbai, Pune and Delhi.

This initiative is a part of Eternal’s broader efforts to ensure delivery partners’ wellbeing including – 24/7 SOS ambulance services available in over 800 cities, accidental insurance, assistance with income tax filing among others. Eligible women delivery partners also have access to maternity benefits.

Microfinance Lending Shows Strong Signs of Recovery Amid Continued Portfolio Moderation: CRIF High Mark MicroLend Report

Kolkata , 6th November 2025: CRIF High Mark, a leading credit bureau in India, has released the latest edition of its quarterly publication MicroLend, highlighting the continuous cautious yet improving credit environment as of September 2025. While the overall Gross Loan Portfolio (GLP) continued to moderate, delinquencies and origination quality trends point toward improving asset health and better portfolio management across lenders.

As of September 2025, the industry’s GLP stood at ₹3.46 lakh crore, reflecting a 16.5% year-on-year and 3.8% quarter-on-quarter decline. However, the value of loans disbursed rose 6.5% QoQ, indicating a shift toward higher ticket sizes and lending to seasoned borrowers.

Portfolio quality showed notable improvement, with PAR 1–180 days past due (DPD) improving to 5.99%, a 1.07% QoQ decline. DPD buckets (PAR 1–30 and PAR 31–90) eased across most lender types

Highlighting key trends:

• NBFC-MFIs continued to dominate originations value, accounting for 41.6% of total disbursement value in Q2 FY26, followed by Banks (31.2%), Small Finance Banks (14.5%) and NBFCs (12.7%).
• Loans in the ₹50,000–₹1 lakh segment accounted for the majority of disbursements, while loans above ₹1 lakh doubled their share YoY to 15%, driven largely by banks and NBFCs.
• Borrower exposure to up to three lenders rose from 83.1% to 91.2% between Sep’24 and Sep’25, reflecting adherence to the guardrails cap —limiting borrowers to a maximum of three lenders.
• As of Sep’25, borrowers with aggregate portfolio exposure up beyond ₹2.0 lakh (Guardrails threshold) accounted for just 2.3% of the overall industry, reducing from 5.1% as of Sep’24

Commenting on the findings, Sachin Seth, Chairman – CRIF High Mark Credit Bureau (CIC) Regional Managing Director, CRIF India & South Asia, said: “The microfinance sector continues to demonstrate its resilience, with lenders showing prudence in customer selection and credit underwriting. The steady rise in ticket sizes and increased lending to experienced borrowers reflect a maturing credit ecosystem that is balancing growth with sustainability. As institutions leverage data-driven insights to assess borrower behavior, we expect the next few quarters to see more calibrated expansion backed by stronger asset quality.”

The MicroLend report is CRIF High Mark’s quarterly publication that provides data-driven insights into India’s microfinance ecosystem, tracking key performance metrics such as portfolio trends, delinquencies, borrower exposure, and lender behavior.