- Union Budget 2026: FMCG sector seeks to ride consumption wave
India’s Union Budget 2026 comes at a time when the FMCG sector is poised to benefit from rising disposable incomes and supportive policies, serving as a key engine of consumption-led growth in the economy. Favourable tax measures and government initiatives aimed at boosting household spending and purchasing power could help the industry sustain healthy expansion in demand. - Aashirvaad, ITC’s largest FMCG brand, crosses $1 billion mark
Arnab Aashirvaad, ITC Ltd’s food staples brand, has crossed $1 billion in annual consumer spend, cementing its position as the company’s largest FMCG brand and India’s leading packaged atta player, according to an official company statement. ITC said the brand is now positioned as a “centre-of-plate” offering aimed at everyday Indian meals. - Reliance sees gains from quick commerce and FMCG investments
Reliance Industries' quick commerce and fast-moving consumer goods businesses are now generating profits. The company's efficient sourcing and focus on high-margin products like food and beverages are key drivers. Reliance's quick commerce operations are expanding rapidly, aiming to become India's second-largest player. The FMCG business has also achieved profitability. This growth is contributing positively to Reliance Retail's overall performance. - Anjana Ghosh, Former Director of Bisleri, Launches Smart Force by Scale Sherpas
Anjana Ghosh, former Director at Bisleri and now Managing Director of Scale Sherpas, has launched Smart Force, India’s first shared, AI-enabled FMCG field force model designed to help consumer goods brands expand distribution more quickly and cost-effectively across multiple cities. The solution aims to streamline last-mile execution, compress market entry timelines, and boost productivity by replacing fragmented in-house sales teams with a ready-to-deploy shared workforce. - Urban consumption has grown, but not for listed companies, says Kantar's Ramakrishnan
Kantar’s K Ramakrishnan said consumption sentiment improved in quarter three after government measures, but FMCG growth is rising slowly as GST price changes reach consumers. Quarterly volumes have increased, urban demand is shifting to smaller brands, and annualised FMCG growth is expected to cross 5% in the coming quarters. - Budget 2026: Can GST simplification and better logistics revive retail consumption?
With Budget 2026 around the corner, India’s retail sector is looking to the government for measures that can lift consumption and support long-term growth. From furniture and home decor to apparel and online retail, industry leaders say tax relief, simpler GST rules and better logistics could make a big difference. - India’s retail inflation slips to 1.33% in December as food prices stay in deflation
India’s consumer price inflation fell to 1.33% in December, coming in lower than market expectations and reflecting the continued drag from falling food prices, according to official data released on Monday. - India’s retail transformation is no longer about access, it’s about experience
As access becomes a given rather than a differentiator, the quality of engagement is emerging as the new currency of retail value. Physical retail has played a central role in enabling this shift. In the post pandemic period, retailers have not only recovered but expanded aggressively, with organized retail space now surpassing pre-COVID levels. Much of this growth is driven by changing demographics. Rising disposable incomes in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are fueling demand for more refined retail environments and aspirational consumption experiences that were once limited to metros. - Sundar Pichai explains how Google AI is transforming retail, shopping experiences, and delivery in 2026
Google CEO Sundar Pichai, at the National Retail Federation 2026, described the company's ambitious vision for how Google can help retail businesses succeed in these rapidly changing times, in which AI platforms are accelerating at a breakneck pace globally and transforming multiple industries. Speaking of new developments and advances, Google AI can help remake the customer experience, as well as other business and commerce sectors, as it can help deliver on its vision for the future of retail innovation and efficiency.
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