Connect with us

Brands

Factories feel the heat but keep rolling in Q3 FY26

Published

on

MUMBAI: When factory floors hum, the economy listens and India’s manufacturing units are still making noise. The latest FICCI Quarterly Survey on Manufacturing paints a picture of steady momentum in Q3 FY25–26, with confidence holding firm even as costs stay stubbornly high.

Covering eight major sectors and manufacturers with a combined turnover of over Rs 3 lakh crore, the survey finds that around 91 per cent of respondents reported higher or unchanged production in Q3, up from 87 per cent in the previous quarter. Domestic demand also stayed resilient, with 86 per cent expecting order books to be higher or stable, aided in part by recent GST rate cuts.

Capacity utilisation across manufacturing hovered at a healthy 75 per cent, signalling sustained economic activity. Metals and metal products led the pack at 79 per cent, followed closely by electronics and electricals at 78 per cent, while auto components operated at a more measured 65 per cent. Investment intentions over the next six months remained steady, though global uncertainty, geopolitics and regulatory challenges continued to temper expansion plans.

Exports offered cautious cheer. More than 70 per cent of respondents expect overseas shipments in Q3 to be higher or unchanged compared to a year ago, while inventories largely stayed in check, with 83 per cent anticipating stable or higher stock levels.

The pressure point remains costs. Nearly 57 per cent of manufacturers reported an increase in production costs as a share of sales, driven by higher raw material prices, currency depreciation, logistics expenses and power tariffs. Despite this, access to finance remained supportive, with over 87 per cent reporting adequate availability of funds and average interest rates hovering around 8.9 per cent.

On the jobs front, the mood was measured but positive. Thirty-eight per cent of respondents plan to add workers over the next three months, up from 35 per cent a year ago, even as concerns over skilled labour availability persist in select sectors.

Sectorally, electronics and electricals stood out with strong growth expectations, while most others from capital goods to textiles and auto components are bracing for moderate expansion in the 5–10 per cent range. The message from factory gates is clear: growth is holding its ground, but the path ahead calls for policy support, cost relief and sharper competitiveness to keep the wheels turning.

Brands

Delhivery chairman Deepak Kapoor, independent director Saugata Gupta quit board

Published

on

Gurugram: Delhivery’s boardroom is being reset. Deepak Kapoor, chairman and independent director, has resigned with effect from April 1 as part of a planned board reconstitution, the logistics company said in an exchange filing. Saugata Gupta, managing director and chief executive of FMCG major Marico and an independent director on Delhivery’s board, has also stepped down.

Kapoor exits after an eight-year stint that included steering the company through its 2022 stock-market debut, a period that saw Delhivery transform from a venture-backed upstart into one of India’s most visible logistics platforms. Gupta, who joined the board in 2021, departs alongside him, marking a simultaneous clearing of two senior independent seats.

“Deepak and Saugata have been instrumental in our process of recognising the need for and enabling the reconstitution of the board of directors in line with our ambitious next phase of growth,” said Sahil Barua, managing director and chief executive, Delhivery. The statement frames the exits less as departures and more as deliberate succession, a boardroom shuffle timed to the company’s evolving scale and strategy.

The resignations arrive amid broader governance recalibration. In 2025, Delhivery appointed Emcure Pharmaceuticals whole-time director Namita Thapar, PB Fintech founder and chairman Yashish Dahiya, and IIM Bangalore faculty member Padmini Srinivasan as independent directors, signalling a tilt towards consumer, fintech and academic expertise at the board level.

Kapoor’s tenure spanned Delhivery’s most defining years, rapid network expansion, public listing and the push towards profitability in a bruising logistics market. Gupta’s presence brought FMCG and brand-scale perspective during a period when ecommerce volumes and last-mile delivery economics were being rewritten.

The twin exits, effective from the new financial year, underscore a familiar corporate rhythm: founders consolidate, veterans rotate out, and fresh voices are ushered in to script the next chapter. In India’s hyper-competitive logistics race, even the boardroom does not stand still.

Continue Reading

Brands

Brnd.me enters Europe as haircare brands power global expansion

Published

on

Bengaluru:  Brnd.me, the global consumer brands company formerly known as Mensa Brands, has entered the European market following strong momentum across the Middle East, the United States and Canada.

The company has launched across the UK, Germany, France and Spain, with plans to expand into Italy, the Netherlands and Poland over the next year. The push is being led by its haircare and aromatherapy brands, Botanic Hearth and Majestic Pure, marking Brnd.me’s first structured expansion into Europe.

The European beauty market represents a total addressable opportunity of over $4 billion across haircare and aromatherapy, supported by high digital adoption and demand for accessible, performance-led products.

Brnd.me’s hair care and aromatherapy business currently operates at an annual run rate of around $6 million, with Botanic Hearth and Majestic Pure delivering roughly 10 per cent month-on-month growth, driven by expansion and rising repeat demand.

To support regional growth, the company has appointed a general manager based in Germany and is evaluating investments in warehousing and local team expansion.

Early traction has been strong. Within weeks of launch, Botanic Hearth’s rosemary hair oil ranked among the top five hair oils in Germany, signalling strong consumer pull in a competitive market.

Brnd.me founder and chief executive officer Ananth Narayanan, said Europe represents the next phase of the company’s international strategy. He added that the European business is expected to scale to a $10 million annual run rate by the end of 2026, with long-term ambitions to reach $60 million over the next six years.

The company’s Europe strategy centres on digital-first distribution, repeat demand and TikTok-led discovery, alongside direct-to-consumer expansion to strengthen brand equity and margins.

The move also aligns with growing EU–India trade engagement, supporting long-term sourcing and cross-border supply chains.

Continue Reading

Brands

TechnoSport taps quick commerce with launch on Slikk’s 60-minute platform

Published

on

NATIONAL: TechnoSport has launched on Slikk, the ultra-fast fashion app offering 60-minute delivery, as the activewear brand accelerates its push into quick commerce to capture Gen Z and young millennial shoppers.

The debut brings more than 150 high-performance styles to Slikk’s platform, with an average selling price of Rs 450, expanding TechnoSport’s reach across over 80 pin codes.

The partnership follows strong momentum for TechnoSport across Q-commerce channels, where the brand has recorded around 60 per cent volume growth over the past six months. The company expects quick commerce to contribute nearly 20 per cent of its revenue in the coming years as hyperlocal delivery gains scale.

Slikk, which recently raised $3.2 million in seed funding led by Lightspeed, has rapidly gained popularity among youth consumers seeking speed, trend relevance and impulse-led shopping experiences.

Activewear remains one of Slikk’s fastest-growing categories, driven by shoppers increasingly treating fitness-led fashion as an everyday essential. The platform has reported a 30-fold year-on-year increase in items sold, reflecting rising demand for performance wear that blends comfort with style.

TechnoSport chief executive officer Puspen Maity, said the collaboration would help the brand engage more closely with young consumers whose fashion choices are shaped by instant needs and lifestyle aspirations. He added that rapid delivery bridges the gap between intent and purchase, allowing shoppers to access activewear exactly when they want it.

 

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2026 Indian Television Dot Com PVT LTD