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Tag: Swiggy

  • Byte the Future AI is Serving Up Personalised Innovation

    Byte the Future AI is Serving Up Personalised Innovation

    MUMBAI: Who knew your AC could get to know you better than your flatmate? At GoaFest 2025, the session “From Code to Commerce: Growth in the AI Age” proved that artificial intelligence is no longer just a boardroom buzzword, it’s in your shampoo, your samosa delivery, your summer holiday plans, and maybe even your next Instagram ad.

    AI isn’t just flipping the script, it’s writing it, testing it, and turning it into 150,000 personalised versions overnight. In a power-packed panel at GoaFest 2025, leaders from HUL, Voltas, Makemytrip and Swiggy sat down with journalist Anuradha SenGupta to unpack how artificial intelligence is moving from the back end to front-of-house, making businesses smarter, faster, and far more personal.

    Voltas CMO Pragya Bijalwan  revealed how AI is transforming the home appliance business from cold machines to warm experiences. “Walk into a room and your AC already knows your favourite temperature,” she quipped. But it’s not just comfort AI is driving predictive maintenance, energy efficiency, and post-sale service readiness. Voltas uses customer data platforms to pre-empt service needs and personalise communication. One such campaign featuring their long-standing mascot ‘Mukti’ achieved a staggering 98 per cent CTR and an 87 per cent full-view rate with many recipients believing the video was speaking directly to them.

    HUL, head of media & digital marketing Tejas Apte shared how AI now powers product prototyping through the company’s Agile Innovation Hub, even allowing 3D-printed SKUs based on global trendspotting. AI also fuels the “Shikhar” app, used by kirana store partners now responsible for 20 per cent of HUL’s sales. Retailers can simply snap a photo of their shelf, and AI recommends stock-ups, upsells and even helps co-create hyperlocal ad campaigns. “Last year, we generated 150,000 AI-personalised video ads with Arshad Warsi customised to individual kirana stores,” said Apte.

    For Makemytrip, AI is less about flash and more about function. Director Sanket Tulangekar outlined how Myra, their AI assistant, has evolved to summarise reviews, answer natural language queries, and assist with travel planning. Myra now uses multi-agent orchestration, acting like an intelligent concierge handling everything from hotel bookings to activity recommendations. Tulangekar stressed the importance of red-teaming, bias testing, and moderation in ensuring AI-generated content is both accurate and safe.

    Over at Swiggy, VP Arjun Choudhary revealed how generative AI has quietly revolutionised internal operations. Sales teams now use AI co-pilots for performance insights, and restaurant partners receive personalised business analytics through conversational dashboards. “Even non-tech teams are generating demos and PRDs using AI,” said Choudhary. AI also boosts consumer experience through in-session personalisation and catalogue video generation. The company recently condensed a three-month cataloguing task into a single week using AI.

    Panelists agreed AI is now function-agnostic relevant across departments, not just digital teams. While job fears loom, Bijalwan emphasised it’s an evolution, not a threat. “It’s like when Google launched, initially scary, but now second nature,” she said.

    Ethics, however, remain a looming shadow. From labelling AI-generated ads to ensuring consent with India’s DPDP Act, companies are cautiously optimistic. “Change is inevitable,” the panel echoed, “but accountability must keep pace.”

    Whether you’re in media, FMCG, travel or tech, one thing’s clear: in the age of AI, relevance isn’t optional, it’s algorithmic.

  • Continental Coffee brews a summer twist with lemon iced tea debut

    Continental Coffee brews a summer twist with lemon iced tea debut

    MUMBAI: Continental Coffee, best known for its hot brews, is diving headfirst into chilled territory with the launch of Continental This lemon iced tea premix—marking its first consumer-facing foray into tea.

    Part of the CCL Products (India) Ltd portfolio, the new iced tea aims to tap into India’s rising thirst for at-home refreshment. While Continental’s tea blends were earlier reserved for institutional buyers under the Continental Chaay banner, this lemony twist is now hitting shelves nationwide in two formats: a 400g pouch and a handy 140g stick pack (10g x 14).

    The product will brew its presence across general trade, modern retail and e-commerce players like Big Basket, Blinkit, Swiggy, Zepto and Amazon—serving up café vibes straight from the kitchen counter.

    Continental Coffee chief marketing officer Raja Chakraborty said: “Today’s generation is exploring a wide range of beverage options when they step out—seeking variety, refreshment, and new experiences. Naturally, they want to recreate that same excitement and convenience when they’re back home. With our Lemon Iced Tea premix, we’re bringing that out-of-home experience indoors—offering a refreshing, easy-to-make option that’s both familiar and contemporary. Perfect for the Indian summer, this launch reflects our ongoing commitment to meeting evolving consumer needs with locally inspired innovations.”

    Head of marketing Preetam Patnaik added: “Today’s generation is exploring a wide range of beverage options when they step out—seeking variety, refreshment, and new experiences. Naturally, they want to recreate that same excitement and convenience when they’re back home. With our Lemon Iced Tea premix, we’re bringing that out-of-home experience indoors—offering a refreshing, easy-to-make option that’s both familiar and contemporary. Perfect for the Indian summer, this launch reflects our ongoing commitment to meeting evolving consumer needs with locally inspired innovations.”

    With Indian summers stretching longer and hotter, Continental’s pivot to iced tea could be just the cool-headed move it needs to expand beyond its coffee comfort zone.

  • Balaji hits it for six with cricket-fan dramedy debut

    Balaji hits it for six with cricket-fan dramedy debut

    MUMBAI: When the cricket’s on, life takes the back seat, plans are paused, emotions run high, and remote controls become battlegrounds. Balaji Originals clearly gets the memo. Making its digital debut with The Great Indian Cricket Fan, Balaji Telefilms is tapping into the sacred Indian ritual of watching cricket with irrational passion and comedic chaos. Streaming now on YouTube with two episodes dropping every week, the series is part sitcom, part stadium and wholly relatable.

    With Abigail Pande, Yuvraj Dua, Priitamm Jaiswal, and Neha Bharti leading a spunky ensemble, the show isn’t about players, it’s about the people glued to their screens, frantically adjusting lucky cushions and whispering “don’t jinx it!” into the ether. From missed deliveries (both Swiggy and romantic) to household tiffs over match-day superstitions, TGICF is a breezy tribute to the cricket-fuelled frenzy we call everyday life.

    Set during a high-octane cricket season, the show swings between emotional googlies and laugh-out-loud yorkers capturing how fans experience every ball, boundary and breakdown like they’re on the pitch themselves. Think café screenings turning into mini-Wankhedes, and friendships forged or fractured over favourite captains.

    Balaji Telefilms Ltd head for brand revenue & partnership Kavvya Bharathi said, “Balaji has always been known for its compelling storytelling that deeply resonates with audiences in the heartland. With The Great Indian Cricket Fan, our first offering under Balaji Originals, we’re excited to expand our reach and connect with a younger demographic by tapping into India’s unmatched passion for cricket. This dramedy captures the true spirit of a cricket fan their loyalty, their rituals, and the electric atmosphere in local cafés during matches. Releasing during the summer break, the series brings the thrill of the stadium straight into living rooms, promising joy, nostalgia, and entertainment with every episode,”

    Expressing her excitement, Abigail Pande shared, “Honestly, it was so much fun shooting for The Great Indian Cricket Fan. The energy on set was absolutely palpable! If you’ve been missing Sia Dhillon, you’re going to love this show because I genuinely loved being a part of it. The concept is fresh and something we haven’t really explored before. While we’ve often seen stories around football fan rivalries, cricket which is practically a religion in India hadn’t been tapped into like this. From passionate fan clubs to the electrifying vibe in cafés during big matches, and how these spaces turn into mini-stadiums for fans, we’ve tried to capture it all. This show will definitely make you want to head to a café with your gang and cheer for your favorite team!”

    Yuvraj Dua added, “Being a sports enthusiast since childhood, I naturally gravitated toward sports journalism and then social media found its way into my life. But through all the transitions, one thing remained constant: my love for cricket. When I signed The Great Indian Cricket Fan, the first thought that crossed my mind was wow, a show about sports! This time, I wouldn’t be acting; I’d just be myself in front of the camera. I’ve always been that crazy cricket fan: canceling dinner plans, ghosting WhatsApp groups, sitting in the same spot for hours because India was doing well and I didn’t want to jinx it! The madness, the emotions, the superstitions we’ve all lived it. And the fact that this is Balaji Originals’ first-ever show makes it even more special. To be one of the first faces representing a platform launching something so rooted in our culture, it’s a proud, full-circle moment for me.”

    With Gen Z relatability, millennial nostalgia, and desi family drama all stitched together in one innings, The Great Indian Cricket Fan is Balaji’s pitch-perfect attempt to bowl over a digital-first crowd.

    And remember in India, when the match begins, the drama’s only just getting started.

  • Swiggy brews deal Espressos Anyday delivers

    Swiggy brews deal Espressos Anyday delivers

    MUMBAI: Swiggy, has announced an exclusive partnership with Espressos Anyday, a newly launched European-themed café by Bright Hospitality, to offer home delivery of its menu in Gurugram. Food aficionados can now enjoy a diverse selection of hot and cold beverages, including coffees, matcha, cold-pressed juices, and health drinks, alongside café fare such as mini pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and desserts.

    Espressos Anyday, the latest venture from Bright Hospitality, the company behind brands like Ikk Punjab, AMPM, OMO Cafe, and GT Road, aims to provide a unique European café experience to Gurugram residents. Select menu items are also available for 10-minute delivery via Swiggy’s rapid service, Bolt.

    “At Swiggy, we stay committed to bring a variety of food from the best of brands to our users. I am excited to share that we have partnered with Espressos Anyday, the popular new food destination for cafe and European food, to deliver their food to our users’ doorsteps. This cafe has a well-crafted range of offerings that provide a good blend of healthy and new-age food, which has been an instant hit with the food lovers in Gurugram. We will continue to add exotic restaurants and cafes to further enhance our offerings on the app,” said Swiggy Food Marketplace chief business officer Siddharth Bhakoo.

    Espressos Anyday owner Rajan Sethi added, “Espressos Anyday offers handcrafted dishes and expertly crafted drinks that are fresh, indulgent and comforting. Chef Tarannum Sehgal, with experience in French kitchens and her young creative team are committed to create memorable food experiences. With this partnership with Swiggy, we are confident of reaching out to a wide range of new-age consumers who love their food.”

  • Times Internet clicks refresh on M&A strategy with Johney Maheshwari hire

    Times Internet clicks refresh on M&A strategy with Johney Maheshwari hire

    MUMBAI: Times Internet has made a power move in its corporate playbook, appointing Johney Maheshwari as head of corporate development. With a decade-long track record in M&A and investment banking, Maheshwari is set to lead the company’s inorganic growth strategy, strengthening its foothold in India’s dynamic digital landscape.

    Bringing experience from Razorpay, where he orchestrated high-profile acquisitions of Ezetap, Billme, and Curlec, among others, Maheshwari is no stranger to deal-making. His past stints also include investment banking at EY, where he advised financial giants like SBI, ICICI Lombard, and NIIF on M&A and fundraising. Now, at Times Internet, a company that has invested over Rs 1,000 crore in the past decade in brands like Uber, Swiggy, and Ola, his mandate is clear: accelerate strategic investments and expand the company’s digital ecosystem.

    “We are excited to welcome Johney to the Times Internet family,” said Times Internet COO Puneet Gupt. “Strategic investments and M&A have been foundational to our growth story, and with Johney’s exceptional track record and deep industry insights, we’re reinvigorating this crucial aspect of our business.”

    Commenting on his appointment, Johney Maheshwari said, “I am excited to join Times Internet and contribute to its impressive growth journey. The company’s diverse portfolio and ambitious vision present tremendous opportunities for strategic investments and acquisitions. I look forward to working with the talented teams across the organization to identify and execute value-creating opportunities that will accelerate our growth trajectory and expand our digital ecosystem.”

    With Maheshwari at the helm of corporate development, Times Internet is doubling down on its commitment to shaping the future of India’s digital economy, one strategic move at a time.

  • Aakash secures direct entry in Hip Hop India season two on Amazon MX

    Aakash secures direct entry in Hip Hop India season two on Amazon MX

    MUMBAI: Aakash, a Swiggy delivery partner, has swapped delivery routes for dance floors, earning a direct spot in Hip Hop India season two on Amazon MX Player. The show, known for showcasing hip-hop talent, returned with Remo D’Souza and Malaika Arora as judges, promising a bigger and better season.

    Aakash’s dance skills first gained attention when he finished as a runner-up in Swiggy Wiggy Talent Hunt season two. Now, his passion has propelled him onto one of India’s most prestigious hip-hop platforms. Skipping the regional auditions, he advanced straight to the final selection, where his high-energy performance to Dance Ka Bhoot wowed the judges.

    Balancing work and responsibilities as the sole breadwinner of his family, Aakash’s journey reflects perseverance and dedication. Swiggy, committed to supporting its delivery partners beyond work, has extended financial aid to help him pursue professional dancing. Proudly wearing his Swiggy T-shirt, he stepped onto the stage, proving that ambition knows no boundaries.

    With Hip Hop India season two now streaming on Amazon MX Player, Aakash’s story is an inspiring testament to how dreams can take flight, no matter where they begin.
     

  • Crocs on the Clock as Swiggy Instamart Delivers in Just 10 Minutes

    Crocs on the Clock as Swiggy Instamart Delivers in Just 10 Minutes

    MUMBAI: In a move that blends speed with style, Swiggy Instamart has teamed up with Apparel Group to bring Crocs to consumers in just 10 minutes, a first for the global footwear brand in India’s quick commerce space. Shoppers in Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, and Gurgaon can now grab iconic Crocs styles like the Classic Clog and Classic Sandal instantly, just in time for Holi and the summer season.

    Swiggy Instamart’s latest partnership underscores its expansion into fashion and lifestyle categories, making premium footwear just a click away. Swiggy Instamart CEO Amitesh Jha highlighted the significance of the collaboration, “At Swiggy Instamart, we’re constantly exploring ways to bring customers what they love faster than ever. With Holi and summer around the corner, we’re excited to introduce a globally loved brand like Crocs, giving customers a seamless and instant shopping experience.”

    For Crocs, the partnership is about enhancing accessibility and making its iconic designs more readily available. Crocs, senior VP and GM (ROW) Adrian Holloway shared, “We’re thrilled that, through our partnership with Swiggy Instamart and Apparel Group, customers can now get their favourite Crocs styles in minutes. This service redefines convenience, making it easier than ever to step into style.”

    Apparel Group India CEO Abhishek Bajpai added, “This marks our brand’s first foray into quick commerce, and we are confident this collaboration will allow us to serve our customers faster and more efficiently. With Holi and summer ahead, we’re bringing the best in fashion footwear straight to their doorstep.”

    Starting March 2025, select Crocs footwear will be available for immediate delivery across major cities, with further expansion planned in the coming weeks. Swiggy co-founder Phani Kishan also took to social media to tease the latest offering for fashion and footwear lovers. As quick commerce reshapes shopping habits, Swiggy Instamart is stepping ahead by bringing instant retail convenience to new categories because now, fashion waits for no one!

  • Swiggy to Invest Rs 1,000 Crore in subsidiary Scootsy Logistics

    Swiggy to Invest Rs 1,000 Crore in subsidiary Scootsy Logistics

    MUMBAI: : Swiggy’s board has approved an investment of up to Rs 1,000 crore in its wholly owned subsidiary, Scootsy Logistics, through a rights issue. The investment will be made in multiple tranches and is aimed at strengthening working capital and funding expansion initiatives.

    Scootsy Logistics specialises in supply chain services, including warehouse management, in-warehouse processing, and efficient order fulfilment for wholesalers and retailers. The company plays a critical role in streamlining logistics and ensuring seamless deliveries across India. The transaction qualifies as a related party deal but is conducted at arm’s length, with Swiggy maintaining its existing shareholding without further financial interest beyond this investment.

    Scootsy did a turnover of Rs 57,957 million in FY 2024; Rs 36,862 million in FY 2023 and Rs 15,803 million in FY 2022.

    Shares under the rights issue will be issued at Rs 7,640 each, including a Rs 7,630 premium, or at a price determined through valuation.

    Established in 2014, Scootsy has been a key logistics partner in India’s fast-growing e-commerce sector, offering scalable and efficient logistics solutions. Swiggy’s investment underscores its commitment to bolstering supply chain infrastructure, enhancing operational efficiency, and supporting future growth in the evolving digital commerce landscape.

  • Swiggy’s new ad with Rishabh Pant highlights 10 min meal delivery

    Swiggy’s new ad with Rishabh Pant highlights 10 min meal delivery

    MUMBAI : Swiggy has launched a dynamic new campaign with cricketer Rishabh Pant, showcasing its Bolt service, which delivers fresh meals in just 10 mins. Created by Moonshot & scripted by Tanmay Bhat, Devaiah Bopanna, Puneet Chadha, & Deep Joshi, the ad cleverly highlights the speed & convenience of Swiggy Bolt in a playful & engaging way.

    The film opens with Pant & a friend discussing their hunger when he confidently claims that Swiggy can deliver fresh food in mins. As the friend imagines an exaggerated, high-speed kitchen-on-wheels scenario, reality strikes when the order arrives almost instantly. The ad creatively illustrates Bolt’s efficiency by showing how Swiggy’s delivery partners are always positioned near restaurants, reducing wait times.

    Swiggy food marketplace CEO Rohit Kapoor said the campaign aims to change perceptions about food delivery, combining speed with quality. Pant also expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, calling it a game-changer in food delivery.

  • Layers of Love campaign by Bakingo makes Valentine’s Day extra sweet

    Layers of Love campaign by Bakingo makes Valentine’s Day extra sweet

    MUMBAI: Love is best served sweet, and this Valentine’s Day, Bakingo is layering up the romance with its “Layers of Love” campaign. The leading online bakery is crafting confections that don’t just taste divine but also tell a story, one delicious layer at a time.

    Bakingo’s Valentine’s collection features an exquisite range of desserts, each symbolising the depth and beauty of relationships. From multi-layered cakes representing strong, lasting connections to delicate pastries mirroring tender moments, every creation is designed to make celebrations extra special. Just like love, these desserts are built with care, precision, and the finest ingredients, ensuring every bite is a heartfelt indulgence.

    “At Bakingo, we believe love isn’t just about grand gestures, it’s the little moments that truly matter,” said Bakingo co-founder Himanshu Chawla. “With ‘Layers of Love,’ we wanted to capture those emotions in every slice, making Valentine’s celebrations more meaningful. Whether it’s our best-selling heart cakes or personalised treats, we aim to add a touch of sweetness to every love story.”

    Bakingo’s special Valentine’s range is available for order on its website as well as on food delivery platforms like Swiggy and Zomato.