In this issue

For all the disruptions caused by this pandemic, brickand-mortar retailers have a good chance to show how smart they are in the back half of this year. Even putting in place a simple but forward-looking customer strategy can help retailers to take advantage of a rebound in store traffic that’s sure to happen following the ongoing period of dramatic e-commerce growth.

To give just one example, hundreds and thousands of customers can be nudged into visiting the stores by easing on the checkout time. But, this certainly does not mean adding numerous self-checkout stations while neglecting to have the check-lanes staffed by actual people.

It’s not uncommon for customers to have to cool their heels before they can clear the checkout. Quite often, this avoidable experience happens because even though there may be multiple check-lanes with payment terminals, there’s only one or two staffed by people who can quickly scan the purchase and bill the payment.

Big Bazaar's 2-hour delivery promise set to reshape shopping in India

Big Bazaar has announced the launch of its ‘2-Hour Delivery Promise’ on every product across fashion, food, FMCG and home products for orders placed online through Big Bazaar mobile app and portal.

1 min

Milk Magic casts its spell beyond its B2B perch to national and international markets

KISHAN MODI, MANAGING DIRECTOR, JAYSHRI GAYATRI FOOD PRODUCTS, WHICH OPERATES THE MILK MAGIC BRAND, SPEAKS TO PROGRESSIVE GROCER ABOUT HIS DAIRY COMPANY’S STELLAR ROOTS IN THE B2B BUSINESS, ITS RECENT IMPRESSIVE DEBUT IN THE CONSUMER RETAIL BUSINESS, AND HOW IT CONTINUES TO SPREAD ITS WINGS BY TAKING ITS PRODUCT RANGE TO MANY COUNTRIES OVERSEAS.

6 mins

“We connect customers with the joy of food by understanding their needs and providing better customer service”

IT TAKES YEARS OF HARD WORK AND CUSTOMER FOCUS FOR A SUPERMARKET CHAIN TO BECOME WELL-KNOWN FOR ITS SERVICE ORIENTATION, OFFERING VALUE FOR MONEY, AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING SAVVY. THE HYDERABAD-BASED 14 STORE CHAIN USHODAYA SUPERMARKET HAS EARNED ITS CACHET WITH DILIGENCE AND DEDICATION. MANNAVA YUGANDHAR GARU, MANAGING PARTNER OF USHODAYA SUPERMARKET, SPEAKS TO PROGRESSIVE GROCER ABOUT HOW THE STORE CHAIN HAS BEEN ABLE TO BUILD ITS CUSTOMER IDENTITY OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS OF OPERATIONS AND ABOUT HIS PLANS TO EXTEND HIS BRAND’S FOOTPRINT TO NEWER LOCATIONS IN HYDERABAD AS WELL AS TO THE OTHER CITIES IN TELANGANA AND ANDHRA PRADESH.

10 mins

Beverage segments are growing at a healthy clip of 20–25%

THE MARKET FOR BEVERAGES IS GETTING MORE SEGMENTED AND NICHE THAN EVER BEFORE. AND WITH MORE AND MORE INDIANS OPEN TO THE IDEA OF TRYING OUT NEWER AND DIFFERENT FLAVOURS, IT IS A GOOD TIME FOR BEVERAGE COMPANIES TO LAUNCH NEW DIFFERENTIATED PRODUCTS, FLAVOURS AND VARIANTS.

10+ mins

Beverage Trends in India

IN A CROWDED BEVERAGE SPACE IN INDIA, ALL SEGMENTS – FROM THE TRADITIONAL CARBONATED SOFT DRINKS AND JUICES TO THE NEWLY EMERGENT CATEGORIES OF FLAVOURED WATER AND FLAVOURED MILK PRODUCTS – ARE COMPETING TO MEET CONSUMERS’ HYDRATION AND THIRST QUENCHING NEEDS.

7 mins

Demand for Orika's immunity booster and summer drinks on the rise

Company and brand profile: Paras Spices cater to the needs of high quality spices in India. The company was founded in 1982 and began its journey as a modest 50 sq. ft. spice shop. Paras Spices today owns and operates one of the most advanced 7,000 sq. mt. spices processing units in India. The brand has also grown to be the largest Indian supplier serving ingredients to most of the major global food and beverages giants, including Nestle, Pepsi, Coke, IFF, ITC, Britannia, Kerry, and many more.

2 mins

How e-commerce has been a gamechanger for Indian MSMEs

INTERNET WAS ONCE THE WEAKNESS OF MSMES IN INDIA. BUT, WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME, THE WEAKNESS HAS TURNED INTO A SOURCE OF STRENGTH, AND EVENTUALLY E-COMMERCE HAS PROVED TO BE A GAMECHANGER FOR INDIAN MSMES.

4 mins

Space Wars

THE COUNTRY’S LARGEST RETAILERS ARE IN A RACE TO FULFILL ONLINE ORDERS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE USING MICRO FULFILLMENT, AND NOW A GROWING NUMBER OF REGIONAL PLAYERS ARE JOINING THEM.

8 mins

How Retailers Can Conquer Coupon Fraud

NEW PAYMENT PROCESSES AND TECHNOLOGY EMERGE TO SOLVE A $100 MILLION PROBLEM.

6 mins

New Flavors and Functionality Transform Iconic Categories

HOW A 95-YEAR-OLD COMPANY MAINTAINS ITS INNOVATION EDGE.

5 mins

Read all stories from Progressive Grocer

Progressive Grocer Magazine Description:

PROGRESSIVE GROCER has been the voice of the food retail industry for over 80 years in the USA. Serving a wide audience in the Indian market, Progressive Grocer India's readers are top management at headquarters and top decision makers at store level. By anticipating, reporting and interpreting important data and trends, PROGRESSIVE GROCER fulfils its mission of identifying and highlighting insights and opportunity for leading grocery retailers, thereby accelerating brands and sales success for leading manufacturers