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Amazon Now

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Amazon Now has rapidly become one of India’s fastest-growing quick-commerce services, competing directly with Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart. In 2020–21, Amazon began phasing out Pantry and merging it into the main Amazon Fresh channel. Pantry’s “next‑day” model was considered too slow compared to the rising demand for instant grocery delivery. Table shows popular e-grocers in 2021. Grofers was rebranded as Blinkit in December 2021 Amazon Fresh became the umbrella for groceries, while Amazon Now was introduced in 2025 as the ultra‑fast delivery arm, promising delivery in minutes instead of hours or days. By combining micro‑fulfillment centres (speed) with urban centres (selection), Amazon aims to dominate both daily essentials and high‑value categories. Fast facts: Now live in 120+ cities including metros and tier‑2/3 towns (Amritsar, Kochi, Bhubaneswar, Vizag, etc.).  ~800 micro‑fulfillment centres, up from ~100 a year ago. Crossed $1 billion annualised gross sales in ...

Orkla India

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Orkla (the Norwegian industrial and FMCG conglomerate) officially entered the Indian market in 2007 when it acquired iconic Bangalore-based food brand MTR Foods. MTR was founded in 1924, giving the company over 100 years of culinary credibility. Orkla India ranks among the top 4 players in India’s overall packaged spices and convenience food sector by revenue. Rather than operating as a thin pan-Indian player, it focuses on hyper-regional dominance and export strength. Key milestones in its India expansion timeline: 2007: Acquired MTR Foods to establish its presence in South India. 2011–2012: Expanded into North Indian ready-to-cook gravies by acquiring Pune-based Rasoi Magic. 2017: Orkla launched Laban, its Norwegian human-shaped chewy candy brand, locally manufactured in Bengaluru to enter India's high-margin confectionery market. 2021: Acquired a majority stake in Kerala-based Eastern Condiments.    2023: Merged MTR, Eastern, and subsidiary brands under a unified corpo...

Dalchini (true Cinnamon) vs Taj (Cassia): Differences, Coumarin Risk & FSSAI Standards

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Walk into any Indian home or spice market and you’ll find cinnamon—warm, fragrant, and essential. It goes into garam masala, biryani, chai, kheer, and countless curries.  In Ayurveda it appears as tvak , valued for digestion, circulation, and balancing blood sugar. Yet the bark sold as “dalchini” is not always the same plant. Understanding the difference between true cinnamon (dalchini) and cassia (taj) matters for flavour, authenticity, and long-term health. Both come from trees in the same genus, Cinnamomum. They are related branches of the same family tree, and both are legally sold as cinnamon in many places. Ceylon or true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum, also called C. zeylanicum) is the delicate, multi-layered variety historically linked to Sri Lanka and parts of southern India. Cassia comes from other species (C. cassia, C. burmannii, C. loureiroi) grown mainly in China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. In India, true cinnamon is called dalchini and cassia is called taj. Most of the ine...

Indo Nissin Foods

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When Momofuku Ando invented the world’s first instant noodles in 1958, he probably didn’t imagine that decades later his creation would reach Indian kitchens. Yet that’s exactly what happened. Nissin entered India in 1988 through Indo Nissin Foods. By 1991, its Bangalore plant was producing Top Ramen and Cup Noodles specifically for Indian tastes. Today the company operates factories in Bangalore, Rewari (Haryana), and Khurdha (Odisha), and has built a solid distribution network across the country. What sets Nissin apart is how well it has localised. While the Japanese DNA of quality and convenience remains, the flavours speak pure Indian. Top Ramen’s classic Masala and Curry Veg still hold strong, while Cup Noodles has expanded into a lively range — Mazedaar Masala, Paneer Butter Masala, Veggi Manchow, Spiced Chicken, Rogan Josh, and even bolder options like Korean Armystew and Singapore Laksa. The newer Geki Korean range has also found fans among those looking for spicier, more adven...

Nutella Is 13% Hazelnuts (And Mostly Sugar + Palm Oil)

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Nutella is a popular cocoa and hazelnut spread made by Ferrero . It is 13% hazelnuts and primarily composed of sugar and palm oil (together exceeding 50% of the jar). The ingredients and their composition are shaped by local regulations and preferences in the countries where it’s available. According to Open Food Facts, common ingredients found in various formulations around the world include: Sugar Palm Oil Hazelnut Cocoa Skim Milk Powder Vanillin In most countries, Nutella uses soy lecithin as its emulsifier.  Ferrero sources around 25% of the world's hazelnut supply, largely from Turkey. In 2014, Ferrero acquired Oltan Group (Oltan Gıda), Turkey’s largest hazelnut exporter and a major processor/marketer at the time.