Chirag Taneja, Co founder and CEO of GoKwik, says Tier 3 cities contributed over 43 percent of total shopping volume
Category: Business
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Valentine’s Day D2C Orders Rise 43 Percent as Women Account for 53 Percent of Purchases, GoKwik Data Shows
New Delhi, February 16, 2026: Valentine’s Day shopping patterns this year reflected a shift toward practical and lifestyle focused purchases, according to data released by GoKwik, which works with more than 15,000 direct to consumer brands.
The analysis identified three key drivers of the season: early purchasing behaviour, higher participation from female shoppers and strong contribution from Tier 3 towns. Peak shopping activity was recorded as early as February 1, with brands capturing demand soon after Republic Day sales. Promotional codes such as HEART14 and BOGO VALENTINE contributed to early momentum.
Tier 3 districts contributed over 43 percent of total shopping volume, surpassing Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. According to the company, this reflects widening access to aspirational brands and lifestyle products beyond major metropolitan markets.
The data also showed growing preference for what the company described as utility driven purchases over traditional items such as flowers and chocolates. Health oriented products such as gym shakers and skincare kits featured among high performing categories.
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MG Group Completes 30 Years at Zaheerabad Facility and Announces Manufacturing Consolidation Plan
Mrs. Sudha Mohan Kamat, Co Founder and Director, Mr. Anil Mohan Kamat, Chairman and Managing Director, and Mrs. Devika Anil Kamat, Director, MG Group, mark milestone with founder tribute and expansion roadmap
Zaheerabad, February 14, 2026: MG Group marked 30 years of operations at its integrated Zaheerabad complex and announced a series of strategic decisions aimed at consolidating high volume manufacturing and sharpening product specialisation across its facilities.
The event included the unveiling of a marble bust of Late Mr. Mohan Vasant Kamat, Founder Chairman of MG Group. The ceremony was led by Mrs. Sudha Mohan Kamat, Co Founder and Director, Mr. Anil Mohan Kamat, Chairman and Managing Director, and Mrs. Devika Anil Kamat, Director, MG Group.The Zaheerabad facility was established in 1996 after an opportunity extended by Mahindra and Mahindra to explore operations in the region. Operations began in a repurposed hacksaw blade factory acquired through a government auction. Over three decades, the site has evolved into an integrated complex housing MG Automotives, MG Bus and Coach, MG Composites and MG Grey Engine.
The facility has catered to leading OEMs, State Transport Undertakings and private operators across school transport, staff mobility, regional and mofussil services, special application vehicles and intercity coach segments.Addressing the gathering, Mr. Anil Mohan Kamat said, “My father helped lay the foundation for India’s modern bus body manufacturing industry. What he built at Zaheerabad was not just a facility, but a culture of courage, discipline and excellence. As we mark 30 years here, we are not looking back, we are strengthening our commitment to India’s mobility future.”
As part of its next phase, MG Group announced that high volume segments including school, staff, mofussil and economy categories will be consolidated at Zaheerabad, with production migrating from its Belagavi facility. Belagavi will focus on premium and super premium intercity coach manufacturing.The Zaheerabad plant, which resumed operations following pandemic disruptions, will undergo a calibrated ramp up in 2026. Planned investments include capacity expansion, process automation, upgraded paint shop and trim line facilities, strengthened composites and lightweighting capabilities, and workforce skill development.
The Group also intends to deepen integration across its design, engineering, composites, electronics and manufacturing entities to enhance execution efficiency for OEMs and State Transport Undertakings.Mr. Kamat stated, “India’s passenger mobility landscape is entering a transformative decade. MG Group is preparing for this shift with deeper engineering integration, strong design capabilities and a sharper focus on product specialization. The next phase of growth will be built on both heritage and innovation.”
The ceremony concluded with a tribute film, reflections from long serving leadership members and a tree plantation with employees at the Zaheerabad complex.
Founded in 1980 by Late Mr. Mohan Vasant Kamat and Mrs. Sudha Mohan Kamat, MG Group operates integrated facilities in Telangana and Karnataka, providing end to end bus and coach manufacturing solutions across economy, premium and super premium categories. -
New India Mandate for Manish Syag as Mars Reorganises Pet Nutrition Leadership
Salil Murthy appointed Global Vice President Enterprise Transformation at Mars Pet Nutrition, to be based in London
Hyderabad, February 13, 2026: Mars, Incorporated has appointed Manish Syag as Managing Director of its Pet Nutrition business in India. He will oversee the company’s pet food operations in the country, which include PEDIGREE, WHISKAS and SHEBA.
Manish Syag has more than twenty years of experience in the FMCG sector. He has held senior sales roles at Hindustan Unilever Limited and GSK Consumer Healthcare. He joined Mars in 2024 as Chief Sales Officer for the India Pet Nutrition business.India’s pet food market is projected to reach USD 2 billion within the next decade. Commenting on his appointment, Manish Syag said, “India is at a defining moment for the pet food market, which is expected to grow into a USD 2 billion category in a decade, evolving much as mainstream FMCG did in its early growth years, driven by access, awareness, and trust. I am excited to take on this role and lead the next phase of growth for our business in India, serving pets and pet parents across the country with trusted, high-quality packaged pet food by further strengthening our portfolio of deeply loved brands and expanding our market presence. At the heart of this journey will be our Mars Five Principles, and our Purpose: A Better World For Pets.”
He succeeds Salil Murthy, who has been appointed Global Vice President, Enterprise Transformation, Mars Pet Nutrition. In this role, Salil Murthy will be based in London and will work on the company’s long term organisational and operational priorities across markets.
Speaking about his new role, Salil Murthy said, “I am excited to take on this new global role and help shape the future of Mars Pet Nutrition. This role offers an opportunity to focus on driving accelerated growth for the global Pet Nutrition business through unleashing the power of our associates across the world, strengthening our strategic resource allocation process and our digital and AI capabilities, and accelerating transformation to win with pet parents and our customers in every market. Leading the India Pet Nutrition business has been deeply fulfilling, and I am incredibly proud of the growth we have driven and the high-performing team we have built over the last few years. I have every confidence in Manish’s leadership to take the business forward in its next phase of growth.”Francisco Fernandez, Regional President, Mars Pet Nutrition Rapid Growth Markets, said, “India is one of the most important growth markets for Mars Pet Nutrition. Salil’s elevation reflects the strong, purpose-led business he and the team have built in India and the depth of leadership talent emerging from this market. Manish’s appointment demonstrates our confidence in his expertise, leadership capability, and deep understanding of pet parents and customers in India. Together, these appointments reinforce our commitment to developing leaders from within and further strengthening India’s role in our global strategy and future growth of the business.”
Mars Pet Nutrition has been present in India since 2002, following the launch of PEDIGREE. In 2007, the company set up the country’s first pet food manufacturing facility. The business serves pets and pet parents across India through its product portfolio for dogs and cats.At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.
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Brand Transition Formalised as Standard Engineering Technology Limited Rolls Out New Identity
Hyderabad based engineering company completes visual rebrand following earlier name change from Standard Glass Lining Technology Limited
Hyderabad, India, February 13, 2026: Standard Engineering Technology Limited has introduced a new corporate identity, completing the branding shift that began with its earlier renaming from Standard Glass Lining Technology Limited.
The company had already informed stock exchanges about the change in its legal name. The latest announcement focuses on the visual and brand transition that now reflects its broader engineering footprint.Addressing the development, Mr. Kandula Nageswara Rao, Promoter and Managing Director, Standard Engineering Technology Limited, stated that glass lining remains central to the company’s operations. He clarified that the rebrand does not signal a shift away from that business, which continues to be one of the fastest growing and most profitable segments within the organisation.
He further said that the refreshed identity reflects the company’s evolution into an integrated engineering platform capable of handling complex, multi disciplinary projects with single point accountability from concept to commissioning.Management indicated that the company has expanded its engineering and manufacturing capacity and strengthened its turnkey execution capabilities in recent years. The new branding aligns with its intent to operate as a long term strategic partner for clients in pharmaceutical, chemical and allied process industries, rather than functioning solely as an equipment supplier.
The company stated that the transition has been planned in line with its long term roadmap. While pursuing growth across its integrated engineering portfolio, it will continue to prioritise and develop its core glass lining business. Both the earlier and updated logos have been released as part of the announcement.
At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.
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Wealth Management Broadens Scope as Standard Chartered Integrates Health and Wearable Solutions
Aditya Mandloi, Head of Wealth and Retail Banking, India and South Asia, Standard Chartered, joins Krishnan Ramachandran, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Niva Bupa, and Todd Stiefler, Vice President Enterprise, WHOOP, to outline the integrated affluent proposition
12 February 2026, India: The intersection between financial security and personal wellbeing is becoming increasingly central to affluent banking strategies, as Standard Chartered introduces a health and wellness proposition for its affluent clients in India.
The offering has been developed in collaboration with Niva Bupa and WHOOP, combining insurance protection and wearable-driven health monitoring with wealth management services. The initiative aims to extend the bank’s affluent proposition beyond traditional financial planning by incorporating preventive healthcare access and wellness tracking tools.Under the partnership, Niva Bupa provides its newly launched ReAssure 3.0 plan featuring unlimited health cover, global health coverage up to ₹5 crore, and a virtual concierge service exclusively for Standard Chartered clients. The concierge supports claims processing, renewals, and policy servicing. WHOOP contributes wearable devices that provide data-driven insights across sleep, recovery, cardiovascular indicators, and overall wellness metrics, alongside personalised coaching.
Aditya Mandloi, Head of Wealth and Retail Banking, India and South Asia, Standard Chartered, said prosperity extends beyond financial capital to include personal health and wellbeing. He stated that the collaboration seeks to bridge the gap between financial planning and proactive health management by integrating protection and technology within the affluent banking ecosystem.Krishnan Ramachandran, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Niva Bupa, said the partnership builds on a decade-long association and introduces unlimited coverage and global protection features tailored for Standard Chartered clients. He noted that rising healthcare costs require solutions that integrate protection with convenience.
Todd Stiefler, Vice President Enterprise, WHOOP, said the collaboration reflects a shared approach toward embedding proactive health management into everyday life through science-backed insights and personalised performance tracking.The proposition reflects a broader shift in wealth management models, where financial institutions increasingly align capital preservation strategies with health resilience and lifestyle stability for long-term client engagement.
At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.