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The Federal Trade Commission sued PepsiCo on Friday, alleging that it has engaged in illegal price discrimination by giving unfair price advantages to one big-box retailer at the expense of other vendors and consumers. The benefiting customer wasn't named in an FTC statement about the lawsuit. But a source familiar with the case, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to it, said the retailer was Walmart. PepsiCo said the lawsuit is wrong on the facts and the law and misunderstands the way consumer product companies help retailers provide lower prices. PepsiCo strongly disputes the FTC's allegations, and the partisan manner in which the suit was filed. We will vigorously present our case in court, the company said in a statement. The FTC said PepsiCo's practices included making promotional payments to Walmart but not to large grocery chains or independent convenience stores. The FTC said that allows Walmart to lower its prices, but forces Americans to pay inflat
With the rapid evolution of channels like quick-commerce and the emergence of ONDC, the Indian retail industry is 'cautiously optimistic' for 2025, in which new-age technologies such as AI and automation will play a crucial role, driving efficiency and personalisation. The New Year could be a period of transformation for the Indian retail industry, one of the fastest-growing globally, where the contemporary retail landscape is rapidly evolving, influenced by the preferences of digital-first generation Gen Z and retail tech. Helped by tailwinds such as rising disposable income, rapid urbanisation, the rise of non-metro tier II cities, and growing middle class along with a digitally-savvy consumer base, the organised retail sector is poised to grow expanding its play further with a customer-centric approach. "FY25 is likely to see continued focus on building supply chain efficiencies, along with upgrades to logistics hubs and tracking systems to meet fast delivery demands. Employment
UPI transactions at retail stores have increased by 33 per cent in semi-urban and rural areas this year, reflecting the growing adoption of digital payments, says a report. Moreover, insurance policy purchases and premium collections saw a 127 per cent increase in transaction volume and a 96 per cent growth in new customer adoption during the year, the report by branchless banking and digital network PayNearby said. "The data highlights the role digital retail stores play in overcoming the challenges of insurance penetration across Bharat," it stated. The report is based on an analysis of real transaction data derived from over 10,00,000 small retailers (kirana stores, mobile recharge stores etc) offering financial and digital services spread across India in rural and semi-urban regions. The findings compare business data from January to November 2024 with the same period in 2023. The report, Retail-O-Nomics, stated that there has been an impressive 297 per cent volume rise across
The Indian audio devices market is experiencing "remarkable growth" as offline retail sales hit Rs 5,000 crore moving annual turnover (MAT) in June 2024, driven by a 61 per cent YoY volume growth in the Personal Audio segment, according to a report from GfK. Growth is driven by the rise in immersive sound technologies, enhanced consumer experiences, and a growing demand for high-quality audio products across both home and personal categories, it said. Moreover, a shift towards premiumisation in the category as consumers look towards superior quality and immersive audio experiences also aiding the Indian audio device market. Indian consumers have a "massive appetite" for audio devices and are seeking a cinematic experience and convenient listening. "With the evolving entertainment landscape, consumers increasingly seek premium, cinematic audio experiences, making the sector ripe for growth and revenue opportunities," said GFK, which is now an NIQ Company, a leading global market and
Global investor Siddhartha Yog on Monday acquired over 10 lakh shares worth Rs 718 crore of Tata Group retail firm Trent Ltd through an open market transaction. Yog is the founding partner of Xander Group Inc, an emerging markets-focused investment firm that currently manages assets of more than USD 3 billion. According to the block deal data available on the National Stock Exchange, Siddhartha Yog bought 10,09,200 shares, amounting to a 0.3 per cent stake in Trent. The shares were purchased at an average price of Rs 7,115 apiece, taking the transaction value to Rs 718.04 crore. The data showed that Dodona Holdings offloaded the same number of shares at Rs 7,115 apiece. Shares of Trent fell 0.09 per cent to close at Rs 7,151.95 per piece on the NSE. Last month, Siddhartha Yog acquired a total of 9.48 lakh shares or 0.27 per cent stake of fashion and lifestyle company Trent from Dodona Holdings Ltd through separate block deals for a combined value of Rs 649 crore. The shares were