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<ul><li>The branded apparel major is likely to see free cash flow this year itself, Chairman Gautam Singhania said in an <keyword id="975312" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="exclusive-interview">exclusive interview</keyword>.</li></ul><ul><li>Development of Thane land may be capital light, he said but stopped short of divulging details. </li></ul><ul><li>Do not paint Raymond with the same brush as other promoters, he hit back on the question of governance. </li></ul>Gautam Singhania, the second-generation promoter of Raymond Limited, whose businesses span from branded apparel and textile to fast-moving consumer goods to engineering and auto parts, is hoping that the business will increase its free cash flow as early as the current financial year that ends on March 31, 2019. Raymond’s stock price has multiplied over two-and-a-half times in the last three years. This, at a time when the company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) was negative, and it has turned into the black only now. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The company posted a profit in four out of last five quarters. Most recently, the company declared a net profit of ₹ 260 million in the three months between October and December 2018. and Singhania is confident that it will only improve hereon. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The company’s debt has been a cause for concern in the Indian markets for long. But Singhania is not bothered by it. “At the end of the day, Raymond has a net debt of about ₹2,300 crores. I don’t sleep with a net debt of ₹2,000 crores, people with debt 20 times and 50 times the size sleep easy. I don’t know why we are worried about Raymond’s debt,” he candidly said. The plan to unlock value by selling a 20-acre land in Thane, in the outskirts of Mumbai, as well as non-core business like engineering and auto parts is on track, he said. The money from these sales will go into repaying debt, but Singhania is in no hurry. “At the end of the day you have to understand one thing, I will do it to the best of my ability and number two, I am the biggest gainer. That’s all I am concerned with. I will do whatever is in the best interest of shareholders. I am the largest shareholder,” he said. The company, which was admittedly looking to pare down debt by selling the Thane land, <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/expert-view/gautam-singhania-on-affordable-housing-foray-schools-and-expanding-raymond-into-small-towns/articleshow/67974132.cms">announced recently</a> that it would develop the project on its own instead. This may raise concerns on whether the company would end up adding to the debt in the process. But Singhania dismissed those fears, saying, “What makes you say that developing on our own cannot be capital light? That’s your assumption. I am not going to tell how I am going to do it. How I do it, I am not at liberty to discuss it with you.” The flamboyant 53-year-old who loves fast cars, high-flying private jets, and cruising speed boats has also faced some <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/raymond-rebounds-7-after-clarification-on-related-party-transaction-report/articleshow/67895858.cms">tough questions on corporate governance</a> in recent times, which he has vehemently denied. “You are not willing to accept that I am the only promoter in the country who has stepped off his own companies as chairman, has put in the highest level of corporate governance in the system, has got outside directors and outside professionals to take over as chairman. I have the best advisory board in the country. Don’t paint Raymond with the same paint brush as other promoters. Show me one other promoter who has done what Raymond has done, then talk to me,” Singhania said demanding credit for bringing in transparency in governance. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Analysts seem to agree with Singhania’s narrative. “Over the last 2 years, a lot of changes in terms of management, brand positioning, disclosures, rationalising store network, etc. which have happened at Raymond post which the company has been steadily improving its performance on guided lines,” Edelweiss said in a report earlier this month. Room for growth Singhania is betting on Raymond’s scale and reach, and its well-known brand. “See, you always will have some competition, and it’s good. Some of the big brands will come to Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai. Raymond today is in Tier-10 towns, we are 515 towns, we are competing in a different marketplace as well. A foreign brand in our space, I don’t want to take names, has been in this country for 30 years and it makes $2 million a year. It’s irrelevant to me. It doesn’t bother me,” he said. Additionally, Raymond’s franchisee model allows it to reach deeper into smaller towns without having to invest big money. “In the last 18 months, Raymond has added over 200 mini-TRS (The Raymond Shop) stores in over 180 towns, penetrating smaller cities,” PhillipCapital said in a note this month. As of now, the company makes over 70% of its revenue from textiles and branded apparel. Going forward, there will be an added focus on relatively new verticals like fast-moving consumer goods space, said Singhania. Having decoupled the group companies from the parent through management changes, the FMCG vertical will have to make its own business decisions. “It’s a separate business. It will find its own capital. If it requires capital, it will find it. It’s a professionally run company. Raymond capital doesn’t have to go there. Raymond will only put capital there only if it believes it wants to. The company will grow on its own steam. If it wants capital, it can go to the market and raise private equity or debt,” Singhania said.

EXCLUSIVE: Two revelations and a fiery defence from Raymond’s boss Gautam Singhania

<ul><li>The year 2020 was a roller coaster ride for businesses of all kinds and sizes and negatively impacted <keyword id="47276" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Economic-growth">economic growth</keyword> worldwide. </li><li>However, after June 2020, one industry that continued to see stable cash flow and income was FMCG. </li><li>In today’s feature, we speak to leading FMCG brands on their outlook for 2021 as we move forward. </li></ul>The pandemic has taught the brandverse to be prepared for the unexpected. Owing to the fear of contracting the virus by going out, brands had to rethink and realign their strategies to reach out to consumers in new ways. Online shopping platforms opened up their services to deliver 24*7 and people started hoarding daily essentials, including FMCG products. So, many FMCG brands partnered with e-commerce platforms like Dunzo, Flipkart, Grofers, BigBasket, etc to deliver within the comfort of consumers’ homes. Consumer habits also evolved with COVID and ‘immunity’ became the buzzword in the FMCG industry. Marketers reverted by launching ready-to-eat meal options and immunity-based packaged goods. However, with COVID vaccine now a reality, consumer sentiment is already picking up and the economy is in revival mode. Going by the latest reports, 2021 will augur well for small retailers leading to an increased sales from local markets and <keyword id="6513856" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="kirana-stores">kirana stores</keyword>. According to <keyword id="346535" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nielsen-India">Nielsen India</keyword>, after an unprecedented decline of -19% in the Jan-Mar quarter, FMCG industry displayed signs of recovery in Q3’20 with a 1.6% growth (versus Q3 ‘19). In 2020, rural markets outperformed urban India and became critical for FMCG giants. Brands relied on rural markets to drive growth during the trying times. FMCG witnessed a double digit growth of 10.6% in Q3’20 in Rural India, while the bigger cities (&gt;1 Lakh population including metros and Town Class 1) played catch-up. The rural markets bounced back in Q3 handsomely on the back of support provided by the government as well as good agriculture, reverse migration and a lower unemployment rate. With immunity being the focus in the ‘new normal’, new launches have been made in the health and hygiene basket including categories like hand sanitisers, floor cleaners, toilet cleaners, antiseptic liquids. These new launches contributed to 37% (in value) of all new launches in the COVID period (Nielsen India). According to Kantar Worldpane, FMCG sector in India is expected to report a 4-5% volume growth in FY21, driven by rural areas that are expected to grow two percentage points ahead of the urban regions that are hit harder by COVID-19 pandemic. While COVID-19 has curtailed economic growth in the FMCG sector, experts are now optimistic that the industry will see an appreciable improvement this year. Here are some of the trends they expect to see in 2021: R S Sodhi, MD, GCMMF (AMUL): <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The biggest impact i" comment="inlineshare" text="The biggest impact in FMCG food is the shift among the consumers from loose and unbranded to trusting packed food and affordable brands in Tier II and III. There, people have come from loose to smaller packs and brands.">The biggest impact in FMCG food is the shift among the consumers from loose and unbranded to trusting packed food and affordable brands in Tier II and III. There, people have come from loose to smaller packs and brands.</cmsannotation> I don't think the demand in high end consumer products will grow as much now. There'll be a tremendous increase in demand for branded FMCG products that are affordable, available in smaller packs and mainly cater to Tier II III cities. For the past two years, at Amul, we have been trying to ensure we reach the towns that have over 10,000 population, which helps us cover the 15 to 20 bigger villages around those towns. Currently, we are working with 10,000 distributors. We have already covered 50% of these 10,000 population towns in India and in another one year, we'll cover all the towns. We're mainly investing in Tier II and III cities, opening our own branches and depots all over India. We recently opened a centre in Leh. Anil Viswanathan, senior director, marketing (chocolates), insights and analytics, <keyword id="2200852" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mondelez-India">Mondelez India</keyword>: The pandemic has accelerated the growth of snacking. As per Mondelēz International’s recently released second annual State of Snacking report, 9 in 10 Indian adults (88%) say they are snacking more or the same (22%) during the pandemic than before it, with millennials being especially likely to say they prefer snacks over meals (85%). A majority expect this trend to continue, saying they plan to continue eating small snacks throughout the day, as opposed to fewer large meals (82%), and that snacking will be part of their “new normal” even after the pandemic ends (81%). Ultimately, 8 in 10 believe “the current pandemic will have a long-term impact on how we consume snacks as a society” (81%). This unprecedented year has also brought about a significant behavioral change especially on how consumers are purchasing snacks. A majority say they have started to buy snacks online more often than they do in-store or offline (74%), with 8 in 10 planning to continue shopping for snacks online once the pandemic is over (81%). A similar percentage also say the pandemic has opened their eyes to so many more ways to get snacks than they knew existed before (80%), including half who have discovered snacks to try on social media (50%). It was also very heartening to note that, even while at home this year, Indians are social snackers. With health and safety continuing to be a priority, consumers are trying to strike a balance between indulging and being mindful (80%), and in doing so; they (80%) are relying on trusted snacking brands like Cadbury, OREO, and Bournvita, seeking assurance of safety and superior quality. At Mondelez India, we understand the role our products play in our consumers’ life and the aim is to leverage these trends to empower them with more choice, creating greater shopping opportunities and innovating, while keeping our promise of consumer-centricity intact, throughout our growth journey. Sudhir Langer, CEO, Raymond Consumer Care: Conscious Communication Today’s young ‘woke’ consumers were already moving away from the excesses of consumerism and leaning towards sustainable conscious brands before the pandemic and lockdowns hit their lives. The all-round strain of the pandemic from volatile job markets and a possible looming global recession to health and environment concerns; along with the way lockdowns were framed as health versus economy predicaments—as if one has to be sacrificed for the other—has left many questioning the very basis of our consumer-driven economy. I feel, the months in lockdown have only strengthened that introspection and has further fueled the young consumers’ move towards purpose and value, making them think-twice before buying by taking in to consideration the long-term impact of their spends not only on their finances, but on their own beliefs, on society and on the planet. So, with conscious consumption here to stay, when consumers buy, it is going to be as much for brand values as it is for product payoff. Keeping this in mind a big communication trend I see emerging as we move into 2021 is brands engaging more purposefully with deeper more sentient conversations. These could include brands talking about their environmental and sustainability efforts, community initiatives, health impact and most importantly value addition. Fortunately for us this is not a shift to adapt to; but a way of operating. We have always believed in empowering, enabling and operating consciously. Hence, it’s not only our communication like our recent Park Avenue Germ Protect soap film about our protagonist helping his community but at every level we are constantly taking steps to enhance efficiencies for a better world like our soon to be launched sustainable and eco-friendly packaging. Sumit Mathur, Director Marketing Kellogg South Asia: The pandemic is a black swan event that brought several changes at the economic and societal levels. Consumers had to face economic stress which made them more discretionary in their consumption choices. Our virtual connects with over 450 consumers amidst the lockdown made it clear that items which they do not deem to be too essential are unlikely to find a place in their shopping carts. Come 2021, only brands solving a real consumer problem or adding value to their lives will be on top of their minds. It has become increasingly important for brands to feel the pulse of the consumer and provide authentic solutions to stay relevant. Kellogg’s has paid attention to the consumer’s shifting needs and adapted with agility to ensure it solves consumers’ nutritional demands in the most convenient manner and this will continue to be our focus in the coming year.

FMCG: The trends to watch out for in 2021

<keyword id="2085190" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Online-grocery-stores">Online grocery stores</keyword> are gaining popularity in India due to sheer convenience, ease of shopping and a fast-growing market. Globally, <keyword id="2085193" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Online-grocery-retail">online grocery retail</keyword> is growing nearly 7 times faster than on-ground formats and the <keyword id="47445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-market">Indian market</keyword> may soon catch up. For one, the <keyword id="156795" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="indian-retail-industry">Indian retail industry</keyword> is estimated to be worth over $500 billion (one of the world’s top 5 markets) and 30-40% of the businesses will be in the online retail space over the next 7 years., This presents a great opportunity for any form of e-tailing, especially the <keyword id="2085203" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="E-grocery-space">e-grocery space</keyword>. 
 As of now, <keyword id="2085207" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Grocery-e-tailing-in-India">grocery e-tailing in India</keyword> is a largely unorganised space and poses a big challenge in terms of stiff <keyword id="2085206" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Entry-barriers">entry barriers</keyword>. The traditional methods of inventory and <keyword id="2085212" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Logistics-management">logistics management</keyword> call for intense cash-burning – a business condition most of the bootstrapped Indian start-ups fail to meet. Moreover, a <keyword id="2085209" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Series-A-funding-crunch">Series A funding crunch</keyword> also compelled companies like Mumbai-based <keyword id="2048780" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="ShopVeg">ShopVeg</keyword> to shut down operations. Therefore, when another Mumbai-based start-up decided to start grocery e-tailing in the same year, things were not looking too exciting for the newcomer. But 22 months later, <keyword id="2009014" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="LocalBanya-com">LocalBanya.com</keyword> has managed to set up Mumbai’s first online supermarket and also raised <keyword id="6793689" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Series-A-funding">Series A funding</keyword> for the next level of expansion. 
 Although there were predecessors that attempted various models of grocery retail in the digital space and failed, <keyword id="2047523" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="LocalBanya">LocalBanya</keyword> has adapted a <keyword id="2085214" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lean-business-model">lean business model</keyword> that relies on a convenient mix of <keyword id="96173" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="warehousing">warehousing</keyword> and <keyword id="512818" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="cash-and-carry">cash-and-carry</keyword>. This has reduced the start-up’s dependence on capital-intensive operations and enabled it to put in place a thoroughly efficient <keyword id="118965" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Supply-chain">supply chain</keyword>. In addition, the company has adopted some unique measures to take <keyword id="2085217" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Customer-convenience">customer convenience</keyword> to the next level. Want to know more about LocalBanya and how it works? Here is a snapshot that captures the start-up’s vision and viability. 
 
Who runs LocalBanya (www.localbanya.com): A team of three co-founders – <keyword id="2085179" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Karan-Mehrotra">Karan Mehrotra</keyword> (<keyword id="5645" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="CEO">CEO</keyword>), <keyword id="2085180" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rashi-Choudhary">Rashi Choudhary</keyword> (COO) and <keyword id="1251820" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amit-Naik">Amit Naik</keyword> (<keyword id="238078" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="CTO">CTO</keyword>). Karan is the brain behind LocalBanya and set up the entire infrastructure with just 14 employees. He is a <keyword id="163598" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="computer-engineer">computer engineer</keyword> and prior to starting up, worked for his family business as a distributor for <keyword id="123278" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="FMCG-firms">FMCG firms</keyword>. He has 11 years of work experience in varied fields – from turning around a chain of restaurants to setting up metal fabrication plants to building a food distribution network. 
 Amit holds an MBA from IIM-Lucknow and he is also a Six Sigma Black Belt from the American Society for Quality. He had six years of top tier experience in ad-tech and earlier worked for <keyword id="1076906" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Directi">Directi</keyword> and <keyword id="45475" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Larsen-Toubro">Larsen &amp; Toubro</keyword>. Rashi holds a Global MBA from <keyword id="1433263" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="SP-Jain-School-of-Global-Management">SP Jain School of Global Management</keyword> and brings four years of experience in <keyword id="6553136" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="retailing">retailing</keyword>, consulting and <keyword id="169305" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="customer-service">customer service</keyword>. Prior to joining LocalBanya, she worked with the <keyword id="244481" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Raymond-Group">Raymond Group</keyword>. 
 The trio had been working on the concept for some time and the site went live in May 2012. LocalBanya is now in beta and the e-grocer has over 130 employees operating across Mumbai, Thane and <keyword id="57321" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Navi-Mumbai">Navi Mumbai</keyword>. 
 
What inspired the venture: The desire to go one step ahead of your <keyword id="2085220" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Local-grocer">local grocer</keyword> who accepts orders on phone. “Apparently, it was convenient but there was something lacking. You can’t browse the inventory when ordering on phone; the choices are not many (after all, a kirana or <keyword id="2085221" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mom-and-pop-store">mom-and-pop store</keyword> won’t keep exotic or imported items as those are a bit expensive) and finally, there’s no organised system (accountable, responsible and prompt),” says Karan. So up came LocalBanya, an online supermarket selling around 12,000 products across 17 categories and adding more every day. 
 
What’s the pitch: LocalBanya.com is an <keyword id="2085223" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Online-convenience-store">online convenience store</keyword> dedicated to YOU (customers). The e-grocer offers high quality products and hassle-free delivery that save time, energy and money. “If you are <keyword id="62452" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="grocery-shopping">grocery shopping</keyword> 4-5 times a month or looking for something special, imagine the kind of supermarket trips you have to make and how you have to run from shop to shop,” points out Karan. “But having the entire bulk procured for you and delivered to your place, at the time you want it, would make things extremely convenient and lure the customers,” he adds. Karan, however, feels that the industry is huge enough to allow kirana stores, large-format retailers and e-retailers to survive and grow in the same marketplace. 
 
How it works: As of now, LocalBanya is targeting the <keyword id="6756404" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="urban-population">urban population</keyword> and the customer base varies from <keyword id="2085227" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Single-professionals">single professionals</keyword>, <keyword id="632195" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="working-couples">working couples</keyword>, <keyword id="168112" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nuclear-families">nuclear families</keyword> and <keyword id="3216" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="students">students</keyword> fending for themselves to <keyword id="1400200" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="new-mothers">new mothers</keyword>, <keyword id="20566" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="senior-citizens">senior citizens</keyword> and even <keyword id="2085229" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Large-families">large families</keyword>. 
 “People come to us for a wide selection of goods (otherwise, they will have to visit 2-3 stores to make a purchase), convenience and great pricing. We deliver that convenience with exceptional levels of customer service, <keyword id="2085230" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Preferred-delivery-times">preferred delivery times</keyword>, same-day deliveries, fresh produce and efficient &amp; reliable suppliers. We also take product suggestions from our customers and ensure that the products are online in a fortnight,” details the LocalBanya team. The <keyword id="2085232" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Procurement-model">procurement model</keyword> includes a convenient mix of warehousing and just-in-time (<keyword id="377986" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="JIT">JIT</keyword>) deliveries from a host of suppliers including <keyword id="34523" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="fmcg">FMCG</keyword> companies, cash-and-carry outlets and other distributors. 
 Shopping for groceries on the LocalBanya platform is also kept simple. You just have to register or connect through Facebook before browsing the categories and the products. Once you make the purchase, the order is processed and ready for delivery within 6 hours. Delivery is done as per your time slot selection. The company offers 6 slots (of 2 hours each), from 7 in the morning until midnight, and one can choose any of those. Customers also enjoy <keyword id="2085234" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Banya-Points-rewards-programme">Banya Points rewards programme</keyword> and these points are redeemed for cash discounts on every purchase. 
 
Claim to fame: <keyword id="900658" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="traction">Traction</keyword> and <keyword id="232730" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="business-model">business model</keyword>. The start-up claims that it currently reaches over 10,000 homes a month and delivers 500-plus orders a day. Interestingly, nearly one-third of its orders are from <keyword id="1189616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="institutional-clients">institutional clients</keyword> while senior citizens and <keyword id="58225" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="NRIs">NRIs</keyword> constitute over 16% of the customer base. But what matters most is the <keyword id="2085235" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Lean-infrastructure">lean infrastructure</keyword> set-up for reducing asset liabilities. 
 
Show me the money: Since its <keyword id="85080" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Inception">inception</keyword> in May 2012, LocalBanya has done around Rs 15 crore in gross revenues. The start-up is projected to grow 40% month on month over the next 15-18 months and eyes <keyword id="486782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="break-even">break-even</keyword> in the existing markets (Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai) by June this year. 
 LocalBanya was initially bootstrapped, but has already raised two rounds of <keyword id="6357455" type="EVENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Funding">funding</keyword>. It is now in talks with investors to raise a Series B round by March 2014. In January this year, the start-up secured an undisclosed amount in Series A funding from <keyword id="2009015" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Karmvir-Avant-Group">Karmvir Avant Group</keyword>, a real estate developer in Mumbai. Earlier, it had raised funding from <keyword id="2085241" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Times-Groups-Brand-Capital-Springboard">Times Group’s Brand Capital Springboard</keyword> platform. “The Series A round will last us for a year and help fuel our growth at a faster rate as we scale up operations, hiring and marketing. We are also looking to start operations in a new city within a quarter,” says Karan. 
 
Biggest challenge: Competition abounds in online grocery retail space but containing cash-burning is most crucial when it comes to inventory, supply chain and logistics. Streamlining the supply chain and <keyword id="2085210" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Inventory-management">inventory management</keyword> is an uphill task but a lean procurement set-up, use of <keyword id="2085238" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Leased-delivery-vehicles">leased delivery vehicles</keyword>, <keyword id="2085242" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="In-house-delivery-personnel">in-house delivery personnel</keyword> (for ease of management) and a well-structured <keyword id="2085243" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Region-mapping">region mapping</keyword> that enables effective coverage of the city have helped the start-up cut down on costs. 
 
Five takeaways: In nearly 2 years of operation, LocalBanya has seen some interesting trends in <keyword id="2085200" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Online-grocery-shopping">online grocery shopping</keyword> behaviour and Karan &amp; his team want to share it with the budding wannapreneurs and all our readers. So here we go: 
 
59% of the transactions on the site are done by women. 
 
Senior citizens are a sizeable 14% of the customer base due to the convenience of online retail. 
 
A sizeable 2.1% of transactions are done by NRIs to have groceries delivered to their relatives in Mumbai. 
 
Institutional clients including restaurants, corporate houses, co-operative societies and any other organisation requiring groceries in bulk have seen the advantage of e-grocery and 29% of the business comes from these channels. 
 
Around 11% of LocalBanya’s deliveries are done during the 10 pm-12 midnight slot. And the last trend brings us back to the convenience factor. How many e-grocers or physical retail stores in India would be doing that in a bid to break out of the pack?

This E-grocery Start-up Uses A Lean Model For Its Online Supermarket; In Talks To Raise Series B
Funding

You Searched For "Raymond FMCG" and got 3 results

EXCLUSIVE: Two revelations and a fiery defence from Raymond’s boss Gautam Singhania

Sriram Iyer

FMCG: The trends to watch out for in 2021

Karuna Sharma

This E-grocery Start-up Uses A Lean Model For Its Online Supermarket; In Talks To Raise Series B Funding

Sanghamitra Mandal

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