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France's government is planning to impose a ban on Chinese fast-fashion platforms Shein and Temu advertisements. According to media reports, the upper house of France's Parliament, the Senate, has unanimously voted in favor of the revised law which aims to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry.

Additionally, the amended bill would impose sanctions on influencers who promote such products and ban fast fashion advertisements.

Environmental experts have pointed out that low-priced garments produced by fast-fashion chains lead to excessive consumption and waste, causing damage to the environment.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/shein-hit-with-eu-complaint-over-dark-patterns-in-app-website-68964.htm">Shein hit with EU complaint over dark patterns in app, website</a>

Last year, French Parliament's lower house, the National Assembly adopted the bill, but the Senate passed it with 337 votes and only one against it.

However, the amended bill has made a distinction between "ultra" fast fashion and "classic" fast fashion, therefore keeping off European fast-fashion players like Zara, H&M, and Kiabi from the ban list.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/chinas-fast-fashion-company-shein-re-launched-in-india-after-5-year-gap-55394.htm">China’s fast fashion company Shein re-launched in India after 5 year gap</a>

A joint committee of senators and lower house deputies is expected to meet in September to produce likely to produce a joint text in September this year. Before the final adoption of the Bill, the European Commission will be notified.

<strong>'Fast Fashion in France'</strong>

According to the state environmental agency Ademe, France is witnessing a sharp surge in fast fashion. Nearly 50 clothing items are released into the French market each year and 35 are thrown away every second in the country.

A slew of brands are experiencing difficulties, such as Jemmyfer which went into liquidation this year, and NafNaf has been in receivership since May.

According to France 24, the bill will impose stricter sanctions on fast-fashion companies by scoring their "environmental communication. Companies with the lowest score will be taxed by the government up to five euros per product in 2025 and up to 10 euros by 2030.

Separately, Shein has been hit with complaints from the European Union's consumer group over dark patterns. According to a report by Reuters, the pan-European consumer organization BEUC has alleged that Shein is using different tactics to make people buy more on its website and application.

Shein responded by saying that it is working constructively with national consumer authorities and the EU Commission to demonstrate its commitment to complying with EU laws and regulations.

A total of 25 BEUC member organizations in 21 countries, including, France, Germany, Spain, etc have joined in the grievance filed with the EU and European consumer protection network.

France plans to ban ads for Chinese fast fashion giants Shein, Temu

Tata Group’s retail enterprise Trent Limited has slashed its stake in Spanish fashion brands Zara and Massimo Dutti in India, according to the annual report.

Trent has two separate joint ventures with the Spanish fashion brands. Zara is managed by a JV called Inditex Trent Retail India Pvt ltd (ITRIPL), a collaboration between Spain's Inditex and Tata Group's retail arm Trent Ltd while premium brand Massimo Dutti operates under Massimo Dutti India Private Limited (MDIPL).

According to Trent's annual report, the Tata enterprise has pared its stake in ITRIPL from 49% to 34.94% by selling 1,40,000 equity shares through a buyback offer. On the other hand, it slashed stakes in MDIPL from 49% to 20% by selling 1,75,450 equity shares to Grupo Massimo Dutti, Spain.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/tatas-trent-accelerates-retail-expansions-adds-over-280-stores-for-westside-zudio-in-fy25-69970.htm">Tata's Trent accelerates retail expansions, adds over 280 stores for Westside, Zudio in FY25</a>

Zara India reported a flat growth in its sales in fiscal year 2025. However, the fashion brand reported a 23% rise in profit in FY25. According to Trent's annual report, the Zara entity recorded revenues of Rs 2,782 crore in FY25 compared to Rs 2,771 crore in FY24. The company's profit stood at Rs 243.84 crore in the same duration.

The total income of ITRIPL surged to Rs 2,839.50 crore as against its previous financial year’s total income of Rs 2,776.67 crore and total comprehensive income stood at Rs 299.47 crore as against its previous financial year’s total comprehensive income of Rs 243.56 crore.

Meanwhile, Spanish premium brand Massimo Dutti's India chain clocked a revenue of Rs 100 crore in FY25 compared to Rs 101 crore in the previous fiscal year. 

The entity for Zara currently operates 22 stores across 13 cities while Massimo Dutti operates 3 stores in India.

The total income of MDIPL increased to Rs 101.23 crore while comprehensive income stood at Rs 10.19 crore in FY25.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/tatas-trent-reports-128-52-decline-in-consolidated-profit-in-q4-fy25-63736.htm">Tata's Trent reports 56.24% decline in consolidated profit in Q4 FY25</a>

India's fashion and lifestyle sector is undergoing a transformative phase, propelled by digitalization, evolving consumer preferences, and increased global access and exposure. The market, valued at Rs 13 lakh crore in 2025, is projected to reach Rs 18 lakh crore by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 10–12%.

Trent has maintained that its partnership with Inditex is not a long-term strategic bet but is purely financial in nature. The Trent-Inditex JV was established in 2009 to launch Zara in India. Originally, Trent had a 49% stake in the lifestyle brand while Inditex had a 51% stake.

Trent Ltd is aggressively expanding physical stores of in-house lifestyle concepts- Zudio and Westside. The retail company opened more than 280 stores in Zudio and Westside combined in the fiscal year 2025.

As of March 2025, Zudio had 765 stores across 235 cities while Westside's store count has climbed to 248.

Tata's Trent pours out stake in Zara India, Massimo Dutti to boost own retail brands

E-commerce firm Meesho, which is planning to get listed on the Indian stock market, has converted itself into to public entity from Private Ltd. In April this year, Meesho changed its legal name from Fashnear Technologies Private Limited to Meesho Private Limited ahead of the planned initial public offering (IPO). And now, the Bengaluru-based company has converted from 'private limited' to 'public limited', The Economic Times reported.

Additionally, Meesho is also in the process of flipping back its domicile from the US to India. The company has applied to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for the same.

Meesho, which is backed by investors SoftBank, Prosus, and Tiger Global, has appointed Kotak Mahindra Capital, Citi, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley as merchant bankers for its public issue.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/meesho-expands-personal-care-portfolio-with-pg-hul-and-himalaya-partnerships-69019.htm">Meesho expands personal care portfolio with P&G, HUL, and Himalaya partnerships</a>

Last week, the company's board approved a plan to allot Rs 411 crore bonus shares to existing shareholders.

Founded in 2015 by IIT Delhi alumni Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal, Meesho has emerged as India’s third-largest e-commerce platform by Gross Merchandise Value (GMV). Financially, Meesho has made strong strides toward profitability. The company slashed its net loss by 82% to Rs 304.9 crore in FY24, down from Rs 1,675 crore in FY23. Operating revenue also surged by 32.8% year-on-year to Rs 7,614.9 crore, underlining a robust growth trajectory ahead of its public listing. The company generated operating cash flow of Rs 232 crore for the year, driven by rising consumption and the expanding adoption of e-commerce, particularly in Tier 2 and smaller towns.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/meesho-rebrands-ahead-of-ipo-drops-fashnear-to-strengthen-market-identity-63680.htm">Meesho to rename ahead of IPO; plans to drop ‘Fashnear’</a>

The Gen Z demographic has become a significant driver of growth for the ecommerce platform, now accounting for one-third of its total user base. This trend signals a broader shift towards value-conscious, high-quality products, particularly in smaller towns, reshaping India’s e-commerce landscape.

Meesho converts to public entity ahead of IPO

As India’s quick commerce industry surges ahead, driven by a digitally connected population and a mounting appetite for speed and convenience, a growing chorus of concern is beginning to cloud its glossy ascent. At the heart of the controversy: troubling lapses in food safety standards.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/gig-worker-attrition-hits-e-comm-quickcomm-platforms-31-of-employers-lament-voluntary-exits-67892.htm">Quick commerce faces high attrition challenge of gig workforce: TeamLease</a>

In a high-profile regulatory crackdown, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra suspended operations at several “dark stores” run by leading platforms Zepto and Blinkit, citing poor hygienic conditions, substandard cold storage monitoring, and staff operating without protective gear. The action comes amid a broader investigation into safety violations across the industry’s rapidly expanding network of fulfillment hubs.

What began as isolated complaints is now snowballing into a reputational crisis for the sector, raising urgent questions about the cost of India’s delivery revolution.

“This is not just a blip—it’s a systemic failure,” said Mohit Hira, co-founder of Myriad Communications and venture partner at YourNest. “Quick commerce platforms are leveraging tech to scale at speed, but in doing so, many are circumventing basic food safety norms. In a hyper-connected world, one violation can spark a trust deficit that’s hard to reverse.”

Indeed, violations are stacking up. Last year, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued warnings to state regulators over the sale of near-expiry products via quick commerce platforms. Unscheduled national inspections may follow as regulatory scrutiny deepens.

Consumers have begun voicing frustrations online. In one widely shared LinkedIn post, Hyundai Motor India’s Lalit Devnani recounted receiving an expired ice cream tub from Zepto. The company refunded the product, but did not reimburse taxes and handling fees, he noted. Meanwhile, Bharat Jain, a principal at EFESO Management Consultants, detailed receiving expired dosa batter not once, but thrice, from Swiggy Instamart. “They acknowledged it. They apologized. They even replaced it. But the problem keeps recurring,” he said.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/quick-commerce-disrupts-indias-grocery-industry-kirana-stores-hit-hard-kearney-68991.htm">Quick commerce disrupts India's grocery industry, kirana stores hit hard: Kearney</a>

Such incidents have emboldened critics who say the industry is trading consumer safety for operational speed. “Brands are definitely prioritising convenience and profit over food safety,” said Saurabh Parmar, Fractional Chief Growth Officer said. “I don't think it comes from a deliberate effort to undermine food safety, but just that it's such a competitive space, government regulations for dark stores are not clearly defined," he added.

The numbers underscore the sector’s explosive growth. Quick commerce companies in India operated approximately 1,800 dark stores in FY24. That figure is projected to triple to 5,500 by FY26, according to HSBC Global Research.

But scale may be outpacing oversight.

A recent complaint by a Shiprocket employee exposed price inconsistencies on Blinkit, where the same product listed at different maximum retail prices depending on the user’s location. Blinkit attributed the issue to a technical glitch under investigation.

Further complicating the picture, the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF) has alleged that some platforms are dumping near-expiry or slow-moving inventory through deep discounting tactics. The Competition Commission of India has requested formal evidence.

Brand experts say these developments risk eroding the very foundation on which quick commerce rests: consumer trust.

“Quick commerce brands are chasing quick turnover, but in doing so, they may be taking shortcuts that are anything but clean,” said Harish Bijoor, a business and brand strategy specialist. “Food safety isn’t optional—it’s existential.”

Recent industry reports signal massive upside. A Chryseum study projects India’s quick commerce market will triple in value from $3.34 billion in 2024 to nearly $10 billion by 2029. Kearney research shows food and household staples are leading categories in the shift to app-based commerce. But when it comes to fresh produce, a number of consumers interviewed by Storyboard18 report abandoning the category entirely, citing “rotten” or “spoiled” items.

Parmar believes rebuilding trust requires not just operational fixes but better communication. “What I'm surprised by is that none of these major businesses have a crisis communication team which takes a more immediate view when a concern like this arises, both from not just from a strategic perspective, but more from a communication perspective".

As the quick commerce sector matures, experts warn that the road ahead must balance speed with safety. If not, a race to the consumer’s doorstep may end in a reputational dead-end.

“In business, the one intangible that makes or breaks a brand is trust,” said Hira. “Lose that, and you’ve lost the market.”

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/inside-quick-commerce-brand-wars-smear-tactics-platform-fights-and-founder-feuds-67962.htm%20..%20This%20story%20has%20my%20quote">Inside quick commerce brand wars: Smear tactics, platform fights and founder feuds</a>



Quick commerce boom faces backlash over food safety failures

Bucking the trend, big lifestyle and online retail firms capitalized on print and radio for advertising in 2024. According to a report by Excellent Publicity-TAM Media Research Pvt Ltd, leading players in the Lifestyle & Apparel segment slashed their TV ad spending but splurged capital on print and radio mediums. 

The lifestyle brands cut their TV ad spending by 65% in the fourth quarter of 2024 on a year-on-year basis, according to the report. However, print and digital ad spending rose by 10% and 2%, respectively in the same period.

Reliance Retail dominated print advertising with a 17% share, followed by Chandana Bros at 4%. Notably, south zone publications led with 37% of the ad spends, followed by North (31%) and East (17%), respectively.

In radio, Alishan, Reliance Retail, The Chennai Skills Group, and The Chennai Shopping Mall led in ad spending. Over 200 advertisers were new in 2024 in this medium, the report mentioned.

The report highlighted that print and radio ad spend witnessed a 21% and 12% rise, respectively, compared to 2022. However, TV and digital ad spending dropped by 59% and 71% respectively. Despite the decline, digital maintained the highest share of ad spending at 51%.
 
Notably, Myntra Designs and Reliance dominated TV advertising, with GEC channels capturing 51% of TV ad spending. According to the report, the ad volume surged during prime time and celebrity endorsements constituted 38% of total ad duration. Whereas, April to June was the peak advertising period, coinciding with cricket events, such as IPL. Kiara Advani was the most featured celebrity in TV ads, the report added.
 
Nykaa e-retail led digital advertising with a 22% share. Display ads dominated at over 90%, while video ads made up 7%. Digital ad spending peaked during IPL and ICC events and was evenly distributed across the week.

Among the top advertisers across the channels, Reliance Retail and Myntra remained the leading players, contributing nearly 80% of the total ad spend in 2024.

Lifestyle giants Nykaa, Myntra revamp ad strategy; TV ads spend down

Parag Milk Foods has announced its quarter 3 earnings for the fiscal year 2024. The dairy company reported a 6 percent rise in its profit to Rs 36 crore in Q3 FY 25. The company's consolidated revenue surged to Rs 885 crore- 11 percent volume growth and 10 percent value growth in the same period. 

In the nine-month period, Parag Milk's Profit After Tax (PAT) increased to Rs 93 crore, registering 15 percent YoY growth. On the other hand, the revenue stood at Rs 2,514 crore.

The FMCG company credited its profit increase in the third quarter to robust volume growth in its key product categories, mainly Ghee, Cheese, and Paneer which saw 15 percent rise in Q3FY25 and a 17 percent climb in the year-to-date period ending December FY25.

According to the company,  the flagship brand Gowardhan Ghee's market share improved by 22 percent in the branded cow ghee segment, while the brand “Go Cheese” sustained its 35 percent market share in the Cheese category.

“India’s dairy industry continues to evolve, driven by rising consumer demand for high-quality and value-added products. At Parag, we are not only leading this transformation but also redefining ourselves as a global nutrition provider. Our highest-ever delivery in Q3 leveraging strong festive demand is a testimonial to the increasing preference for premium dairy offerings and our ability to meet evolving consumer needs," Chairman of Parag Milk Foods, Devendra Shah, said.

On the company's outlook, Shah added "We are focused on strengthening our supply chain, expanding our reach through new-age distribution channels, and driving product innovation to offer superior nutrition solutions. We continue to remain focussed on sustainable growth and long-term value creation".

Gowardhan Ghee-owner Parag Milk reports 6% rise in profit, revenue surges 11%

India is one of the most coveted markets for the global advertisers and marketeers. The advertising and marketing industry is on the verge of massive changes coming in the future. Speaking about this aspect, Sir Martin Sorrell, S4 Capital Chairman addressed the audience at Amazon MX Player's Streamnext revealed his thoughts on how powerful leadership can change the way a country is perceived globally by businesses.

Speaking about India's future, he said, "By 2050, 3 of the world's largest economies, China, India, and Indonesia will be in the top five. The other 2 will be Germany, and and probably Japan. So those will that will be the way that it sort sorts out and Asia will be pretty important. One caveat about Asia, if you're big as a client in China, defined as 15 to 20% or more of yourselves in China, do you really wanna be bigger given the Taiwan and security risk?"

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/businesses-must-take-back-control-in-an-ai-driven-future-s4s-martin-sorrell-55132.htm">Also read: Businesses must take back control in an AI-driven future: S4's Martin Sorrell</a>

Continuing his explanation, he said, "That's where India comes to play because India is the alternative. So China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, all offer huge opportunities for our clients in terms of growth. A on a micro, basis, and then Europe is very troubled at the moment. I come from the UK."

Earlier, Sir Martin Sorrell has spoken about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and praised his keen sense of marketing and branding. Elaborating on the same, he said, "UK has a huge economic pressure along with France and Germany, and I don't think that those three economies here in India under Prime Minister Modi, who clearly understands the importance of leadership, the importance of branding, and the importance of strength and direction and vision."

<a href="https://cms.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/india-to-emerge-as-the-top-alternative-to-china-for-global-advertisers-says-sir-martin-sorrell-55121.html">Also Read: India emerges as top alternative to China for global advertisers, says Sir Martin Sorrell</a>

PM Modi understands importance of strength, direction and vision, says Sir Martin Sorrell

India is one of the most coveted markets for the global advertisers and marketeers. This has been emphasized by experts worldwide that India is on a path to massive growth economically and socially. Highlighting this aspect, Sir Martin Sorrell, S4 Capital Chairman addressed the audience at Amazon MX Player's Streamnext event and said that India will be one of world’s top economies in the coming time.

He spoke about Middle East, that “despite the political turn up turmoil, huge opportunities. We're doing a lot of work both in Saudi and the UAE, and we see significant opportunities for growth and development. And then, of course, Asia.”

He stressed the fact that Asia was the next big thing for business, and that geography played an important part in the industry of advertising and marketing. He said, “By 2050, 3 of the world's largest economies, China, India, and Indonesia will be in the top five. The other 2 will be Germany, and probably Japan. So those will be the way that it sorts out and Asia will be pretty important. One caveat about Asia, if you're big as a client in China, defined as 15 to 20% or more of yourselves in China, do you really want to be bigger given the Taiwan and security risk?”

Addressing the issues with China, he said that that's where India comes into play because India is the alternative. “So China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia, all offer huge opportunities for our clients in terms of growth. And then Europe is very troubled at the moment. I come from the UK. The UK has a huge economic pressure along with France and Germany.” Sir Martin Sorrell explained.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/modi-a-master-marketer-martin-sorrell-praises-indias-strong-global-presence-53977.htm">Also Read: Modi, a master marketer: Martin Sorrell praises India's strong global presence</a>

India emerges as top alternative to China for global advertisers, says Sir Martin Sorrell

Television advertising in India saw a 14% increase in ad volumes in 2024 compared to 2020, though it experienced a 4% decline in comparison to 2023, according to data from TAM AdEx. The report sheds light on changing trends in advertising, with certain sectors gaining traction, co-branding partnerships becoming more popular, and established players maintaining their dominance.

Co-branded advertising continued to gain momentum in 2024, with over 60 films collaborating with brands for more than 770 hours of TV ads. The largest contributor was Pushpa 2, accounting for 21% of all co-branded ad volumes. Other prominent collaborations included Fighter, which partnered with 13 brands, making it the most brand-associated movie of the year, followed by Bade Miyan Chote Miyan with 10 partnerships. Spotify led the co-branding ads, securing 7% of the total share.

The Food & Beverages sector dominated television advertising in 2024, accounting for 21% of the ad volumes, followed by Personal Care/Personal Hygiene with 16%. Hindustan Unilever (HUL) maintained its top spot among advertisers, holding a 16% share, while Reckitt Benckiser was behind five of the top ten most-advertised brands. Advertising spend also showed fluctuations throughout the year. The second quarter of 2024 saw a 6% rise in ad volumes compared to the first quarter, while the fourth quarter registered a 6% decline compared to the third quarter. In terms of product categories, Toilet Soaps, Toilet/Floor Cleaners, and Washing Powders/Liquids maintained their top three positions, collectively comprising 14% of total ad volumes. Paints saw the highest growth in ad duration, with a 51% increase, while Beauty Accessories/Products recorded an impressive 300% growth compared to 2023.

<a href="https://cms.storyboard18.com/advertising/tv-ad-volumes-declined-by-4-in-2024-compared-to-2023-54851.html">Also read: TV ad volumes declined by 4% in 2024 compared to 2023</a>

Pushpa 2, Fighter lead co-branded advertising in 2024, contribute 800+ hours of TV Ad Time

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on Wednesday announced it has acquired the premium actives-led beauty brand Minimalist. 

HUL will acquire 90.5% stake in the company through a combination of secondary buyouts and primary infusion with a path to acquire the balance stake in two years.

“We are delighted to welcome Minimalist into the HUL family. This acquisition is another key step to grow our Beauty & Wellbeing portfolio in high-growth premium demand spaces. Mohit, Rahul and the team have created a great brand built on science, product efficacy and transparency," Rohit Jawa, CEO and Managing Director, HUL said.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/hul-likely-to-acquire-skincare-startup-minimalist-in-rs-3000-crore-deal-report-52272.htm">HUL likely to acquire skincare startup Minimalist in Rs 3,000 crore deal: Report</a>

Founded in 2020 by Mohit Yadav and Rahul Yadav, Minimalist is one of the fastest growing digital-first brands. Minimalist raised $15 million in a Series A funding round by Sequoia Capital India, with participation from Unilever Ventures. The company has raised $17 million so far. Co-founders Mohit Yadav and Rahul Yadav hold 62 percent of the stake in the company while Peak XV (formerly known as Sequoia Capital) holds 27.9 percent stake.

The Peak XV Partners-backed startup is the fastest-growing direct-to-customer (D2C) brand in the country at present. It's the only startup in the skincare industry that registered profit in fiscal year 2024.

According to the data, Minimalist doubled its profit to Rs 10.83 crore in FY 24 from Rs 5 crore in FY 23. The company's revenue from operation surged to Rs 347 crore, up from Rs 184 crore in FY 23.

Available on e-commerce platforms like Nykaa, Flipkart, Amazon, Myntra, and others, Minimalist has doubled its advertising expenses to Rs 117 crore in FY 24 from Rs 65 crore in FY 23.

BRANDING