Rattan is all the rage in the home decor space. From partitions to wardrobe shutters and seating, it provides a subtle statement that is both organic and elegant. Sourced from over 600 species of palms native to tropical regions of Asia, Africa and Australasia
Tushar, Mannat share lead at AM Green IGPL Invitational CongoTushar, Mannat share lead at AM Green IGPL Invitational Congo Published on: Apr 21, 2026 2:19 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Lubumbashi , Young golfers Tushar Pannu and Mannat Brar turned in a matching six-under 67 to share the lead after
Apple will have been planning this succession for a long time. Rumours were circulating for a while that 65-year-old Tim Cook was thinking about stepping down, and while a few potential replacements popped up, the name which stuck was the firm's vice president of hardware, 51-year-old John Ternus
Apple has announced a major leadership change. On April 20, the company named John Ternus as its next CEO, with Tim Cook set to move into the role of executive chairman from September 1. This marks a big shift, as a long-time insider prepares to take charge during an important phase for the company
A simple shoulder cloth, the melthundu, has a rich history in Tamil Nadu. It began as a gesture of respect, was later used to challenge caste norms, and became a symbol of equality. Dravidian leaders adopted it as part of their identity. Today
Over 700 citizens, including former civil servants, academics, activists, and journalists, have written to the Election Commission of India alleging violation of the Model Code of Conduct by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the nation on April 18.Over 700 citizens
President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he considered visits by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow but not Kyiv "disrespectful". The pair visited the Russian capital late last year as ceasefire talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine gained pace, and again in January
'World-class buildings, third-class roads': Mohandas Pai on Bengaluru and Mumbai infrastructureIn a post on X, Mohandas Pai called out glaring gaps between “world-class” private developments and crumbling public spaces in cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai. Updated on: Apr 21
Quick commerce platforms drum up sales, push deals ahead of New Year’s Eve to offset delivery strike & rush
Quick commerce companies are pushing customers to stock up ahead of New Year's Eve, industry executives said, as they brace for a spike in demand and potential disruptions due to a planned strike by delivery personnel.
These platforms, including Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart Minutes, Zepto, BigBasket and Amazon Now, have also started rolling out party-themed sections and targeted deals on soft drinks, snacks, mixers, disposable cups, decoration items and games.
For the year-end period, direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands have already started recording an upward trend in sales on quick commerce apps.
“Advance planning is materially higher this year, particularly for New Year's Eve house parties and small-group celebrations,” said Sagar Daryani, cofounder and chief executive, Wow Momo Foods, which has a range of frozen food and ready-to-eat products. “We are observing increased scheduled ordering and bulk-cart behaviour, especially within gated communities, where collective celebrations are driving predictable, volume-led demand.”
New Year's Eve is one of the busiest days of the year for quick commerce and food delivery platforms, with order volumes surging sharply throughout the day. Companies typically set up war rooms and hire additional temporary workers to deal with the order volume spike.
Executives at quick commerce firms said the push is aimed at frontloading demand to not only help pace operations but also mitigate impact of the anticipated strike.
This Christmas, delivery staff associated with meal aggregators and quick commerce platforms, including Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, Blinkit, Amazon Now and Flipkart Minutes, went on strike. They plan to stop work again on December 31, making it two of the busiest days of the year for such companies.
ETtech
Ready for Bumper Eve
On Thursday, about 40,000 delivery riders conducted flash strikes and bike rallies that disrupted operations in some parts of New Delhi, Gurgaon, Pune, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, according to unions and restaurant owners.
Meanwhile, with a “sizeable” share of sales expected in the days leading up to December 31, platforms began placing New Year's Eve purchase orders as early as the first week of December, a senior executive at a packaged snacks company said.
This follows a strong festive season for D2C brands during Diwali, when they witnessed 2-3x growth in sales year-on-year on quick commerce platforms.
Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, Flipkart Minutes, Amazon Now, BigBasket and Blinkit did not respond to ET's queries till publication of this report.
Daryani said Wow Momo is witnessing increasing traction for its large-format party packs. “Meals designed to serve four to eight people are consistently outperforming individual portions, indicating a clear shift towards group consumption and higher basket consolidation during festive occasions,” he said.
Home and personal care brand Beco is also seeing a spike in demand for baking paper, napkins and tissue papers a week ahead of New Year's Eve on quick commerce. “Last year, we saw about 55% year-on-year (YoY) growth for party essentials like baking papers, napkins and tissue papers. This year, we are already seeing similar growth for these categories on quick commerce as platforms,” said Sourabh Narula, head of ecommerce marketplace, Beco.
The uptick in sales for party essentials during this time of the year comes from a forced demand creation by these companies as they set up separate sections on the apps to attract customers, according to Narula.
“We saw Christmas sales grow nearly 3-4x on-year, and we expect a similar surge for New Year's through quick commerce platforms. December 31 continues to be one of the busiest days of the year for the category,” said Sneh Jain, cofounder, The Baker's Dozen.
For The Baker's Dozen, sales on quick commerce picked up from December 15 as platforms rolled out season offers and consumers also began planning their celebrations early this year.
To push sales further, quick commerce apps are running flash sales and interactive games with offers on some items.
As demand rises, 10-minute delivery platforms are pushing brands to ramp up spending on advertising. Companies advertising heavily on Flipkart Minutes, Instamart and BigBasket include PepsiCo's Lay's, ITC's Bingo, Bisleri, Coca-Cola, Cadbury and Fast&Up, as well as Farmley and frozen foods maker McCain.
Instamart is also pushing party specific items such as chips, confectionary, beverages and ready to eat snacks of its private label brand Noice.
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: Quick commerce fight intensifies as Swiggy Quick commerce gains as last-minute events drive Valentine’s demand Blinkit tops quick commerce with over 50% market share Quick commerce market heats up Swiggy doubled operating loss in H1 on quick commerce spends Labour minister urges quick-commerce firms to drop 10-minute delivery branding Quick commerce grocery delivery hit ecomm sales Quick commerce sees brisk sale of induction stoves as people panic over LPG shortage Zepto’s IPO set to put quick-commerce giants under market scrutiny
Artist Nalini Malani to reflect on patriarchal violence of wars at Venice BiennaleArtist Nalini Malani to reflect on patriarchal violence of wars at Venice Biennale Published on: Apr 21, 2026 4:56 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi, In her latest body of mixed media work
1 days ago
Apple's leadership change is the start of a new phase for the iPhone maker, in which the focus will be on whether its deep hardware heritage can be successfully fused with AI to sustain growth in a fast-evolving tech landscape, Wall Street analysts said
1 days ago
Indian opener Shafali Verma has risen to sixth in the ICC Women's T20I Batting Rankings. Her half-century against South Africa boosted her position. Smriti Mandhana has dropped to fourth. Harmanpreet Kaur is now eleventh. Jemimah Rodrigues has fallen to fourteenth
1 days ago
In a rare call, China’s President Xi Jinping spoke on the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to urge the restoration of transit through the vital waterway. He also pushed for an end to hostilities in the Middle East.In a rare call
1 days ago
A viral post on X revealing a kindergarten fee of more than Rs 2.5 lakh a year has sparked fresh outrage online, with many questioning why parents are being asked to pay such a huge amount for pre-primary education. The post, shared by a user named Sakshi, drew widespread attention after she wrote
1 days ago
Eleven persons were injured in a clash in a gurdwara in Germany on Sunday following disagreements about the management and financial affairs of the institution, India Today reported. The dispute involves the election of a new board to manage the institution and the administration of community
1 days ago
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday supplied a quick clarification soon after the BJP went into a complete uproar over his “terrorist" charge against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kharge said all he meant is that Prime Minister Modi, who he said “always threatens"
1 days ago
The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has released the third round of lottery results for Balvatika and Class 1 admissions for the 2026-27 academic session. Parents who submitted online applications between March 20 and April 2 can now check their child’s selection status on the official KVS
1 days ago
Madhav Viradiya has emerged as the Maharashtra topper in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026, securing 100 percentile in both sessions 1 and 2. The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the results late on Monday evening, with 26 students achieving a perfect 100 percentile
1 days ago
The Indian Premier League isn’t just cricket, it’s theatre. It’s swagger, strategy, last-over drama, and personalities that feel larger than life. And much like a well-crafted cocktail, every team brings its own blend of intensity, flair, and character to the field
1 days ago
Dyson unveils travel-friendly ‘Supersonic’ hair dryer for users on the moveDyson has introduced a new, compact hairdryer designed for travel that claims to offer consistent styling performance in a smaller, lighter design. Published on: Apr 21
1 days ago
The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday granted four more weeks to the Assam government and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to respond to petitions seeking action against him for alleged hate speech against Muslims, Live Law reported. During the hearing
1 days ago
19 Tamil Nadu fishermen return home following release from Sri LankaThe returnees were greeted with emotional reunions after being caught in the crosshairs of maritime boundary disputes. Updated on: Apr 21, 2026 5:02 PM IST ANI Share via Copy link A group of 19 fishermen from Thangachimadam
1 days ago
Are your vitamin D levels low? Experts explain its function beyond bone strength; share why deficiency is commonDespite being a country with ample sunlight, vitamin D deficiency is very common in India. Experts explain why you shouldn't ignore it. Published on: Apr 21
1 days ago
'Iran has violated ceasefire': Donald Trump reiterates amid peace talks deadlockDonald Trump has been offering mixed messages about the path ahead for the Iran war as the ceasefire deadline approches. Published on: Apr 21, 2026 5:24 PM IST By Shivam Pratap Singh Share via Copy link US President
1 days ago
Apple on Monday (April 20, 2026) named insider John Ternus as its next CEO, tasking the long-time hardware chief to steer the company after Tim Cook as the iPhone maker gears up for an industry change spurred by artificial intelligence. Mr. Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001
1 days ago
iPhone-maker Apple has announced a top-deck transition with CEO Tim Cook set to step down and hand over the reins to longtime hardware chief -- a 'reboot' that marks the end of Cook's decade-and-a-half long tenure defined by quiet leadership style and sustained growth
1 days ago
US Republican leader Nikki Haley on Tuesday alleged that a vessel recently intercepted by the United States amid a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was en route from China to Iran, carrying chemicals linked to missile development. Taking to X, Haley wrote
1 days ago
Daadi Ki Shaadi trailer: Kapil Sharma’s wedding plans go haywire as Neetu Kapoor’s 'savage daadi’ decides to marryKapil Sharma returns with family comedy Daadi Ki Shaadi, featuring Neetu Kapoor, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and Sadia Khateeb. Apr 21, 2026
1 days ago
This 43-year-old actor is the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Star 2026’; has a big release aheadA Hollywood star has been named People magazine’s ‘World’s Most Beautiful Star 2026’, with a big upcoming release adding to the excitement around her career. Apr 21, 2026
1 days ago
Madonna has offered a reward for the return of the outfit she wore on stage at Coachella last weekend, after several of her vintage costume pieces went missing following the festival. "These aren't just clothes, they are part of my history," the Queen of Pop wrote on Instagram
1 days ago
Indian travel plans for the summer are being quietly but decisively redrawn. As tensions in the due to the Iran war disrupt flight routes and raise costs as well as safety concerns, many travellers are stepping back from long-haul trips to Europe and the US. Instead
1 days ago
The Skoda Slavia Sportline offers a sportier design with blacked-out styling, sitting between mid and top variants. Priced from Rs 13.49 lakh, it comes with two petrol engine options, strong safety features, and practical space. It balances style, performance
1 days ago
Amid the World Athletics’ (WA) decision to designate India as country with “extremely high" risk of doping, the government says it remains firmly committed to the promotion of clean sport and the protection of athlete integrity through a robust and evolving anti-doping framework
1 days ago
India, Singapore charting out roadmap for digital corridor, green shipping: officialIndia, Singapore charting out roadmap for digital corridor, green shipping: official Published on: Apr 21, 2026 5:08 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Singapore
1 days ago
As Tim Cook steps down, we look at Apple’s more mixed launches under his leadershipAs Tim Cook steps down, this piece explores Apple’s slower pace in AI, absence in foldables, and the limited reach of Vision Pro despite its innovation. Updated on: Apr 21
1 days ago
Japan on Tuesday (April 21, 2026) endorsed scrapping a ban on lethal weapons exports, a major change of its postwar pacifist policy as the country seeks to build up its arms industry and deepen cooperation with defense partners. The approval by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet of the new
1 days ago
