Figma’s 158% Debut, Starbucks’ New Rival, and Trump’s Latest Tariff Updates

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📰 India Retail Pulse

Trump’s 25% tariff on India
India responds firmly, promising action to protect national interests.
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Blinkit pilots 10-min prescription delivery in Bengaluru
The quick-commerce giant expands its footprint into healthcare delivery.
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Maruti’s premium SUVs lift profits amid small car slump
Shifting demand from hatchbacks to high-margin SUVs boosts Maruti's Q1 earnings.
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Tariffs may hit exports, nudge RBI to cut rates
US policy pressure could push India’s central bank toward a rate cut strategy.
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Apple’s India exports safe from US tariffs
Despite broader trade tensions, Apple’s supply chain from India remains unaffected.
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Only 20–25% of Indian internet users shop online
McKinsey reveals massive e-commerce potential as India’s digital base grows.
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Big Reliance Retail investors to hold similar stakes in FMCG entity
Key institutional stakeholders in Reliance Retail will mirror their ownership in the conglomerate’s FMCG arm, signaling structural consolidation ahead of a likely listing.
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Apple rings up over three years of record iPhone sales in India
India emerges as a standout market for Apple with iPhone sales growing for 13 consecutive quarters, even amid global trade tensions.
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🌍 World Retail Headlines at a Glance

Unilever doubles down on beauty, wellness, and India
The FMCG giant shifts strategic focus to high-growth personal care segments.
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Saks burdened by debt and slow sales
Luxury department store struggles under financial pressure and weak consumer demand.
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Healthcare fashion grows with demand for stylish scrubs
Rising healthcare jobs drive innovation in performance workwear and aesthetics.
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Hong Kong sees strongest growth since 2023
Exports and stabilized consumer spending push Q2 economic rebound.
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Meta shares soar as Zuckerberg outlines superintelligence ambitions
Strong earnings and bold AI plans reinvigorate investor confidence.
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US imposes 15% tariffs on EU wines and spirits
Trade tensions rise as Brussels confirms new duties effective August 1.
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Meta and Microsoft stay bullish on AI spend
Core business strength enables continued big bets on artificial intelligence.
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🔥 Top Funding & Quarterly Results

Design software maker Figma's shares surge 158% in blowout market debut
Figma’s public listing becomes one of the most successful tech IPOs of 2025, underscoring renewed investor confidence in SaaS and design-first platforms.
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Elcid Investments picks up Zepto stake at $2.2B valuation
The NBFC has acquired a ₹7.5 Cr stake in Zepto, reinforcing investor interest in Q-commerce.
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HUL Q1 PAT up 8% to ₹2,732 Cr
India’s largest FMCG player posts steady growth despite inflationary pressures.
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Swiggy Q1 loss doubles to ₹1,197 Cr; revenue up 54%
Soaring marketing and delivery costs widen losses despite top-line growth.
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Emami Q1 PAT up 9% amid summer challenges
Strong domestic business helps offset seasonal headwinds.
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Gillette India Q1 PAT jumps 26%
Premium grooming category growth boosts quarterly performance.
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Dabur Q1 profit grows 2.8% despite headwinds
Weather disruptions and soft rural demand limit stronger gains.
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👔 Key Retail Appointments

Shailesh Jejurikar becomes first Indian CEO at P&G
He makes history as the first Indian and Asian to lead the 187-year-old American FMCG giant.
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🤖 Deep Dive: China’s Coffee Chains Are Brewing a Global Challenge to Starbucks

Why It Matters

From Beijing to New York, a new era in global coffee retail is unfolding—led not by Seattle, but Shanghai. Chinese café chains like Luckin Coffee and Cotti Coffee are expanding rapidly beyond Asia, using technology, pricing innovation, and format reinvention to take on Starbucks in its home turf and around the world. The coffee wars are no longer East vs. West—they’re global.

Key Insights & Trends

• Luckin Coffee now outnumbers Starbucks in China, with over 24,000 outlets vs. Starbucks’ 6,500+, and is expanding to markets like Singapore, Malaysia, and the U.S.

• Cotti Coffee, founded by ex-Luckin executives, has reached 7,500 stores globally in just 3 years, and is now entering the U.S., directly challenging Starbucks’ international stronghold.

• App-only ordering, minimal staffing, and ultra-low prices (as low as $0.99 in launch promos) define their lean, high-frequency service model—contrast that with Starbucks' premium café experience.

• Both brands are betting on digital loyalty programs and hyper-local products (like coconut lattes and tea-infused blends) to attract Gen Z and mobile-first consumers worldwide.

• Starbucks is pushing back, pivoting away from grab-and-go kiosks and investing heavily in its core store formats, barista experience, and community ambiance.

Market Size & Global Momentum

• China's coffee market hit €80 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach €130 billion by 2025—the fastest-growing in the world.

• In Southeast Asia, chains like Mixue (tea and coffee hybrid) are also exploding, bringing China’s F&B formats to Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

• Luckin opened its first U.S. outlets in New York City in July 2025, offering tech-enabled experiences and sub-$2 drinks—undercutting the $6–8 Starbucks norm.

Growth Drivers

• Speed + Affordability: Chinese chains deliver café-quality drinks in under 2 minutes through app-only models, driving massive footfall and order density.

• Price engineering: Luckin and Cotti use loss-leading offers to acquire users at scale—offering $0.99 to $1.99 drinks to boost app installs and loyalty adoption.

• Tech and logistics: Hyper-efficient backends enable lower real estate and labor costs, backed by centralized delivery, algorithmic batching, and AI-based menu development.

• Cultural adaptability: Their menus flex across borders—leaning into health, novelty, and fusion formats that local brands struggle to scale quickly.

Global Snapshot

What It Means for Retailers & Investors

• Coffee is now QSR 2.0: It’s less about ambiance, more about speed, personalization, and digital CX. The café is becoming a tech node, not a lounge.

• China is no longer just a consumption story—it’s exporting retail models. Much like Shein in fashion, Chinese cafés are now competing globally on cost, convenience, and culture.

• Starbucks faces margin compression as it adjusts formats, retools pricing strategies, and competes with far leaner competitors in both Asia and North America.

• Retailers must watch the "China method"—from ghost kitchens to discount-driven app flywheels—for cues on future QSR and beverage tech trends.

Summary Takeaway

The world’s coffee game is being rewritten by China. Luckin and Cotti Coffee aren’t just chasing Starbucks—they’re reshaping the rules of competition. With low-cost formats, digital-native operations, and local flavor fluency, these Chinese giants are proving that retail disruption now flows both ways—from East to West. As the global café economy brews its next chapter, incumbents must evolve or get iced.

📚 Sources:

The Guardian | Investopedia | AP News | Food Institute | Reuters | El Pais | Wikipedia – Luckin Coffee | Wikipedia – Cotti Coffee | The Sun | Business Insider

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