Q-Commerce Owns 75% of Indian FMCG Online Sales, Anthropic Overtakes OpenAI at $965Bn — Plus The Top Retail Stories This Week

🌍 World Retail Headlines

• Mango's late founder's son steps back from the company amid an ongoing homicide investigation. [read more]
• Lululemon resolves proxy battle with founder Chip Wilson, ending months of public shareholder tension. [read more]
• Everlane founder Michael Preysman announces a new brand following Shein's acquisition of the label. [read more]
• Saks Global advances toward a bankruptcy exit as restructuring plans take shape with creditors. [read more]
• Warby Parker prepares to enter the intelligent eyewear category, betting on AI-enabled smart frames. [read more]
• Ferrari unveils a Jony Ive-designed, glass-clad electric speedster priced at $640,000. [read more]
• AkzoNobel rejects a €12.5 billion joint takeover proposal from Nippon Paint and Sherwin-Williams. [read more]
• Australia files suit against 3M over "forever chemicals" used in firefighting foam, escalating PFAS liability globally. [read more]
• Target India head says the retailer is actively reviewing AI tool costs as it weighs usage-based pricing models. [read more]
• Wix lays off roughly 20% of its staff, with the CEO citing AI efficiencies and adverse exchange rate dynamics. [read more]
• CVS restores Zepbound coverage and adds Eli Lilly's new obesity pill Foundayo to its drug benefit plans. [read more]

🇮🇳 India Retail Pulse

• PepsiCo India revamps packaging to feature a "No Artificial Flavours or Colours" label, signalling a clean-label shift. [read more]
• Marico enters the shampoo segment with a protein-focused Parachute Advansed range, broadening its hair care play. [read more]
• Indian companies fast-track exports, deepen localisation, and extend hedging timelines to guard against rupee volatility. [read more]
• Quick commerce now accounts for up to 75% of online sales for leading FMCG brands, per new data. [read more]
• Further price hikes expected in food and personal care as rising raw material costs squeeze margins across the board. [read more]
• Africa emerges as a high-growth export market for Indian sweet biscuits, with commerce ministry data backing the trend. [read more]

💻 Retail Tech

• Amazon shut down its internal AI productivity leaderboard after employees found ways to game the rankings. [read more]
• Meta continues to ignore the EU's Digital Services Act body over user ban decisions on Facebook and Instagram. [read more]
• Corporate America is beginning to ration AI access as enterprise costs escalate with scale. [read more]
• CNN files a copyright lawsuit against Perplexity AI, accusing the platform of using news content without authorisation. [read more]
• Anthropic reaches a $965 billion valuation, surpassing OpenAI to become the world's most valuable AI company. [read more]
• Meta plans to launch paid AI chatbot subscriptions as a revenue stream to offset its heavy AI infrastructure spend. [read more]

🔥 Funding, IPO & Earnings

• Blue Tokai raises Rs 175 Cr in an extended Series D round
• Physics Wallah invests Rs 120 Cr in FinZ Finance
• Anveshan raises Rs 121 Cr in Series B led by Vertex Ventures
• Gap shares fall 14% after cutting sales guidance on weak Old Navy performance in Q1 2026
• Kohl's stock rises over 15% as the retailer signals improving sales trends in Q1 2026
• Abercrombie & Fitch Q1 profits decline but beat expectations; Middle East conflict cited as a drag
• FirstCry posts 12% revenue growth and cuts losses by 57% in Q4
• Best Buy forecasts strong quarterly sales on steady gadget demand; shares rise
• Timex Group India reports Rs 800 Cr revenue for FY26
• Edtech Unicorn Physics Wallah Q4 Revenue Jumps 51%, Losses Shrink 76%

👔 Key Appointments & Exits

• Barbara Werschine named CEO of Lanvin
• Isabel Marant appoints Catherine Jacquet as Managing Director
• Stephanie Unwin promoted to CEO of Veronica Beard
• John Galantic exits Tod's Group
• Lux Cozi signs Varun Dhawan as brand ambassador through 2030