Brands
PVR Inox to offload popcorn brand to Marico
NEW DELHI: India’s biggest cinema chain is buttering up its balance sheet. PVR Inox has flogged its entire stake in 4700BC—the gourmet popcorn brand that evolved from a niche cinema nibble into a premium snacking powerhouse—to Marico for Rs 227 crore in cold, hard cash. The deal, announced on 26 January, marks a strategic retreat from the munchies business and a renewed focus on the main attraction: cinema. Under the definitive agreement between the two, Marico is to acquire a 93.27 per cent stake in Zea Maize Pvt Ltd,from PVR Inox. Zea Maize owns 4700BC which sells popped chips, makhana, crunchy corn and nachos. Additionally, Marico has the right to acquire the remaining stake in Zea Maize after completion of three years from execution date at a consideration to be determined at such time, subject to achievement of certain milestones, requisite approvals and terms and conditions under the definitive agreements.
PVR Inox nursed 4700BC through its formative years, watching the brand pop beyond multiplexes into modern retail, quick commerce, and institutional channels. But as the snack maker eyes its next growth spurt, the cinema giant reckons it’s curtain call. “We recognised the potential in 4700BC at a very early stage,” said PVR Inox managing director Ajay Bijli. “As it looks to scale further, the brand is well positioned under the stewardship of a scaled FMCG leader like Marico.”
Translation: it’s time to let the grown-ups take over. Marico, which already peddles everything from hair oil to breakfast foods, sees 4700BC as a ticket into India’s fast-growing premium snacking category.
Marico managing director and chief executive officer Saugata Gupta called the acquisition a “distinctive, future-ready” play. The company plans to leverage its distribution muscle to broaden 4700BC’s reach whilst—naturally—staying true to its “consumer-first ethos” and “top-notch innovation capabilities.” Corporate jargon aside, the bet is clear: India’s affluent urbanites have an appetite for posh popcorn, and Marico wants in.
Adeds 4700 BC founder Chir4ag Gupta: “While PVR INOX has played a pivotal role in building scale and credibility, Marico’s FMCG expertise will be instrumental as 4700BC enters its next chapter. With the strong backing and exciting new launches ahead, the focus for us remains on building one of India’s most loved premium snacking brands.”
For PVR Inox, the sale is less about abandoning snacks than about sharpening strategy. The company insists the divestment won’t dent its in-cinema food and beverage revenues—after all, cinema goers will still queue for overpriced nachos and fizzy drinks. Instead, the transaction unlocks shareholder value, strengthens the balance sheet, and frees up resources for core cinema operations. The company expects the deal to juice profit, free cash flow, and return ratios. In short: more screens, fewer distractions.
Founded in 2013 by Chirag Gupta, 4700BC started as a gourmet popcorn purveyor and has since carved out a niche in India’s organised snacking landscape. The brand’s bold flavours and slick marketing have won over the sort of urban consumers who wouldn’t be caught dead with a bag of crisps from the local kirana. Now, with Marico’s firepower behind it, 4700BC has a shot at becoming a household name—or at least a premium one.
PVR Inox formed in 2023 through the merger of PVR and Inox Leisure, operates 1,783 screens across 357 properties in 112 cities in India and Sri Lanka. The company has spent years investing in next-generation formats, immersive experiences, and premium large-format screens. With 4700BC off its books, it can now focus entirely on what it does best: flogging tickets, not popcorn.
The moral of the story? Sometimes the best business move is knowing when to quit whilst you’re ahead. PVR INOX planted the seed, watered the crop, and cashed out before the harvest got messy. Now it’s back to the movies—and Marico gets to pop the champagne.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
