MAM
Every third user on Snapdeal is now buying safety & immunity products
A range of “new essentials” is now becoming an integral part of online buyers’ shopping lists in India. Every third shopper on Snapdeal is buying products relating to safety & immunity. These include masks, sanitizers, traditional immunity boosters like Chyawanprash, vitamins, herbal health supplements etc.
Masks are the single largest purchased item in this category of new essentials, accounting for nearly 70% of the order volumes. The sale of masks has more than tripled in the last 30 days as greater awareness, easy availability and reduced prices have prompted more users to buy masks.
The rise in volumes is both on account of new users and also because of existing buyers replenishing their stocks. Packs of 25-masks are the most popular purchase by first-time buyers. Those buying to replenish their stocks at home are preferring to buy bulk packs of 50-100 masks, as the long term need to wear masks becomes more evident.
Users have a strong preference for 3-ply masks that have a middle filter layer of meltblown fabric. With a lot of supply being added in the recent weeks, the price for such masks has dropped nearly 25% from Rs 16 per mask to Rs 10-12 per mask. Many sellers have also dropped the price for normal 3-ply masks by about 25% to Rs 8, while the price for 2 ply masks has also dropped to Rs 6-7. There is also a growing demand for reusable masks in the price range of Rs 100-150 per mask.
Sanitizers are the other large category, accounting for nearly 20% of the volumes. The sale of hand sanitizers has increased by 60% in the last 30 days due to improved availability and increased awareness. Bottles of 500 ml and small bottle multi-packs of 50-60 ml score high on buyer preference.
Those buying larger packs prefer the liquid sanitizer, while the smaller bottles are more popular with those looking at gel-based sanitizers. The prices for sanitizers have largely remained steady, dropping by about 5% in the past 2 weeks.
Immunity boosters are the third-largest item in the category of new essentials and are rapidly growing in both volume & value. Users are mainly buying Vitamins C, E B6 & Zinc supplements as immunity boosters. Amidst traditional products, Chayanprash is the clear favourite, with sales of the same growing week on week as more users hear of the same through word of mouth and place orders.
Herbal products based on Turmeric, Tulsi, Neem, Fish Oil, Moringa and Amla are also popular for those shopping for health supplements. Herbal teas, Brahmi tablets, Karela & Jamun juices, Clove powder, and Ashwagandha are also popular. Traditional Kadha items like dry ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric are selling higher volumes in the spices category. Steam vaporizers are amongst the highest-selling medical equipment on Snapdeal.
The sale of such products accounts for nearly 7% of the “new essentials” category. Disposable gloves, shoe covers and face shields are the other products in this category. The demand for face shields is expected to grow very rapidly when public transport resumes and people travel in shared spaces.
Users are also enquiring for and have started to buy complete PPE kits, including gown, gloves, hood, shoe covers, head cap, mask and disposal bags. These are priced around Rs 500 per kit.
According to Snapdeal, the “new essentials” is the top-selling category on its platform right now and they are part of every third shopper’s list as Indians prepare to return to work amidst safety concerns. About 60% of the sales of this category is coming from India’s top 10 cities, while non-metros account for the balance.
“We expect the demand for this category, especially masks & sanitizers to grow further in the next two months. The requirement to compulsorily wear masks in public areas as mandated by various government agencies & within private offices and greater need for sanitizers etc by people returning to work are two strong factors influencing near term demand”, a Snapdeal spokesperson added
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YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
