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84 per cent Indians seek healthier food choices: Pwc report
MUMBAI: A new Pwc India report reveals that for Indian consumers, it’s no longer just about what’s on the plate, it’s about how it’s made, how safe it is, and how it supports their health goals.
Released on 11 September, the ‘Voice of the consumer 2025: India perspective’ surveyed over 1,000 Indian consumers and uncovered a clear appetite for healthier, tech-integrated, and eco-friendly food choices.
Among the standout stats: 84 per cent of respondents said food safety is a top priority; 29 per cent would switch brands for health benefits; 80 per cent now use health apps or wearables to manage wellness; nearly half prefer eco-friendly packaging, while 73 per cent would even pay more to support sustainable farming.
“Nutrition, affordability and sustainability are shaping today’s food choices,” said Pwc India, partner and leader- retail and consumer sector, Ravi Kapoor.“Consumers are embracing tech-led, personalised wellness, local produce and digital shopping experiences offering huge opportunities for forward-looking brands.”
The report also highlights a shift towards cost-conscious shopping, with 63 per cent of consumers citing food prices as a key concern. They’re mixing it up buying from supermarkets, local kirana shops, and digital delivery platforms to get the best value.
Interestingly, tradition still holds its ground: 74 per cent of consumers said their food habits are rooted in cultural heritage, proving that while innovation matters, nostalgia isn’t going anywhere.
As supply chains tighten and consumer expectations climb, the food industry is feeling the heat but it’s also getting a recipe for reinvention. Clean labelling, tech-savvy wellness solutions, and genuine sustainability practices could be the key ingredients for future growth.
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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.
