Brands
Baskin Robbins scoops into Italy with new summer gelato sensation
MUMBAI: Mamma mia! Baskin Robbins is cranking up the cool factor this summer with a deliciously indulgent twist, say ciao to their all-new Italian Gelato Range. The world’s largest QSR ice cream chain, which has been steadily expanding its presence across India, is now bringing a scoop of Italy to Indian palates with artisanal gelatos and decadent sundaes that promise a true taste of the Mediterranean.
Crafted with premium ingredients and designed to transport you straight to the streets of Rome, the range includes creamy new flavours like Chocolate & Roasted Hazelnut, Mango and Cream, and Blueberry Cheesecake Gelato. If that wasn’t enough to melt your heart, the sundaes such as Berry Me in Cheesecake, Salted Caramel & Brownie, and Cotton Candy Wonderland pile on bold textures and irresistible toppings.
Graviss Group (Baskin Robbins) CEO Mohit Khattar said, “We’ve cultivated a deep understanding of evolving consumer preferences through consistent market analysis and direct customer feedback. This insight drives our innovation strategy and has enabled us to launch this delightful selection of artisanal gelato scoop flavours and sundaes that offer consumers an elevated dessert experience beyond traditional ice cream. Our ability to anticipate and respond to changing preferences positions us at the forefront of dessert innovation in the Indian market, and we remain committed to delivering premium, innovative experiences year-round to all age groups.”
Baskin Robbins’ flavourful foray into gelato comes on the back of a strong FY25, where the brand opened its 1,000th store in India and the subcontinent and added 120 new stores in FY24-25. It now boasts a presence in over 290 cities, with its packaged consumer goods and B2B channels, think hotels, multiplexes and restaurants expanding alongside its iconic parlours.
With double-digit growth projected for FY26, the Italian gelato launch is yet another cherry on top of Baskin Robbins’ dessert empire. Prices for the new range start at Rs 115, and the flavours are already scooping up attention across outlets nationwide.
For a sweet escape that doesn’t require a passport, Baskin Robbins’ gelato promises la dolce vita, one scoop at a time.
Brands
Estée Lauder to shed 10,000 jobs as new boss bets on digital shift
The cosmetics giant raises its profit outlook but stays silent on a possible merger with Spain’s Puig, as job cuts deepen and a three-year sales slump weighs on the turnaround
NEW YORK: Stéphane de La Faverie is not done cutting. Estée Lauder announced on Friday that it plans to eliminate as many as 3,000 additional jobs, taking its total redundancy programme to as many as 10,000 roles, up from a previous target of 7,000 announced a year ago. The company, which owns La Mer, The Ordinary, Tom Ford, and Aveda, employs roughly 57,000 people worldwide. The mathematics of what is now being contemplated is stark.
The fresh round of cuts is expected to generate a further $200 million in savings, bringing the total annual savings from the programme to as much as $1.2 billion before taxes. That money, De La Faverie has made clear, will be ploughed back into the turnaround.
A CEO in a hurry
De La Faverie, who took the helm in January 2025, inherited a company that had endured three consecutive years of annual sales declines. His response has been to move fast and cut deep. A significant portion of the latest redundancies reflects his push to reduce headcount at US department stores, long a cornerstone of Estée Lauder’s distribution model but now a channel in structural decline. In their place, he is accelerating the shift toward faster-growing online platforms, including Amazon.com and TikTok Shop, a pivot that is reshaping not just where Estée Lauder sells but how it thinks about its customers.
The numbers are moving in the right direction
Despite the pain, there are signs the medicine is working. Estée Lauder raised its profit outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, guiding for adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.35 to $2.45, above analyst estimates and a notable step up from the $2.05 to $2.25 range it had guided for in February. Organic net sales growth is expected to come in at 3 per cent, the company said, at the high end of the range it set out in February.
The share price tells a mixed story. After De La Faverie took charge, the stock surged nearly 60 per cent, buoyed by investor optimism that a longtime company insider could finally arrest the decline. But 2026 has been rougher: the shares have fallen 27 per cent this year, weighed down by disappointing February results and the overhang of unresolved merger talks with Spanish beauty giant Puig Brands SA. The company gave no additional details about those discussions on Friday, leaving the market to guess.
Silence on Puig
The proposed tie-up with Puig remains the most consequential unknown hanging over Estée Lauder. A deal with the Barcelona-based group, which owns brands including Carolina Herrera and Rabanne, would reshape the global luxury beauty landscape. But with nothing new to say and a turnaround still very much in progress, De La Faverie is asking investors to trust the process.
Three years of sales declines, 10,000 job cuts, and a merger that may or may not happen. At Estée Lauder, the overhaul has barely started.
