Brands
KFC introduces the all-new K-pop Korean chicken popcorn
Mumbai: Annyeonghaseyo, K-Fans.
From food, to shows to music and fashion – the K-wave or hallyu has an ever-increasing fan base in India. And KFC India is all set to excite K-fans even more, with the launch of the newest K-POP idol in town!
Presenting K-POP, the all-new Korean Chicken Popcorn. It’s the ultimate finger-lickin’ good KFC taste, with a Korean twist.
K-POP, Korean Chicken Popcorn marks the entry of Korean flavours to KFC India’s menu for the first time ever. Inspired by the vibrant and zingy flavours of Korean cuisine, the limited time offering promises to bring the tastes of Korea to the neighborhoods of India.
The all-new Korean Chicken Popcorn is the perfect blend of classic Korean ingredients and flavours such as fiery chili, savory soy and satisfyingly crunchy sesame.
KFC announced the entry of K-POP in true Korean style – with a noraebang (Korean karaoke) evening in Mumbai. The exclusive event – VIBE BY KFC: K-POP EDITION is an extension of KFC’s VIBE platform that celebrates all things GenZ and culture.
The event celebrated GenZ’s love for all things Korean, while transporting fans straight to the streets of Seoul.
The invite-only VIBE BY KFC: K-POP EDITION, featured all things Korean, from stylized concert bands to KFC-themed lanterns, neon signs, and a Polaroid booth where K-fans could create their own mementos. The highlight of the evening, in true Korean style, was the noraebang or the Karaoke corner, inviting fans to jam & sing along with friends over some finger-lickin’ good K-POP, Korean Popcorn Chicken.
KFC has introduced limited edition packaging inspired by the sights and sounds of Korea in select restaurants as well. The bright and colorful design is filled with cherry blossoms and musical notes which are electrified with a guitar and other musical instruments along with a buzzing disco light, in true K-Pop fashion. The box also adorns Korean architecture, fans, and stylized pink clouds along with funky lettering.
Starting at Rs 109 only, the all-new KFC K-POP Korean Chicken Popcorn is available for a limited period of time only in Bangalore and Mumbai. KFC K-POP Korean Chicken Popcorn is available in multiple sizes.
So, what are you waiting for? Rush to your nearest KFC or order online through the KFC app or website (www.online.kfc.in) while the offer lasts. Free delivery is available on the KFC app.
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.
