Brands
Mahindra reveals Xuv 7xo as its next premium SUV ahead of January debut
MUMBAI: Mahindra & Mahindra, India’s largest SUV-maker, has unveiled the name of its next big launch in the premium segment: the Xuv 7xo. The new model, which makes its world premiere on January 5th 2026, is pitched as the evolutionary successor to the XUV700, Mahindra’s breakout hit with more than 300,000 owners in just over four years.
The firm says the XUV 7XO carries forward the XUV700’s strengths while dialling up design, technology, comfort and performance. The aim: to reinforce Mahindra’s lead in the premium SUV market and set what it calls “a new benchmark” for future models.
A name-reveal film has been released across Mahindra’s social channels, alongside the hashtags #XUV7XO and #TheNewBenchmark.
Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of India’s biggest conglomerates, with 324,000 employees in more than 100 countries and interests spanning farm equipment, utility SUVs, IT and financial services. The company also has businesses in renewable energy, logistics, hospitality and real estate, and says its strategy focuses on ESG leadership, rural prosperity and improving urban living.
Brands
Zydus Wellness expands Ritebite Max Protein into new formats
RTD shakes, ghee jaggery bars and Korean chips target $10–12 bn protein market.
MUMBAI: Protein is no longer just gym talk, it’s making a full-course entry into everyday India. Zydus Wellness Ltd. is stretching its Ritebite Max Protein portfolio across three new formats, signalling a sharper push to turn protein from a niche supplement into a daily habit. The expansion brings ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, culturally rooted ghee jaggery bars, and Korean-inspired protein chips under one umbrella, an attempt to build what the company calls a “multi-format protein ecosystem”. The move targets India’s rapidly expanding protein market, currently estimated at $10–12 billion and growing at a mid-teen CAGR.
The numbers suggest the strategy already has legs. In Q3 FY26, Ritebite Max Protein posted near double-digit EBITDA margins following its acquisition, driven by distribution expansion, product innovation and broader category tailwinds.
At the centre of the rollout is convenience. The newly launched RTD shakes available in Choco Burst and Berry Blush deliver 26 grams of protein per 250 ml serving, designed for on-the-go consumption. Meanwhile, the “Roots” Ghee Jaggery Protein Bars blend traditional Indian ingredients with whey and casein, offering 10 grams of protein and 4 grams of fibre per serving.
But the play isn’t just about nostalgia. On the other end of the spectrum, Korean-flavoured protein chips featuring variants like Hot Chilli, Barbeque and Gochujang tap into global snacking trends. Each 60-gram serving delivers 10 grams of protein and 4 grams of fibre, alongside claims such as no palm oil and gluten-free formulation.
The broader insight is clear: the protein category is fragmenting along lifestyle lines. One cohort is leaning into familiarity and traditional formats, while another is chasing novelty and international flavours. Zydus is betting it can straddle both worlds.
With a nationwide rollout planned across e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, the company is positioning Ritebite Max Protein not just as a product line, but as a day-long consumption habit, one shake, bar, or chip at a time.
