Brands
Snack to the Future as Skyscanner takes India on a tasty world tour
MUMBAI: If wanderlust had a flavour, Delhi and Mumbai just got a generous serving of it, one global snack at a time. In a first-of-its-kind India outing, global travel app Skyscanner rolled out its Snack Transit Pop-Up, a food-truck–meets–world-market experience that blended snacking with spontaneous travel inspiration. The activation, held on 14 November at Select CityWalk, Delhi and 15 November at Carter Road, Mumbai, marked Skyscanner’s most playful step yet beyond the digital screen.
Driven by insights from the Skyscanner Travel Trends 2026 Report, the pop-up brought its ‘Shelf Discovery’ trend to life, one fuelled by the finding that 79 per cent of Indian travellers love browsing supermarkets abroad to understand local flavours and culture. And if queues were anything to go by, India was more than ready for a global tasting tour.
Visitors lined up for a chance to sample and collect snacks from 16 countries, transforming an evening stroll into an edible expedition. From Kit Kat Matcha and Tim Tam to Sriracha Chilli Topaki and Coca-Cola Cherry, the menu read like a passport stamped with cravings.
Families, students, Gen Z explorers, young professionals, and casual mall-goers all found themselves swept up in this bite-sized world tour proof that when food meets travel, everyone hops on board.
Anchoring the experience was a bright, buzzing Snack Transit food truck, where visitors redeemed a complimentary snack by scanning a QR code to download the Skyscanner app and explore the Travel Trends 2026 Report.
Around it, interactive zones turned exploration into a game:
● A Spin Wheel to test travel trivia
● A Claw Machine for snack-hunting glory
● A cheerful Photo Booth offering instant print souvenirs
The mix of play, flavour, and discovery made the pop-up feel part theme park, part world tasting room.
The excitement spilled over to Instagram as visitors posted their Snack Transit moments, tagging Skyscanner and helping the activation ripple across feeds in both cities.
Reflecting on the event Skyscanner Travel Trends and Destinations Expert Neel Ghose said, “The Skyscanner Snack Transit isn’t just about food; it’s about the way we travel today. Curiosity has become the new currency of travel, and what used to begin with a search bar now starts with a spark of discovery sometimes on a supermarket shelf, sometimes in a city street. By reimagining global snacks as symbols of exploration, we wanted to show how travel inspiration can be both tangible and universal.”
With its quirky blend of culture, cravings and curiosity, Skyscanner’s Snack Transit pop-up didn’t just satisfy tastebuds, it reminded India that sometimes, the journey begins with a single bite.
Brands
Nykaa eyes majority stake in Deepika Padukone’s 82°E brand
Deal could help scale premium label as Nykaa sharpens its beauty play
MUMBAI: Nykaa is in advanced discussions to acquire a majority stake in 82°E, the premium skincare label founded by Deepika Padukone, according to media reports.
The proposed deal signals Nykaa’s intent to deepen its House of Nykaa portfolio while giving 82°E the scale it has struggled to achieve independently. Padukone is expected to retain a minority stake if the transaction goes through.
For Nykaa, the play is both strategic and timely. With a customer base of over 42 million, the company is betting on its strong distribution, logistics, and repeat purchase ecosystem to revive the brand’s momentum. The two sides already share a working relationship, with Padukone serving as Nykaa’s global brand ambassador since September 2025.
Launched in late 2022, 82°E entered the market with a premium positioning but has faced headwinds. The brand reported revenue of Rs 14.7 crore in FY25, down 30 per cent year on year, alongside losses of Rs 12.26 crore. Industry observers have pointed to steep pricing, a somewhat diffused brand identity, and intense competition from digital-first labels as key challenges.
The potential acquisition also reflects a broader shift in India’s beauty and lifestyle space, where celebrity-led brands are increasingly partnering with larger corporates to unlock scale. Alia Bhatt’s Ed-a-Mamma, for instance, sold a majority stake to Reliance Retail, while Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty has emerged as a standout success within Nykaa’s portfolio, clocking Rs 132.4 crore in FY25 revenue.
Nykaa itself has been on a strong growth trajectory. Its parent, FSN E-Commerce Ventures, reported a 156 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 68 crore in the December 2025 quarter, with revenue reaching Rs 2,873 crore.
Nykaa has been steadily building its portfolio through acquisitions such as Dot & Key, Earth Rhythm and Nudge Wellness, signalling a clear push to own and scale homegrown brands.
If the 82°E deal materialises, it could mark a fresh chapter for the label, blending celebrity appeal with corporate muscle. For Nykaa, it is another calculated step in staying ahead in an increasingly crowded beauty aisle.
