Brands
Starbucks unveils 50 store in Bengaluru with first drive-thru outlet
MUMBAI: Starbucks marked a significant milestone with the opening of its 50 store in Bengaluru, also unveiling its first drive-thru outlet in South India. The occasion was commemorated with a special event attended by Tata Starbucks CEO Sushant Dash and Swiggy Food Marketplace CEO Rohit Kapoor.
The event highlighted the strength of the long-standing partnership between Starbucks and Swiggy, which began eight years ago with just six stores in Mumbai. Since then, the collaboration has expanded across 70 cities and 350+ stores nationwide, supported by Swiggy’s robust delivery ecosystem.
As part of the celebration, Kapoor joined 50 Swiggy delivery partners on a ride to the new store, capping the journey with a cup of Starbucks coffee. Dash added a personal touch by brewing a signature Americano for Kapoor symbolising their shared passion for quality and consistency.
Tata Starbucks CEO Dash shared, “Our 50 store in Bengaluru and first drive-thru in South India marks an exciting new chapter in our growth journey one rooted in accessibility, innovation, and deep local relevance. At Starbucks, we use the specialty grade Arabica for every cup of coffee, serving the finest quality to every consumer. Swiggy has been a trusted partner in this journey, helping us deliver the Starbucks experience to customers wherever they are. As we expand across India, we remain committed to crafting new moments of connection, whether in-store or delivered to your doorstep.”
Swiggy Food Marketplace CEO Kapoor added, “Starbucks’ 50 store in Bengaluru is not just a milestone for their retail footprint, but also a marker of how far this partnership has come. From just a handful of stores in one city to now serving customers in 70 cities Swiggy has been proud to partner with Starbucks every step of the way. Together, we’ve worked to make high-quality coffee and food experiences more accessible to millions of consumers across the country. As we scale further, we’re excited to keep pushing boundaries and delivering memorable experiences, one order at a time.”
The duo has collaborated on popular campaigns such as ‘Double the Love,’ ‘Friday Frappuccino,’ and ‘Items at 199,’ and co-created the ‘Classics’ menu tailored to Indian palates. This celebration reflects not just a store count but a shared mission to bring premium coffee and food closer to consumers, in-store and at home.
Brands
Lululemon picks former Nike executive to be its next chief
Heidi O’Neill, who helped grow Nike into a $45 billion giant, will take the top job in September
CANADA: Lululemon has found its next chief executive, and she comes with serious credentials. The athleisure giant named Heidi O’Neill as its new CEO on Wednesday, ending a search that has left the company running on interim leadership since earlier this year. O’Neill will take charge on September 8, 2026, based out of Vancouver, and will join the board on the same day.
O’Neill brings more than three decades of experience across performance apparel, footwear and sport. The bulk of that time was spent at Nike, where she was a central figure in one of corporate sport’s great growth stories, helping take the company from a $9 billion business to a $45 billion global powerhouse. She oversaw product pipelines, brand strategy and consumer connections, and played a significant role in shaping how Nike spoke to athletes around the world. Earlier in her career, she worked in marketing for the Dockers brand at Levi Strauss. She also brings boardroom experience from Spotify Technology, Hyatt Hotels and Lithia and Driveway.
The board was unequivocal in its enthusiasm. “We selected Heidi because of the breadth of her experience, her demonstrated success delivering breakthrough ideas and initiatives at scale, and her ability to be a knowledgeable change and growth agent,” said Marti Morfitt, executive chair of Lululemon’s board.
O’Neill, for her part, was bullish. “Lululemon is an iconic brand with something rare: genuine guest love, a product ethos rooted in innovation, and a global platform still in the early stages of its potential,” she said. “My job will be to accelerate product breakthroughs, deepen the brand’s cultural relevance, and unlock growth in markets around the world.”
Until she arrives, Meghan Frank and André Maestrini will continue as interim co-CEOs, before returning to their previous senior leadership roles once O’Neill steps in.
Lululemon is betting that a Nike veteran who helped build one of the world’s most powerful sports brands can do something similar for an athleisure label that has genuine love from its customers but is still chasing its full global potential. O’Neill has done it before at scale. The question now is whether she can do it again.
