Brands
The Baker’s Dozen teams up with RCB as official bakery partner
Snacks meet cricket fever with themed packs and collectible player stickers
MUMBAI: The Baker’s Dozen has partnered with Royal Challengers Bengaluru as its official bakery and snacking partner for the 2026 season, tapping into India’s ever-growing cricket frenzy.
The collaboration will bring match-day excitement into homes through RCB-themed packaging across the brand’s product range, featuring popular players from the squad. Fans can also look forward to limited-edition collectible stickers tucked inside the company’s Protein Chips, spotlighting stars such as Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
The sticker series will roll out in three tiers: Black, Silver and Gold, each carrying points that can be collected for rewards. It is a clear nod to India’s love for both cricket and collectibles, blending fandom with a dash of friendly competition.
The move comes at a time when cricket continues to dominate the cultural conversation, especially during the Indian Premier League season. With RCB enjoying a strong fan following, the partnership places The Baker’s Dozen right at the centre of match-day rituals, where snacks are as essential as the scoreboard.
TBD co-founder and head chef Aditi Handa said, “After RCB’s inspiring win last season, we are delighted to be a part of their journey forward. It is no secret that cricket-watching and snacking go hand in hand. We want fans to enjoy the excitement on the field along with a guilt-free snacking experience through our range, from cookies and cakes to protein chips and crackers.”
TBD co-founder Sneh Jain said, “With millions tuning in and stadiums packed with passionate fans, this partnership places The Baker’s Dozen at the heart of India’s cricket craze. It gives us an opportunity to connect deeply with RCB’s fanbase through limited-edition collectibles. As a cricket fan myself, this is a particularly exciting collaboration.”
By blending sport, snacking and a touch of nostalgia, the partnership looks set to turn everyday treats into match-day memorabilia, giving fans one more reason to cheer along.
Brands
India exports $2.5 billion worth of Apple components to China under ECMS push
Component push and policy boost turn India into unlikely supplier hub
MUMBAI: India’s electronics trade story is getting a plot twist. What was once a one-way flow from China is now starting to reverse, with exports of electronic components from India to China hitting a record $2.5 billion in FY26 so far, and projected to reach $3.5 billion by the end of the fiscal year.
At the heart of this shift is the growing manufacturing ecosystem built around Apple and its suppliers. Companies such as Tata Electronics, Pegatron, Foxconn, Salcomp, Motherson and Yuzhan Technology are driving the surge, transforming India into a key node in global supply chains.
Just a few years ago, exports of such components were negligible. Today, they are part of a rapidly expanding multi-billion dollar ecosystem, fuelled by scale, quality improvements and tighter integration with global production networks.
A major catalyst behind this growth is the government’s Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme, launched in 2025. Unlike earlier incentives focused on assembling finished devices, the scheme targets high-value components such as circuit boards, camera modules and enclosures, offering both turnover-linked and capital expenditure incentives.
The logic of exporting components to China, long seen as the “factory of the world”, may seem counterintuitive. But the shift reflects a deeper realignment. As Apple scales production in India, now accounting for roughly 25 per cent of global iPhone output, local suppliers have become competitive enough to feed into global assembly lines, including those in China.
This is also part of a broader “China+1” strategy, where companies diversify manufacturing bases to reduce geopolitical risk. India-made components are increasingly being routed back into Chinese factories to maintain global supply continuity.
At the same time, India’s domestic value addition in smartphones has climbed to around 20 per cent, signalling a move beyond basic assembly towards more sophisticated manufacturing.
While India continues to import heavily from China, the emergence of a $3.5 billion export pipeline marks a meaningful shift in direction. Electronics are now joining engineering goods and agriculture as key drivers of India’s exports to China, which are expected to cross $18 billion this fiscal year.
In short, India is no longer just assembling the world’s gadgets. It is beginning to help build them, and in some cases, even supplying the very factories it once depended on.
