Brands
Wardwizard unveils QuikShef and Snack Buddy range at World Food India 2023
Mumbai: Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Ltd, a prominent player in the food and beverage industry, will make a significant appearance at World Food India 2023. The event begins on 3 November and continues until 5 November at Pragati Maidan, Delhi. The company is showcasing its offerings at Stall No. Hall 5 – E14.
World Food India 2023 is a gateway to the Indian food economy, facilitating partnerships between Indian and foreign investors. Showcasing at the event, Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Limited brings a significant change to its product strategy by classification of its two distinct brand names for its extensive product portfolio. As of this announcement, all retail products will proudly bear the brand name “QuikShef,” while the HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering) range will shine under the banner of “Snack Buddy.”
The company’s participation in World Food India 2023 underscores its commitment to cater to diverse customer segments, deliver exceptional culinary experiences and its forward-thinking approach to branding. The company welcomes B2B and export-focused visitors to explore its comprehensive range of products, complete with a fully equipped kitchen set up for guests to sample the culinary creations crafted by expert professionals.
Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Ltd. chairperson and managing director Sheetal Bhalerao shared her enthusiasm, stating, “We are pleased to be a part of World Food India 2023 and introduce our revamped product classification strategy. By clearly distinguishing our retail and HORECA product ranges, we aim to offer our customers greater clarity and a more tailored experience. We eagerly anticipate demonstrating our commitment to delivering high-quality and innovative food solutions that cater to the ever-evolving demands of consumers.”
At the Expo, Wardwizard Foods and Beverages will proudly display the extensive QuikShef retail range, which encompasses a variety of offerings, including Ready-to-Eat (RTE) meals, Frozen Products, spices and a delectable assortment of Sauces. Additionally, the Snack Buddy HORECA Range will also be prominently featured, adding culinary excitement and flair to the event.
Furthermore, the company has recently enriched its product portfolio with the launch of a new spice range, thoughtfully timed to blend well with the festive season of Navratri. This range is designed to cater to the distinct requirements and tastes of both culinary professionals and home cooks. This expansion underscores the company’s unwavering dedication to delivering innovative and top-quality products to the industry, with a mission to enhance the overall dining experience.
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.
