Brands
Sunrise Spices launches Champaran Mutton Masala for Holi
New Rs 20 blend brings Bihar’s iconic dish to kitchens across state and Jharkhand.
MUMBAI: Sunrise Spices just turned up the heat for Holi because nothing says “festival of colours” like a handi of slow-cooked mutton stealing the show. ITC Ltd.’s Sunrise Spices unveiled Champaran Mutton Masala at a lively pre-Holi celebration in Patna, paying tribute to Bihar’s signature slow-cooked mutton dish that’s as essential to the festival as gulal and gujiya. The new spice blend, priced at Rs 20, is crafted to deliver the authentic flavour profile of Champaran mutton eliminating guesswork while keeping the rich, earthy taste intact for home cooks.
The launch event transformed the venue into a traditional Bihari courtyard with earthy mud tones, wooden textures, and community-style seating. At the centre stood the symbolic “Holi Ki Handi,” a live, sealed slow-cooking demonstration using the new masala. Guests watched the process from spice mixing to dough-sealed cooking, then savoured the freshly unveiled dish in a communal feast.
ITC Ltd. business head for Sunrise Spices Piyush Mishra said, “At ITC Sunrise Spices, we believe food is deeply woven into cultural celebrations. Launching Champaran Mutton Masala amid a vibrant Holi celebration allowed us to showcase not just the product, but the emotion and tradition it represents.”
The celebration also featured spice-led activities, a hands-on handi-sealing ritual, and a cultural corner where guests shared Holi food memories. The evening wrapped with the community feast hot mutton straight from the handi, traces of gulal still on smiling faces capturing the warm, togetherness-filled spirit of a Bihari Holi.
Now available across key retail outlets in Bihar and Jharkhand, the launch positions Sunrise as a champion of regional cuisines made accessible for modern kitchens. In a season of colour and feasting, Sunrise isn’t just selling masala, it’s serving up a taste of home, one fragrant handi at a time.
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.
