Read more about Second Covid-19 wave: METRO Cash & Carry goes online for kiranas on Business Standard. Mediratta said e-commerce sales have gone up 10 times since they started in April 2020.
Wider vaccination to help heal consumer sentiment: Business leaders
Executives said they have had to be restrained in the deployment of employees already reduced because of the pandemic keeping in mind their safety.
Synopsis
Immediate, large-scale inoculations and reducing fatalities are key to restoring consumer confidence. Top corporates said the inability to deploy employees where needed on ground for the implementation of plans has frustrated growth in terms of speed of execution and scaling up.
Indian business leaders said the slowing pace of vaccination and work from home (WFH) fatigue are weighing down demand and damaging revival prospects. Immediate, large-scale inoculations and reducing fatalities are key to restoring consumer confidence. Top corporates said the inability to deploy employees where needed on ground for the implementation of plans has frustrated growth in terms of speed of execution and scaling up.
Highlights
Value packs are doing well this time as smaller packs.
Some retailers are also facing the issue of excess stocking.
New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) Retailers are having continued growth in health and hygiene category products as well as in food, personal care and home care items, but discretionary categories like beauty and cosmetics, fashion and apparels have been affected adversely during the second wave of the pandemic.
Now, there is a renewed focus on healthy alternatives such as ayurvedic toothpaste and juices, while instant foods and ready-to-eat snacking items with nutritional offerings are also seeing larger penetration.
Moreover, value packs are doing well this time as smaller packs of Rs 5 and Rs 10 have witnessed a rise of up to 20 per cent across categories like biscuits, ketchup and jams, while the large and premium packs have been affected as people are cautious about their disposable income.
At present, the government has prioritised health care workers, police personnel, elderly people and those with comorbidities in the first phase of the vaccination roll out. It is being suggested that companies use their corporate social responsibility funds to inoculate their workforce.