Avalon Consulting, Author at Avalon Consulting

Predictions 2026: Uncertainty and a Bit-Conned World

Avalon Consulting — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:16:21 +0000

In Predictions 2026: Uncertainty and a Bit-Conned World, Raj Nair presents his 18th annual global outlook, examining the economic, geopolitical, technological, and social forces shaping the year ahead. While the world economy has shown resilience despite trade tensions, tariffs, wars, and policy shocks, 2026 is set to be marked by heightened fragmentation, rising uncertainty, and declining trust—both in institutions and in everyday life.

The paper analyses key themes including global growth prospects, US trade and tariff policies, the evolving role of the US dollar, the rise of non-USD trade mechanisms, cryptocurrencies, and capital flows across emerging and developed markets. It also explores sectoral opportunities in areas such as AI infrastructure, defence, energy, metals, and financial services, alongside risks from geopolitical conflict and climate change.

Beyond economics, the note highlights a deeper challenge: the growing anxiety and loss of social capital in societies worldwide, amplified by rapid technological change and disconnection from the physical world. The paper concludes with practical reflections on how individuals and organisations can navigate uncertainty without being “bit-conned” by speculation, misinformation, or false promises.

This perspective is essential reading for business leaders, investors, policymakers, and professionals seeking clarity—and balance—in an increasingly unpredictable world.

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Pet care is set to become India’s next FMCG battleground in 2026

Avalon Consulting — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 11:08:05 +0000

Santosh Sreedhar, Partner at Avalon Consulting, shared his views on Pet care is set to become India’s next FMCG battleground in 2026, which was published in Mint.

He noted that while Reliance will be an important player, its strength will come primarily from its retail network rather than the deep distribution capabilities built by incumbents like Mars and Drools. He also highlighted that growth is likely to be driven by the mid-premium segment, where affordability and quality intersect, while only a few D2C brands are expected to survive and eventually be absorbed into larger FMCG portfolios.

Read Here: https://www.livemint.com/

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From HUL to Nestlé, legacy FMCG firms recast their heritage brands for a premium era

Avalon Consulting — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:07:58 +0000

Santosh Sreedhar, Partner at Avalon Consulting, shared his views on From HUL to Nestlé, legacy FMCG firms recast their heritage brands for a premium era, which was published in Storyboard18.

He highlighted that legacy brands are built on decades of quality and trust, which cannot be created overnight. He also noted that the opportunity today lies in adding relevance and aspiration on top of this strong foundation as brands reposition themselves for premium-seeking consumers.

Read Here: https://www.storyboard18.com

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Frozen foods pick up pace as ITC, Godrej scale up, Licious approaches $100 million revenue

Avalon Consulting — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:26:12 +0000

Santosh Sreedhar, Partner at Avalon Consulting, shared his views on Frozen foods pick up pace as ITC, Godrej scale up, Licious approaches $100 million revenue, which was published in Storyboard18.

He highlighted that frozen foods in India could grow 1.5–2x faster than the broader packaged food industry over the next decade. He also noted that deeper expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities will depend on sustained investments in cold-chain infrastructure and last-mile delivery capabilities.

Read Here: https://www.storyboard18.com

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€800 mn buy, insolvency, inventory spike… Bajaj Auto readies big overhaul at KTM

Avalon Consulting — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 12:26:00 +0000

Subhabrata Sengupta, Partner at Avalon Consulting, shared his views on €800 mn buy, insolvency, inventory spike… Bajaj Auto readies big overhaul at KTM, which was published in Mint.

He noted that while cost reductions can provide short-term relief, a successful turnaround will ultimately depend on a deeper product-led assessment at KTM. He emphasized the need for a root-cause analysis to understand why certain premium motorcycle offerings did not resonate with consumers, adding that while demand for premium motorcycles exists, product-market fit will be the decisive factor for Bajaj Auto.

Read Here : https://www.livemint.com

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The Self-Healing Grid: AI as the Immune System of the Grid

Avalon Consulting — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:30:52 +0000

The article examines how artificial intelligence can transform power grids into self-healing systems capable of managing the growing complexity of renewable integration, decentralised energy resources, climate volatility, and cyber threats. It highlights how AI-driven forecasting, predictive maintenance, and real-time optimisation enable grids to anticipate disruptions, respond faster than manual systems, and improve overall reliability. The piece also underscores the strategic importance of digital intelligence in strengthening grid resilience and ensuring that the global transition to clean energy remains stable, secure, and scalable.

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BESS at the tipping Point : The Next Solar or EV Moment

Avalon Consulting — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:37:59 +0000

The article examines how battery energy storage systems (BESS) are nearing a tipping point, driven by falling battery costs, rising renewable energy penetration, and increasing grid flexibility needs. It highlights how BESS can replace peaker plants, balance supply–demand mismatches and enable large-scale renewable integration. Overall, the piece positions energy storage as a critical enabler of grid stability and a foundational pillar of the next phase of the global energy transition.

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Storing the Sun: How Batteries could Transform Rural India

Avalon Consulting — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:19:37 +0000

The article examines how renewable energy paired with battery energy storage systems (BESS) can address India’s unfinished electrification challenge reliable power. While grid connectivity now reaches almost all households, frequent outages and voltage fluctuations continue to disrupt healthcare, cold chains, MSMEs, agriculture, and daily rural life. The piece highlights how falling battery costs, rising renewable curtailment, and supportive policy frameworks have made storage-backed solutions economically viable. By shifting surplus daytime renewable energy to peak evening demand hours, BESS can reduce diesel dependence, improve service continuity, and convert electricity access into dependable power. Overall, the article positions energy storage as a critical enabler in strengthening rural livelihoods and accelerating India’s clean energy transition.

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Big FMCG players bet on India’s healthy food boom, with market seen reaching Rs 20,000 crore

Avalon Consulting — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:49:32 +0000

Santosh Sreedhar, Partner at Avalon Consulting, shared his views on Big FMCG Players Bet on India’s Healthy Food Boom, With Market Seen Reaching ₹20,000 Crore, published in Storyboard18.

He highlighted that while health-focused products are gaining momentum, the industry is unlikely to undergo a complete transformation. Instead, he noted that healthy snacks will coexist with offerings centred on taste, convenience, indulgence, and gifting, adding that health has emerged as the new growth narrative driving the FMCG sector forward.

Read Here: https://www.storyboard18.com

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Why India’s $1.1B Ready-to-Cook Boom Is Luring FMCG Giants, Startups

Avalon Consulting — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 15:49:39 +0000

Santosh Sreedhar, Partner at Avalon Consulting, shared his views on Why India’s $1.1B Ready-to-Cook Boom Is Luring FMCG Giants and Startups, which was published in The Core.

He highlighted that innovation in long shelf-life products and improvements in cold chain infrastructure have been key enablers for the category. These advancements have helped ready-to-cook and frozen foods gain wider acceptance, making the segment increasingly attractive for both established FMCG players and emerging startups.

Read Here: https://www.thecore.in/business

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Can AI be the game changer for Indian manufacturers?

Avalon Consulting — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 12:50:13 +0000

Vivek Prasad, Executive Director at Avalon Consulting, shared his views on Can AI be the game changer for Indian manufacturers?, which was published in Smart Manufacturing and Enterprises.

He highlighted that while automation is already well established in sectors such as automotive, consumer durables, and pharmaceuticals, large parts of Indian manufacturing especially SMEs remain labour-centric and mechanisation-driven. He also noted that initiatives like Make in India and the China Plus One strategy are expected to accelerate the adoption of automation, Industry 4.0, and digitalisation as India integrates more deeply into global supply chains.

Read Here: https://ipfonline.com/news/detail/industrynews/can-ai-be-the-game-changer-for-indian-manufacturers

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Winter retail heats up: Skincare brands race to capture the 40–45% seasonal sales surge

Avalon Consulting — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:49:45 +0000

Santosh Sreedhar, Partner at Avalon Consulting, shared his views on Winter Retail Heats Up: Skincare Brands Race to Capture the 40–45% Seasonal Sales Surge, which was published in the Financial Express.

He highlighted that the October–January period is critical for skincare brands, as demand for cold creams, lip balms, heavy moisturisers, and body lotions rises sharply. He also noted that nearly 40–45% of annual demand across a market worth up to ₹80,000 crore is concentrated in this window, making it a uniquely seasonal opportunity within the FMCG space.

Read Here: https://www.financialexpress.com/business/brandwagon

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