More homegrown companies join in on supporting and promoting the Saudi government-backed esports competition in Riyadh.

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced this week that it has partnered with Saudi Arabia-based “lifestyle destinations company” Cenomi Centers, which will serve as a main partner of the Esports World Cup 2025, currently taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Financial terms of this new partnership were not disclosed.

Cenomi Centers claims to provide “youth-focused retail and entertainment experiences” across the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through a “portfolio of 21 assets, with more than 4,200 stores strategically located in 10 major Saudi cities.” In essence, it’s a company that operates a number of malls or shopping centers throughout the country. It operates the Mall of Arabia Jeddah and Nakheel Mall Riyadh, as examples.

As part of this new deal, Cenomi Centers will launch branded activations at the Esports World Cup including cross branding at some of its properties including the Nakheel Mall Riyadh.

EWCF also announced this week a deal with Saudi Arabia-based airline, Saudia. Under the terms of the deal, Saudia has been named the official airline partner of the 2025 Esports World Cup. Financial terms of this deal were also not disclosed.

These and other deals announced this week, particularly those local companies and agencies involved in tourism, are part of a push to bring more visitor to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the government’s Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the country’s wealth generation away from oil and into other areas such as entertainment, sport, technology and tourism.

Saudia and Cenomi Centers join a growing list of partners and sponsors including the Saudi Tourism Authority, Hilton, Mastercard, IMG, Spotify, Lenovo, stc Group, Stream Hatchet, and Aramco, among others.

The Esports World Cup is a seven week, multi-title competition hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring an overall prize pool of more than $70 million USD. The competition is funded by a grant from the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund and operated in cooperation with ESL FACEIT Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi government-owned gaming and esports company Savvy Games Group. The 2025 edition runs from July 7 – Aug. 24, and will be followed by the business conference, the New Global Sport Conference (NGSC2025), on Aug. 23 – 24, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh.

Projects backed or owned by the Saudi Arabian government such as Esports World Cup are criticized for helping the government engage in “sports washing,” or using various forms of entertainment to cover up its record on human rights, women’s rights, LGTBQ+ rights, military actions in Yemen, and more. These and other criticisms have been highlighted by international watchdog groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Author Credits- James Fudge
THE ESPORTS ADVOCATE

FedEx has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korean health and beauty retailer CJ Olive Young to provide enhanced logistics support for the company’s growing e-commerce operations between South Korea and the USA.

As part of the MoU, FedEx will provide fast and reliable deliveries for US-based consumers shopping at Olive Young, including through its e-commerce platform. The collaboration will leverage FedEx’s global network, particularly its ground operations in the US, and offer comprehensive e-commerce solutions to enhance customer experience and satisfaction. These solutions include advanced tracking, customized delivery options and picture proof of delivery, all accessible via FedEx Delivery Manager.

“We have been working with Olive Young to provide various logistics solutions to support their cross-border operations, and we are excited to advance our collaboration with this leading K-beauty company to the next level through this agreement,” said Wonbin Park, managing director of FedEx Korea. “We look forward to expanding our strategic collaborations with more Korean companies to support the growth of K-brands as they venture into the global market.”

Author Credits- HAZEL KING
Parcel and postal technology INTERNATIONAL

The Delhi High Court has directed e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart to take down products that infringe upon the trademarks of Reliance Industries and its subsidiary Jio. Justice Saurabh Banerjee, in an order dated July 10, issued a dynamic injunction prohibiting the listing and sale of goods falsely using the “Reliance” or “Jio” branding

The Delhi High Court has issued a directive to e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart to delist products that infringe on ‘Reliance’ and ‘Jio’ trademarks. This order, passed by Justice Saurabh Banerjee on July 10, restrains sellers from using these trademarks without authorisation, Bar & Bench reported. The move comes after Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) filed a suit alleging that several sellers were infringing its trademarks on online platforms.

Justice Banerjee’s dynamic injunction aims to curb the unauthorized use of Reliance’s trademarks, which RIL claims could mislead consumers into believing these products originate from the company. The court recognised that such misrepresentation could result in consumer safety risks due to confusion about the products’ origin. This ruling follows RIL’s assertion that it is active in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, dealing in fresh produce and other groceries through various channels.

The court underscored the importance of protecting brand names and logos, particularly in online marketplaces where consumers rely heavily on these identifiers. The potential for consumer confusion was cited as a significant concern. “Moreover, the products of defendant nos.1 to 21 are sold through online e-commerce platforms where consumers rely on brand name and logos to identify the origin of goods, in such circumstances, if any confusion between such products, if allowed to continue, could risk consumer safety. Therefore, in such circumstances, this Court has to adopt a more cautious and stringent approach for judging the likelihood of confusion and to exercise greater care,” the court stated.

RIL’s legal representation was handled by Advocates Ankit Sahni and Kritika Sahni, alongside their associates from Ajay Sahni & Associates. The legal proceedings have involved various defendants represented by different legal firms, all addressing the allegations of trademark infringement. This courtroom decision highlights the critical nature of maintaining brand integrity in the competitive e-commerce landscape.

News Credits- Business Today

Customers can explore the full range of Subway items by visiting the Bolt-Subway page within the Swiggy app

Swiggy has announced a strategic partnership between Bolt by Swiggy, its quick food delivery service and Subway, the globally loved quick-service restaurant brand known for its fresh and customizable subs. Customers across the country can now enjoy Subway’s complete menu, including all signature products like Hot and Cheesy Subs, Sub Cravers value range and Breakfast Specials, delivered in 10 minutes through Swiggy Bolt’s seamless ordering experience. The partnership is live across 125 cities in the country.

The partnership covers the majority of Subway outlets across India. With this integration, customers have access to Subway’s popular offerings, ranging from signature subs, salads, and wraps to sides and beverages, delivered in 10 minutes. Customers can explore the full range of Subway items by visiting the Bolt-Subway page within the Swiggy app.

Subway features prominently within the Bolt section of the app, with a dedicated Bolt tag inside the menu, allowing customers to easily browse and order their favorites with minimal wait time. With a focus on ready-to-pack and low-preparation-time items, Bolt ensures a hassle-free checkout, real-time tracking, and reliable speed, making it the ideal platform for quick-service partners like Subway. It helps in catering to the consumer’s needs as per their requirement from early morning breakfast to meals, snacks and late night cravings.

Sidharth Bhakoo, Chief Business Officer, Swiggy Food Marketplace, said, “Bolt by Swiggy continues to redefine food delivery with speed and convenience at its core. We are thrilled to welcome Subway to the Bolt family, enabling customers across India to enjoy their favourite subs fresh, delivered to their doorstep in 10 minutes. This collaboration underscores our ongoing efforts to partner with iconic brands and enhance customer experience through innovation and operational excellence.”

Tarun Bhasin, CEO, Culinary Brands, said, “As a QSR brand committed to freshness and taste, the emergence of quick commerce has been both timely and transformative. With Bolt, we’re now able to deliver on our core promise of fresh and delicious subs made just the way customers like it, with the added benefit of speed. This partnership with Swiggy has helped us not only improve delivery timelines but also raise the bar on freshness and customer satisfaction. At Subway, we remain committed to delighting customers with innovative products and exceptional experiences.”

News Credits- nuffoods Spectrum

LONDON – A year after Josh Schulman became Burberry’s (BRBY.L) CEO with a mandate to turn the British luxury brand around, investors say they’re pleased with early signs of recovery even though sales are still falling.

Burberry, known for its trademark trench coats and check pattern scarves, is in the early stages of a reboot as Schulman tries to reverse the group’s years of underperformance and return sales and profit to growth.

Analysts expect the group to report on Friday that comparable retail sales fell 3% in the April-June quarter from a year earlier, according to a consensus provided by Burberry. That would mark an improvement from a 6% fall in the January-March period.

Burberry issued a string of profit warnings under previous CEO Jonathan Akeroyd, and Schulman after taking over said the brand had lost its focus on outerwear and recognisable British references, and had strayed too far into a “niche aesthetic”.

Its shares are up around 63% since Schulman took the helm, outperforming luxury peers, and analysts have grown more upbeat in recent weeks, with HSBC saying Burberry has the opportunity to gain market share from rivals.

“We are seeing the improvement in terms of the product range, pricing, marketing, and there are early signs that is leading to a pickup in sales – but it’s early days still,” said Dan Carter, a member of the investment team at Phoenix Asset Management Partners in London.

Burberry’s marketing under Schulman has drawn on its association with British heritage, but in a way that is also contemporary, Carter added.

Burberry typically makes more of its revenue in the autumn/winter season. However, it has been trying to tap into key events of the British summertime, with its most recent “Burberry Festival” campaign timed to coincide with Glastonbury music festival.

The campaign featured hip-hop artist Loyle Carner and music producer Goldie, as well as model Cara Delevingne sitting in a pit of mud in Burberry rain boots, in a nod to Glastonbury’s unpredictable weather.

“They’re a brand that is focusing on outerwear and protection against the weather… so to try and stretch that through the year makes sense,” said Carter.

As part of its turnaround, Burberry announced in May it would cut a fifth of its global workforce, a radical cost-cutting move that investors have welcomed.

LESS EXPENSIVE BAGS, MORE HIGH-END TRENCHES

The brand has moved away from high-priced bags and brought in more affordable models like its recently launched Cotswold range, priced at 1,490 pounds to 1,890 pounds ($2,012.99 to $2,553.39), and the 850-pound Horseshoe crossbody bag – driving its average bag price down by 9% since the start of October last year, according to pricing analysis by Luxurynsight.

“They’re kind of trying to thread the needle of being luxury while shifting the assortment down a little bit,” said Brett Sharoni, senior analyst at Pzena Investment Management in New York, which owns shares in Burberry.

“We had been engaging with Burberry for over a year before we ended up buying – and one of our big pieces of feedback to them was, you know, you don’t really have a right to sell handbags for $3,000,” he said.

Burberry has, though, brought in some higher-priced outerwear products such as a 115,000 yuan ($16,044.65) corduroy trench coat in China, Luxurynsight found, and has broadened its range of outerwear products by 22% since the start of October last year.

Yumi Shin, chief merchandising officer at New York department store Bergdorf Goodman, said she supports the emphasis on the brand’s trademark products, like the classic trench coat and winter accessories.

“We’re continuing to feel optimistic about Burberry’s transformation under Josh’s leadership,” said Shin. “Josh has a merchant’s mindset and understands the necessity to balance fashion and function on the shop floor.”

($1 = 0.7402 pounds)

($1 = 7.1675 Chinese yuan renminbi)

Author Credits- Helen Reid
Reuters

Hair care giant Schwarzkopf has appointed actress Lindsay Lohan as its newest brand ambassador, joining the likes of celebrity faces Sofia Vergara and Dove Cameron.

The new partnership is an extension of Lohan’s relationship with celebrity colorist, Tracey Cunningham, a Schwarzkopf Professional who has been coloring the “Mean Girls” the actress’s hair for over two decades.

“Tracey is more than my colorist—she’s a trusted creative partner,” said Lohan. “Whether I’m in a new movie or walking a red carpet – there’s only one shot to get my hair color right and it’s often a really tight turnaround. Tracey is the ultimate collaborator, and I love that she takes the time to explain what products she uses and why. I learned about Schwarzkopf through Tracey because the result is so incredible every time and it’s now the only brand I trust in the salon.”

Lohan’s new blonde, unveiled in March this year, is a new variation by Cunningham called “Soft Gloss Blonde”, with the German-owned hair care brand and the colorist unveiling the secret behind the star’s blonde shade.

“Lindsay and I have grown together over the years, and it’s always the most fun having her in my chair,” said Cunningham, who was appointed Schwarzkopf Professional’s U.S. creative director of color & technique, in October last year.

“To take her lighter, Schwarzkopf Professional’s Igora Vibrance and BlondMe were absolute essentials. These formulas allowed me to lift her hair color while maintaining its integrity and shine. It’s imperative that I trust the products I’m using on all my clients. There is zero room for error when working with an A-List celebrity or musician undergoing a color transformation for a film or TV role, a red carpet or a musical performance. I know that I can always count on Schwarzkopf Professional products to deliver.”

Lohan’s new blonde look arrives just in time for the launch of her new film, “Freakier Friday”, which makes its U.S. debut on August.

Author Credits—Benjamin Fitzgerald
FASHION NETWORK