ITV

Category: Brands

  • Sharad Gupta launches brand advisory firm WNN-WHYNOTNOW

    Sharad Gupta launches brand advisory firm WNN-WHYNOTNOW

    Mumbai: Sharad Gupta, former vice president & lead-corporate communications at Escorts Kubota Ltd, has unveiled his new venture, WNN-WHYNOTNOW, a brand advisory firm dedicated to transforming the landscape of marketing and strategic brand development.

    Drawing upon a distinguished career spanning more than 25 years in brand strategy, integrated marketing, and public relations, Gupta has occupied significant leadership positions at reputable organizations such as Escorts Kubota Ltd, TATA Infomedia, Xerox India, Wunderman, Solutions, and 141 Worldwide. Before launching his new venture, Gupta spent nearly a decade at Escorts Kubota, formerly known as Escorts Limited, leading brand strategy, end-to-end communication campaigns, integrating marketing, PR, and digital efforts to achieve cohesive and impactful brand messaging.

    In addition to his various brand & marketing roles with corporates, Gupta served as the ex co-chair of CII Regional Start-up Council, demonstrating his commitment to fostering entrepreneurship.

    With a wealth of experience advising various mainframe and SME brands in sectors like advertising, media, public relations, manufacturing, IT, FMCG, consumer durables, education, and peripherals, Gupta positions WNN uniquely to address the specific needs of Start-ups, SMEs, and Unicorns. The firm offers strategic branding, MarTech solutions, and PR strategies to enhance their optimal value. Gupta asserts that strategic, cost-effective branding can empower these businesses to not only appear appealing but also contribute positively and propagate goodness.

    Speaking on the new venture, Gupta stated, “With WNN, our unwavering commitment is rooted in empowering businesses to transcend their potential by offering unparalleled expertise in marketing, strategic communication, and creative innovation. WNN hopes to be a beacon for start-ups, SMEs, and unicorns, catalysing their journey towards success. As India emerges as one of the largest ecosystems for startups globally, boasting over one lakh startups, WNN is poised to play a pivotal role in supporting their GoToMarket and business journey, specifically focusing on marketing push and brand development to ensure their success. Our mission is to foster a collaborative synergy that propels our clients’ business goals, ensuring they not only survive but thrive in today’s fiercely competitive marketplace.”

  • Onsitego partners with Unilet

    Onsitego partners with Unilet

    Mumbai: Onsitego, an Indian device care company for digital devices, consumer electronics, and home appliances, is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with Unilet, a pioneering name in the consumer electronics and technology retail sector in India.

    Onsitego’s cutting-edge device protection and support services have seamlessly integrated into Unilet’s retail ecosystem, offering customers a holistic solution to safeguard their valuable electronic devices.

    The combined strengths of Onsitego and Unilet are expected to create synergy, benefiting customers and elevating the overall standard of service.

    Onsitego EVP sales and business development Manish Kumar expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are thrilled to join forces with Unilet, which has emerged as one of the largest and fastest-growing electronics and consumer appliances retail chains. This partnership aligns with our commitment to ensuring that customers can enjoy their electronic devices worry-free.”

    Unilet MD Humayun Fiaz shared his views on the collaboration, stating, “At Unilet, our focus has always been on delivering the best possible experience to our customers. Partnering with Onsitego allows us to enhance our service offering by providing customers with comprehensive device protection and support solutions. Onsitego is renowned for its industry-leading device protection plans, including extended warranties, damage protection, and technical support for a wide range of electronic devices. We believe this collaboration will set new benchmarks in customer satisfaction and loyalty.”

  • Union Budget 2024: Brands commend the government’s vision for inclusive growth

    Union Budget 2024: Brands commend the government’s vision for inclusive growth

    Mumbai: In a dynamic era of economic evolution, diverse brands are at the forefront of driving change, fostering empowerment, and shaping a sustainable future.

    As the Union Budget 2024 sets the stage for a transformative journey, these brands stand at the forefront, not merely as entities but as catalysts driving change across industries. From championing sustainability to fostering inclusivity, each brand becomes a brushstroke painting a portrait of a progressive and dynamic India.

    Here are the diverse outlooks shared by prominent chiefs of various brands

    Adani Wilmar  MD &  CEO Angshu Mallick

    We commend the vision and intent expressed by the government through the interim budget proposals to create a pathway for inclusive and sustainable growth for India. This will lead to India emerging as a developed economy by 2047. As an FMCG player, we support the vision that will empower different segments of society, making them partners in the growth journey. The government’s focus on development is evident encompassing various social groups and people at all levels.

    The widespread adoption of Nano-DAP across all farming regions is a commendable innovation, empowering farmers and aligning our practices with environmental harmony, reflecting a conscientious approach within the FMCG sector. Moreover, the launch of the ‘Atmanirbhar Oilseeds Abhiyaan’ marks a pivotal step towards achieving self-sufficiency in oilseed production, showcasing our commitment to advancing self-reliance and sustainable practices within the FMCG landscape. We have been investing in oilseed crushing facilities over the years. At present, Adani Wilmar possesses a crushing capacity of 1.20 million metric tons in Soya whereas in mustard seeds crushing, with existing and forthcoming facilities it’ll amount to 0.70 million metric tons.

    Overall, the Union Budget 2024 lays the foundation of inclusive growth that will lead to ‘Sabka Vishwas’. The next five years hold the promise of unprecedented development towards realizing the dream of a developed India @ 2047. The trinity of demography, democracy and diversity supported by ‘Sabka Prayas’ has the potential to fulfil the aspirations of every Indian.

    Cycle Pure Agarbathi managing director Arjun Ranga

    “We are elated to witness the government’s dedication to women’s empowerment. Our workforce, predominantly comprising women, stands as a testament to the impactful contributions they make to our success. This budget not only recognizes but reinforces the crucial role women play in the workforce.”

    Furthermore, Ranga expresses contentment with the government’s focus on MSMEs, noting their crucial role in the global market. He applauds the prioritization of training programs for MSMEs, enabling them to compete on a global scale. Optimistic about the future, he remarks, “The government’s commitment to enhancing the competitiveness of MSMEs through strategic training initiative sets the stage for a promising future. We foresee a brimming future for both women empowerment and the MSME sector.”

    He further commented, “We appreciate the government’s commitment to solar power generation, aligning with our organization’s sustainability focus. Additionally, the government’s initiative to expand existing airports and develop new ones this year will benefit businesses, facilitating smoother operations and exports.”

    Peps Industries managing director K. Madhavan

    It is admirable that the government is dedicated to helping Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs). The competitiveness of the industry would be improved by providing MSMEs with training, pertinent technologies, and timely funding.

    It’s a necessity that the government is focusing on Digital Public Infrastructure that represents a significant stride forward, with the potential to revolutionize the economy. By formalizing the economy and investing in the e-vehicle ecosystem, we anticipate a more efficient transportation network, leading to a quicker turnover of goods. This strategic approach not only promises cost-effective transportation but also sets the stage for increased productivity and competitiveness within the industry. These steps strengthen our capacity to provide premium goods and services at reasonable costs.

    Godrej Tyson Foods Ltd (that owns Godrej Yummiez – a ready-to-cook frozen foods brand and Real Good Chicken) CEO Abhay Parnerkar

    The union budget emphasized an increased commitment to bolstering the food processing sector, in line with the overarching objective of bolstering support for farmers and post-harvest activities. This will entail enhancing infrastructure for contemporary storage, supply chains, and distribution, with infrastructure development being a primary focus. The budget places significant emphasis on improving transportation and logistics. The enhanced connectivity will empower food and frozen food companies to efficiently deliver products to the marketplace and pass on cost benefits to consumers.

    Virgio founder and CEO Amar Nagaram

    FM Sitharaman, in the interim budget announcement, encapsulated the remarkable growth witnessed by the nation in the last six years. Noteworthy initiatives such as green India initiatives, technological advancements, and startup-friendly budgets, including PM Mudra Yojana, which approved 43 crore loans totalling Rs 22.5 lakh crore for the entrepreneurial aspirations of the youth, have played a pivotal role in the country’s economic progress. Additionally, schemes like Fund of Funds, Startup India, and Start-Up Credit Guarantee have significantly contributed to the advancement of our youth.

    FM Sitharaman emphasised a golden era for tech-savvy youth, introducing a corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore with a fifty-year interest-free loan. This corpus aims to provide long-term financing or refinancing with extended tenors and low or negligible interest rates, fostering research and innovation in sunrise domains within the private sector. This move is particularly beneficial for D2C startups in India.

    The circular aspect of Virgio aligns with the broader vision outlined in the budget, striving to create an ecosystem where sustainability and innovation coexist. We eagerly anticipate contributing to this transformative journey by utilising technology and research to shape a fashion industry that not only upholds the highest standards of quality but also champions environmental responsibility. The proposed measures will undoubtedly inspire and empower fashion brands to further integrate circular practices and innovative technologies into their business models.

    Greendot Health Foods Pvt. Ltd. managing director Vikram Agarwal

    The Interim Budget 2024-25 presented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman has brought positive news for the FMCG and retail sectors in India. The threshold for presumptive taxation in retail businesses has been increased, the corporate tax rate dropped and new manufacturing companies enjoy a reduced rate. These measures create a favourable environment for the retail sector, supporting business growth and economic stability”.

    BN Group managing director and CEO Anubhav Agarwal

    “FM Sitharaman’s Interim Budget holds promise for the edible oil industry. The continued focus on ‘Atmanirbhar Oil Seeds Abhiyan’ with its emphasis on research, technology adoption, and market linkages is a welcome step towards self-sufficiency. This, coupled with the increased capital investment outlay, paints a promising picture for rural development and increased consumption, both of which directly impact our industry’s growth. However, the success hinges on the swift implementation of these initiatives. Streamlining access to high-yielding seeds, ensuring timely procurement at remunerative prices, and facilitating value addition, crop insurance are crucial for farmers to truly benefit. Additionally, sustaining the reduced import duties on key edible oils while strengthening domestic production can create a win-win situation for consumers and industry players.

    Overall, the budget lays a strong foundation towards self-reliance, but industry collaboration and swift execution will be key to translating vision into reality. We, in the edible oil industry, are optimistic and committed to contributing to a truly ‘Atmanirbhar’ edible oil ecosystem for India.”

    Eliea Wellness director & co-founder Sanjeev Ingti

    In the wake of our budget allocation, we strive for fiscal responsibility and strategic investment. This budget reflects our commitment to fostering growth, innovation, and societal well-being. By prioritizing key sectors, we aim to create a resilient economy that serves all citizens. Every Rupee spent is a step towards a brighter future, addressing pressing needs while laying the foundation for sustainable progress. We understand the responsibility entrusted upon us, and we pledge transparency and accountability in executing this budget. Together, we embark on a journey to build a stronger, more inclusive society, where the dividends of wise financial management benefit everyone. This budget is not just a financial plan; it’s a roadmap to prosperity, unity, and a better quality of life for our community. Let us move forward with optimism and determination, confident that our financial decisions today shape the destiny of tomorrow.

  • Dreame to launch the all in one DreameBot L10s Ultra in India

    Dreame to launch the all in one DreameBot L10s Ultra in India

    Mumbai: More than 21 million households trust Dreame across over 120 countries and regions, including North America, Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, Northern Asia, the Middle East, and many more. With a network of over 4,000 physical stores, 7.5 million brand members, Dreame demonstrates a strong foothold in the global market. The brand has also applied for up to 4256 patents worldwide, with 2206 already authorised, and showcasing its commitment to innovation. This robust presence and dedication to advancing technology position Dreame as one of the leaders in the industry.

    Dreame, popular in India for its features and performance, is expanding its product range in the country with the third launch, the L10s Ultra robotic vacuum cleaner and mop, setting a new standard in cleaning with its advanced automation and enhanced efficiency.

    The Dreame L10s Ultra offers a superior cleaning experience with ultra-intelligent and precision mapping. Featuring a sensor navigation system, it creates a detailed house map, navigating around obstacles to clean every corner with unmatched accuracy. Delighting customers further, the brand offers a 1 year warranty for high-quality after-sales and door-to-door services for all its products.

    This advanced device incorporates robotic cleaning with auto-emptying and automatic mop cleaning, ensuring your floors remain clean without manual intervention.

    Fully-automatic robot vacuum and Mop

    ·  Intelligent algorithm + 3D navigation: Navigate your home with precision and intelligence. The Dreame L10s Ultra utilises an advanced AI action system with an RGB camera and 3D structured light to learn your home layout, tailor cleaning strategies, and avoid obstacles. Get fast mapping and efficient cleaning every time.

    ·  powerful performance: Conquer dust, dirt, and debris with ease. The Dreame L10s Ultra boasts a powerful 5300Pa suction, tackling carpets, hard floors, and even pet hair effortlessly.

    · Auto empty and Mop self-cleaning: L10s Ultra is a perfect combination of popular robotic cleaning technologies, such as a hands-free emptying system and automatic mop cleaning — working together to deliver an impressive, effortless cleaning experience. Additionally, automatic dust collection, mop-cleaning, mop-drying, water-refilling, solution-adding, fast mapping, and path-planning come together to make fully automated home cleaning a reality. The Mop lifting function can keep the mops clean and prevent floor streaks. The Dreame L10s Ultra automatically lifts its mops when returning to the base station and while traversing carpets. The Dreame L10s Ultra automatically empties its dustbin and cleans its mops, ensuring continuous cleaning without lifting a finger.

    Quiet operation with long battery

    ·  Quiet operation: Enjoy peaceful cleanliness with noise levels as low as 59 dB.

    ·  Long lasting battery: Clean for longer with a 5,200mAh battery, covering up to 2700 sq. ft. on a single charge.

    Integrates with Alexa and Google Assistant

    With the mobile app (available for Android and iPhone), and integration with Alexa and Google Assistant, initiating a cleaning session is as simple as tapping a smartphone screen or saying a voice command.

    The brand has reached a notable breakthrough with the large-scale production of digital motors capable of operating at up to 160,000 RPM speeds. In addition, the brand stands as an innovator in achieving a global breakthrough by exceeding the 180,000 RPM threshold. Going even further, they have extended the limits by introducing motors operating at an impressive 200,000 RPM.

    Dreame’s commitment to new ideas, research, and production enables the continuous creation of advanced products, a dedication that has been recognised through prestigious recognition such as the CES Innovation Award, TechRadar, Good Housekeeping and International Design Excellence Award, and numerous others.

    Dreame smart factory with new age automation.

    Availability and pricing

    The Dreame L10s Ultra will be available at Bora Mobility LLP as a national distributor for a price of Rs 74999, Exclusively available on Amazon

    Bora Mobility LLP is a dynamic and multifaceted player with a focus on distribution and manufacturing in the Western region. They cater to a wider range of products in the market. Recognising the potential of online retail, Bora Mobility LLP has ventured into the e-commerce space. This diversification opens new avenues for their products and expands their reach to a wider customer base.

  • Q3 Results – Adani Wilmar Limited records 13 per cent volume growth

    Q3 Results – Adani Wilmar Limited records 13 per cent volume growth

    Mumbai: Adani Wilmar Limited (AWL) records a strong 13 per cent volume growth in 9M FY24, with broad based growth across all segments. Sequential revenue growth of 5 per cent QoQ (Q3’24 vs. Q2’24). In 9M ’24, the food & FMCG segment recorded a revenue of Rs 3653 crore, a 26 per cent YoY growth company achieved best EBITDA till date, at Rs 504 crore in Q3.

    The company’s growth trajectory remained steady with a volume growth of 5 per cent YoY in Q3’24 and 13 per cent YoY in 9M FY’24. Consumer demand in packaged staple foods stayed strong during the festive season of Q3. The branded products that comprises 80 per cent of edible oils and Foods & FMCG sales, grew faster than the overall sales in both segments. Rural sales also stayed steady for us. Despite good volume growth, revenue is optically lower by 17 per cent YoY in Q3, as product pricing has been lower during the year, in-line with lower raw-material costs.

    The company recorded revenue of Rs 12828 crore in Q3 and Rs 38024 crores in 9M FY’24. The profitability of the company has again normalised with EBITDA at Rs 504 crore. In Q3, after witnessing 2 quarters of subdued profits due to high-cost inventory and hedge dis-alignment. Profitability of the Bangladesh subsidiary continues to be in stress due to the local currency issues. Standalone EBITDA was higher at Rs 530 crore in Q3.

    The company is progressively using more regional approaches to drive deeper penetration into the local markets. The company is on track to more than double its rural town coverage during the financial year from 13,000 towns to more than 30,000 rural towns by the end of this financial year. The company has been adding new markets and our branded products are now available in 38 countries across six continents.

    Edible oil

    The volume was flat YoY in Q3 and grew by 8 per cent YoY during 9M FY’24. Branded products have been growing at a faster pace. Branded products grew by 3 per cent YoY in Q3 and 15 per cent YoY in 9M FY’24. ROCP (refined oil consumer pack) market share of AWL in edible oils reached 19.8 per cent in Dec ‘23 on MAT basis (source: Nielsen), which is an improvement of 30 bps vis-à-vis the same period last year.

    The segment recorded revenue of Rs 9711 crores in Q3, with sequential growth of 7 per cent compared to Q2. In YoY terms, revenue is optically lower by 23 per cent YoY in Q3 ‘24, as product pricing has been lower during the year, in line with lower raw-material costs.

    The growth in the edible oils segment continues to be driven by strong growth in sunflower oil and mustard oil, which have been growing faster than the industry due to strong brand equity.

    Food & FMCG

    The Food & FMCG segment, which includes products such as wheat flour, rice, pulses, besan, sugar, poha and soap continued to outperform. During the quarter, the segment revenues grew at 25 per cent YoY, with an underlying volume growth of 17 per cent YoY.In 9M FY’24, the segment delivered a turnover of Rs 3653 Crores, a robust growth of 26 per cent YoY.

    Exports restriction has been a drag on foods growth in the last three quarters. In the domestic market, branded products revenue has been growing at 40 per cent plus YoY for the last nine quarters.

    Wheat business gained share in South India from multiple interventions. This led to a significant improvement in volume off take in Q3, increased penetration in retail outlets, and created pull demand from retailers. In South India, branded penetration is high for the industry, along with good pricing power for brands. We will continue to focus on the South India market to gain our fair share.

    Industry essentials

    The industry essentials volume grew by 17 per cent YoY in Q3 ’24 and 21 per cent YoY in 9M FY’24, supported by robust growth in Castor & Oleochemical businesses. The segment recorded revenue of Rs 1844 in Q3 and Rs 5777 in 9M FY’24.

    Key highlights –

    1 Volumes show strong resilience and reflect robust consumer demand, growing at 5 per cent YoY in Q3 and 14 per cent YoY for 9M FY24 across all segments.

    2 Branded products, which are 80 per cent of sales of edible oils, Foods & FMCG, show higher growth.

    3 Branded Food & FMCG in the domestic market has shown market-beating growth of over 40 per cent YoY in the past 9 quarters with the segment expected to touch a milestone revenue of Rs 5000 crores for FY ‘24.

    4 Rural demand is stable, belying expectations of weak rural demand having a major impact on consumer goods sales.

    5 Company on track to more than double rural coverage from 13000 to over 30000 rural towns by the end of FY24.

    6 Revenue dip reflects lower prices of edible oils in response to decline in input costs of raw materials. However, strong brand equity drives growth in sunflower oil and mustard oil faster than the industry.

    Commenting on the results Adani Wilmar Limited MD & CEO, Angshu Mallick said: “We continued to witness the growth momentum in packaged staple foods driven by shift in consumer preferences for hygienic and quality products. The revenues from the branded products in the domestic market, under the Food & FMCG segment have been growing at 40 per cent plus YoY in the past 9 quarters enabling us to close FY ’24 with an estimated Rs 5,000 crores of revenue in the segment.

    We are putting our energies in rapidly scaling up our distribution network for general trade to realise the immense opportunity available in the packaged staple foods. At the same time, we are developing our HORECA and exports channels which will continue to witness much faster growth in the near future. Our strong market share in the alternate channels put us in an advantaged position from the fast-growing rate of this channel.”

     

  • Titan Q3 Results: Net profit rises to 9 per cent to Rs 1040 crore

    Titan Q3 Results: Net profit rises to 9 per cent to Rs 1040 crore

    Mumbai: The Titan Company announced its quarter 3 results on Thursday.  In the financial year 2023-2024, profit rose to Rs 1053 crore, up 16.5 per cent compared to last year 2022-2023, Rs 904 crore. The company reported nine per cent YoY growth in Q3 results. Revenue figure increased from operations at Rs 13052 crore in this quarter which was Rs 10875 crore earlier. EBIT (Earnings before interest and tax) increased 11 per cent year on year basis at Rs 1478 crore, previously in the last financial year it was Rs 1328 crore. EBIT margin also declined by 116 points YoY (Year on Year) basis to 11.3 per cent. At the same time income from the Jewellery business rose 23 per cent to Rs 11709.

    Tanishq’s jewellery segment reported total income for Q3 FY24 at Rs 11709, whereas it grew by 23 per cent compared to Q3 FY23. The growth is estimated to be high due to the festive season. The watches and wearable business records a total income of Rs 982 crore. It also scales up to 21 per cent compared to last year. Total revenue for the analog watch business reported Rs 810 crore. Titan’s eye care business segment recorded a total income of Rs 167 crore down by 4 per cent compared to the last financial year. Emerging businesses reported an Rs 112 crore net profit for the financial year 2023-2024. Taneira sales grew 61 per cent compared to FY 23.

    Cartlane total income increased by 32 per cent worth Rs 893 crore in the last December quarter. EBIT came to Ra 82 crore with a margin of 9.2 per cent. Titan engineering and automation revenue rose 61 per cent YoY to Rs 202 crore.

  • Beauty brand IDUN Minerals launches in India

    Beauty brand IDUN Minerals launches in India

    Mumbai: Sweden’s favourite clean beauty brand, IDUN Minerals announces its entry into the Indian market. With a strong focus on purity, quality, and sustainability, IDUN Minerals aims to elevate beauty routines across the country.

    IDUN Minerals is known for its exceptional range of mineral-based makeup products. These products are carefully formulated to enhance natural beauty while nourishing the skin. In line with its commitment to inclusivity, with 22 foundation shades, the assortment offers a wide range of shades that are infused with highly purified minerals, catering to diverse skin tones.

    “We’re very excited to be launching IDUN Minerals in India and raise the discussion of conscious and clean beauty and get to know the Indian beauty market better.” said CEO, Caroline Thunstedt.

    The products are formulated in close cooperation with researchers and dermatologists, making them suitable for all skin types, including the most sensitive ones. IDUN Minerals takes pride in using only the finest and purest ingredients, with a focus on minerals that benefit the skin. The brand is free from talc, bismuth, PFAS, parabens, sulfates, fragrances, essential oils, and highly purified from nickel and chromium, demonstrating its commitment to providing clean and safe beauty solutions.

    “Each product of IDUN Minerals has been carefully crafted as a testament to our unwavering dedication to clean formulations. Our products have been loved globally for their high-performance formulas and high-quality results and it brings us so much joy to now be in India. We invite everyone to join us on this journey towards a more conscious and beautiful future. We believe that beauty should be a celebration of individuality and well-being. With IDUN Minerals we can offer a unique blend of science and nature, empowering individuals to embrace their natural beauty with confidence and authenticity.” said Thunstedt.

    “We are excited to introduce IDUN Minerals to the booming beauty market in India. As the beauty sector grows in the country, consumers are increasingly gravitating towards conscious beauty with products featuring natural, organic, and clean ingredients. With IDUN Minerals’ global success and its commitment to purity, quality, and sustainability, its entry into India will have a major impact on the beauty industry.” said BRDG Group director Magnus Toveberg.

    In line with its ambition to be a sustainable beauty brand, IDUN Minerals is intensifying its focus on local production, transparency, and reducing the environmental impact of its products. IDUN Minerals is cruelty free and vegan certified by PETA and Djurens Rätt in Sweden, Swedish for Animal Rights, solidifying its commitment to ethical and eco-friendly practices in the beauty industry. By 2025, the brand aims to offer recyclable packaging for all its products.

    Inspired by the natural beauty of Scandinavia, IDUN Minerals’ packaging reflects a minimalist and chic aesthetic, embodying the brand’s philosophy that beauty should be both inside and out. Idun, in Norse mythology, was the goddess of beauty, eternal youth and rejuvenation. She was known to be the keeper of magic golden apples, known to provide the Gods with the ability to sustain immortality, making them eternally young and beautiful. IDUN Minerals highlights the goddess Idun in the brand name as part of its Nordic heritage but also as a symbol of beauty and female strength. The brand carries the apple as its symbol on packaging as well as engraved in some of the makeup compacts.

    IDUN Minerals is available online through its official website in India, www.idunminerals.in and select marketplaces such as Tira Beauty, Amazon and Myntra. Currently, the product offerings for India include make-up and skincare and will expand to haircare as well over the coming months. 

  • Zomato collaborates with Startup India; announced plastic free orders

    Zomato collaborates with Startup India; announced plastic free orders

    Mumbai : Zomato, India’s food ordering and delivery platform announced a ‘Plastic-Free Orders Packathon’ in collaboration with Startup India to encourage innovation in sustainable packaging for food delivery orders. The Packathon is a competition for startups to showcase food delivery and sustainable packaging options for restaurants catering to online food orders.

    Zomato chief sustainability officer Anjalli Ravi Kumar, said, “ Zomato is deeply committed to reducing the environmental impact of food deliveries. In September 2023, we began to recognise restaurants that have adopted sustainable packaging materials for food deliveries via a ‘Plastic-Free Orders’ banner.

    The program is live in 8 cities and 3.6 million orders have been recognised as plastic-free till 31 December 2023. The program surfaced the fact that many national restaurant chains have adopted paper-based or bagasse-based packaging. Standalone, mid-tier and budget restaurants, especially those outside metro cities, are struggling with the availability of affordable and functional alternatives to plastic packaging for their deliveries. The problem is particularly acute for restaurants specializing in gravy-based cuisines with multiple condiments and accompaniments. We believe focused innovations hold the answer to this problem and the Packathon is a way to surface and recognise Indian innovators.”

    Startup India, vice president Aastha Grover, said, “The launch of Zomato Plastic-Free Packathon is a testament to our shared commitment helping Indian businesses and citizens transition to sustainable practices. Given the burgeoning issue of plastic pollution, this initiative is a clarion call to all Indian startups to innovate and devise sustainable packaging solutions for food delivery that can significantly reduce plastic usage. This challenge presents a unique opportunity for Indian startups to showcase their ingenuity and contribute to a new era of sustainable consumption. As part of Startup India’s mission, we are excited to facilitate and support innovative solutions that will preserve our planet for future generations.”

    Open to all DPIIT-recognised start-ups, the deadline for application submission to the Packathon is 29 February. The top three winners will receive prices worth 10 Lakhs, 5 lakhs and 3 lakhs respectively, in addition to receiving the opportunity to showcase their solution to Zomato’s restaurant partners.

    Zomato also announced its comprehensive 2030 sustainability goals, including, continuing to facilitate 100 per cent plastic neutral food delivery orders through voluntary recycling, and also facilitating delivery of 100 million plastic-free food orders by 2025. Over the years, Zomato has undertaken various initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of food deliveries, through its 3Rs approach of ‘reduce, recycle and reward’.

    In 2021, the company made ‘do not send cutlery’ the default option on its food ordering and delivery app, giving customers the option to ask for cutlery, only if they needed it. Over the past two years, this simple initiative has cut cutlery waste by 1,000 MT, or 1 million kilos. In FY 23, Zomato recycled 20,000 MT of plastic waste – more than 2X the weight of plastic used by restaurant partners to package orders received through Zomato.

    In 2023, the company launched a recognition programme for restaurant partners who make the switch to plastic-free alternatives for their Zomato deliveries.

    Link to the Packathon:  

     

     

  • Everything Budweiser at Lollapalooza India 2024

    Everything Budweiser at Lollapalooza India 2024

    Mumbai: Partnering with Lollapalooza India for the second year in running, Budweiser co-curated and offered unparalleled experiences for festival attendees. Here are highlights from what went down this year!

    The BUDX Stage

    Staying true to Budweiser’s commitment towards elevating India’s music scene, the BUDX Stage featured iconic acts including Sting, Jonas Brothers, Keane, Lauv, Anoushka Shankar, The Raghu Dixit Project, When Chai Met Toast and others. 

    Surprise genre collaborations!

    Adding an element of surprise to performances on the BUDX Stage, Lolla-attendees witnessed surprise, genre-bending collaborations. This includes the ‘Maan Meri Jaan’ famed artist KING sharing a duet with Nick Jonas, Lauv & Armaan Malik performing ‘I’m So Tired’ and Anoushka Shankar joining forces with Keane.

    BUDX Uncovered Acts

    The BUDX Stage was also home to two BUDX Uncovered acts – Meghalaya-based rapper, Meba Ofilia on day 1, music-duo RANJ & Clifr on day 2. BUDX Uncovered is an initiative that spotlights breakout artists, providing them the opportunity to perform at a global stage.

    Immersive & Engaging On-ground Activations

    This year, Budweiser’s Brew District at Lollapalooza India 2024 housed the Rizz Studio with hairstyling, tattooing and piercing stations. Lolla- attendees also enjoyed panoramic views through Budweiser’s Ferris wheel.

    Bud & Burgers

    Budweiser also partnered with The Bug Forkers to organise ‘Bud & Burgers: Burger Wars’. Chefs Vasquito Alvares (@vasquitoalvares) and Arjun Sikdar (@arjunsikdar) went head-to-head, offering festival-goers a selection of burgers that perfectly complemented the refreshing taste of Budweiser beer.

    Free, fun, and safe rides!

    Budweiser partnered with Ola to offer lolla-attendees free, fun, and safe rides during the music festival. Through ‘Budweiser Beats Music Mobiles’ festival-goers could avail rides from 4 areas across the city, to the Mahalakshmi Racecourse.

  • TAM AdEx: Reviewing the TV news genre in 2023 report

    TAM AdEx: Reviewing the TV news genre in 2023 report

    Mumbai: TAM AdEx India has released a report on television medium – reviewing the TV news genre in 2023 report.

    In year 2023, a drop of eight percent in ad volumes was seen over year 2022 and growth of six per cent compared to the year 2019. The highest growth in ad volumes was observed in year 2021 since the year 2019. The second quarter of 2023 witnessed the highest ad volumes (on per day basis).

    The lowest share on the news genre was during Feb’23. Ad volumes started peaking up again post-Sep’23 i.e. during the festive period.

    In the year 2020, the news genre reached its peak (at 30 per cent).

    Hindi news topped with 19 per cent share of the news genre’s ad volumes during both the year 2023 and the year 2022. The top five subgenres accounted for around 56 per cent share of ad volumes during both periods.

    The services sector maintained its first rank in the year 2023 followed by food & beverages on the second position. Auto, banking/finance/investment and personal accessories saw positive rank shift. The top 10 sector added 80 per cent share in the news genre.

    Retail outlets – jewellers category topped the news genre in year 2023; followed by ‘cars’. Toilet soaps, toilet/floor cleaners, and multiple courses were the new entrants among the top 10 in year 2023. The top 10 categories added 26 per cent share of the news genre’s ad volumes.

    Honey saw the highest rise of three times in ad secondages, followed by school during year 2023 compared to year 2022. Three out of 10 categories belonged to the food & beverages sector.

    Reckitt Benckiser retained its first position, followed by Hindustan Unilever*. Lalithaa Jewellery Mart and Reliance Retail were the new entrants among the top 10. Top 100 advertisers accounted for 53 per cent share of overall news genre advertising.

    Webart Softech was the top exclusive advertiser in the news genre followed by Bonnie Foi Group during the year 2023.

    3.7K plus advertisers exclusively advertised during year 2023 over year 2022 in the news genre. Piramal Capital & Housing Finance and Bonnie Foi Group were the top two exclusive advertisers of 2023 compared to 2022.

    Around 300 plus brands covered 50 per cent of news genre ad volumes in 2023.

    The regional and national channels had 75 per cent and 25 per cent share of ad volumes respectively in the news genre during 2023.

    Nims University and Lalithaa Jewellery Mart were leading exclusive advertisers on national and regional news channels respectively during Y 2023.

    Primetime, afternoon & morning time bands together added 70 per cent share of ad volumes.

    20-40 seconds ads had the highest share of 64 per cent in 2023.