Category: Brands

Mumbai: McDonald’s India – North and East has roped in actor Kartik Aaryan as its new brand ambassador. The actor’s strong youth connection will further strengthen the bond between McDonald’s and its fans.

Aryan’s association with McDonald’s India – North and East – as the brand’s face is poised to foster consumer outreach across all platforms in an appealing way. The actor, through his versatile and magnetic personality, will engage people from all age groups, especially gen-z and millennials in a myriad of settings, thus generating high brand salience for McDonald’s.

Also, as a part of the brand strategy, McDonald’s India – North and East has been continuously evolving its menu items, adding new and exciting options, as per the tastes and preferences of its customers. Most recently, McDonald’s introduced cheesy fries with smoky chipotle sauce. Among one the most notable launches this year is the butter chicken grilled burger & butter paneer grilled burger. The brand has also recently re-launched its famous veg surprise burger across all restaurants and re-introduced breakfast menu in select restaurants across North and East India.

Commenting on the association, McDonald’s India – North & East chairman Sanjeev Agrawal said, “Aryan is a youth icon and a popular name in families, just like McDonald’s. We feel that Kartik’s strong youth connect, mass appeal and captivating personality has made him emerge as an icon for India’s youthful populace, which resonates strongly with the ethos of McDonald’s brand. We are excited to welcome Aryan to McFamily and look forward to a great partnership.” 

Speaking on this announcement, Aaryan said, “McDonald’s has been a part of my growing-up years. The name elicits so many happy memories from my teenage days, and the brand continues to be special in my life. It gives me immense pleasure to be associated with McDonald’s. I am excited to be a part of the family and look forward to working on interesting, cool, and fun-filled projects with the brand.”

Mumbai: Victoria’s Secret, the top specialty retailer of lingerie & beauty products with modern, fashion-inspired collections, fine fragrances, body care, lounge wear, and Victoria’s Secret’s PINK, will be expanding its presence with the opening of its second full assortment store in Delhi.

The brand’s iconic bras, undergarments, and sleepwear will be available in a large variety across a number of collections at the new Victoria’s Secret store, which will be situated at Ambience Mall in Vasant Kunj.

In addition, the new location will provide personalised, one-on-one bra fitting visits with specially trained bra fit professionals.

The popular fine fragrances, scents, and mists from Victoria’s Secret Beauty will be available alongside the company’s best-selling lingerie. As a limited-edition holiday sister to our best-selling fragrance, Bombshell, the store will debut a brand-new fine fragrance called Bombshell Celebration.

A Victoria’s Secret pop-up preview was unveiled in October at Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj, in advance of the launch of the new store. Customers could peruse the brand’s well-known scents during the pop-up, which added to the holiday cheer and commemorated Delhi’s newest Victoria’s Secret location.

Mumbai: 27th Sports have signed Kewal Kiran Clothing Ltd. (KKCL), widely renowned for their Killer Jeans brand, as the title sponsor for the Indian cricket team’s 2-match Test series against Bangladesh starting 13 December 2022 at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram, near Dhaka.

Impress-Mattra Consortium, the on-ground rights holder for all Bangladesh cricket teams’ home series, has granted Dubai-based 27th Sports exclusive marketing rights.

Speaking on the partnership, KKCL joint managing director Hemant Jain said, “We are delighted to announce our title sponsorship for the India-Bangladesh Test Series 2022. The partnership offers a unique opportunity to be a part of this series, especially in Bangladesh, which is one of the most prominent cricketing nations in the world. The ODI series has had a brilliant start, with both teams competing at their best. We at KKCL have always promoted cricket by showcasing Brand “Killer” along with our other in-house brands LawmanPg3, Integriti, Easies, and Desibelle in the sponsorship arena, and we strongly believe that cricket is a very important medium for our brand enhancement. We would like to thank the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and 27th Sports for giving us this wonderful opportunity. We cannot wait to watch the action unfold and wish the tournament organisers, teams, and players every success in this series.”

Impress Mattra Consortium partner Sana-ul Arefeen added, “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome KKCL, which has come in as the title sponsor of the Bangladesh-India Test series. Bangladesh always welcomes international brands, and taking them on board has always been a pleasure.”

“KKCL has created a niche in the apparel segment that is unique and, at the same time, ever expanding with their broader marketing and strategic outlook. KKCL’s coming in as the title sponsor of the India-Bangladesh Test Series is not only a testimony to their commitment towards creating far-reaching brand visibility and enhancement through sports, but also a commitment of support for the growth and development of sports in the region and in a new emerging market like Bangladesh. We are extremely happy to have them on board,” stated 27th Sports CEO and co-founder Sangeet Shirodkar.

27th Sports chairman and co-founder Sanjay Bector commented, “The series has generated a lot of interest in the cricketing world, and it couldn’t have been a better opportunity for KKCL and 27th Sports to come together and make this event a success.”

A highly reliable name in sports management and marketing, this is the third major signing in cricket for 27th Sports after the India-Sri Lanka Women’s ODI & T20 Series in Sri Lanka and the high-profile Road Safety World Series T20, where the Sachin Tendulkar-led India Legends team emerged winners, defeating Sri Lanka Legends for the second consecutive time in the final. Recently, 27th Sports also acquired the Hawks franchisee in the World Tennis League, which will be held in Dubai from 19 to 24 December 2022. The team comprises Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Elena Rybakina, and Annett Kontaveit.

Mumbai: Avinash Sable announced that he has signed a deal with Fast&Up as its brand athlete. After his historic silver medal win in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Sable was presented with the Arjuna Award in November. The 28-year-old holds the national record time of 8:11:20 and is keen to keep pushing with Fast&Up by his side.

Speaking on the association, Sable said, “I have been using Fast&Up products to support my on-field performances since my early days. The nutrition products are certified and tested, so athletes can trust them. I have tried it personally, and it gives me what I need to be at my best during competitions. Being an athlete myself, I am always on the move and constantly striving to improve my fitness and stamina. These products champion high-quality, performance-oriented nutrition.”

The JSW Sports athlete, who trains at the state-of-the-art high-performance facilities of the Inspire Institute of Sport in Vijayanagara, said the collaboration was one that he believed would pave the way for future success and also be beneficial to him in keeping fit ahead of competitions.

“I have been mindful of who I associate with, as my principles have always been to use the product and the brand that I truly believe in. Fast&Up ticks every requirement on the list for me, and I believe the potential for growth and range of products that Fast&Up has will make the brand the supreme choice for many sports persons across India and the world in the coming years,” he added.

Fast&Up CEO Vijayaraghavan Venugopal commented, “We are happy to have Sable as our brand athlete. It is our pleasure to support the athletes and inspire our community, which continues to grow. We are invigorated by the commitment he has brought to the project and are working closely with him to further develop and expand our range of sports nutrition products for high-performing athletes.”

With the core aim to fuel the sport of an Indian athlete, Fast&Up is synonymous with running, cricket, kabaddi, badminton, and football and is in partnership with over 100 professional Indian athletes and active association partnership with Tata Mumbai Marathon, Airtel Hyderabad Marathon Expo, Skechers Performance Chennai Marathon, Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, TCS World 10K, Goa River Marathon, etc. It is the only brand to have informed choice and informed-sport certification across its flagship products, available across 40,000+ pin codes throughout India via its retail and omnichannel strategies.

Mumbai: Nexus Malls, the retail platform in India owned and managed by Blackstone Real Estate Funds, has announced Amitabh Bachchan as their ‘happyness ambassador’. This is a unique, one-of-a-kind partnership with India’s biggest global superstar to provide customers with a ‘Har Din Kuch Naya’ experience.

Bachchan is one of the most iconic celebrities in India, who is an all-time favourite across different age groups. He is a household name renowned for his award-winning acting career and charitable efforts.

“We are extremely privileged to welcome Amitabh Bachchan to our Nexus Malls family. He has a remarkable ability to connect with different age groups. We are proud to partner with one of India’s biggest icons to help us deliver Har Din Kuch Naya experiences to our customers,” said Nexus Malls CEO Dalip Sehgal.

Bachchan added, ““I am delighted to endorse Nexus Malls. Together, we will try and further aim at curating new experiences for the customers each time they visit Nexus Malls.”

 For the record, since its inception in 2016, Nexus has become India’s largest retail platform with 17 properties across 13 cities. In June 2022, Nexus Malls unveiled a new brand identity, which represents joy, excitement, freshness, life, and magic – and most importantly, happyness.

Mumbai: Aditi Anand has been roped in as general manager and head of marketing at L’Oréal Professionnel. She announced about the same through a LinkedIn post.

Anand moved on from The Coca-Cola Company in October this year; she held the position of head- creative strategy for brand Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia for a year.

Amongst her various roles, she has also worked as head – brand, media and digital marketing at HMD Global for over four years starting February 2017.  In April 2015, she joined YU Mobiles, Micromax Informatics as head of marketing. Prior to that, in 2014, she was senior marketing manager- lifestyle and home, Flipkart Internet for over a year.

In June 2007, she joined Bharti Airtel and she was associated with the company for six years. She has served the company in various roles – senior brand manager, brand manager- DTH and mCommerce, assistant brand manager- BTL and trade marketing, and young leader- customer insights and marketing research.

Mumbai: Myntra is getting ready for its first-ever on-site event for creators on 2 December in Mumbai as part of its long-standing commitment to empowering the creator ecosystem.

Ahead of Myntra’s 17th annual “End of Reason Sale,” the eagerly anticipated event “Creator Fest” will honour and recognise India’s well-known and adored content creators in the fashion and beauty industries (EORS).

The event highlights the importance and potential that it attributes to the creator phenomenon. Content creators are pivotal to Myntra’s social commerce journey because they seamlessly drive and integrate commerce via compelling content, thereby building adoption, stickiness, and engagement among discerning fashion-forward consumers on the platform.

The Creator Fest will be a grand celebration, with conversations, engagement, and fun galore.

EORS-17 specials will be offered by Myntra’s leadership, as well as EORS experience zones, where domestic and international brands will give a peek into their season’s merchandise with on-the-spot offers and more.

There will be a panel discussion where creators including Komal Pandey and Dolly Singh, Sushant Divgikr, and Ankush Bahuguna will have a conversation.

A meet-and greet session is organised for budding and established creators to network with each other and with brands.

Scintillating content creation and engagement zones will include super-interesting fashion and beauty experience zones and styling corners for creators to share content live from the event. At the conclusion of the festival, a popular Indie artist will perform.

The Creator Fest will give Myntra the chance to interact with its widely dispersed network of rapidly expanding influencers, celebrate their fame and fandom, and share opportunities for collaboration to speed up artists’ growth journeys. Thousands of fashion and beauty influencers are currently working with Myntra, providing them with a reliable income stream, training, mentoring opportunities, exposure to a variety of brand partnerships and campaigns, opportunities to grow their fan bases, and unrivalled access to a large pool of trendy and edgy fashion and beauty brands.

Some of the most notable influencers the platform has engaged with till date include popular fashion and beauty creators like Komal Pandey, Kusha Kapila, Santoshi Shetty, Riya Jain, and Malvika Sitlani, and lifestyle creators like Niharika NM, Danish Sait, and RJ Karishma, among others. Myntra plans to continuously grow its creator squad, currently comprising gen-z and creators from metro cities, from strength to strength.

Speaking on the launch of the creator’s day, Myntra Social Commerce senior director Arun Devanathan said, “This will be a landmark event for us and a fitting extension of our commitment to the creator economy. In the last year, our pioneering social commerce propositions, M-Live and Myntra Studio, have witnessed massive adoption from both creators and brands alike. Myntra continues to enable creators from the grassroot level, with initiatives such as Creators Pass, a first-of-its-kind shopping pass for budding content creators, further solidifying our brand’s position as the go-to platform for budding and established creators alike.”

Mumbai: Lifestyle platform Tata CLiQ Luxury has partnered with Cecilia Morelli Parikh and Julie Leymarie to introduce Le Mill, a multi-brand luxury fashion house. The platform has expanded its existing luxury fashion category with this launch by offering consumers renowned international brands across apparel, accessories, and footwear categories.

Founded by two French women, Le Mill’s Cecilia Morelli Parikh and Julie Leymarie, who were raised in Paris and settled in Mumbai, shared a dream for their adopted city to have a space worthy of its energy and global status. Le Mill was conceptualised to establish a dialogue between Indian fashion and design and iconic international designers and storied fashion houses.

The idea of “Eyes on Paris, Heart in Mumbai” was to focus on the design potential India has to offer by connecting Europe with India and fashion to art.

Apart from the exclusivity of brands, it is Parikh and Leymarie’s knowledge and expertise in ensuring the right curation that has contributed to Le Mill’s popularity and success. Each brand at Le Mill has been carefully handpicked by the founders to suit the needs of the modern Indian woman. With an aim to become a part of customers’ lifestyles in every way, Le Mill offers an exciting assortment of products from leading international brands that one won’t have access to anywhere else in the country.

The Le Mill store on Tata CLiQ Luxury offers consumers a range of leading international brands to shop from, such as Acler, Agua by Agua Bendita, Aje, Alex Perry, Alexis, Ancient Greek Sandals, Bassike, Courreges, Dodo Bar Or, Gauge 81, Jonathan Simkhai, Rhode, Rosantica, Rotate, Three Graces London, and Wandler.

Commenting on the launch, Tata CLiQ Luxury business head Gitanjali Saxena said, “At Tata CLiQ Luxury, we have a very strong portfolio of global brands in our existing fashion category across apparel, accessories, and footwear. As we continue to expand our exciting range of fashion portfolios further, we are delighted to launch Le Mill, a multi-brand luxury house, on the platform. Cecilia and Julie are expert curators, and they have recognised what a modern Indian woman looks for in terms of fashion and style. It houses leading international and contemporary Indian brands and is known for its curation, which caters to the evolving needs of the consumer. We look forward to offering our customers an assortment of prestigious brands under Le Mill as we strive to enhance their luxury shopping experience on the platform.”

Le Mill co-founder Cecilia Morelli Parikh said, “We are thrilled to launch our multi-brand luxury house, Le Mill, on Tata CLiQ Luxury. With this partnership, we are expanding our reach further and increasing our access to consumers across the country. Tata CLiQ Luxury is India’s leading luxury lifestyle platform, and we have a shared vision of offering consumers iconic international brands that are expertly curated along with an elevated online luxury shopping experience. We look forward to a successful partnership.”

Mumbai: MissMalini, the definitive source of Bollywood and lifestyle inspiration in India of the Good Creator Co, is delighted to announce its collaboration with Indya, the acclaimed fashion brand renowned for seamlessly blending contemporary and traditional designs. Together, they proudly introduce the spectacular B-Desi Collection, an exquisite ensemble that flawlessly captures the essence of 55 iconic Bollywood looks. This partnership is resonated powered by the Good Community, one of India’s largest omnichannel deep interest-based networks of women and experts and Good Creator Co – India’s largest Creator platforms, both are a part of the Good Glamm Group. 

Through the partnership with the Good Community & Good Creator Co, Indya will be able to leverage the Good Glamm Group’s content-creator-community-commerce model. The steadfast commitment of the Good Community to cultivating substantive connections seamlessly aligns with the foundational ethos of Indya. This dynamic synergy takes the B-Desi Collection beyond conventional fashion, elevating it to a realm where personal expression merges seamlessly with the excitement of cinematic glamour.

Speaking of this collaboration, Indya CEO & co-founder Shivani Poddar expressed, “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with MissMalini for our upcoming festive edit. With MissMalini’s unparalleled expertise in the trends of Bollywood, this partnership seamlessly captures the essence of Indian glamorama. Additionally, teaming up with the Good Community and Good Creator Co. adds another layer of distinction to this edit. Their dedicated endeavors in fostering meaningful connections resonates perfectly with our brand’s values, complemented by their impressive influencer network that will contribute to crafting an experience that deeply connects with our esteemed patrons.”

“It’s been extremely fun & exciting to personally curate iconic Bollywood looks from Indya’s fabulous collection. Partnering with Indya felt like a natural progression for me, given my deep admiration and affection for Bollywood. Through this collaboration, we are weaving the magic of iconic Bollywood characters into the fabric of fashion,  allowing style enthusiasts to step into the shoes of their beloved movie characters &  leveraging the influencer network of Good Creator Co through a fun & strategic campaign. This collection is a tribute to the glitz and timeless glamour of Bollywood, and to the irresistible fashion inspiration that it continues to shines on us through the silver screen,” added Good Creator Co co-Founder Malini Agarwal.

Good Glamm Group group co-founder & Good Community CEO Naiyya Saggi commented, “The Good Community thrives on nurturing connections and shared interests. The partnership with Indya & MissMalini herself enables us to bridge the gap between Indya and our community’s passion for fashion, beauty and all things Bollywood style. This is also an exciting collaboration for us at The Good Glamm Group since we are bringing together The Good Community and The Good Creator Co along with our much loved media assets of MissMalini to co-create this collection with Indya. This initiative stands as a remarkable celebration of self-discovery and significant connections, where personal expression seamlessly merges with cinematic splendor.”

The MissMalini x Indya B-Desi Collection pays homage to the captivating charm of Bollywood, meticulously curated to resonate with iconic movies, celebrity styles, and the very essence of Indian cinema. This exclusive collection presents thoughtfully reimagined looks from the most memorable characters in Bollywood history, elegantly modernized for the ultimate festive edit.

Indya’s dedication to embracing the allure of Bollywood is evident in its meticulous selection of prints, patterns, and embellishments that pay homage to the cinematic universe, infusing a touch of nostalgia into each iconic look and the overall collection.

The “MissMalini x Indya B-Desi Collection,” powered by the Good Community & Good Creator Co, promises to redefine the art of festive celebrations. This fusion of Bollywood-inspired charm showcases a splendid array of ensembles that capture the essence of celebration and Indian tradition, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

Mumbai: Aretto’s leap toward innovation has just become stronger as the company announces the successful completion of its seed funding round. The company secured $550K from a clutch of angel investors and advisors, which included renowned cricketer Hardik Pandya; Abhineet Singh(co-founder of VegNonVeg and founder Brewhouse), Shyam Raichura (MD of Aan Group), Raunak Munot (ex-CMO of Bombay Shaving Company), investment banking firm Veromint Advisors, Vinayak Shrivastav (co-founder Videoverse), and Kunal Sumaya (MD Julius Bear).

Aretto is a game-changer in the kids’ footwear industry, offering technologically designed shoes that adapt to the shape and size of kids’ feet as they grow. The company will strategically channel and utilise the funds to expand its market presence, drive team expansion, and increase research and development efforts to introduce newer product ranges.

Elated at the successful seed funding, Aretto CEO Satyait Mittal commented, “We are immensely grateful for the support and trust shown by our investors at this crucial stage of Aretto’s journey. Each investor is a mentor in their own capacity and a well-wisher of the brand, sharing our larger vision and belief in the team’s determination and grit. This seed funding is not only a testament to our investors’ confidence in our innovative kids’ technology, but it also reiterates our commitment to revolutionizing the industry.”

Bombay Shaving Company ex-CMO Raunak Munot commented, ‘It’s rare to come across a company that has a truly innovative product, in a big addressable market, that has the potential to redefine a category, globally. The fact that Aretto’s products are designed and made in India instills a sense of pride in me. Clubbing that with the team’s passion and execution agility further amplifies my trust in the brand’s vision. As someone who has recently embraced fatherhood, I believe Aretto’s approach seamlessly matches the demands of modern parenting.’

Aretto is implementing a robust growth strategy to expand its market presence. The company plans to open its first retail store in Pune, offering an immersive shopping experience for families. In addition to Pune, the brand has ambitious plans to establish stores and partner with multi-brand outlets in key metropolitan cities, catering to a wider customer base in India.

With this funding, Aretto is enthusiastic about welcoming new talents into its passionate and dynamic team. The company seeks individuals who are driven, creative, and share the vision of nurturing kids’ growth.   

Aretto remains ever-committed to innovation and will continuously expand its product range with a focus on R&D-driven designs. The company will introduce a diverse array of styles, catering to various preferences and needs of young ones. Each new collection will be meticulously crafted with an ergonomic fit, ensuring maximum comfort and support for growing feet. Listening to its customers’ valuable feedback, Aretto will tailor its products to be even more customer-centric, delighting parents with the quality and functionality of Aretto shoes, cementing its position as the go-to brand for parents seeking the best for their children.