ITV

Category: Brands

  • Sundrop enters cereal market with Choco Pops

    Sundrop enters cereal market with Choco Pops

    MUMBAI: Sundrop, one of India’s most trusted food brands has launced a new cereal, Choco Popz. The product which can be had either as a breakfast cereal or a snack has a crunchy multigrain shell and a dark chocolatey centre ideal for snacking all during the day. 

    Increased health consciousness, especially in the metros and tier I cities, has led to consumers having smaller portions through the day and more frequently. Seeing the rise in food consumption among professional, youngsters and kids during the day, the product is a perfect option for a sweet healthy indulgence. It can be eaten as quick breakfast, mid-morning snack, tea break or late night snack craving

    While breakfast, lunch and dinner are still prevalent, new occasions like a pre-breakfast, pre-lunch, pre-evening, pre-dinner and an after-dinner are becoming a trend. As per a study conducted, pre-lunch snack is said to be the preferred meal among youngsters, on-the-go professionals and kids.

    Speaking about the launch, Agro tech foods vice president of marketing Asheesh Sharma says, “Capitalising on the trends and prevailing consumption patterns, the idea was to launch a product that can satisfy the Indian sweet palette and is yet healthy for a guilt free bite. We are excited to launch this product and we are certain it will soon emerge as a preferred snacking choice across age groups.”

    Agro Tech Foods is amongst India’s leading food companies with a portfolio which includes Ready to Cook Popcorn, Tortilla Chips, Ready to Eat Popcorn, Extruded Snacks, Peanut Butter and Edible Oils.

    The launch of Choco Popz is the first step towards having a broader portfolio in both Breakfast Cereals and the Chocolates categories in India.

    The product is available initially in a 25gm packaging priced at Rs 10 and 140gm priced at Rs 60 and is being rolled out nationally.

  • Social govt ads, toilet soaps most advertised during festival

    Social govt ads, toilet soaps most advertised during festival

    MUMBAI: While spikes in viewership could be fuelled by unplanned happenings and topical events, there are special events where television plays the role of a common entertainer for the entire family through collective television viewing.

    Broadcasters on their part, make these days attractive for the viewers through compelling and clever programming and scheduling. Increase in viewers results in increase in advertisers as well. 

    Festivals form a part of India all through the year, but the September to December period is the euphoric period for Indians when most festivals are celebrated. There is Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra, Durga Puja, Navratri and Dussehra celebrated across the country. Also, Diwali and Christmas have an additional bonus of kids’ vacations in most parts of India. There is a culture of buying new things, gifting to family and friends and communication on latest offerings, deals are welcomed by consumers in these festive months. The advertisers love this spending period and loosen their purse strings too. 

    Advertising volume during some of the important festival days always have more ads than the rest. Festivals which are celebrated at home with family gain more ad duration than the ones which are celebrated outside of home.

    As we step into the festive season, BARC India has launched its report on advertising during festivals that throws light on how the viewers and advertisers have evolved during festivals especially in the high decibel festival season between 2015-2018 for September to December. 

    The report shows that television viewership has been rising over the last three years where the average weekly viewership of ads in India is growing steadily each year. From 2016 to 2018, the advertising impressions have increased by a phenomenal 45 per cent from 521 billion to 755 billion with 2018 yet to witness its festive season.

    The growing viewership has seen endorsement from the advertising fraternity with average weekly advertising volume clocking 31 million seconds from January to August 2018

    The peaks in advertising coincides with planned tentpole events related to sports or national interest topics like budget and elections, or with the festive season.

    There is a definite impact of festivals on weekly advertising duration. India is a land of diversities and this diversity reflects in the way we Indians celebrate festivals too. Some are longer, bigger, brighter, high on fun quotient while others are a tad subtle.There are distinct trends in terms of quantum of advertising as well as viewership emergence depending on various factors like the duration of a particular festival or whether it is celebrated indoors or outdoors with family and friends.

    Online shopping, auto, telecom and chocolates sector continue to be the mainstays of the festival season where contribution of categories like internet services, jewellery, paints grow over the years and jewellery emerged as the close second category for the 2017 festive season, just below online shopping. 

    Online shopping portals now advertise all around the year and hence have reduced dependency on the festive season alone. Consumer durables maintains status quo with not much movement in advertising seconds across all years. 

    With more and more advertisers jostling for viewers' eyeballs, mind space and attention the festive season witnesses more and more action across years and the contribution from the usual suspects of festive advertising is reducing over the years.

    The broadcasters also strategically use the festive period for announcing special programming, blockbusters, festival omnibuses in addition to the regular programme line up. 

    But where does the viewership come from? Hindi! Most of the viewership on festival days comes from major Hindi speaking markets (HSM) across the year where Maharashtra, UP/Uttarakhand followed by Gujarat / D&D / DNH and MPCG and are the biggest contributors to viewership on festival days. Festival viewership is on the rise in 2018 as compared to 2017. For 2018, Holi and Janmashtami viewership in HSM markets have increased by 19 per cent and 29 per cent respectively.

    Hindi is the most preferred choice in the Hindi speaking markets on festival days too with over 70 per cent viewership coming from Hindi channels. But with the growing advent of regional channels, improvement in programming quality and television penetration growing in the bottom of the pyramid, there is an increased focus on regional language channels.

  • This Diwali, Shopmatic helps you set up your online shop at just INR 4400

    This Diwali, Shopmatic helps you set up your online shop at just INR 4400

    MUMBAI: With online shopping being in the rage around the seasonal festivities, international e-commerce company Shopmatic is giving small businesses a golden chance to participate in the frenzy by setting their digital shops. The e-commerce company has announced 50% off on its yearly and half-yearly plans between 22 Oct and 10 Nov. Small businesses can make the most of online retail opportunity as Shopmatic is offering all-encompassing e-commerce services for 6 months + 1 month free at INR 4400 and 12 months + 3 months FREE at 8800. Aspiring and ambitious merchants can now avail the extensive collection of tools to set-up online shops, manage and operate the same at discounted prices.

    The latest offer by Shopmatic is set to enable the long-tail of small-scale businesses, homepreneurs, hobbypreneurs, amongst others, to start selling online, ahead of the festive rush. As per reports, half of India’s annual online retail happens during the festive season. However, a number of small business owners are denied access to this incredible opportunity, due to huge upfront investments and lack of technical know-how required in setting up online shops. As an e-commerce company, Shopmatic endeavors to help small businesses overcome these challenges by providing a powerful suite of services and tools, such as customization store builder, payment gateway & shipping integration, data insights and promotional tools.

    Those entrepreneurs who build their stores online before Diwali will be able to leverage the festive rush in sales to their advantage. Commenting on the latest Promo, Anurag Avula, CEO of Shopmatic, said, “We are fascinated by the growing entrepreneurial spirit in the nation today. People are inclined now, more than ever, to turn their ideas, passions and hobbies into full-fledged, revenue-generating business models. These include homemakers, students, hobbyists, artisans, craftspeople, SMEs and more. At Shopmatic, we are determined to support the ambitions of these aspiring entrepreneurs, by simplifying online selling and removing the obstacles in their digital journeys. Furthermore, the festive season begets an unmatched opportunity for online selling. We are hopeful that the growing number of aspiring entrepreneurs will find it easier to set their digital shops and have their businesses  prosper during the festive season and after! “

    As the festive rush sets in, online businesses are better equipped to reach their audiences, grow and expand their business. With Shopmatic, not only will the businesses enjoy easily affordable access to a feature-rich, scalable, and customizable online store but will also be able to entice their audience with lucrative deals and offers. From payments to promotional campaigns and more, Shopmatic helps online businesses sell & succeed, every step on the way.

  • Hershey Kisses will now be Made in India

    Hershey Kisses will now be Made in India

    MUMBAI: We’ve all been there where we ask our relatives and friends to bring us imported chocolates and candies from their trip abroad. Hershey’s Kisses have always been one such popular chocolate. The chocolates are distinct because of their unique shape and each one is delicately wrapped to make them perfect for sharing them with loved ones. 

    But you wont have to ask anyone to bring those scrumptious chocolates from abroad anymore. Hershey India, a part of The Hershey Company, a leading global snacking giant and the largest producer of quality chocolates in North America, has launched its iconic and much-loved Hershey’s Kisses chocolate brand in India. 

    Hershey’s Kisses will come in milk chocolate, almond and cookies ’n’ creme flavours. The Kisses range in India is the result of intensive R&D and consumer testing to develop the right taste profile for discerning Indian consumers who seek premium chocolates.

    And that’s why it wont taste like the Hershey Kisses you get in United States because the taste is different considering the Indian palate and weather conditions here.

    The Hershey Company president international Steven Schiller says, “There is a lot of potential for The Hershey Company in India. This market is an important part of our International growth model. The Hershey’s brand has been leading our India growth and Hershey’s Kisses is a wonderful way to continue that growth by tapping into the growing chocolate segment.”

    Hershey’s Kisses milk chocolate will be available at an attractive price point of Rs 50 and Rs 140. During the first phase of this launch, Hershey’s Kisses will be available only in South India at modern trade, large general trade and e-commerce in South India. The rational behind launching in South first is because the company has a strong base in south India and it contributes to one-third of the total chocolate consumption in India. 

    The company has a manufacturing plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and the other two are run in Gujarat and Telangana.  The US-based chocolate and confectionery firm Hershey has committed to investing $50 million in India over the next five years to scale up its operations here. 

    The festive season has just embarked in India but Hershey does not plan on having festive and gifting options for its portfolio just as yet. Hershey India managing director Herjit Bhalla says, “We will consider gifting going forward but not at the moment as want to concentrate only on south market right now and increase the consumer base.”

    Steven Schiller thinks that there is more potential in India than there is in any other market right now because of the sheer size of the young population with strong economy that creates a ripe environment for people to partake in the snacking category.

    Without giving out any details, the multinational company announced that it is set to bring another product in India by the end of 2018. 

    Kisses will be marketed with an extensive 360 degree marketing plan including TVC, digital campaign, print, outdoor, sampling, in-store visibility.

    Globally, as many companies are reducing the sugar and salt content in their products to provide consumers a healthy and better alternative, Hershey believes in not changing the proportions and formulation too much. Steven Schiller mentions, “We spend a lot of time understand the trends and different types of products that people are interested in. I don't want to make commitments about the reduction because it also has to make commercial sense.”

    The journey of the Hershey’s brand in India started a decade ago with the introduction of the Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup and now has Sofit milk, chocolate spreads and Jolly Rancher candies. Globally, the company makes nearly 70 million Hershey’s Kisses every day that are sold in nearly 60 countries.

    The launch of Hershey’s Kisses might further fuel the growth of the Hershey’s brand in this country.

  • Gillette launches new MACH3 START with Hardik Pandya

    Gillette launches new MACH3 START with Hardik Pandya

    MUMBAI: Joining the MACH3 Turbo and MACH3 original is Gillette’s newest launch – the MACH3 START.

    Marking the 20th birthday of MACH3, Gillette has specially designed this new razor with its first-ever 360° aqua-grip handle which entails the understanding of the needs and the problems of younger guys who are just starting to shave.

    Guys take pride in their tools – a drill, a game controller, a razor and hence, Gillette has come up with this innovative handle, which features blades that are thinner than a surgeon’s scalpel and coated with a diamond-like-carbon, making the blades stronger, resulting in a close and comfortable shave– even on the 15th shave. Available in a sleek, blue hue, the MACH3 START feels extraordinarily comfortable to hold and allows guys to have total control in any situation – when shaving at the sink or in the shower.

    “Gillette takes pride in launching the new MACH3 START which is designed for the millennials who want the added benefit of a secure grip for total control even in wet conditions during a shave. It is being introduced at a lower price point to be more accessible to young men and those who are just starting to shave,” says P&G associate director and country category leader for shave care Indian sub-continent Karthik Srivatsan.

    “It’s important that guys feel equipped to face every day with the right attitude and confidence,” adds brand ambassador Hardik Pandya. “I am excited to be the face of MACH3 Start, that not only takes care of the different grooming needs of the youth but also their preferred looks, different skin types and is also pocket-friendly.”

    In addition to the launch of the MACH3 START with Aqua-Grip, Gillette is improving the MACH3 family with sharper blades on the MACH3 original to go up against tough beard hair. The blades are made with high quality stainless steel that is precisely thinned and coated for durability to ultimately cut through beard hair with greater ease. Over the past 20 years, Gillette MACH3 has continued to innovate and advance in precision technology and has delivered on craftsmanship to uphold its reputation.

    Gillette MACH3 START with aqua-grip will be available across all modern retail outlets and ecommerce platforms pan India and is priced at Rs 169.

    Gillette offers a wide variety of products including razors, shave gel (gels, foams and creams), skin care, after shaves, antiperspirants, deodorants and body wash.

  • Foodpanda acquires Holachef

    Foodpanda acquires Holachef

    MUMBAI: Food delivery company Foodpanda, India’s fastest growing today announced its acquisition of Mumbai-based food-tech venture Holachef.

    Through this collaboration, Foodpanda marks its strategic entry into cloud kitchens and plans to launch its own brand of food products in different categories.

    Foodpanda will build deeper capabilities to serve the diverse needs of millions of Indians by bringing different trusted offerings tailored to the needs of specific customer segments alongside an enhanced food ordering experience. With India’s largest food delivery network of 125,000 delivery partners, Foodpanda is well poised to address the increased demand on its platform.

    Foodpanda India CEO Pranay Jivrajka says, “Through the Ola platform, we already have an unmatched access to over 150 million customers and an understanding of their preferences. We have been able to bring an enhanced experience for millions of customers over the past year. We aim to build India’s largest cloud kitchen network that will be a major step in further elevating the food experience for our customers.”

    As part of the acquisition, Foodpanda will take over Holachef’s business including its kitchens, equipment, as well as bring onboard the company’s employees.

    Holachef’s founders are set to join Foodpanda’s leadership team.

    Launched in 2012, Foodpanda’s  cumulatively reach is over 150 million consumers across the country. With an enhanced focus on local innovation, technology, and delivery logistics, we are redefining the experience for every one of our stakeholders viz. customers, delivery partners, and restaurant partners.

    Foodpanda is also India’s fastest growing food delivery platform, processing over 300,000 orders a day from 25,000+ restaurant partners across the country with the largest food delivery network of 125,000+ Delivery Partners.

  • Ajmal Perfumes partners with Parcos

    Ajmal Perfumes partners with Parcos

    MUMBAI: Global home-grown perfume house, Ajmal Perfumes has entered into a strategic association with one of the leading perfume and cosmetics retailer, Parcos.

    The alliance aims to reach a wider customer base who will now be able to buy Ajmal Perfumes at Parcos stores in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi. Ajmal Perfumes’ premium signature range such as Amber Wood, Amber Musc and the latest launch Aristocrat will be available at the stores.

    Ajmal Perfumes has been creating many memorable and mesmerising fragrances since its commencement in the year 1951 and has been a favourite perfume brand for many Indians. Fragrances by Ajmal Perfumes are known for having high quality ingredients and alluring scents. On the other hand, Parcos is India’s pioneering perfumes and cosmetic retailer, translating brand equity through a qualitative ambience, guaranteed authenticity and expertise.

    Ajmal and Sons, India consulting perfumer Abdulla Ajmal says, “We are ecstatic to partner with renowned brand, Parcos. With this association, we will be able to offer some of the best signature perfumes from Ajmal Perfumes’ portfolio to Parcos loyalists. This will give them an opportunity to experience world of fragrances by Ajmal Perfumes.”

    Founded by the Late Chairman Haji Ajmal Ali in the Year 1951, Ajmal & Sons has grown from a modest trading house operating out of Mohammed Ali Road in Mumbai to an international powerhouse with distribution in over 45 countries around the world and company owned retail outlets in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Thailand.

    Today this multi-million-dollar family owned business is steered by the passion of the second and third-generation Ajmals, each playing a key role in the brand’s development. At present Ajmal is available in 12 duty free locations and 14 international airlines and with over 240 outlets across the world. Ajmal & Sons is available in 31 cities with 49 company owned outlets across India.

  • Enormous Brands strengthens leadership at Gurgaon office

    Enormous Brands strengthens leadership at Gurgaon office

    MUMBAI: Enormous Brands has bolstered its northern operations with significant appointments across all disciplines. The agency has hired Prateek Suri as creative head Gurgaon. He joins from Publicis India where he was a creative director.

    He will report to Enormous managing partner Ashish Khazanchi. 

    Prateek is joined by Pallav Medhi and Harsh Maheshwari, Enormous’ newest senior creative directors. Further, Aditi Sobti and Rishabh Sood have come in a Client Services Directors, while Anuraag is the branch’s newest Senior Planning Director.

    Speaking about the new hires, Ashish Khazanchi says, “A creative agency is as great as its people, above anything else. Infusing some fine talent across creative, account management and strategy will help strengthen Enormous’ entire creative product further. I am eager to see what this young blood has in store for us in the months to come, and I am equally confident it will be great.”

    Prateek has over 12 years of experience in the advertising industry and has won multiple awards in his career. Apart from Publicis India, he has worked with Contract India, J Walter Thompson, Ogilvy & Mather and L&K Saatchi across key national clients such as Maggi, Dominos, Truecaller, Vivo, Mrs Bector and DishTV among others.

    Speaking about his new mandate, Prateek Suri mentions, “I have followed Enormous’ journey for a while now. I think it is one of the few agencies that does honest, creative and quirky work. Ashish has put together a very talented team, and I am excited to start my new journey here.”

    Harsh’s last stint was with J Walter Thompson, where he worked on the agency’s Pepsi business. Pallav comes in from Times Internet, where he was the Creative Lead. Anuraag, too, joins from J. Walter Thompson.

    Aditi and Rishabh, both client services directors, have joined from Coca-Cola and Publicis India, respectively.

    All of the new appointments at Enormous Brands are effective immediately. 

  • IndusInd Bank launches India’s first two chip debit-cum-credit card

    IndusInd Bank launches India’s first two chip debit-cum-credit card

    MUMBAI: IndusInd Bank has launched the IndusInd Bank Duo Card which is India’s first 2 EMV chip debit cum credit card.

    This two-in-one duo card with two magnetic stripes and 2 EMV chips brings the functionalities of both debit and credit cards to the Indian consumer on one plastic. With a range of benefits that straddle both types of cards, it is a powerhouse of convenience and flexibility for the customer. With just one card to carry for all their financial needs, the customer can travel light with just one card plastic. The card design uses the anagram technique to enhance and highlight the singularity of the duo card.

    The IndusInd Bank Duo Card is loaded with features for the young upwardly-mobile customer, and includes offers across entertainment, travel & lifestyle. It simplifies the customer’s life by providing a single statement of account and amplifies the power of the rewards program by enabling consolidation of rewards points.

    IndusInd Bank head for consumer banking Sumant Kathpalia says, “The goal is always to simplify banking and enhance convenience for our customers. Innovations such as the Duo Card go a long way in simplifying customers’ lives. We have our ears to the ground and understand that our young and aspirational customers want something unique that makes them stand apart. The IndusInd Bank Duo Card aims to deliver a seamless and delightful client experience and offers the best of both worlds, in one plastic. The convenience of having dual functionality, and a wide range of offers and features on one plastic, is sure to resonate with our audience. Our advice to the customer is to #KeepItSingle, and embrace innovation at its best.”

    IndusInd Bank has launched a multi-media campaign that connects with the customer at various touch-points. While television will be used to announce the innovation, digital will be used extensively to engage with the digitally savvy audience. RK Swamy BBDO, New Delhi is the creative agency for the campaign. The campaign has been conceptualised and scripted by Ankur Suman – creative head, RK Swamy BBDO, New Delhi – along with Pragya Bhatnagar and Pankaj Bora. It is directed by Gajraj Rao of Code Red films.

    Suman adds, “Cool innovations like these need cool communication solutions. It was important to create intrigue and interest around a product that’s so unique. Here’s a card that keeps things simpler, by keeping them single. Hence #KeepItSingle worked perfectly! Retaining the tone and style of IndusInd Bank campaigns that we have created over the years, this one too, uses light-hearted, slice-of-life situations to drive home the message about Duo Card; helping the audience absorbs its relevance and utility even better.”

    IndusInd Bank, which commenced operations in 1994, caters to the needs of both consumer and corporate customers. Its technology platform supports multi-channel delivery capabilities.

    As on June 30, 2018, IndusInd Bank has 1410 branches, and 2285 ATMs spread across geographical locations of the country. The bank also has representative offices in London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

  • Will never look at rebranding Vicks: P&G India

    Will never look at rebranding Vicks: P&G India

    MUMBAI: Nearly all of us remember the Vicks ad that went viral last year featuring transgender social worker Gauri Sawant and her daughter Gayatri. The ad touched and moved many. In the second phase of the campaign, Vicks has launched a new digital campaign for its #TouchOfCare brand proposition.

    ‘One in a Million’ is yet another inspiring story, this time of Nisha, a young girl who has Ichthyosis, a genetic skin condition. The transformation of Nisha due to the love and care provided by her adoptive parents Aloma and David Lobo, forms the crux of this digital video.

    Created by Publicis Singapore, the story is a first-person narrative by Nisha, an orphaned girl with Ichthyosis who was abandoned by her biological parents when she was just two weeks old.

    Ever since the company launched its first digital movie in 2017, people have been curious and anticipating #TouchOfCare to turn into a series and a long term campaign. Though the multinational corporation did not see the campaign becoming this big and receiving the response that it did, P&G Healthcare regional associate brand director for Asia Maithreyi Jagannathan said that the objective of the campaign was to drive on the equity of the brand and make it beyond just a cough and cold brand so that people don’t think of P&G only when they are sick.

    2017 Vicks #TouchOfCare ad:

    The new digital campaign is another example of cause marketing that seems to be the recent trend in the industry. Nearly everyone wants to associate with a cause and showcase that in their advertisement. It may often become a challenge for a marketer to distinguish the media spends between cause driven campaign and functionality driven campaign. P&G however seems to have it sorted as Maithreyi confirms that while this is more of a creative campaign, the company will continue to use its functional campaigns on all media platforms.

    The Gauri Sawant film went massively viral on digital as it was a digital-first campaign and only after the team saw the phenomenal response it received, it decided to leverage other traditional mediums to promote the campaign. Similarly, for this second phase of the campaign, while it has kicked off with digital, as and when the campaign grows bigger, it will use a mix of television and print to reach the masses.

    Content driven marketing is becoming larger by the day and P&G does not want to be left out on it. Mentioning that it has to be a balance between data driven content and functional advertising, Vicks India country marketing manager Ritu Mittal added, “Content driven marketing is a lot more data driven today because the clear objective is that you need more people to see it. Nobody will share functional advertisement on their social media but thousands will share a powerful content.”

    2018 Vicks #TouchOfCare ad:

    Vicks has been around for over a decade and many may see the brand as a grandmother brand that the Gen-Z may not completely resonate with. So much so that the formulation for Vicks hasn’t changed in the last 128 years. So, is there a dire need for brand Vicks to reinvent itself? P&G clearly doesn’t seem to think so. Mittal said, “You change the brand positioning only when the brand is not working and Vicks has been doing great numbers for us and so we don’t need to rebrand the product.”

    Whether the decision to stick to the traditional form of Vicks works for or against the brand, only time will tell. But maybe the #TouchOfCare campaign was indeed a saviour for the company to get the millennials’ eyeballs as they are all about cause buying.