ITV

Category: Brands

  • Zomato acquires Italian restaurant search service Cibando

    Zomato acquires Italian restaurant search service Cibando

    MUMBAI: Zomato, a restaurant search service already present across 20 countries, has acquired Italy’s leading restaurant search service Cibando.

     

    Cibando will soon be integrated with Zomato, and over the next few months, users will be able to use Zomato for all major cities in Italy.

    Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal said, “Cibando is one of the largest restaurant search services in Italy. Their existing traffic and user base will give us a great start as we launch Zomato in the country. And we love the Cibando team – I think we have a lot to learn from them about the local market. The entire Cibando team is joining Zomato and will lead the effort of building the business in Italy. We are really excited to be joining forces with them as we focus on being Italy’s — and the world’s — go-to restaurant search service.”

    Cibando founder and CEO Guk Kim said, “Zomato has been expanding at a rapid pace, and we’re excited about being part of that journey. Together, we will be able to offer detailed information for even more restaurants to our users in Italy and beyond, while also helping restaurant businesses connect and engage with customers effectively.”

    “Our immediate focus will be on integrating Cibando into Zomato, and on building the most comprehensive restaurant search service for the Italian market. We will also scale up our teams in Rome and Milan to 30-40 full-time employees in the next three months.” Goyal added.

    This is Zomato’s fifth acquisition in the recent months. Zomato acquired MenuMania in New Zealand, Lunchtime in Czech Republic, Obedovat in Slovakia, and Gastronauci in Poland recently.

     

  • Wildcraft’s first mass media campaign; announces new products, brand identity

    Wildcraft’s first mass media campaign; announces new products, brand identity

    BENGALURU: Outdoor brand Wildcraft has unveiled a new brand identity in Bengaluru. The company also revealed its plans to be synonymous with the Indian outdoor industry. The brand’s revitalized presence includes a newly designed logo and theme alongside extensive additions to its product portfolio. The company also announced its first mass media campaign including a TVC.

     
    One of the country’s first brands to offer performance-driven outdoor gear, Wildcraft is now seeking to define the Indian outdoor segment through a series of bold moves. The Rs 250 crore brand has now targeted Rs 2000 crore by 2020. The segment has been growing at a CAGR of 16-20 per cent, with the organised players growing even faster at about 25 per cent CAGR, says Wildcraft.

     
    Wildcraft India CMO Simeran Bhasin said, “Our new logo is a reflection of the liberation the outdoors can bring from the monotony and rigmarole of everyday urban life. The brand’s new identity reflects the essence of our company and forms the basis of every consumer touch point from our retail stores to our website and TVCs. Our marketing communication strategy is in line with our efforts to inspire, educate, inform and equip people to experience the outdoors and, consequently, recognise Wildcraft as a performance-driven, head-to-toe outfitter. We will do this through immersive experiences across traditional, digital and social media.”

     
    Elaborating on Wildcraft’s strategy, Gaurav Dublish, one of the three co-founders of the company said, “We are not short on ambition. Today, from rucksacks to jackets and tents to shoes, Wildcraft products are available in over 120 exclusive and over 2,500 multi-branded stores across 400+ key Indian cities. Our diversified distribution strategy includes exclusive stores, modern trade chains, distribution to traditional multi-brand outlets, institutional partnerships as well as e-commerce portals.”

     
    Wildcraft co-founder Siddarth Sood added, “Our plan is to push the boundaries of product design in order to give our users gear they love and trust. Coupled with the expansion of our manufacturing capabilities this will reinforce Wildcraft’s status as a one-stop-shop for outdoor lovers across the country.”

     

  • RB Tops Sector in BMAC (Britain’s Most Admired Companies) Awards.

    RB Tops Sector in BMAC (Britain’s Most Admired Companies) Awards.

    NEW DELHI: RB has won the Health & Household Category in the prestigious BMAC Awards, the only business awards that recognise organisations that are held in the highest regard by their business competitors and peers.  Britain’s Most Admired Companies awards provide an insight into an essential element of success in business, ‘corporate reputation’.    RB scored particularly in the areas of the quality of its marketing and its financial soundness.

     

    RB CEO Rakesh Kapoor, who accepted the Award said: “We are very proud to have won this Award which is an endorsement of our business and our values.  It reflects the success, innovation, drive and talent of RB people at all levels and is recognition that that the business community acknowledges RBs success and admires our company. I know that everyone across the global business will take pride in this accolade.”
     
    BMAC Awards provide a unique insight into the components of corporate reputation by recognising the factors critical to business success. Britain’s top companies and their bosses are asked to assess their rivals, a revealing exercise that gets to the heart of what makes businesses succeed what it takes to be admired in business.
     
    Now in its 24th year, the BMAC Awards are researched by Birmingham City University where the Business team surveys 100s of British Businesses and senior directors to find the companies that rank highest across a range of criteria that include Quality of Management, Financial Soundness, Quality of Goods and Services, Ability to Attract, Retain and Develop Top Talent, Innovation, Value as an Investment, Quality of Marketing, and Community & Environmental Responsibility.
     
    The award comes hard on the heels of the successful launch of RB’s Make Your Move corporate brand awareness campaign, part of the Game Changers initiative which reaches out to top talent. 
     
    BMAC is supported by Management Today magazine.
  • Western Union signs Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador

    Western Union signs Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Western Union, a global payment services company, has announced its association with the ‘King of Bollywood’ – Shah Rukh Khan, as its brand ambassador. With a massive fan following across the world, Khan will now represent Western Union and its quick, convenient and reliable money transfer services, offered across 200 countries and territories.

     

    Western Union salutes ‘global’ citizens who cross borders to work and live. Many of these people trust Western Union services to send regular financial support to their families and stay connected with their loved ones back home. According to research carried out by Western Union, watching movies from their native country is one of most common things that connect migrants to their homeland. The survey also revealed that for Indian diaspora who are living and working outside the country, Bollywood ranked second in terms of platforms helping them to remain connected to their homeland.

     

    Khan’s popularity, his remarkable ability to connect with his audiences across all age groups around the world, especially the connections he builds for the South Asian diaspora to their home countries, resonates with the Western Union brand promise of bringing families closer to their loved ones.

     

    Western Union regional VP & managing director- India & South Asia Kiran Shetty said, “We are very excited to have Shah Rukh Khan as a Western Union ambassador, as he truly symbolizes our ability to create connections for families around the world with their loved ones back home. We are certain, that with this association, our consumers across the globe will feel even closer to home.”

     

    Western Union consumers in the US and UK have already started to experience the charisma of Khan as he features in campaigns that remind Indian diaspora of the ease and reliability that Western Union provides when sending money to loved ones back home. 

     

    “I am extremely thrilled to be part of the Western Union family. Via their services they connect people around the world with their loved ones, like I do with my films. Western Union’s reliable, fast and convenient service is what makes Western Union popular amongst consumers across the globe – Transferring money, is fat-a-fat, or quick and easy,” said Khan.

  • DHFL signs Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador

    DHFL signs Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: DHFL, a housing finance company, has announced Shah Rukh Khan as its brand ambassador. This is the company’s first such brand association in its 30 year journey of providing financial access for home buying amongst Indian customers.

    DHFL chairman and MD Kapil Wadhawan said, “We are extremely pleased to have Shah Rukh Khan as DHFL’s brand ambassador. Today, DHFL is on its way to becoming a large financial services institution, reaching out to customers across the country, with its customised products and solutions. Shah Rukh Khan, with his people connect driven by diverse performances, has enthralled Indians over the years. This resonates with our brand philosophy of being able to cater to customers with tailor-made financial options, designed to suit their evolving needs. In this context, Shah Rukh Khan is a perfect brand ambassador in our endeavour to connect with every Indian for their financial well-being, today and in the future.”

    Shah Rukh Khan said, “It is an honour to be associated with DHFL. I truly believe that owning a home is the first step towards ensuring a secure and confident future for every family. I personally believe that DHFL’s mission of enabling home ownership amongst every Indian is as relevant today, as it was 30 years ago when DHFL began operations. It is exciting that, now I am associated with them as a brand ambassador in their journey of catering to customers with effective and relevant financial services products.”

     DHFL has been marketing its solutions to customers across 550 locations in India through national and regional level advertisement and event campaigns.

     

  • Cinépolis launches technologically advanced theatre in Thane, Mumbai

    Cinépolis launches technologically advanced theatre in Thane, Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Cinépolis, the world’s fourth largest and India’s first international exhibitor launched the second biggest megaplex in India with 14 screens at Viviana Mall, Thane, Mumbai on 20 November.

     

    With this multiplex, Cinépolis will be operating 110 screens across India, making it the fastest brand to cross the 100-screen landmark organically.

     
    The megaplex is one of the most technologically-advanced cinemas with six concepts under one roof viz. Cinépolis VIP, IMAX, 4DX, Dolby Atmos, RealD 3D and 4K projection system. With this theatre, Cinépolis is introducing 4DX to India which provides a fully immersive movie experience with a real simulation of effects like motion seats, water, wind, fog, lightening and scents that enhance what one views on the screen.

     

    The other revolutionary concepts that the theatre encompasses include the Cinépolis VIP that reinvents entertainment with full leather recliners, in-theatre restaurant apart from the existing service on-seat. It is also the first Cinépolis property to have a fully-equipped IMAX screen. In addition, another auditorium in the complex is equipped with Dolby Atmos, which employs up to 64 speakers to heighten the realism of every scene. Patrons can also enjoy freshly-prepared gourmet food at the in-house coffee shop, Coffee Tree, in the lobby of Cinépolis.

     
    Additionally, the state of the art 3-D technology from Real-D systems is the world’s most widely deployed 3-D technology and offers viewers the most enthralling 3-D movie watching experience and has an exclusive tie-up with Cinépolis in India.

     

    Movie goers can also enjoy benefits of Club Cinépolis, the company’s loyalty programme at the theatre in Viviana Mall.

     

    Cinépolis India MD Javier Sotomayor said, “Cinépolis is committed to offering the best cinema experience to movie goers in India. With this goal in mind, we have introduced unparalleled concepts in the country such as IMAX, 4DX, exclusive Real-D 3D, Dolby Atmos sound to name a few. Thanks to these features, the Cinépolis brand has quickly marked its niche in the country and has been able to garner widespread loyalty.”

     

    “Cinépolis pioneered the concept of luxury cinemas and the largest operator of luxury cinemas worldwide. We are glad to bring the same to India. This is our second Cinepolis VIP property in India, which will provide a superior movie viewing experience to the discerning audience.

     

    Megaplexes such as these enable us to bring all these different concepts under one roof. We can also provide flexibility to our patrons to watch their favourite shows at their preffered timings. We thank Mr. Sunil Shroff and his team for the opportunity to be able to gift to the people of Thane this great megaplex at Viviana Mall, Thane. On the back of this success, we aim to reach the 400-screen landmark by 2017,” he added.

     
     
    Speaking about the growth plans, Cinépolis India director-expansion Ashish Shukla said, “Thought leadership, product leadership and megaplexes is Cinépolis’s commitment to India. The Viviana Megaplex, Mumbai’s largest, is a must visit for all Thanekars and Mumbaikars.

     

    With this 110th screen launching within five years of our operations, Cinépolis continues to be the fastest organically growing company in India, on an average two screens per month. We will continue to bring the best which the world has to offer to India first. 4DX as an experiential cinema will change the way movie goers watch movies in India. We look forward to building Megaplexes like the Viviana Mall across the country in partnerships with leading developers. Visit soon, and enjoy the amazing experience.”

     
    Cinépolis India business head–strategy Devang Sampat shared, “At Cinépolis, our constant endeavour is to deliver unmatched levels of customer service. With the introduction of 4DX in India, we have set a new, unprecedented benchmark in the realm of movie watching experience in the country.

     

    Patrons can also enjoy gourmet food offerings at Coffee Tree and benefit from the Cinépolis club membership, where movie goers can register for free and start accumulating reward points for every purchase made at the Cinépolis Box Office. These points can be later redeemed for free tickets. Club Cinépolis members have the lifetime opportunity to meet and greet their favourite bollywood and Hollywood stars.

     

    We would focus on programming as wide variety of content as “possible to suit the demands from all the different segments. We intend to showcase niche content which haven’t been able to come to the silver screen earlier. ”

    Viviana Mall head Sunil Shroff said, “It gives us immense pleasure to announce the opening of Cinepolis at Viviana. In a short span of a year, Viviana has reset benchmarks with its vibrant retail offerings and unique consumer experientials.  With the launch of Cinepolis, we have sealed our position among the country’s premium destinations for entertainment, shopping, dining and other recreational activities.”   

    Apart from Thane, Cinépolis currently operates at Mumbai, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Patna, Surat, Ludhiana, Jaipur, Bhopal, Hubli, Hyderabad, Thane, Mangalore and Vijaywada. Starting in 2009, Cinépolis has become one of the fastest in India to reach the landmark of over 100 screens with a total of 21,500 seats.

     

  • Zomato raises $60 million from Vy Capital and existing investors

    Zomato raises $60 million from Vy Capital and existing investors

    MUMBAI: Zomato, the popular restaurant search and discovery service, has closed a fresh round of funding of $60 million at a post-money valuation of $660 million.

    These funds will be used to accelerate Zomato’s global expansion and new product development. This round of funding is being led jointly by Info Edge (India) and Vy Capital, with participation from Sequoia Capital. This takes Zomato’s total funding to over $113 million. Zomato has earlier raised $53 million from Info Edge (India) and Sequoia Capital over multiple rounds of funding.

    Founded in 2008, Zomato provides up-to-date detailed information, menus and photos for over 300,000 restaurants across the 18 countries it is present in on both web and mobile.

    Zomato founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal said, “Zomato is well on its way to becoming the world’s local expert in dining out. In the past year, we have added eight countries and millions of new users to our foodie truck. From just restaurant discovery and menus, Zomato has now become a vast global community driven by social interactions. This is an exciting point in our journey, as we accelerate our way across the globe, and build a product that will continue to redefine the way people dine.”

    Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani added, “Our first investment in Zomato was made almost 4 years ago, and the team has shown phenomenal progress since then to build the Zomato that we know and use. The company is growing very fast, and we are proud to back them up to further grow the business – both inside and outside of India.”

    Vy Capital founding partner Alexander Tamas said, “Zomato is one of the first internet companies out of India with a consumer product that is scaling on a global basis and a team that is executing extremely well against the opportunity. We look forward to being long-term partners of the company as it establishes itself among the global internet leaders.”

    Headquartered in New Delhi, Zomato plans to expand to 14 more countries across Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Americas.

     

  • Hero Cycles customer reward initiative a hit with customers

    Hero Cycles customer reward initiative a hit with customers

    MUMBAI: Hero Cycles, world’s largest bicycle manufacturer, had recently announced ‘Mega Hero Gifts Festival’ to capture the spirit of festive season. The offer, that entitles each buyer to win assured gifts with the purchase of every Hero cycle, has received an overwhelming response from the customers. The company will be giving away over 9 lakh prizes under this offer.

     
    To avail the offer every customer will have to scratch the promo card being given along with each purchase. Speaking about the success of the offer Pankaj Munjal, Co-Chairman and Managing Director, Hero Cycles said, “We are overwhelmed by the response that we have received from our customers. In just a few days we have been able to achieve several happy and satisfied customers through the offer. Our aim is to provide maximum customer satisfaction through our quality of products and such offers further help in providing enhanced customer experience. This initiative is a part of our customer reward program that aims to bolster our efforts to achieve our sales expansion strategy.”
     

    There are several high value prizes among others to be won under the offer that include Maruti Alto cars, Hero Splendor motor cycles, Apple iPads, LG LCD televisions and Nokia 520 Lumia phones. The offer started from 16th October 2014 and will be valid till 15th December 2014.

     
    Being the world’s largest cycle manufacturers the company manufactured 5.5 million bicycles last year with sales of Rs 2000 crore.

     

  • Viacom18: The ‘Bigg Boss’ of brand integrations

    Viacom18: The ‘Bigg Boss’ of brand integrations

    MUMBAI: Evolution is the key to survival. And the Media and Entertainment industry has mastered the art.

     

    With changing times, the broadcasters, advertisers along with media agencies are coming up with newer and better ways to put forth their message to their viewers beyond the 10 sec or 30 sec TVC. Innovative ways are being found and negotiated to go beyond the 12 minute ad cap authored by the government.

     

    One such network, which through its numerous entities, can be said is at the forefront of it is Viacom18. Take a look at its latest film Mary Kom or Colors’ Bigg Boss. They are a perfect example of how brands can be integrated.

     

    According to Viacom18 group CEO Sudhanshu Vats, as the network offers sponsorships, it will continue to strengthen the value additions like in the case of Snapdeal and Bigg Boss.

     

    Madison Media, recently did brand integrations with the reality show for TVS Scooty Zest and Britannia. Says the media planner from the agency, who didn’t want to be named, “No other network has so many reality shows under its belt. And they all provide a perfect platform to showcase what the sponsor needs to communicate to the audience.”

     

    The deal is made on the table when sponsor and title sponsors come on board. The value additions help the brands to get value for the big bucks they spend on them.

     

    For instance, in Bigg Boss, the key carriers of the brand integration which is also an integral part of the show’s format are the various ‘tasks’ that are given to the housemates to prove themselves. “We ideate in a manner that a brand /product gets woven beautifully in a given task and their positioning and offerings gets highlighted in a seamless manner. For example, the Snapdeal portal used by the housemates to buy essential household items,” says Colors CEO Raj Nayak.

     

    Brands that associate as sponsors, gets branding presence in the house most suitable for their category.  The Garnier Men’s Products posters are put up in the bathroom, which gets featured in the show every day; similarly, making a call to a loved one, using the Oppo Smart Phone.  Nayak adds, “Suitable to the format and content, brand consumption/ usage is also integrated within the day’s activities.”

     

    The network’s youth entertainment channel, MTV, started embedded advertising in the beginning of the year and since then have had many clients willing to take the new form of advertising. The first few ones being Nokia, Tuborg, ITC and Gionee. 

     

    The phenomenon isn’t new, but a lot of broadcasters are taking the route to keep the advertisers happy as well as get in the mullah. The network, which follows the restricted advertisement air time, hikes its rates at regular intervals to keep the in-flow going. And through its numerous properties keeps the marketers happy. 

     

    With the onset of reality shows, advertisers have got more opportunities. Also, one can have repeat messaging in non-fiction shows, which is not too easy to introduce in fiction shows.  However, if ample development time is given, then even in fiction shows brand stories can be fused, as Colors did with Tata Motors for its show 24.

     

    IPG Mediabrands India GM (content and experiences) Dhruv Jha elaborates on the Tata Motors and 24 deal. “These integrations are more like an extension of the media deals, but they need to done in a smart manner. A forced-upon integration can put off a viewer and not benefit both the channel and the brand as well.”

     

    To make the integration an integral “part” of the show, one needs to draw the fine line. The task isn’t easy.

     

    Ideation starts with the brand brief; next comes synergising the key messaging of the brand with the most suitable content piece so as to hit the viewers/ consumers in the most fitting manner.  It is also important to review the operational aspect during ideation – arranging for the products, branding scope in the scene, feasibility of integrating the brand ambassador etc.  Social media is often used to create pre and post telecast buzz around the integrations.

     

    “Innovation is something that has been ingrained in our channel’s DNA, and as the saying goes, if you’ve seen it before, it ain’t innovation. We challenge ourselves with every show – whether its Bigg Boss, Khatron ke Khiladi, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, India’s Got Talent or 24 to ensure that there’s a delight factor both for the viewers as well as the sponsors,” boasts Nayak.

     

    The brands which show the most interest to come on board are e-commerce and smartphone companies. And now with the markets stabilising, the channels are also seeing renewed interests from auto sector, food and FMCG sectors.

     

    The trend is now veering towards integration of brands “strategically” across all engagement points and not be uni-dimensional or have a shotgun approach. 

  • Godrej Consumer Products ‘Soaps’ category sees strong turnaround in Q2-2015 with new marketing campaign

    Godrej Consumer Products ‘Soaps’ category sees strong turnaround in Q2-2015 with new marketing campaign

    BENGALURU: Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) reported 9.1 per cent growth in Total Income from Operations (TIO) in Q2-2015 to Rs 2060.12 crore from Rs 1888.51 crore in Q1-2015 and 5 per cent growth from Rs 1961.72 crore in Q2-2015. For HY-2015, TIO grew 7 per cent to Rs 3948.63 crore from Rs 3668.62 crore in HY-2014.

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakhs = 10 million = 1 crore

    The company in its press release says that despite the Soaps category continued de-growth in this quarter the company saw a good turnaround with sales growth of 13 per cent. Godrej No. 1 recorded a sharp uptick in growth rates, aided by new marketing campaign and focused activation programmes. The launch of Cinthol’s new germ protection variant “Confidence+” has received an encouraging response, adds the company.

    The company’s Ad and Publicity spend (Ad spend)  at Rs 211.69 crore ( 10.3 per cent of TIO) for the current quarter was 15.4 per cent lower than the Rs 250.20 crore (13.2 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter and was 4 per cent lower than the Rs 220.60 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year.

    Over a 10 quarter period starting Q1-2013 until Q2-2015, ad spend shows an upward linear trend in absolute rupee terms, while the spends seems to have flattened out to in terms of percentage of TIO. GCPL‘s ad spend in terms of absolute rupees has been in Q1-2015 at Rs 250.20 crore above. In terms of percentage of TIO, the company’s ad spend was highest in Q1-2014 at 13.8 per cent of TIO. Please refer to Fig A below.

    GCPL’s  PAT in Q2-2015 at Rs 234.53 (11.4 per cent of TIO) crore in Q2-2015 was 63.5 per cent higher than the Rs 143.45 crore in Q1-2015 and 20.3 per cent higher that the Rs 195.97 crore (9.9 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2014. For HY-2015, PAT at Rs 377.98 crore was 15.4 per cent more than the Rs 327,68 crore in HY-2014.

    Over the10 quarter period under consderation, PAT has been highest in Q4-2013, both in terms of absolute rupees and in terms of percentage of TIO at Rs 334.14 crore and 19.4 per cent of TIO. Over the period under consideration, PAT in terms of absolute rupees shows an upward linear trend, while PAT in terms of percantage of TIO shows a slight downward trend, probably on account  of the high PAT in Q4-2013 mentioned above. Please refer to Fig B below.

    Commenting on the financial performance of Q2-2015, Godrej group chairman Adi Godrej said,

    “Consumer demand remained subdued in the second quarter of fiscal year 2014-2015, making this one of the slowest years of growth for the Indian FMCG industry in over a decade. We have however, continued to outperform the market and our brands have further strengthened their leadership positions. Our net profit grew strongly this quarter at 20 per cent. Sales were however impacted by a soft performance in the household insecticide category due to the deficient and delayed monsoon in India, and the impact of an adverse forex translation in our international businesses. Overall, our international businesses delivered a good constant currency growth of 12 per cent. Indonesia, our largest international business, achieved a strong constant currency growth of 15 per cent.”

    “We believe that the Indian FMCG industry is now showing early signs of recovery. Growth has improved in the latter part of this quarter, particularly in September. While any recovery is likely to be gradual, we believe that after many quarters, environmental indicators are now trending in the right direction. We are confident that the second half of this year will be better than the first half.

    In this uncertain environment, we continue to focus on sustaining and extending leadership in our core categories. We are managing our costs prudently in the near term, while investing for the longer term. We are also continuing our pace of launching exciting new products.

    The medium and long-term growth prospects in India and our other emerging markets remain robust. I am confident that with our clear strategic focus, differentiated product portfolio, superior execution and top-notch team, we will continue to deliver industry-leading results,” added Godrej.

     

    Click here to read the unaudited financial result

     

    Click here to read the press release