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Category: Brands

  • Aligned with 2020 vision, Coca Cola launches Zero

    Aligned with 2020 vision, Coca Cola launches Zero

    MUMBAI: Continuing the expansion of the its product portfolio, the beverage giant Coca Cola India unveiled yet another strategic bet in its journey to achieve its 2020 vision, by launching Coca Cola Zero.

     

    With its launch in the national capital, the Coca Cola Zero brand is now available in all the top six markets of the Coca-Cola Company, the others being USA, Mexico, China, Brazil and Japan.

     

    The sugar free soft drink was launched by Farhan Akhtar, Olympian luger Shiva Keshavan, fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee and fashion photographer Atul Kasbekar.

     

    In another first for the Company, the entire launch event was broadcast live on www.coca-colaindia.com and fans of Coca Cola Zero joined the launch conversation on twitter and facebook with the #cokezero.

     

    Speaking at the launch Coca Cola India and south west Asia president Venkatesh Kini said, “As we move towards the halfway mark of the decade, it is important we add offerings to our portfolio even as we nurture the existing brands.” After October 5, Coca Cola Zero will be available across the top 100 towns in India in 180,000 outlets.

     

    “Coca-Cola Zero comes at a time when Coca Cola classic has established itself and the new product therefore, complements the company’s sparkling portfolio,” he added.

     

    Coca Cola India marketing VP Debabrata Mukherjee said, “To ensure that consumers get their first taste of Coca Cola Zero, we will be sampling more than 1.5 million packs of the product in the next four months. We also have a strong communication plan which includes digital media, television and print campaigns.”

     

    The company sells a variety of both carbonated and non-carbonated drinks in India, including Coca Cola, Thums Up, Sprite, Maaza and Minute Maid.

     

    The Coca Cola system is innovating with new channels to build preference and anticipation for the beverage prior to the national, on ground, roll out. Initially, the new product will be available on the growing online portal Amazon India as well as modern retail outlets, starting with the Reliance Retail chain. Besides, it would also be first made available to various partners like low cost carrier IndiGo, quick service restaurant chain Subway and INOX Leisure. Coca Cola’s own portal www.Coke2Home.com will also be listing Coca Cola Zero after 15 days of launch at Amazon.

     

    Talking about Coca Cola’s latest innovation, INOX Leisure CEO Alok Tandon said,” The entire movie experience in multiplexes like INOX seems to have graduated to another level. The choice of snacks, beverage options, pre-screening and post screening experience has seen a sea change over the years.”

     

    “I guess the one thing that has remained constant though, is Coca Cola as a part of the movie going experience. We are happy to know that consumers can now choose the zero sugar option also along with the regular Coca Cola,” he added.

     

    Coca-Cola Zero is one of the $17 billion brands of The Coca Cola Company in revenue terms and is one of the fastest to this milestone. It was first launched in 2005 and is now available in 149 countries including India.

     

    Elaborating on the product attributes, Mukherjee reckoned, “Coca Cola Zero is a part of our global Red-Silver-Black model on Coca Cola Trademark. It has done well in matured as well as emerging markets, across the globe. We expect that Coca Cola Zero will hit all the right notes with consumers in India.”

     

    In 2012, Coca Cola, along with its partners, had announced to more than double investments in India to US $5 billion (about Rs 28,000 crore) by 2020.

     

    Talking about their 2020 vision Kini said, “Atlanta-based beverages giant remained committed towards the US $5 billion investment in the country till 2020 and was happy to say that they were on track for the investment.”

     

    Coca Cola Zero will be available in 300 ml slim cans, 400 ml PET bottles and 600 ml PET at the same price points as regular Coca Cola. For instance in Delhi, the MRP of a 300 ml can will be Rs 30 while that of a  600 ml PET will be Rs 35.

  • Ranbir Kapoor is the new brand ambassador of TAG Heuer

    Ranbir Kapoor is the new brand ambassador of TAG Heuer

    MUMBAI: TAG Heuer has signed actor Ranbir Kapoor as a TAG Heuer brand ambassador for a long-term partnership. With this association, TAG Heuer reinforces its leadership position by becoming the only brand in the industry endorsed by two of the biggest names in Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan & Ranbir Kapoor.

     

    TAG Heuer recently unveiled its global campaign, ‘Don’t crack under pressure’, in India.

     

     “Far more than a claim, it is a powerful mindset,” said TAG Heuer CEO Stephane Linder. “Those who know TAG Heuer may recognise the motto, a tribute to an early 90’s campaign which for many remains the most archetypal expression of TAG Heuer’s unbreakable determination. The campaign captures the mental strength of our Dream Team, athletes and partners, who reflect the values of the TAG Heuer shield. Be it Cristiano Ronaldo the perfectionist, Maria Sharapova the irresistible, Shah Rukh Khan the King of Bollywood or our latest ambassador Ranbir Kapoor the Bollywood heartthrob & youth icon of today. In India, we are proud to have two of the best names in Bollywood sporting TAG Heuer and we see a great future with them in the coming years.”

     

    “TAG Heuer has always been one of my dreams,” said Kapoor. “It started when I was really young, it was the first watch I wanted to own in my life. I remember my parents gifted it to me on my 13th birthday. So now, to be associated with the brand is really humbling for me. I really have to pinch myself to believe that I am part of the TAG Heuer family. I think TAG Heuer stands for the four principle P’s that is prestige, precision, passion and performance. I think that is something we all and especially I can identify with; the way I look at my career, my life. I believe these are very important aspects for how one should approach their life, their work and their relationships.”

     

     “While most people want to succeed in their time, a few succeed in changing their time. These exceptional individuals are called Time Changers,” said TAG Heuer marketing director Puneet Sewra. “Being a 4th generation actor from the legendary Kapoor family, there are a lot of expectations one has to match. Not only did Ranbir live up to those expectations, he also successfully managed to carve his own niche in a short span and did not crack under pressure; and that is what makes him a Time Changer. We are very proud to have Ranbir join the TAG Heuer family and we look forward to a long-term partnership with him.”

  • Colgate-Palmolive marketing spend up 16 per cent in Q1-2015

    Colgate-Palmolive marketing spend up 16 per cent in Q1-2015

    BENGALURU: Consumer products player in oral care, personal care and household care space Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited (Colgate-Palmolive) spent Rs 180.55 crore (18.7 per cent of Total Income or TI) in Q1-2015 towards advertising and marketing (ASP), which was 15.9 per cent more than the Rs 155.78 crore (17.8 per cent of TI) in Q1-2014 and 8.9 per cent more than the Rs 165.86 crore (17.8 per cent of TI) in Q4-2014. At 18.7 per cent of TI, the company’s ASP spend in Q1-2015 was the highest across 9 quarters starting Q1-2013 until Q1-2015.

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

    The company had spent 40.5 per cent more at Rs 688.66 crore (19 per cent of TI) towards ASP in FY-2014 versus Rs 490.07 crore (15.2 per cent of TI). Both on a quarterly basis during the nine months under consideration and across seven financial years starting FY-2008 until FY-2014, the company’s TI, and ASP show increasing linear trend in terms of absolute rupees as well as in terms of percentage of TI.

    Colgate-Palmolive’s TI in Q1-2015 at Rs 963.35 crore was 9.9 per cent more than the Rs 876.61 crore in Q1-2014 and was 3.3 per cent more than the Rs 931.22 crore in Q4-2014. Its TI in FY-2014 at Rs 3629.13 crore was 12.9 per cent more than the Rs 3213.73 crore in FY-2013.

    Please refer to Fig 1 below.

    Colgate-Palmolive’s ASP comprises two components – (a) Advertising, and (b) Sales promotion. Data for three financial years – FY-2012, FY-2013 and FY-2014 show the breakup of ASP into these two components.

    Please refer to Fig 1A below.

    The company’s PAT in Q1-2015 was 27.2 per cent down at Rs 134.91 crore (14.1 per cent of TI) versus Rs 185.22 crore (21.5 per cent of TI) during the year ago quarter Q1-2014 and just 2 per cent more than the Rs 132.3 crore (14.3 per cent of TI) in the immediate trailing quarter. PAT in FY-2014 at Rs.539.87 crore (14.9 per cent of TI) was 8.7 per cent more than the Rs 496.75 crore in FY-2013. On an annual basis, the company’s PAT shows an upward linear trend in terms of absolute rupees, but a downward linear trend in terms of percentage of TI. During the nine quarters under consideration, the company’s PAT shows almost flat to downward linear trend in terms of absolute rupees and a downward trend in terms of percentage of TI.

    Please refer to Fig 2 below.

    Colgate-Palmolive’s brands include Colgate, Palmolive and Axion. Its oral care products include toothpaste, toothbrush, toothpowder, whitening products, kids products, mouthwashes, and plax. Its personal care products include body wash, hand wash, shave preparations, skin care and hair care. Its household care products include surface care products under the brand Axion.

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  • Goibibo.com celebrates fifth anniversary with its customers

    Goibibo.com celebrates fifth anniversary with its customers

    MUMBAI: Goibibo.com, an online travel aggregator, is celebrating the fifth anniversary with the ‘Goibibo management team’ meeting the first 50 bookers in person and honouring them with a certificate of appreciation for showing faith and confidence, when Goibibo was just starting out, with a goCash gift voucher worth Rs 10,000.

     

    Besides this, on a daily basis five lucky online bookers will get Rs 1000 in goCash, five weekly bookers have a chance to win Rs 5000 in goCash on bookings made during the week and the five mega winners will win Rs 50,000 in goCash on bookings made in the five-week period.

     

    The journey that started in September 2009, goibibo.com has been growing by more than 100 per cent plus on a year-on-year basis. Traffic growth as per Comscore has been 97 per cent year-on-year (August 2014), making it the most rapidly growing online travel aggregator in the country. The business has constantly added applications and features: mobile apps, hotels, international flights, goCash, bus ticketing, online re-scheduling, instant refunds etc.

     

    The company statement read, “Goibibo.com has had a very successful five-year stint in the market. We have carefully nurtured the brand to help it reach its present status as the most popular travel website in India.  Our valued customers have played a very significant role in helping us reach this milestone. Through the five-week mega celebration we want to demonstrate our gratitude and appreciation for their loyalty by rewarding them with these incredible deals and offers.”   

  • Tata Starbucks charts its steady growth plan

    Tata Starbucks charts its steady growth plan

    KOLKATA: Starbucks, which formed an equal joint venture (JV) with Tata Global Beverages in 2012 and since then has opened around 53 outlets in the country, is on a steady growth. 

     

    “Starbucks is on a steady growth and we are very happy with the way the brand has been built and the experience of Starbucks is spreading across as a very premium cafe in the Indian context,” said Tata Global Beverages (TGBL) MD Ajoy Misra.

     

    Also, the company, which is looking at the premium segment, agreed that at present it might not look at the mid-segment but hinted that going forward it may move that segment as well.

     

    Tata Global Beverages chairman Cyrus Mistry in response to a shareholder’s query during the annual general meeting in Kolkata said that the company is looking at the premium segment and at this point of time not actually looking at mid-segment. “But that does not stop us from looking at this in the future,” he said.

     

    “Tata Starbucks recorded strong growth and it continues to increase the number of stores. Today it is currently in Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Poona, Bangalore and Chennai. The store count is currently 53 and continuously growing,” he added.

     

    “We are a company that is in the branding business. We are a company that is talking about strengthening brands, creating brands, creating new products, strengthening the product formulation around the consumer needs,” said Misra while talking about the philosophy of the brand.

     

    Globally, the world’s largest coffee chain, Starbucks, runs more than 20,000 coffee stores across 64 countries, serving more than 70 million customers per week.

  • Microsoft Devices launches Nokia X2 in India

    Microsoft Devices launches Nokia X2 in India

    MUMBAI: Microsoft Devices Group today unveiled the Nokia X2, the newest addition to the Nokia X family of affordable smartphones designed to introduce the “next billion” people to the mobile Internet and cloud services. The Nokia X2 is representative of the evolution of the Nokia X family, delivering an enhanced experience across user interface, hardware and apps.

    The Nokia X2, available at a best buy price of Rs. 8699 offers stunning design, a more visually striking Fastlane and more Microsoft services. It also offers upgraded specifications including a 4.3-inch ClearBlack display,5MP rear camera with autofocus and flash; and a VGA front camera.

    “The Nokia X2 is a compelling choice for the new generation of smartphone buyers providing an enhanced experience across interface, hardware and apps. The enhancements on the Nokia X2 lead to a richer, faster and easier experiencedesigned to introduce the “next billion” people to the mobile Internet and cloud services.” said Sari Harju, Head – Mobile Phones, Nokia India Sales Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of Microsoft Mobile Oy.

    Nokia X2- Holistic User Experience

    The Nokia X2 hasthe next-generation Nokia X Software Platform 2.0 and major enhancements to the user interface. People can choose between three types of screens to facilitate navigation: the colorful “home” with resizable tiles; Fastlane to access recent apps and future calendar items; and a new Lumia-inspired apps list, from which people can pin items to the home screen. A pull-down notifications tab also allows people to glance at connectivity options as well as actionable items, such as software updates available for download. A new home key and visual multitasking complete the experience.

    Like the Nokia X, the new Nokia X2 provides access to a world of Android apps and popular Microsoft services and signature Nokia experiences  while allowing people to switch between their favorite apps with the Fast lane feature. The Nokia X2 delivers an even more intuitive, smoother user experience powered by a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™200 processor featuring a dual core 1.2Ghz CPU and 1GB of RAM.

    Stunning, distinctive design

    The Nokia X2’s stylish exterior remains as bold as the original Nokia X but incorporates a brand-new cool translucent outer layer, making it really shine whatever the time of day.The Nokia X2 features a seamless monobody and showcases a new approach to the design of the exchangeable back covers that fuses a brightly colored core with a translucent outer layer. The overall result is a durable device that appears lit from within.The Nokia X2 will be available at launch in glossy orange, black and green, with glossy yellow, white and matte dark grey coming later to the lineup.

    Compelling data offer on the Nokia X2

    To allow consumers to enjoy apps on Nokia X2, Microsoft Devices has tied up with Airtel to give users free unlimited download of Android Apps for six months. The plan allows upto 500MB of free usage through which consumers can download their favorite apps via the Nokia Store and the 1Mobile store.

    Microsoft and Nokia services for the Nokia X family

    As a gateway to Microsoft services, the Nokia X family is driving strong uptake of services such as Skype and OneDrive, while complementing the Lumia family of smartphones. The Nokia X2 will debut with Outlook.com, Skype, Mix Radio and Here maps and OneDrive pre-loaded, with more available from the Nokia Store, including the Bing Search app. Consumers get free 15GB + 3 GB OneDrive cloud storage on Nokia X2.

    New-to-the-lineup services including OneNote and Yammer are also available to download free from the Nokia Store. OneNote allows people to create notes and save them to the cloud through OneDrive, while Yammer makes collaborating with people online as easy as posting to a social network. The option to automatically backup the camera roll to OneDrive takes full advantage of 15GB of free cloud storage now available through the service, for safe guarding photos, videos, documents and more.

    The Nokia X2 will be available as a dual-SIM device and will be available in the Indian market starting today at a best buy price of Rs. 8699/-

    Nokia X2: Specifications at a glance

     

  • ‘Mary Kom’ a hit amongst advertisers

    ‘Mary Kom’ a hit amongst advertisers

    MUMBAI:  MC Mary Kom winning the Bronze in Olympics made news everywhere and so did the announcement of her biopic starring Priyanka Chopra. The news not only excited the viewers and audiences, but it has also thrilled the advertisers.

     

    The marketing leaders found a perfect opportunity to be associated with the brand ‘Mary Kom.’

     

    The biopic has partnered with 20 brands including Havmor, Monte Carlo, Usha International, Artemis Hospitals, Edelweiss, Tokio Life Insurance and many more. Media channels like Ten Sports and India TV have also been incorporated in the movie.

     

    Viacom18 Motion Pictures marketing head Rudrarup Dutta says, “Powerful stories like Mary Kom reaches out to all sections of society. It also touches the lives of people across demographics and interests. The story lends itself to collegial propositions with brands.”

     

    “All the brands have been woven into the movie’s script,” he adds.

     

    To leverage the integration, the brands too are promoting the movie through co-branded TVC, radio and digital contests. For instance, Mother Dairy has a TV campaign which promotes its product featuring Priyanka Chopra as Mary Kom.

     

    Dutta says that the biopic became a sensation from the moment it was announced. “And due to its association with names like Viacom 18, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Priyanka Chopra and Mary Kom, the brands were interested in getting attached to the name since day one.”

     

    Even though Dutta did not comment on the cost of the movie or the revenue garnered by the brands, he mentions that the partnerships is giving the movie an impact value of Rs 20 crore – 25 crore.

     

    In the past, too, films have incorporated brands in the script by giving them prominent visibility in scenes like Coca-Cola in Taal (1999) and more recently, Nokia in Chennai Express.

     

    The film production house organised ‘Cineshorts,’ a short-film contest, which allowed aspiring filmmakers and documentary makers to submit five-minute long films on the theme ‘Against All Odds’. According to the marketing head, this was purely a Viacom 18 initiative and the associated brands did not sponsor the contest.

     

    On 5 September, Mary Kom will hit 1800-2000 screens in India and around 300 screens internationally. While Zee has the music rights, Colors has the satellite rights for the movie.

     

    Viacom 18 earlier hit gold with a biopic on Milkha Singh and now hopes that it will be able to punch its way in box-office with Mary Kom.

  • Swiss Eagle watches out for The Expendables 3!

    Swiss Eagle watches out for The Expendables 3!

    MUMBAI: Third in a series of ensemble comedy-action films, The Expendables 3 will feature an equally incredible series of powerful men’s watches by Swiss Eagle, one of the world’s best watchmakers. The watches, designed for and named after the film, will be seen adorning the wrists of the rugged action heroes.

     

    The deal that tactfully aligns opportunity with value is the brainchild of Marketing & Brand Consultant Neeta Shah, for Pulp Fiction Entertainment. “Brands usually prefer to tie-up with Bollywood films either for in-film scenes or for star/actor visit. I believe in creating value propositions for both the brand and the film. The Expendables 3 resonates with the brand’s philosophy completely, both are targeting the youth – who are hardcore, sturdy and tough,” says and enthusiastic Neeta Shah.

     

    The team at PVR Pictures is equally pleased.  Girish Wankhede, National Marketing Head for PVR Pictures said, “With the immense strength of our franchise, we needed a brand with a reputation to qualify for the entire campaign. The brand connect and the pitch with Swiss Eagle steered the same target group which was win-win for both brands. Such alliances amplify the campaign and propel the visibility.” Shah continues, “With this alliance, we have pushed the envelope. The amalgamation of The Expendables 3 and Swiss Eagle is a big breakthrough and I look forward for other such alliances.”

  • FreeCharge raises $33 million Series B

    FreeCharge raises $33 million Series B

    MUMBAI: FreeCharge, an online platform for recharge, utility payments, promotions and couponing, has raised $33 million in Series B funding from Sequoia Capital, Sofina and RuNet.

     

    The online portal, which is witnessing a rapid growth, is building an advertising platform that captures online and offline purchase behaviour and brand preferences of consumers, by offering incentives and coupons to users to transact on its platform.

     

    Mobile transactions on the Freecharge app have grown 30x since the beginning of 2014, and the company has more than 10 million registered users. FreeCharge CEO Alok Goel said, “We have been able to assemble one of the best start-up teams in the country and are leading the mobile internet revolution in India. 70 per cent of our transactions come from mobile platforms and we are growing more than 400 per cent year on year.”

     

    Sequoia Capital India Advisors MD Shailendra Singh said, “Freecharge is creating a unique new category, an advertising platform with the ‘consumption graph’ for the most valuable online consumers. We are very impressed with the team’s execution and the rapid growth and engagement of users on the platform.”

     

    RuNet investment officer Galina Chifina added, “Freecharge is one of the most exciting companies in our Indian portfolio with a highly innovative business model that has global appeal and scalability. We are happy to participate in the new round to support the new initiatives the company has embarked upon. The team has done an awesome job to position Freecharge among the leaders of the mobile recharge/payment and data analysis market in India and we believe the new round will help the company to grow even faster.”

     

    The company has added Gokul Rajaram, Koh Boon Hwee, Dhiraj Rajaram to its board of advisors. Apart from this, the online platform has also announced the appointment of Ninad Y Takpere as the chief business development officer. Takpere said, “I am inspired by the innovation that FreeCharge has brought to the Indian e-commerce space.  I have great respect for the democratic leadership values and professionalism at FreeCharge. I am quite excited about my role and look forward to contribute and be part of the growth journey of FreeCharge.”

     

    FreeCharge also recently acquired Preburn, in addition to Wishberg, its first acquisition.

  • American Swan ropes in Yo Yo Honey Singh as brand ambassador

    American Swan ropes in Yo Yo Honey Singh as brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: The global online fashion & lifestyle brand American Swan has signed up the Indian rapper Honey Singh as its brand ambassador. Launched in 2013, the brand is known for its smart casual wear for the youth and is targeted at the youngsters.

     

    About the partnership Honey Singh said, “I am excited to partner with American Swan and to be able to connect with the youth and inspire them to chase their dreams and script their destinies. It has been a great year for me and I am looking forward to create a music video for the brand. The brand positioning resonates with my quintessential approach to my life, music & work. The video will see me style in looks that my fans haven’t seen before.”

     

    American Swan will unveil the new identity along with the launch of its new collections-AS Premium and AS Original. As the youth in India look for global designs and standards with affordable pricing at the convenience of a click, American Swan expects to garner a significant share of the apparel & lifestyle market in the burgeoning ecommerce and mobile commerce market.

     

    Speaking about the association, American Swan director & CEO Anurag Rajpal said, “We are glad to announce our association with Yo Yo Honey Singh. We hope will be an iconic new avatar. While we constantly aim at building a fashion brand that can resonate in the hearts and mind of Gen Y youth, these major milestones will only cement the evolution of American Swan as we take a constructive leap towards a major expansion across the online space.”

     

    The brand has been promoting young talent since long by associating itself with various young achievers in past like Unmukt Chand , Shruti Hasan and Lauren Gottlieb and has espoused its Young Achievers campaign with them. The brand has also stepped into social media by initiating various online programme and formats like tweet store and beauty and the blogger event which has attained enormous success.

     

    To reinforce the brand’s philosophy, the brand will soon invite showbiz aspirants to get a chance to be featured in the Yo Yo Honey Singh music video.

     

    The company will build a customer base through a strong mobile, digital and social activation. The new brand video will be launched across touch points through a series of differentiated and engaging campaigns on website, social channels and mobile properties.