ITV

Category: MAM

  • Bergner & Shoppers Stop cook up a storm, stir the pot with Hitech Giro X

    Bergner & Shoppers Stop cook up a storm, stir the pot with Hitech Giro X

    MUMBAI: Let’s be honest, the only thing worse than burnt toast is pretending burnt toast is a culinary masterpiece. Luckily, Bergner and Shoppers Stop have joined forces with culinary superstar chef Vikas Khanna to rescue home chefs everywhere from kitchen disasters. Launching the ultra-advanced Hitech Giro X cookware, they’ve set out to turn amateur cooks into kitchen wizards—minus the magic wand (though we wouldn’t mind that either).

    In an exclusive event at HomeStop, Mumbai, Michelin Star chef Vikas Khanna unveiled Bergner India’s new cookware range, Hitech Giro X. This collection isn’t just cookware—it’s a ticket to culinary nirvana. Featuring cutting-edge Tri-Ply construction and Ceratech ceramic coating, the Giro X range guarantees even heat distribution, minimal oil use, and healthier meals, all while looking sleek enough to impress even your judgmental aunt Meena.

    “Exceptional cookware is the foundation of great cooking. Bergner India is dedicated to advancements that make cooking healthier, more accessible, and more pleasurable. Hitech Giro X exemplifies this, offering a seamless cooking experience through its durable, efficient, and thoughtfully designed features. We’re excited to partner with Shoppers Stop to bring this innovative cookware to Indian kitchens,” said Bergner India MD Umesh Guptaa.

    Khanna wasn’t shy about his enthusiasm either, stating, “In my line of work, I’ve learned that the quality of your cookware matters just as much as the quality of your ingredients. The Hitech Giro X makes cooking healthier, faster, and more enjoyable for anyone who loves spending time in the kitchen. It’s a privilege to be involved in this launch with Shoppers Stop and Bergner India. This range is a real game-changer, and I think everyone should see it for themselves at HomeStop.”

    Shoppers Stop MD & CEO Kavindra Mishra shared, “At Shoppers Stop, we are committed to bringing the best in lifestyle and home innovation to our customers. Hitech Giro X aligns perfectly with our vision of blending cutting-edge technology with everyday convenience. Through this partnership with Bergner India and Michelin Star Chef Vikas Khanna, we aim to redefine modern home cooking.”

    The launch featured an exclusive masterclass where Chef Khanna demonstrated the capabilities of Hitech Giro X, showing off its tri-ply technology and exceptional cooking performance. Attendees, mainly Shoppers Stop First Citizen cardholders, were left both inspired and ready to tackle cooking challenges head-on.

  • Paddy dives ‘Into’ it again: adland maverick launches new creative hotshop

    Paddy dives ‘Into’ it again: adland maverick launches new creative hotshop

    MUMBAI:  Santosh Padhi—better known as Paddy—is back in the game. The celebrated adman, who co-founded Taproot before selling it to Dentsu, has launched his independent creative agency, Into Creative, with a mission to bring back big, brave, and fearless ideas.

    Paddy will serve as chief creative officer &  chairman, with Ayesha Ghosh as CEO & co-founder. The founding team also includes Yogesh Rijhwani (creative lead), Tania Dey (strategy and digital), Namrata Gosavi (design and digital), and Gargi Vegiraju (business lead).

    “I could have retired on an island, but adland’s calling was too loud to ignore,” said Paddy. “This industry has given me everything, and it’s time to give back. Our focus will be on doing brave, fearless, creative brand work. Indian brands and platforms have grown in number, but creativity hasn’t. Oddly enough, brands are being built on creativity. Somewhere the passion of creative agencies to push boundaries has been lost. In a world where anything is now creatively possible, we are here to fill this vacuum.”

    Into creative

    More than just an ad agency, Into Creative aims to craft big directional ideas—concepts that don’t just live in ads but shape brand universes. The agency’s offerings span brands, insights, ideas, design, tech, digital, content, and collaborations.

    Said Ayesha Ghosh: “More experiments happen when independent. Sure, some fail, but some lead to triumphant discoveries. We’re here for that. We see ourselves as multipliers. When one collaborates with high creative integrity, respecting every platform, that’s when true magnification of ideas happens “

    The six founders, all ex-Wieden+Kennedy India, have worked on some of the country’s biggest brands, including Jio 5G, Hero Vida EV, Jindal Steel, Jockey, and Zoya. Paddy and Ayesha also share history from their Taproot days.

    Into Creative officially launches in Mumbai on March 30, aligning with Gudi Padwa/Ugadi—a day marking new beginnings. The agency is already in talks with brands, with announcements expected soon.

    The creative revolution starts now.

  • Hero Motocorp shifts gears, powers into electric three-wheelers

    Hero Motocorp shifts gears, powers into electric three-wheelers

    MUMBAI: Hero Motocorp is revving up its electric ambitions, acquiring a significant stake in Euler Motors, a fast-growing player in the EV space. The deal, worth up to Rs 525 crore, will give Hero a strong foothold in the booming electric three-wheeler market, where EVs are expected to hit 35 per cent of total sales in the near future.

    “Our strategic investment in Euler is a bold step towards realising our vision to ‘Be the Future of Mobility’,” said Pawan Munjal, executive chairman, calling the move a blend of innovation, sustainability, and smart expansion.

    The investment, approved by Hero’s board, will be made in one or more tranches and will see Hero take an approximately 32.5 per cent stake in Euler on a fully diluted basis. The funds will be a mix of primary investment in equity and Series D convertible preference shares, along with the option to buy shares from existing Euler shareholders.

    Euler Motors, already present in 30 Indian cities, is a rising force in electric three-wheelers and recently launched its first electric commercial four-wheeler. The company’s turnover has accelerated sharply, jumping from Rs 25 crore in 2022 to Rs 172 crore in 2024.

    For Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, this investment is more than just a new venture—it’s a clear signal that the future is electric, and Hero is here to lead the charge.

  • HUL picks up a stake in Lucro to turn plastic waste into treasure

    HUL picks up a stake in Lucro to turn plastic waste into treasure

    MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) is putting its money where its sustainability pledge is, snapping up a 14.3 per cent stake in Lucro Plastecycle, a rising star in recycled flexible plastics. The deal, approved by HUL’s board today, marks a fresh push towards a zero plastic waste future.

    Lucro isn’t just in the business of recycling—it’s on a mission to turn trash into cash by converting post-consumer flexible plastics into high-quality recycled material. The tieup with HUL aims to boost the supply of recycled content for packaging, giving businesses a clearer path to sustainability and tackling the challenge of hard-to-recycle plastics.

    “This investment is a significant step in building the capabilities in recycling and developing the circular economy model for plastic, which is in line with our firm belief that what is good for India is good for HUL,” said  HUL CEO & MD  Rohit Jawa.

    Lucro managing director  Ujwal Desai said the deal will help ramp up recycling capacity and drive large-scale commercial adoption of post-consumer resin. “This investment by HUL paves the way for us to set a new benchmark for sustainable plastics,” he said.

    HUL, India’s biggest FMCG player, already reaches nine out of ten Indian households—and now, it wants to clean up the planet while it’s at it.

  • Hindalco gets a bold makeover, bets big on engineered solutions

    Hindalco gets a bold makeover, bets big on engineered solutions

    MUMBAI:  Hindalco, the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has rebranded itself with a sharp new identity, shedding its image as a mere materials supplier to become a full-fledged engineered solutions powerhouse. With a fresh logo and a new tagline—’Engineering Better Futures’—the company is making an aggressive play in electric mobility, renewable energy, semiconductors, and high-end electronics.

    The rebrand was unveiled by group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla before an audience of industry leaders, policymakers, and business partners.

    “Hindalco is no longer just a metals player—it’s a mini-conglomerate in itself, with 52 plants across 10 countries producing high-quality products that shape the global economy,” said Birla. “We are committing Rs 45,000 crore to aluminium, copper, and specialty alumina businesses to deliver both upstream and next-gen high-precision engineered products. Our new identity reflects our role as a catalyst for change, a problem solver, and a co-creator of industrial progress.”

    The new Hindalco logo features a bold, dynamic ‘H’—symbolising forward momentum and innovation. But this isn’t just a cosmetic upgrade. The rebrand signals a shift towards high-performance materials and precision engineering, with a focus on sustainability, circularity, and cutting-edge applications.

     

    Kumar Mangalam Birla and Satish Pai

    Managing director Satish Pai called it a “pivotal moment” for Hindalco as it moves beyond being a metals manufacturer to an innovation-driven solutions provider. “Our investments in advanced materials, circular economy solutions, and state-of-the-art applications will redefine Indian manufacturing. The pillars of our transformation—sustainability, circularity, durability, and precision engineering—will ensure we create a lasting impact for generations,” said Pai.

    Hindalco is already shaking up industries with its engineered solutions:

    * Auto & EVs: Lighter, more efficient materials for electric vehicles, including battery enclosures that improve safety and extend range.
    * Packaging: A leader in aluminium can-body stock, pushing an 80 per cent recycled model for a truly circular economy.
    * Energy & storage: Partnering with battery makers to develop aluminium and copper materials for next-gen energy storage solutions.
    * Aerospace & defence: Supplying ultra-high-performance alloys for Isro’s Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan missions, while developing specialised defence-grade materials.

    And it’s not stopping there. Hindalco is building India’s first e-waste recycling plant at Birla Copper and has launched a 100MW renewable energy project in Odisha that combines wind, solar, and pumped hydro storage for round-the-clock power.

    Hindalco has been ranked the world’s most sustainable aluminium company in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment for five consecutive years. Its focus on energy-efficient production, waste reduction, and green materials is in lockstep with India’s net-zero ambitions.

    “We invite our customers to demand more—not just materials, but co-designed, custom-engineered, next-generation products,” said Birla. “Together, we can power a more sustainable, more advanced, and more impactful future. ” 

    With its bold rebrand and an arsenal of game-changing solutions, Hindalco is making it clear: the future isn’t just being built—it’s being engineered.

  • Zomato changes corporate name to Eternal

    Zomato changes corporate name to Eternal

    MUMBAI; After gorging on acquisitions from Blinkit to Paytm’s ticketing business, the Indian food delivery giant formerly known as Zomato has rebranded itself as Eternal Ltd—though fans need not worry, as the familiar Zomato app will continue to serve up curry in a hurry.

    The company, founded by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah in 2008, received approval from the registrar of companies at the ministry of corporate affairs on 20 March, marking the culmination of a rebranding process first announced to stock exchanges in February. (read: Deepinder Goyal’s Zomato levels up to its final form: Eternal Ltd)

    What began as a restaurant discovery service has morphed into an ambitious conglomerate with fingers in many pies. After floating on the stock market in July 2021 at a whopping valuation north of $8 billion, Zomato—pardon, Eternal—has been cooking up a storm of diversification.

    The aptly named Eternal has shown a voracious appetite for expansion. In June 2022, it splashed out $568 million to snap up quick-commerce upstart Blinkit, allowing customers to receive groceries and essentials in minutes rather than hours.

    .Last August 2024, the corporate tentacles stretched further with the launch of District, an events and ticketing app built on the bones of Paytm’s ticketing business. It runs a B2B service company addressing procurement and supply chain challenges for the HoReCa industry, which includes hotels, restaurants, and cloud kitchens. It offers ingredient sourcing, a modern central kitchen, and temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics to support the growth of restaurants and quick commerce. 

    Zomaland by Zomato is India’s largest food and entertainment carnival to enjoy a wide range of culinary delights, an assortment of fun games and a fantastic artist line-up to ensure your weekend is truly what it should be – filled with food, fun and frolic!It also runs Weather Union  – which tracks weather across the country.

    While the corporate entity will henceforth answer to Eternal Limited, the food delivery app that made the company’s name will continue to operate under the Zomato brand, ensuring that hungry Indians need not learn a new name when their tummies start to rumble.

  • Hexaware builds a solid partnership with Rahul Dravid as cultural ambassador

    Hexaware builds a solid partnership with Rahul Dravid as cultural ambassador

    MUMBAI: Hexaware Technologies has bowled a winning move by bringing cricketing legend Rahul Dravid on board as its cultural ambassador. Known as The Wall for his unshakable presence on the field, Dravid’s leadership, perseverance, and quiet strength mirror Hexaware’s core values, making him the perfect fit to inspire and engage employees.

    “We are excited to welcome Rahul Dravid to the Hexaware family,” said Hexaware CEO R Srikrishna. “Rahul’s talent, humility, discipline, and ability to thrive under pressure reflect the qualities we believe in as an organization. This partnership is a celebration of teamwork, resilience, and shared growth.”

    Hexaware COO Vinod Chandran added, “Rahul Dravid is an inspiration not just for his illustrious achievements on the field but also for his ability to lead with trust and determination. His involvement will energize our teams and remind us of the power of collaboration and tenacity.”

    Dravid’s role as cultural ambassador will see him interacting with Hexaware employees worldwide, offering insights into leadership, collaboration, and performing under pressure. Through a series of engaging sessions, he will share his experiences, motivating teams to push boundaries, build stronger connections, and embrace challenges head-on.

    “I am delighted to partner with Hexaware, a company that values its people and their growth,” said Rahul Dravid. “I look forward to engaging with Hexaware’s talented teams and sharing experiences that inspire individuals to aim higher and achieve together.”

    With this partnership, Hexaware strengthens its commitment to fostering an empowering and growth-oriented work environment. By aligning with a sporting icon renowned for his discipline, adaptability, and resilience, the company reinforces its belief in teamwork, leadership, and a people-first culture, proving that whether on the cricket pitch or in the corporate world, success is built on a solid foundation.
     

  • Radisson elevates Nikhil Sharma to lead South Asia’s growth and operations

    Radisson elevates Nikhil Sharma to lead South Asia’s growth and operations

    MUMBAI: Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) is doubling down on its leadership strength, redesignating Nikhil Sharma as managing director & chief operating officer, South Asia. Having previously served as managing director & area senior vice president, Sharma will continue to spearhead RHG’s strategic expansion and operations across the region, ensuring the group’s unwavering dominance in India’s hospitality sector.

    With an in-depth understanding of South Asia’s evolving hospitality landscape, Sharma has been instrumental in RHG’s rapid growth and operational excellence. His leadership has helped solidify Radisson’s status as one of India’s largest international hotel operators, with a robust portfolio of nearly 199 hotels in operation and development.

    As one of the biggest players in India’s hospitality industry, Radisson commands an unrivalled presence in tier-1 markets like Delhi NCR, while more than 50 per cent of its footprint extends into thriving tier-2 and tier-3 cities. RHG’s diverse brand portfolio featuring Radisson Blu, Radisson Red, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites, and Radisson Individuals Retreats has successfully captured the demand for both luxury and mid-scale hospitality.

    The move to elevate Sharma’s role underscores RHG’s commitment to aligning its leadership structure with the dynamic needs of the hospitality sector. Under his guidance, Radisson continues to expand its brand presence, ensuring seamless guest experiences and operational excellence across the region.

    With South Asia’s hospitality industry on an upward trajectory, Sharma’s expanded role signals a bold step forward for RHG, reinforcing its position as a leader in India’s flourishing travel and tourism sector. For Radisson, the future looks grand, one hotel at a time.
     

  • Iqoo plays its ace, hunts for a gen z gaming guru with Rs 10 lakh bounty

    Iqoo plays its ace, hunts for a gen z gaming guru with Rs 10 lakh bounty

    MUMBAI: Hold onto your controllers, Gen Z gamers—Iqoo has decided it’s time to level up your gaming obsessions into something that pays real cash. The tech brand known for smartphones faster than your pizza delivery has now set out to find India’s ultimate gaming pro. The reward? A jaw-dropping Rs 10 lakh. Forget bragging rights; we’re talking serious gamer currency here!

    Iqoo has kicked off the epic quest for its 2025 chief gaming officer (CGO), a role packed with more perks than a cheat code. The chosen gaming genius will help co-create new smartphones, steer the brand’s ambitious eSports vision, and hobnob with India’s gaming elite. Sounds better than a power-up mushroom, doesn’t it?

    The CGO gets exclusive first dibs on the latest Iqoo gadgets and the chance to represent the brand at epic global gaming events. Better start practising those winning speeches and perfecting your gaming stance—your big break might be just a button-click away.

    Iqoo India CEO Nipun Marya says, “We have always believed in the power of India’s gaming community, and the phenomenal response to our previous CGO hunt reaffirmed this. After receiving countless requests from our community, we knew we had to bring it back. At Iqoo, we are committed to empowering young gaming enthusiasts by giving them a platform to step into the eSports industry and shape the future of mobile gaming in India. With CGO as an I.P, we continue to create opportunities for Questers to turn their passion into a profession and be a part of the vision.”

    With registrations open on Iqoo India’s website until 30 March 2025, young gamers aged 18-25 are invited to apply for this dream gig. The CGO will not only strategise with Iqoo’s top brass but also interact closely with over two million Questers from Iqoo Connect, the brand’s vibrant community.

    The Indian gaming community is exploding like popcorn in a microwave, growing at 14.6 per cent annually from 2018 to 2024, according to IMARC. India now boasts nearly 48 crore gamers—a number larger than some countries’ entire populations!

    Iqoo has already made waves, teaming up with gaming legends like Dynamo Gaming, GamerFleet, Mortal, Payal Gaming, Scout, Shreeman Legend, and UnGraduate Gamer. These superstars have stress-tested Iqoo’s devices, ensuring they’re battle-ready for the toughest gaming showdowns.

  • Truebalance expands campaign with Rajkummar Rao, Priyamani and Divya Dutta

    Truebalance expands campaign with Rajkummar Rao, Priyamani and Divya Dutta

    MUMBAI: Truebalance, has launched the second phase of its Aapki Har Zaroorat Ka Saathi campaign, now featuring acclaimed actor Rajkummar Rao. Following the success of the first phase with Priyamani and Divya Dutta, the new segment continues the brand’s mission of positioning Truebalance as a reliable financial partner for quick and accessible personal loans.

    The initial campaign featured Priyamani and Dutta, highlighting real-life financial challenges. In one advertisement, Priyamani helps Dutta secure funds for her daughter’s sports kit, showcasing the ease of obtaining a loan through Truebalance. Another story portrays Priyamani assisting her brother in arranging money for their grandfather’s knee surgery, demonstrating the platform’s hassle-free, paperwork-free loan process.

    Building on this, the second phase introduces Rao, whose relatable persona reinforces Truebalance’s commitment to financial empowerment. His storyline centres on assisting a friend with an urgent financial need, highlighting the platform’s speed, security, and accessibility.

    Despite advancements in digital lending, financial services remain inaccessible in many Tier two, Tier three, and rural regions. Truebalance addresses this gap by offering millennials, salaried professionals, and self-employed individuals instant access to credit through its user-friendly digital lending app.

    “As a brand, we are committed to simplifying credit access for evolving financial segments. This campaign with Rao, Priyamani, and Dutta reaffirms our role as a dependable financial partner,” said Balancehero India CMO Ashish Aggarwal.

    Backed by its own NBFC, True Credit, Truebalance continues to expand its services through a marketplace model, integrating a range of financial solutions to cater to its growing customer base.

    The Aapki Har Zaroorat Ka Saathi campaign underscores Truebalance’s dedication to financial empowerment and accessibility, helping millions confidently navigate their financial journey.