ITV

Category: MAM

  • Aayush Wellness sets aside Rs 50 million investment corpus for healthcare startups

    Aayush Wellness sets aside Rs 50 million investment corpus for healthcare startups

    MUMBAI:  Healthcare and wellness firm  Aayush Wellness has announced the formation of a strategic growth division backed by a Rs 50 million investment corpus. The initiative aims to support ambitious start-ups and existing ventures capable of transforming the health and wellness landscape.

    Beyond financial investment, the company will offer its portfolio ventures access to a vast network, industry expertise, and operational support to help accelerate growth. With a focus on scalability and innovation, Aayush Wellness is keen to collaborate with angel networks, private equity investors, incubation centres, and industry associations.

    The company aims to invest in solutions spanning healthcare technologies, artificial intelligence, products, infrastructure, and business models that promote sustainable wellness and enhance consumer health.

    Aayush Wellness  managing director Naveena Kumar:  “By collaborating with forward-thinking organisations, we’re not just expanding our portfolio, but fuelling a movement towards smarter, more personalised health and wellness solutions. Our vision is to be at the forefront of a healthier future, empowering individuals with the right tools and services to lead better lives.”

    As part of its growth strategy, Aayush Wellness seeks to harness synergies with startups to accelerate product development, boost customer engagement, and expand market reach. The company aims to cement its position as a leader in India’s burgeoning health and wellness sector.

    Established in 1989, Aayush Wellness Limited is listed on the Bombay stock exchange. It is a trusted name in health and wellness, offering innovative products and services that prioritise consumer well-being.

  • Acko CMO Ashish Mishra celebrates Grand Effie 2024 win

    Acko CMO Ashish Mishra celebrates Grand Effie 2024 win

    MUMBAI:  Acko’s marketing team, led by chief marketing officer Ashish Mishra, celebrated a remarkable victory at the Effie Awards India 2024, clinching the prestigious Grand Effie, one gold, and three silver awards. The team also secured third place in the overall points tally.

    The Acko Insurance Team

    The standout campaign, Health Insurance ki Subah ho gayi Mamu, featuring the iconic characters Munna and Circuit, was hailed as one of the most innovative marketing efforts in the insurance sector over the past decade.

    Mishra expressed gratitude to Leo Burnett India, including key contributors Abhimanyu, Shailee Raghav, Ashish Spiky, Amitesh Rao, and Rajdeepak Das, for their creativity and collaboration in delivering this industry-defining work.
     

    Acko Insurance

    He further acknowledged the contributions of Acko’s marketing and business teams, noting the support of Rupinderjit, Amit, Chirag, Rohin, Gaurav, and Harish from health, and Mayank, Akhilesh, Kanish, Ajay, and Amol from auto. Special thanks were extended to Sanjeev, Varun, Animesh, and Vishwanath for their guidance.

    Mishra praised team members Nitin, Prateek, Vipin, Lavanya, Gargi, Dushyant, Sanjeev, and Prakhar, calling them “rockstars” and urging them to continue scaling new heights.

    The victory marks the culmination of a five-year journey for the Acko marketing team, reinforcing their reputation for pushing creative boundaries in the insurance industry.

  • Poulomi Saha Joins Havas Media Network India as associate vice president

    Poulomi Saha Joins Havas Media Network India as associate vice president

    MUMBAI: Poulomi Saha has been appointed associate vice president at Havas Media Network India. She has over 13 years of experience in marketing, media strategy, and integrated communication planning, 

    Prior to this role, she served as deputy general manager at Madison World, overseeing media operations for Max Life. Her professional journey also includes roles such as director at Publicis Groupe and associate business director at Mediacom, where she led media strategies for major brands including Mars, Subway, and Adidas.

    Saha has previously held leadership positions at Zenith, Mindshare, and Madison World, managing high-profile accounts such as LVMH, Swarovski, H&M, and ITC.

    She holds a professional diploma in digital marketing from SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) and a postgraduate degree in marketing from the International School of Business & Media.

  • WeddingWire India launches free ring giveaway campaign for Valentine’s Day

    WeddingWire India launches free ring giveaway campaign for Valentine’s Day

    MUMBAI: Rings – to add to the romance and engagements – will be in the air  come Valentine’s day 2025. And they are coming courtesy global wedding technology platform The Knot Worldwide’s Indian subsidiary WeddingWire India. Its egging on couples to get engaged this February through its Valentine’s Day campaign, Put A Ring On It, running from 21 January to 9 March 2025.  

    Three lucky couples stand a chance to win a pair of Tanishq engagement rings  worth Rs 1.5 lakhs which it has sponsored.  The campaign coincides with February’s engagement season, when around 14 per cent  of Indian couples traditionally get engaged. It aims to resonate with couples beginning their journey towards marriage, making the milestone even more memorable.

    WeddingWire India consumer marketing manager Snigdha Johar said:  “Indian weddings are evolving, and today’s couples seek meaningful ways to mark their engagement. Through Put A Ring On It, we’re not just offering prizes – we’re celebrating the beautiful moment when two people decide to share their lives together, while providing them with the resources to plan their perfect wedding.”

    Winners can choose their ideal rings from Tanishq’s premium Soulmate collection, featuring pairs crafted from the same natural diamond, symbolising unity. The campaign also acknowledges India’s typical four to six month wedding planning window, offering couples immediate value and long-term support through WeddingWire India’s comprehensive planning services.

    Participants can enter the sweepstakes via WeddingWire India’s website or mobile app.

  • Prawaal Upadhyay moves up as sr director of media planning at EssenceMediacom

    Prawaal Upadhyay moves up as sr director of media planning at EssenceMediacom

    MUMBAI: Prawaal Upadhyay has recently assumed the role of senior director of media planning at EssenceMediacom India, bringing over 14 years of extensive experience in media strategy and planning.
    Upadhyay joined EssenceMediacom in October 2022 as media planning director and was promoted to his current position in October 2024. Prior to this, he held the position of associate director of planning from January 2019 to October 2022 at the company’s Gurugram office.

    Before his tenure at EssenceMediacom, Upadhyay served as business group head at GroupM for over three years, following roles as media manager at Zenith and media executive at Lodestar UM.

    A marketing professional with a strong academic foundation, Upadhyay completed a postgraduate programme in advertising communication and marketing at EMPI Business School and later pursued a course in digital marketing and strategy at the Indian Institute of Management, Indore.

    In his new role, Upadhyay is expected to lead key projects and strategic campaigns.

  • Colgate-Palmolive (India) Q3 brushes off rivals with Rs 1,452 crore sales

    Colgate-Palmolive (India) Q3 brushes off rivals with Rs 1,452 crore sales

    MUMBAI: Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd has reported a steady yet somewhat subdued financial performance for the third quarter and nine months ending 31 December 2024. In a world where Pepsodent, Sensodyne, and a slew of herbal toothpaste brands are fighting tooth and nail (quite literally) for consumer preference, Colgate remains the unshaken champion of oral care.

    While macroeconomic headwinds and intensifying competition have made the landscape tougher than biting into a frozen chocolate bar, the company has managed to keep its shine by leveraging premiumisation and technology-driven consumer engagement strategies.

    Can Colgate continue to outshine its rivals, or will Sensodyne’s sensitivity play and Pepsodent’s cavity-fighting pitch take a bite out of its market share? For now, Colgate is brushing aside the competition and keeping its growth streak minty fresh.

    Headline figures

    In Q3 FY25, net sales stood at Rs 1,45,221 lakh (Rs 1,452.21 crore), reflecting a 4.7 per cent year-on-year growth. Not the kind of jaw-dropping leap that makes investors do a double take, but hey, steady growth is better than a cavity-inducing decline! The domestic business, a key driver of performance, saw a 3.2 per cent growth in Q3 and an 8.8 per cent increase over the nine-month period—a testament to India’s undying love for minty-fresh breath and cavity-free smiles.

    For the nine-month period, net sales reached Rs 4,54,718 lakh (Rs 4,547.18 crore), an increase of 9.2 per cent compared to Rs 4,16,352 lakh (Rs 4,163.52 crore) during the same period last year. That’s a growth curve any dentist would approve of! It also suggests Colgate still holds its ground in an ever-growing battlefield of oral care brands trying to take a bite out of its market share.

    Gross margin and EBITDA margin improved sequentially compared to the last quarter, though they remain under pressure when measured against last year’s higher base. Net profit after tax (PAT) for Q3 FY25 stood at Rs 32,278 lakh (Rs 322.78 crore), a slight decline from Rs 33,011 lakh (Rs 330.11 crore) reported in Q3 FY24. Perhaps inflation took a bite out of those numbers?

    However, the nine-month period gave Colgate something to grin about, with PAT increasing 14.6 per cent YoY to Rs 1,08,181 lakh (Rs 1,081.81 crore), up from Rs 94,384 lakh (Rs 943.84 crore) in the previous fiscal period. Looks like strategic premiumisation and efficiency initiatives are keeping things sparkling.

    Profit before tax (PBT) for Q3 stood at Rs 39,505 lakh (Rs 395.05 crore), showing that operational efficiencies are still paying off. Meanwhile, basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) stood at Rs 11.87 for Q3 and Rs 39.77 for the nine-month period—numbers solid enough to keep shareholders smiling all the way to the bank!

    Colgate-Palmolive’s MD & CEO Prabha Narasimhan acknowledged that the quarter was marked by soft urban demand and heightened competition. Despite these challenges, the company exhibited resilience, with mid-single-digit volume growth in its core toothpaste category and competitive gains in the toothbrush segment.

    “While the near-term macro environment remains challenging, we are committed to driving growth through a strategy that works,” remarked Narasimhan, reiterating Colgate’s focus on premiumisation, digital engagement, and category expansion.

    A highlight of the quarter was the launch of India’s largest oral health movement, a digital-first, AI-driven initiative that offers personalised AI-generated dental screening reports and free dental check-ups in partnership with the Indian Dental Association (IDA). Available in nine regional languages, this initiative aims to enhance oral health awareness at scale.

    Furthermore, Colgate expanded its product portfolio with the “MaxFresh Sensorial” range, building on the success of the “Visible White Purple” series.

    But let’s be honest—can even the best toothpaste keep everyone grinning when inflation is chomping away at disposable incomes? While the recent numbers show resilience, the question remains: can Colgate continue to take a big bite out of market share, or will rival brands leave it with a mere nibble?

    For now, Colgate is holding its ground, refusing to be rinsed away by competition. With strong brand equity, a tech-savvy approach, and a strategy sharper than the bristles on a new toothbrush, Colgate is setting itself up to flash an even brighter smile in the quarters to come. Stick around—the next quarter’s numbers will tell the real story!

     

  • Sunfeast introduces ‘Wowzers’—A cracker with 14 layers of crunch & flavour!

    Sunfeast introduces ‘Wowzers’—A cracker with 14 layers of crunch & flavour!

    MUMBAI: Who knew a cracker could have a personality? Sunfeast just raised the snack-time stakes with the launch of ‘Wowzers’, a cracker that doesn’t just crunch—it crunches.

    With a whopping 14 crispy layers and two indulgent crème flavours, this game-changing treat is here to shake up the biscuit aisle. Forget ordinary crackers—these flaky, flavour-packed bites bring a bold, multi-textural experience, blurring the line between savoury and sweet.

    Consumer preferences are evolving, and crunchiness has become the holy grail of crackers. Sunfeast Wowzers delivers exactly that, with a unique enrobed cracker design that promises a melt-in-your-mouth yet satisfyingly crisp bite. Launching in two indulgent variants—Cheese Crème and Lemon Crème—Wowzers pairs bold flavour with a sprinkle of sugar for that extra oomph. Whether you’re a homemaker curating indulgent treats or a young adult looking for an on-the-go snack, this cracker doesn’t just deliver—it wows.

    To celebrate the launch, Sunfeast rolled out a high-energy advertising campaign, conceptualised by Ogilvy, featuring the tagline ‘Iske Har Bite Mein Hai Wow!’. The campaign taps into the over-the-top excitement that ‘Wowzers’ brings to snacking, mirroring its larger-than-life crunch factor.

    “Sunfeast Wowzers isn’t just a snack; it’s a full-blown sensory experience,” said ITC Ltd COO biscuits & cakes cluster, Ali Harris Shere. “We are redefining the cracker category by blending premium crunch with bold, delightful flavours that cater to evolving consumer tastes.”

    Ogilvy South CCO Puneet Kapoor added, “This cracker practically wrote its own script. With 14 flaky layers and a cheesy burst of flavour, Wowzers isn’t about subtlety—it’s about indulgence. Our campaign had to match that energy, so we went all out to showcase the snack’s larger-than-life appeal.”

    Sunfeast Wowzers has hit shelves in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, and Gujarat, with plans for a nationwide rollout. Consumers can find ‘Wowzers’ in general trade, modern retail, quick-delivery platforms, and the ITC Store.

    Available in two convenient sizes, a 16 gm pack at Rs 5 and a 128 gm pack at Rs 60, these crispy delights are easy on the pocket but rich in flavour.

    Craving a bite already? Order now: ITC Store

  • CAGR as a tool for family wealth planning across generations

    CAGR as a tool for family wealth planning across generations

    In family wealth planning, where the objective is to ensure financial security and growth across generations, understanding and leveraging the right financial tools is essential. Among these tools, Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) stands out for its ability to assess and guide the long-term performance of investments. By providing a precise measure of average annual growth over time, CAGR becomes a valuable ally in creating strategies for sustainable family wealth.

    Understanding CAGR

    CAGR, or Compound Annual Growth Rate, measures the rate at which an investment grows annually while assuming that profits are reinvested each year. Unlike one-time returns or volatile annual figures, CAGR smoothens growth over a specific period, providing clarity on how an investment performs consistently over time.

    For instance, if an investment portfolio grows from Rs. 5,00,000 to Rs. 10,00,000 in 10 years, the CAGR shows the annual growth rate required to achieve that result, providing a clear and realistic picture of the performance.

    Why CAGR is crucial for family wealth planning

    Family wealth planning aims to grow and preserve assets while ensuring financial stability for future generations. Here’s how CAGR plays a pivotal role:

    1.  A long-term perspective  
    Family wealth often involves multi-decade goals, such as funding education, passing down assets, or retirement planning. CAGR helps evaluate investments based on their consistent growth potential, making it easier to align them with long-term objectives.

    2.  Comparing investment avenues  
    Whether it’s real estate, equity, or fixed deposits, CAGR provides a standard metric to compare diverse investments. This ensures that the family wealth is invested in assets that balance growth, risk, and sustainability.

    3.  Wealth creation across generations  
    Intergenerational wealth planning demands stability and compounding benefits. By analysing CAGR, families can identify growth-focused investments that preserve wealth and compound it over decades.

    4.  Alignment with financial goals  
    Different generations often have distinct priorities – some may focus on aggressive growth, while others may prioritise wealth preservation. CAGR enables better decision-making by showing which investments align with these unique goals.

    Using CAGR effectively for family wealth planning

    1.  Diversify with purpose  
    Use CAGR to identify high-growth investments like equities while balancing them with safer options like bonds or fixed-income assets. This diversification ensures steady growth while managing risks.

    2.  Set target returns  
    For goals like funding a child’s education or building a retirement corpus, calculating the required CAGR provides clarity on how much to invest and where to allocate resources.

    3.  Reassess investments regularly  
    Investments with consistently negative CAGR can erode wealth over time. Monitoring CAGR helps you reassess and shift funds to better-performing avenues.

    4.  Leverage the power of compounding  
    Since CAGR inherently considers compounding, it encourages long-term thinking, which is essential for creating wealth that lasts across generations.

    Limitations to keep in mind

    While CAGR is a reliable metric, it assumes smooth and consistent growth, which may not always align with the market realities. External factors such as inflation, taxes, and economic shifts must also be considered when making long-term decisions based on CAGR.

    Conclusion

    CAGR is indispensable while planning for family wealth creation for financial stability and growth for future generations. By offering a realistic view of long-term investment performance, CAGR simplifies decision-making and ensures that wealth is managed thoughtfully. Families that use CAGR as part of their wealth strategy are better equipped to meet their financial goals and pass on a legacy of prosperity to the next generation.

  • Woodland-The Quick Style ignite a dance-fuelled outdoor revolution

    Woodland-The Quick Style ignite a dance-fuelled outdoor revolution

    MUMBAI: Adventure just found its rhythm, and it’s moving to the beat of The Quick Style. Woodland, the brand synonymous with performance-driven outdoor gear, has teamed up with the globally acclaimed dance troupe, The Quick Style, for a high-energy collaboration that blends adventure, movement, and style. Facilitated by White Rivers Media (WRM), this partnership delivers an electrifying showcase of Woodland’s latest outdoor collection—where rugged durability meets effortless swagger.

    The campaign captures The Quick Style’s dynamic choreography infused with Woodland’s ethos of exploration and innovation, proving that adventure isn’t just about scaling mountains; sometimes, it’s about setting the stage on fire.

    Woodland head of digital marketing Nikita Malhotra Singh highlighted the synergy between the brand and the dance collective, stating, “At Woodland, our legacy of combining style, performance, and sustainable innovation mirrors how today’s youth approach adventure—not just as an activity, but as a lifestyle choice. Partnering with The Quick Style allowed us to celebrate this philosophy in a creative and culturally resonant way.”

    With their deep expertise in bridging cultural moments with brand storytelling, WRM orchestrated this unique collaboration, capturing the raw energy and essence of movement-driven adventure.

    White Rivers Media co-founder & CCO Mitesh Kothari underscored the campaign’s impact, saying, “Compelling brand stories emerge when cultural authenticity meets creative expression. This collaboration with Woodland and The Quick Style is a celebration of movement, exploration, and the art of storytelling.”

    The campaign seamlessly blends these two worlds, delivering a visual treat that speaks directly to the adrenaline-fuelled, experience-hungry generation. The collaboration also marks a fresh way for brands to engage younger audiences—by aligning with cultural moments and fusing artistry with authenticity.

    From the streets to the wilderness, Woodland’s latest campaign proves that adventure is everywhere—you just need the right gear (and maybe a killer dance move or two).

     

     

  • Ad wars 2024: Who ruled TV screens and who got washed away?

    Ad wars 2024: Who ruled TV screens and who got washed away?

    MUMBAI: Television advertising in 2024 wasn’t just background noise—it was prime-time gold, stealing the spotlight from even the most dramatic soap operas. According to TAM AdEx – 2024 Television Advertising Recap, TV ad volumes surged 14 per cent compared to 2020, proving that the battle for consumer eyeballs is still raging.

    Globally, television ad spending is expected to touch $177 billion, with India alone seeing a nine per cent rise in TV ad expenditures compared to 2023. The second quarter alone saw a six per cent growth over the first, while the fourth quarter took a six per cent dip—probably because people were too busy binge-watching holiday specials to pay attention to ads.

    But who poured in the most cash? Which industries turned up the volume? And which brands refused to be skipped? Buckle up—this one’s a wild ride through the world of TV ads.

    Who was buying all that airtime?

    If you turned on your TV in 2024, you were likely bombarded with ads from the food & beverages sector, which took a massive 21 per cent share of ad volumes, proving that snack cravings and screen time go hand in hand. Not far behind, personal care/personal hygiene lathered up with 16 per cent. The household products sector scrubbed in at 9 per cent, because apparently, nothing pairs better with your TV drama than a cleaner floor.

    But who ruled the ad wars? Hindustan Unilever dominated with 16 per cent of all ad volumes, closely followed by Reckitt Benckiser (India), which boasted five out of the top ten most advertised brands. If you feel like every other commercial was selling you a soap or detergent, you weren’t wrong.

    If you thought soap operas were dramatic, the real drama happened in the soap advertising department. Toilet Soaps dominated the charts yet again, refusing to be flushed away. Laundry detergents, toothpastes, and floor cleaners scrubbed into the top 10, proving that cleanliness is next to advertising greatness.

    Quarterly showdowns

    2024 was a tale of peaks and dips. The second quarter flexed its muscles, rising by six per cent over Q1, only for Q4 to slump by six per cent compared to Q3. Maybe by year’s end, consumers had perfected the art of muting commercials.

    Despite the dips, 92 per cent of all TV ad volumes came from just five channel genres—dominated, unsurprisingly, by general entertainment channels (GECs) and news. If nothing else, advertisers know exactly where the eyeballs are.

    Which brands stole the spotlight? The award for most persistent ad on TV goes to Harpic Power Plus 10x Advanced, which climbed over 60 spots to claim the top brand of the year. It was followed closely by Dettol Toilet Soaps, Dettol Antiseptic Liquid, and Jiocinema App. Because what’s better than watching ads? Watching ads about an app that shows more ads!

    Surprisingly, digital brands also made a larger impact, with e-commerce and fintech stepping up their ad spends. The TV ad game isn’t just about FMCG anymore; the tech world wants a piece of your screen time too.

    Co-branding went bonkers. Indian cinema blockbusters and brands continued their love affair in 2024, with Pushpa 2 leading the charge, accounting for 21 per cent of co-branded ads. The film with the most brands fighting for screen time? Fighter, which partnered with a record 13 brands—making sure even if the movie didn’t knock out box-office records, it definitely conquered ad slots.

    Who surprised us?

    While the usual suspects stayed strong, some underdogs made surprising leaps. Paints saw a 51 per cent increase in ad secondages, because who doesn’t love a fresh coat of paint before their favourite reality show? Travel and tourism ads doubled, surging by 100 per cent, as people started daydreaming about vacations rather than just watching them on TV. But the real showstopper? Beauty accessories/products grew a jaw-dropping 303 times, proving that looking good isn’t just for movie stars anymore.

    And the exclusive advertisers? Over 4,010+ new advertisers joined the television ad game in 2024. Leading the pack was Velnik India, proving that fresh faces aren’t just for reality TV anymore. From fintech to online shopping platforms, new players saw TV as the ultimate stage to make their mark.

    If you thought TV ads were taking a back seat, think again—because brands are still duking it out for your attention like it’s prime-time gladiator combat. As long as there are eyeballs to mesmerise and remotes to misplace, ad makers will be there, squeezing their pitches between your favourite shows. Industry experts predict that 2025 will bring even smarter AI-driven ad placements, hyper-personalised content, and interactive ads that might just talk back if you ignore them.

    So, buckle up for more soaps (literally and figuratively), more snacks (because snack ads are never going away), and an avalanche of co-branded spectacles. If 2024 was a preview, 2025 is shaping up to be the full-length feature film of advertising dominance.