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  • Music licensing firm Broma 16 taps Indian veteran to crack subcontinent gold rush

    Music licensing firm Broma 16 taps Indian veteran to crack subcontinent gold rush

    MUMBAI: Broma 16, a Dutch music licensing outfit, has hired Sunnyy Vyas from India’s streaming wars to spearhead its assault on the subcontinent’s booming digital music market. The Amsterdam-based firm, which specialises in maximising royalty collections online, appointed Vyas as head of India as it seeks to capitalise on the country’s explosive streaming growth.

    Vyas arrives with battle scars from 19 years in India’s cutthroat music and broadcasting industry. Most recently, he served as head of Wynk Studio at Airtel Digital, where he shepherded community engagement and podcast distribution for the telecom giant’s music platform. Before that, he led music promotions for ByteDance’s original content push and founded Music Plus, billed as India’s first dedicated music business portal.

    The appointment comes as international music companies scramble for a slice of India’s digital pie. With smartphone penetration soaring and data costs plummeting, the country has become a critical battleground for streaming supremacy.

    Vyas cut his teeth in traditional radio, working his way up from radio jockey at Radio City to cluster manager at Radio One, where he managed celebrity campaigns across four cities. His early career included stints as programming head at 94.3 MY FM in Nagpur, where he helmed an eight-strong team and chased ratings gold.
    The new hire will debut Broma 16’s Indian ambitions at All About Music in Mumbai later this month, where the company’s team will court potential partners and clients. For a firm with just 11 to 50 employees, landing a market veteran of Vyas’s calibre signals serious intent in a region where rights management remains fragmented and undermonetised.

    Whether Broma 16 can navigate India’s labyrinthine music licensing landscape remains to be seen, but with Vyas at the helm, it has secured a guide who knows where the bodies are buried.

  • Nishith Desai Associates adds two heavyweights to global strategy roster

    Nishith Desai Associates adds two heavyweights to global strategy roster

    MUMBAI: When a law firm starts playing in the big league of global strategy, you know it’s thinking far beyond dusty courtrooms. Nishith Desai Associates (NDA) has just brought in two star players Chintan Vaishnav in Boston and Ritika Patni in New York to sharpen its edge in techno-policy, cross-border strategy, and boardroom advisory.

    Dr Vaishnav, a futurist and techno-policy strategist, is best known for steering the Atal Innovation Mission at NITI Aayog and chairing the Startup20 Engagement Group during India’s G20 Presidency in 2023. With a Ph.D. in Engineering Systems and an M.S. in Technology and Policy from MIT, plus a B.A. in Indian Classical Music for good measure, he’s part scientist, part strategist, part storyteller. At NDA, he will spearhead work in AI governance, innovation policy, and public-private collaboration essentially, the legal brains trust for an increasingly tech-led world.

    On the other coast, Ritika Patni takes charge as leader of NDA’s Global Legal Strategy Consulting Practice. A gold medallist from NUJS Kolkata and MBA alumna from Columbia Business School, she’s worn many hats corporate lawyer at Linklaters London, founder of wellness startup Arth, and consultant to Fortune 500s at Alvarez & Marsal. Her new brief at NDA: guiding cross-border strategy for technology, healthcare, and professional services clients.

    The hires reinforce NDA’s unique “4D” model Practice, Industry, Leadership, Skillset which has long drawn in experts from outside the conventional legal track. It’s the same formula that brought in an engineer-turned-lawyer (Vaibhav Parikh), a surgeon-turned-lawyer (Milind Antani), a CA-MBA-turned-lawyer (Nishchal Joshipura), and a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence (Mihir Parikh).

    Founder Nishith Desai calls the appointments “a commitment to embracing change and challenging conventional thinking” as NDA evolves into a strategic legal consulting powerhouse. With Vaishnav’s policy chops and Patni’s cross-border acumen, the firm looks set to blend law, leadership, and lateral thinking in a way few others can match.
     

  • The Baker’s Dozen celebrates food as India’s universal language through its ‘Different Tongues, One Taste’ campaign this Independence Day

    The Baker’s Dozen celebrates food as India’s universal language through its ‘Different Tongues, One Taste’ campaign this Independence Day

    MUMBAI: India is a land of diverse cultures, traditions and languages, that is alive and dynamic – changing every 50-100 kms. But what binds us together is our unabashed love for food. That is, in a world marred by many cultural and language barriers, there is still food that keeps the spirit of our diversity alive. With this in mind, The Baker’s Dozen (TBD), India’s leading artisanal bakery brand, known for creating authentic and high-quality baked goods, has launched its heartwarming and relatable ‘Different Tongues, One Taste’ campaign this 79th Independence Day.

    TBD’s campaign film captures instances from across the length and breadth of the country – people sharing love and care through TBD’s diverse range of products in their day-to-day lives. A wife surprises her husband with his favourite Banana Walnut Cake. A father packs a Donut Cake in his son’s school bag. A working woman prepares sandwiches for her lunch using Fourgrain Sourdough Bread and assures her mother she is eating healthy. A young girl sends her mother a photo of Dark Chocolate Cookies, telling her they taste just like the ones she makes at home. From different cities, different languages, different lives and family traditions, TBD’s film celebrates one shared truth – how food has the power to connect us all.

     

     

    In addition to the film, the brand is also collaborating with food creators from Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat and West Bengal. Through this collaboration, these creators will recreate traditional regional recipes – that are an integral part of the larger Indian culture – using TBD’s products.

    Talking about this year’s Independence Day campaign film, The Baker’s Dozen co-founder & head chef Aditi Handa said, “One of the aspects that I love about cooking, and fascinates me to this day, is how it’s a universal language to express love and care for others. In our factory, I interact and collaborate with people from varied cultures who bring such unique perspectives to the table, enhancing the richness and goodness of the products we create. This Independence Day, we wanted to celebrate this cultural multiplicity through food with our ‘Different Tongues, One Taste’ campaign. With the current climate over language barriers, we sought to celebrate the common language of food made with love that binds us all together.”

    The Baker’s Dozen co-founder Sneh Jain added, “Through our ‘Different Tongues, One Taste’ campaign, we wanted to mark India’s independence in a way that is meaningful, relevant and relatable to Indians belonging to different cultures, regions, and languages across the country. What better way to do that than through the unique uniting power of the language of food? Our campaign film is a testament to the fact that good, pure food can transcend boundaries to bring people together in love and affection.” 
     

  • This Independence Day, Hilti India says #BharatKoAageBadhateHain

    This Independence Day, Hilti India says #BharatKoAageBadhateHain

    MUMBAI: As India celebrates its 79th Independence Day, Hilti India, the global leader in providing innovative and cutting-edge construction solutions, proudly launches its new film, #BharatKoAageBadhateHain. The film is a powerful tribute to the unsung heroes who are building the nation brick by brick.It captures the spirit of raftaar (speed), ekta (unity), andsapne (dreams) – values that have shaped India’s journey of progress since independence. From engineers and planners to technicians and site workers, the film highlights the people whose dedication is building the India of tomorrow.

    As a trusted partner to India’s construction industry, Hilti supports engineers, technicians, and workers not just with tools, but with solutions that make construction safer, more productive, and more sustainable.  The film brings to life what makes India“Sare Jahan Se Achha” through visuals of fast-moving trains, towering statues, vibrant skylines, metro lines, and tunnels carved with courage. These symbols of progress serve as the backdrop for the real story: India’s growth is made possible by the people who bring these projects to life.

    Speaking about the film, Hilti India general manager and managing director, Jayant Kumar said,“The strength of India lies in the hands of those who build it. From the first brick laid after independence to the skylines rising today, this country has been built with sweat, skill, and determination.

    At Hilti, our purpose is to Make Construction Better. This film is a tribute to every planner, engineer, technician, and worker who dreams of building a better tomorrow. We are proud to stand beside them with tools that empower, technology that enables, and belief that connects us. Bharat is not just a place. It is built by us, together.”

    Hilti is driven by its purpose of Making Construction Better, delivering innovative tools, technologies, software, and services that enable professionals to build with greater speed, safety, and precision. With a customer promise to be the best partner for productivity, safety, and sustainability, Hilti stands alongside those shaping India’s future on every project, every site, every day.

    The film is now live across social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

  • Libas set to launch 11 news stores on one single day this Independence Day

    Libas set to launch 11 news stores on one single day this Independence Day

    MUMBAI: Libas is set to make retail history by launching 11 new stores in a single day across India on August 15. The expansion reflects the brand’s deeper push into India’s dynamic offline market and marks a significant step towards its goal of opening 100+ stores by the end of 2025.

    From design to sourcing to customer experience, Libas has always stayed true to its core philosophy – “Made in India. Made for India.” The upcoming store launches are an extension of this belief, celebrating the diversity, individuality, and aspirations of modern Indian women across geographies.

    Each store location has been selected with strategic intent, from the bustling neighbourhoods of Jasola and Rohini in Delhi-NCR to the high-footfall zones of Phoenix Palassio in Lucknow and MG Road in Kochi. These markets represent strong consumer demand and digital engagement for the brand.

    The 11 new store locations include Jasola, Rohini, and Gaur City in Delhi-NCR; Lucknow; Indore; Kochi; Amritsar; Udaipur; Bel Road and Sarjapur in Bengaluru; and Mumbai.

    Libas founder & CEO Sidhant Keshwani said, “This expansion marks a decisive step in our growth trajectory as we strengthen our presence across the country. By foraying into these high-impact markets, we are strategically taking Libas closer to the modern Indian women who have shaped and inspired us. The 11 steps closer campaign is a tribute to India’s fashion-forward women across regions. As we scale across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, we’re committed to creating spaces that reflect local aesthetics while delivering a consistent Libas experience. Every store is an opportunity to engage meaningfully, to listen, and to co-create fashion experiences that appeal to our target audience.”

  • Lux posts Rs 23.9 cr Q1 profit as revenue slips to Rs 613.6 cr

    Lux posts Rs 23.9 cr Q1 profit as revenue slips to Rs 613.6 cr

    MUMBAI: Lux Industries may be in the business of keeping India snug, but its June quarter performance proved it can hold its own even when topline shrinks. The Kolkata-headquartered innerwear giant reported a standalone net profit of Rs 3.92 crore for the quarter ended 30 June 2025, down from Rs 48.17 crore in the March quarter but only moderately lower than the Rs 34.56 crore booked a year earlier.

    Revenue from operations stood at Rs 604.49 crore (including Rs 3.34 crore in other operating income), a drop from Rs 819.14 crore in the preceding quarter but up from Rs 535.3 crore in Q1 FY25. Total income came in at Rs 613.55 crore.

    The quarter saw cost of materials consumed jump to Rs 423.09 crore, while subcontracting and jobbing expenses held high at Rs 188.52 crore. A sharp Rs 199.44 crore reduction in inventories helped cushion the impact on margins. Other expenses fell sequentially to Rs 106.28 crore from Rs 139.38 crore, with employee costs at Rs 42.20 crore.

    Finance costs edged up to Rs 6.23 crore, while depreciation stood at Rs 7.09 crore. The company’s total expenses were Rs 582.40 crore, leading to a profit before tax of Rs 31.15 crore.

    Tax outgo for the quarter was Rs 7.23 crore, translating to an earnings per share (EPS) of Rs 7.95 well below March’s Rs 16.02 but reflecting stability given the seasonality in the hosiery and innerwear business.

    With a paid-up equity capital of Rs 6.26 crore and reserves of Rs 1,740.36 crore, Lux remains comfortably capitalised. For the full year ended March 2025, the company had clocked Rs 2,565.69 crore in revenue and Rs 166.09 crore in net profit.

    Lux’s Q1 may not have been a blockbuster, but in an industry often pulled and stretched by raw material prices, seasonality, and consumer sentiment, the numbers suggest a company keeping its fit just right.

  • Philips partners with Snitch to ‘Steam It Up’

    Philips partners with Snitch to ‘Steam It Up’

    MUMBAI: Showcasing an exciting blend of innovation and style, Philips home appliances, from the house of Versuni India has announced a retail partnership with Snitch, a popular men’s fashion brand, and launched “Steam It Up” — an exceptional in-store experience blending modern fashion with smart garment care. The collaboration aims to engage the audience across 12 Snitch stores in Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad.

    As the official Garment Care Partner for Snitch, Philips home appliances brings its innovation-led STH5000 Garment Steamer range into the lifestyle space. Known for its vibrant colors, sleek design and travel-friendly body, the garment steamer is designed for today’s fashion-forward generation— aligning perfectly with the high-energy, expressive aesthetics that define Snitch.

    Extending an engaging and value-added customer experience, the activation makes Snitch’s walk-in customers experience Philips’ latest range of handheld garment steamers—a product designed to make daily fashion care easier, quicker, and more effective.

    The campaign kicks off with a pan India activation across Snitch stores, including select in-store setups where customers can design Snitch outfit looks, steam them up with the Philips STH5000 garment steamer, and post their styled photos on social media to participate in an exciting daily contest. Every day, one lucky winner will receive a Philips garment steamer and Snitch’s exclusive fragrance set.

    “We wanted to create an experience that seamlessly weaves garment care into the fashion narrative. The Philips garment steamer is the perfect everyday solution for your garment care needs. This partnership with Snitch is a celebration of individuality, functionality and style—values that deeply resonate with today’s Gen Z audience,” said Versuni India CMO Pooja Baid.

    Philips home appliances and Snitch are working together to create a unified consumer experience – covering everything from high-tempo fashion to effective garment care. This is the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership that will engage a new-age consumer relating to style, utility, and lifestyle. It combines the legacy retail expertise of Philips with the new-age content driven retail expertise that Snitch offers.

    “At Snitch, we’re always looking to create engaging in-store experiences that go beyond shopping. This collaboration with Philips brings together two brands focused on smart, stylish everyday living. It’s our way of adding a little more ease, energy, and excitement to our customers’ fashion journey,” said Snitch founding member and CMO Chetan Siyal.
     

  • Foundry promotes sales veteran Chhavi Bhalla to senior director

    Foundry promotes sales veteran Chhavi Bhalla to senior director

    MUMBAI: Chhavi Bhalla has been elevated to senior director of growth sales at Foundry, capping a meteoric rise through the company’s ranks over three-and-a-half years.

    Bhalla, who joined the firm as new business manager for North America in March 2022, was promoted to director of growth sales in March 2024 before landing her latest role this month. Her ascent reflects Foundry’s aggressive expansion in the competitive digital media space.

    The sales veteran brings formidable credentials from America’s media landscape. At Gannett’s USA Today Network, she delivered $350,000 in fresh revenue through 15 new clients whilst generating creative solutions that contributed 50 per cent to annual turnover. Her portfolio spanned the full digital spectrum—from over-the-top streaming and programmatic advertising to search engine marketing and branded content.

    Earlier stints at regional broadcaster Gray Communications and KOLO 8 saw Bhalla add 25 clients worth $200,000 in revenue whilst coaching marketing teams across the American west coast.

    Her Indian media pedigree runs deep. A five-month tenure as head of content sales for the public sector at Discovery yielded a $9m partnership with India’s tourism ministry for a bespoke travel series. At Zee Entertainment, she quadrupled revenue relative to production costs through content innovations across the network’s channels.

    Her most impressive performance came at Viacom18, where she delivered an 85 per cent revenue surge from north and east India regions, orchestrating branded content deals with corporate giants including GSK, Coca-Cola and Microsoft.

    Bhalla’s promotion underscores Foundry’s bet on seasoned operators who can navigate the increasingly complex digital advertising ecosystem whilst delivering measurable growth in challenging market conditions.

  • Instamart expands the Home & Lifestyle category with the debut launch of Home Stop by Shoppers Stop

    Instamart expands the Home & Lifestyle category with the debut launch of Home Stop by Shoppers Stop

    MUMBAI: Strengthening its growing household and lifestyle portfolio, Instamart, India’s pioneering quick commerce platform, has partnered with Home Stop by Shoppers Stop, offering premium crockery, serveware, home décor, and furnishings. With this collaboration, Instamart becomes the first quick commerce platform to offer over 100 curated Home Stop products for discerning online shoppers. The platform will enable 10-minute delivery of a wide range of products across stores in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Gurgaon.

    The launch features a curated range of products spanning linen and furnishings, home décor, dinnerware, serveware, and kitchen storage. Offerings include artisanal candle holders, modern serveware, Buddha figurines, jharokha t-light holders, and other items designed to enhance everyday living.

    Sharing insights on quick commerce’s expanding role beyond groceries and essentials, Instamart  AVP & category head, Manender Kaushik shared, “Since the launch of the Home & Lifestyle category on Instamart, we’ve witnessed robust growth in the segment. This signals that quick commerce has evolved from a simple grocery delivery service into a more sophisticated marketplace encompassing larger and diverse categories. Traditionally, home and furnishings were planned purchases; however, today, the needs of Indian online shoppers are rapidly evolving. By closely understanding consumer preferences, we have prioritized expanding our assortment of lifestyle products. Our partnership with Home Stop marks a significant step towards making curated home décor and furnishings accessible to shoppers within minutes.”

    Speaking on the collaboration, Shoppers Stop MD & CEO Kavindra Mishra said, “Home Stop offers a curated selection of contemporary, classic, and innovative home solutions that blend quality, style, and value. It’s a one-stop destination for everything from bed and bath to living, dining, and kitchen, thoughtfully curated to help our customers build homes that truly reflect their personality. This partnership with Instamart marks a significant step in making the Home Stop experience instantly accessible through the power of quick commerce, allowing us to meet our customers at their doorstep, quickly and effortlessly. Together, we’re reimagining how modern India discovers and shops for premium home living.”

  • Rotary Club of Bombay Seacoast and Frido unite to honour army veterans with comfort

    Rotary Club of Bombay Seacoast and Frido unite to honour army veterans with comfort

    MUMBAI: The Rotary Club of Bombay Seacoast, in collaboration with Frido, has donated advanced electric wheelchairs to the Queen Mary’s Technical Institute (QMTI), Pune, an institution that has been rehabilitating and training disabled soldiers from the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy since 1917. The initiative aims to honour the courage and sacrifice of India’s paraplegic veterans while restoring their independence and mobility.

    The collaboration, made possible through the Rotary Club’s network and the generosity of its supporters, along with Frido’s expertise in mobility solutions, ensures that the beneficiaries receive equipment designed for maximum comfort, portability, and ease of use. By combining the Rotary Club’s legacy of community service with Frido’s innovation, the effort goes beyond a gesture of support, it’s a commitment to dignity and inclusion for those who have served the nation.

    Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Devnani, President, Rotary Club of Bombay Seacoast, said, “These wheelchairs will help them lead a life of dignity, independence and comfort, while also reminding them that their sacrifices are never forgotten.”

    Frido’s journey began under Arcatron Mobility with a mission to give dignity and independence to people with mobility challenges. The company’s first breakthrough came when it designed a wheelchair for a Paralympian, a project that not only sparked innovation but also revealed a deeper calling: to create world-class mobility solutions for individuals with disabilities, helping them live life on their own terms.

    Speaking on the initiative,  Frido, co-founder & CEO Ganesh Sonawane said, “This collaboration with the Rotary Club of Bombay Seacoast has given us the opportunity to contribute towards the wellbeing of the brave soldiers who have served our nation without ever seeking anything in return. It is our privilege to play a role in restoring independence and comfort in their lives, and we are grateful for the chance to make a meaningful difference.”

    Part of Frido’s CSR efforts and the ‘Find Your Frido-m’ campaign, and in honour of Independence Day, this collaboration reflects the brand’s vision of giving veterans the freedom to live with dignity and on their own terms. With its expertise in mobility solutions, Frido, alongside the Rotary Club of Bombay Seacoast, is championing mobility and inclusion, showing how such partnerships can transform lives.