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Tag: FMCG

  • HE Advanced Grooming launches the new summer disruptor HE MAGIC DUO

    HE Advanced Grooming launches the new summer disruptor HE MAGIC DUO

    MUMBAI: HE, the Advanced Male Grooming Brand of the FMCG major Emami Limited launches ‘HE Magic Duo’, a unique category disrupting innovation to expand the brand’s portfolio in the zero gas perfume space. For the very first time in India, HE Magic Duo, delivers the convenience of getting two distinct fragrances in one single can.

    HE Magic Duo offers two variants “Angels and Demons” and “Yin and Yang” both of which come in a cool masculine matte styled finished pack of 50 ml*2 = 100 ml inside a premium looking carton with a transparent window. The unique applicator at the top of the can is positioned side by side and can spray two different fragrances separately or together. 

    Adding to the excitement of the innovation, Mr. Harsha V. Agarwal, Director- Emami Ltd said, “The deodorant category in India is a highly saturated and cluttered market. With the presence of multiple players, it is becoming increasingly difficult to break through this clutter and stand out. HE as a brand has a strong legacy of differentiation from the very beginning. This time, we found through our consumer research that there is an increasing dual usage trend wherein 1 in 5 users currently use 2 or more Deos on a regular basis just from the need of variety and the urge of not smelling the same every time.   Triggered by this consumer need, we have brought in a category disrupting solution through HE Magic Duo where we are offering two fragrances at the price of one.  We believe that HE Magic Duo with its breakthrough packaging is going to create a stir in the consumer mind space.”

    HE Magic Duo will roll out a series of quirky, humorous television commercials made on a single sign-off thread of “GOD Promise Bro” to vouch for this unbelievable innovative product.

  • The Walt Disney company appoints Mahesh Samat as asia pacific head of consumer products commercialization

    The Walt Disney company appoints Mahesh Samat as asia pacific head of consumer products commercialization

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company today announced the appointment of Mahesh Samat, Executive Vice President, Disney Consumer Products Commercialization for the Asia Pacific region.  Reporting into Ken Potrock, President, Disney Consumer Products Commercialization, Mahesh takes on responsibility for the commercialization of Disney franchises across merchandise, publishing and licensed games throughout India, Southeast Asia, Greater China, Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

    Mr. Samat rejoined The Walt Disney Company in India in November 2016 and went on to integrate the Southeast Asia and India businesses to form The Walt Disney Company’s South Asia regional hub in September 2017.  Mahesh led most of Disney’s integrated business units driving new strategies that are providing tremendous growth for global franchises and unilaterally creating new business opportunities for all Disney businesses. He previously led The Walt Disney Company’s India operations from 2008-2012.

    “The Asia Pacific region continues to provide immense opportunity for Disney products and experiences,” said Mr. Potrock. “I am confident that Mahesh’s proven leadership and steadfast focus on innovation and entrepreneurship will deliver dynamic growth across our brands and product categories.”  

    “Disney products and experiences bring our stories and characters closer to fans every day. I am pleased to have the opportunity to lead this exceptional team to delight kids and families across these high growth Asian markets,” said Mr. Samat.

    With more than twenty-five years of experience in FMCG, Media and Healthcare across India, Asia-Pacific and Europe, Mr. Samat previously worked with Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg’s, Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis and Boots India Limited. Between 2012 and 2016, he established the Epic Television Networks and its popular Hindi-language, The Epic Channel in India. 

  • Zeotap launches ‘Connect’ – deterministic telecom-based identity matching solution integrated across 7 DSP and DMP channels

    Zeotap launches ‘Connect’ – deterministic telecom-based identity matching solution integrated across 7 DSP and DMP channels

    Zeotap, the global mobile data platform today announced the launch of its identity solution, Connect, which deterministically matches brands’ offline data to online identifiers. Zeotap is the first and only company to offer this solution at a global scale via its partnerships with telecom operators. Connect is integrated with seven DSP and DMP channels, including Google Marketing Platform, The Trade Desk, Appnexus, Adform and Amobee amongst others.

    Zeotap’s Connect has been built around privacy-by-design principles to comply with GDPR and global privacy standards. This identity matching solution, integrated with 3 of the 5 largest telecom operators in India, is based on a unique patented telco identity graph that helps brands connect emails and phone numbers (offline 1st party CRM data) to device IDs and mobile/desktop cookies (online identifiers), allowing brands to unleash the full power of their own data. Zeotap can additionally append further data attributes to these matches, allowing brands to make use of zeotap’s targeting intelligence capabilities. As a result, brands can gain better insight on their users and benefit from an advanced targeting strategy based on zeotap’s accurate socio-demo and behavioral data.

    Commenting on the launch, Projjol Banerjea, Founder & CPO said, ‘We are excited to bring Connect to the Indian market, with the quality and accuracy assurance that characterizes us. Connect enables our customers to bridge the offline-online advertising gap, while having a more rounded vision of their target audience’s socio-demo and behavioral composition. Today, Connect is readily available and integrated across major DSP and DMP channels, and we’re confident it will bring nothing but outstanding campaign results.”

    Some of the Connect security and privacy measures include working with securely hashed identifiers (hashed email addresses or phone numbers) that are always stored independently. Zeotap also uses its own identifier – the ZeoID – which is a rotating hashkey that securely separates brands’ identity data from zeotap’s targeting attributes. Zeotap has also been granted with several enterprise-grade security and privacy certifications to prove their compliance, including ISO 27001, CSA STAR Silver and the e-privacy GDPR-ready seal in Europe.

    Premium brands the world over, across verticals such as QSR/fast-food, FMCG and travel, trust zeotap with activating their 1st party CRM data and optimizing their marketing campaigns.

  • Guest Column: Impact of artificial intelligence on programmatic advertising

    Guest Column: Impact of artificial intelligence on programmatic advertising

    Programmatic advertising is a method of utilising software to buy digital ads. It is easier for media buyers to go through an auction-based process instead of manual negotiations for displaying their ads on digital platforms. It is one of the most innovative methods of advertising which facilitates the buying and selling of digital ad space.

    On the other hand, artificial intelligence (AI) is the concept of replicating human intelligence in machines the potential of which, in turn, is unlocked by human intelligence. AI undoubtedly adds immense value to marketers.

    Machine learning has revolutionised media trading & programmatic algorithms based on volumes of data. AI incorporation enhances the targeting capabilities as individuals can be targeted based on behaviour & preferences and other programmatic interactions. Ads can be personalised based on location, demographics, interactions etc. Precision targeting is required for global reach of programmatic advertising. AI is allowing advertisers to dramatically boost the efficiency of their campaigns. Programmatic uses AI technologies to make better budget decisions for advertisers. When AI is applied to programmatic advertising, it can navigate on its own, as well as provide minute insights thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the campaign exponentially.

    The basis of both programmatic advertising & AI is data analytics. With the effective amalgamation of AI in programmatic advertising one can dynamically score user, accurately differentiate, bid on valuable customers & drive efficient conversions. The brands need to embrace the power & opportunities that AI bots & digital assistants provide. The search has improved drastically with the inception of AI algorithms. As per a report, the AI market is predicted to grow more than 47 billion dollars by 2020 which is a massive rise. It can also enhance the look and feel of ad creatives which can be designed to catch the attention of the viewer.

    Real-time bidding can be facilitated with AI in programmatic advertising. Automation brings advertisers closer to the goals that are set by the brand. As per statistics by Zenith marketing forecasts, by 2019, 67 per cent of display advertising will be traded programmatically. Before the onset of programmatic, the process of digital ad-buying was slow & monotonous. The marketers had to negotiate for ad placement wherein they had to compromise upon cost, space or results. The need to sort this recurring issue paved way for programmatic advertising & to automate the process further, AI was incorporated with it. Thus, ad buying has now become more effective, efficient, cheaper & result-oriented. AI enables the option of whom to show the ad, when & where instead of simply negotiating the ad space. Many brands are banking upon programmatic advertising for lead generation across the globe. Right from FMCG to BFSI to real estate& tourism & hospitality, it has become a favourite of the brands.

    The future also looks promising for AI enabled programmatic advertising as in times to come, through the process of machine learning audience profiling will be finalised on its own. There would be no need to use programmatic tools for filtering audience, in fact, it will evaluate customers’ behaviour and display ads accordingly.

    (The author is CEO and founder, iCubesWire. The opinions expressed here are his own and Indiantelevision.com)

  • Former FCB Ulka COO Sanjay Tandon joins Thinkstr as CEO

    Former FCB Ulka COO Sanjay Tandon joins Thinkstr as CEO

    MUMBAI: Thinkstr, an independent multi-functional agency based in Gurgaon has announced the appointment of Sanjay Tandon as chief executive officer (CEO). Prior to this, Tandon was the chief operating officer (COO) at FCB Ulka.
    Thinkstr founder Satbir Singh said, “As we grow and expand, we needed someone who’d bring much-needed method to the madness. Sanjay comes with years of solid experience across telecom, automotive, e-com, FMCG, durables, lifestyle categories. Not only has he run a large agency office, but he also brings precious experience from the other side, having been a client. That understanding of business dynamics makes Thinkstr’s offering stronger. And to top it all, he’s a friend of nearly two decades!”
    Tandon said, “When I met Satbir, it was like continuing from where we left when we worked together professionally in the past. We share a passion for being very consumer-centric, client-focused and doing work that places our brands ahead of the curve in the market.”
    He added, “Marketers are today fragmenting their energy and focus across multiple agencies, suffering cost inefficiency, lack of agility and inadequate senior level expertise to navigate their brand’s journey in the consumer’s life. At Thinkstr, we are geared to think ahead and deliver marketing programs with excellence.”
    Tandon was previously the consumer – marketing head at RSPL (Xpert Dishwash, Proease Sanitary Pads, Uniwash Detergent (India & Bangladesh), Ghari (Bangladesh) and new FMCG development in India and Bangladesh.

  • The Fifth anniversary edition of the BrandZTM India ranking expands to 75 brands

    The Fifth anniversary edition of the BrandZTM India ranking expands to 75 brands

    For this fifth anniversary of the BrandZ™ India report, the criteria has been revised and has expanded the ranking to become the BrandZ™ India Top 75. The expanded ranking keeps pace with the changes in India and charts India’s rapidly changing brand landscape and provide insights necessary for building valuable brands.

    With the new criteria, the BrandZ India ranking added 30 new brands, with over a third coming from the service sector.  Other categories added to the BrandZ India ranking this year are durables and home appliances, tobacco, and entertainment (TV stations). With the addition of new categories, seven Newcomers appear in the Top 15 and the awards will be given out on September 6th in Mumbai.

    As India changes, the people with some money to spend and a desire for a better life are not limited to wealthy enclaves in a few major cities, making brand marketing more complicated.  Especially in FMCG and personal care categories, success requires understanding the product nuances and linguistic distinctions both across thousands of villages and among the micro markets in India’s major cities.

    These challenges are coupled with opportunities. First, having more higher income people, even in rural areas, increases the number of Indian consumers, making it economically feasible for marketers to create niche brands. Second, digital technology and the advent of mobile devices democratizes access to information, enabling marketers to target their messages. Opportunities are everywhere because people throughout India are striving.

    Vishikh Talwar, MD Kantar Millward Brown- South Asia says-
    The BrandZ™ five-year analysis shows to ensure faster brand value growth, a brand needs to cultivate the drivers of equity: Meaningfulness, Difference, and Salience. For a consumer group like the millennials who grew amid the era of India’s technological awakening and transformation, brands must adopt their values to connect and thereby build trust with this generation. This tectonic shift in Indian society molded these young adults as conscious and highly informed consumers. They expect and demand transparency and prefer to do business with brands that have expertise in their offerings and authenticity in their claims.

  • And now a nationalistic SIM card, courtesy Patanjali

    And now a nationalistic SIM card, courtesy Patanjali

    MUMBAI: A swadeshi SIM card! Well, that was just waiting to happen, if we discount the other telecom services in India. So, after a slew of FMCG products, comes the co-branded service from Patanjali group, of course with a government-controlled telecom operator as a partner: swadeshi samridhhi (national prosperity) SIM card.

    Speaking at the launch, Patanjali’s Baba Ramdev cited the “welfare of the country” as a motif of the alliance with BSNL. However, Patanjali fans need to hold their horses for now because at the initial phase only the employees and office bearers of Patanjali will be able to avail the benefits of the SIM card.

    “Patanjali’s plan is BSNL’s best plan. In Rs 144, one can make unlimited calls from any part of the country. We are giving 2 GB data pack, 100 SMSes. The members of Patanjali have to just show their identity and their SIM will be activated,” BSNL chief general manager Sunil Garg said.

    After full-fledged launch, the ‘Swadeshi Samridhhi’ card will have its own perks including 10 per cent off on Patanjali products. More importantly, it comes with medical and life insurance covers of Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh ( subject to a number of conditions), respectively.

    While in Goafest 2018, Baba Ramdev revealed Patanjali’s plan to venture in the dairy sector and mineral water, this move was definitely an unexpected one. After competing with international FMCG brands, it is ready to take on bigger companies in an industry which is expected to be worth over Rs 14 trillion by 2020. However, FMCG and telcos being entirely two different sectors the future course in one is hard to predict the success in the other.

  • Zee Media appoints Ashok Venkatramani as MD

    Zee Media appoints Ashok Venkatramani as MD

    MUMBAI: ABP News Network former CEO Ashok Venkatramani has been appointed as the new MD of Zee Media Corporation Ltd (ZMCL) for three years. The appointment will come into effect from 1 July 2018.

    “Based on recommendation of Nomination & Remuneration Committee and subject to requisite regulatory approvals, including approval of shareholders, appointment of Mr. Ashok Venkatramani as Managing Director of the company [is approved] for a period of three years with effect from July 1, 2018,” ZMCL informed the Bombay Stock Exchange.

    Venkatramani brings with him an experience of over 25 years in FMCG and broadcasting sectors. Prior to joining ZMCL, he also worked with ABP group for over eight years having joined ABP News in 2008. 

    Venkatramani started his career with Unilever. He was the VP and business head – skincare for Unilever in India till 2008, before moving as the CEO of ABP News Network, which he headed until 2016. He was instrumental in turning around ABP’s TV news business and successfully managed the transition from Star brand to ABP.

    Venkatramani, 55, is a B. Tech from Bombay University and has done his management education from Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Harvard Business School.

  • Homeshop18 appoints Manish Kalra as CEO

    Homeshop18 appoints Manish Kalra as CEO

    MUMBAI: Homeshop18, part of TV18 Home Shopping Network has appointed Manish Kalra as CEO. Kalra joins Homeshop18 at a critical yet promising stage in the company’s journey when it has merged its business with Shop CJ, thereby becoming the largest television home shopping brand in India.

    He brings with him extensive experience in e-commerce and will report to the board of TV18 Home Shopping Network.

    Speaking on his appointment, Kalra said, “I am excited to join Homeshop18 and look forward to working with and learning from the talented team there. Retail industry in India is going through a transformation phase. The team at Homeshop18 has a unique opportunity to deliver innovative products and solutions to our customers that will bring greater value to them, our suppliers, employees, investors and other stakeholders in the process. I am grateful to the HS18 board for giving me this opportunity.”

    Prior to joining Homeshop18, he was the chief marketing and business officer at Craftsvilla where he was the overall business P&L owner. He is a young achiever and comes with over 16 years of experience in leading businesses across e-commerce, IT, FMCG and BFSI Industry.

    Over the years, he has gathered deep understanding of customer behavior and can convert a business vision into a customer relevant story, combined with exceptional execution skills. Prior to Craftsvilla, Kalra has worked for companies such as Amazon India, MakeMyTrip and Dell.

    Also Read:

    HomeShop18-Shop CJ merger begins to take effect

    Network18 forms India’s largest TV home shopping platform, acquires Shop CJ

  • Madhusudan Gopalan becomes MD, CEO of P&G India

    Madhusudan Gopalan becomes MD, CEO of P&G India

    MUMBAI: P&G India has announced Madhusudan Gopalan as the company’s new managing director and CEO. He will take charge on 1 April 2018.  

    Gopalan has over 18 years of experience working for the company across business units and diverse geographies such as India, the US and Asean countries. 

    Gopalan is currently leading the P&G business in Indonesia, where he has led strong sales growth, share turnaround, robust value creation and cash productivity. He will take over from Al Rajwani, who is set to retire from the company after 37 years of service after the end of the financial year. Until his retirement, Al will help in on-boarding Madhusudan on the India business and enable a smooth transition. 

    During Rajwani’s tenure, over the last three years, the P&G business in India underwent a portfolio transformation that saw the company go from losing money to delivering triple digit-profit in a couple of years. In the first half of the company’s  financial year ended December 31, 2017, P&G has delivered double-digit sales growth with majority of the business growing share. 

    P&G continues to be the market leader in most of the segments it operates in like baby diapers, blades and razors, feminine care, shave prep, health care, anti-ageing skincare, and is number two in shampoos and toothbrushes.