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Tag: ITC Limited

  • Hinduja Group appoints Anand Agarwal as group president – finance

    Hinduja Group appoints Anand Agarwal as group president – finance

     MUMBAI: Money talks and so does experience. In a move that signals serious intent for its next phase of growth, the Hinduja Group has roped in financial veteran Anand Agarwal as group president of Finance. With a career spanning nearly three decades and multiple sectors, Agarwal is expected to steer the conglomerate’s financial strategy with a steady, seasoned hand.

    Agarwal brings to the table heavyweight credentials, he’s a chartered accountant, company Secretary, ICWA, CFA, and an executive MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. His résumé reads like a who’s who of Indian industry: Chambal Fertilisers (as CFO), Tata Power, Peepul Capital PE, AGS Transact Technologies, Aditya Birla Group, Reliance Industries, and ITC Limited.

    He has successfully raised capital from global private equity giants, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds, and helmed several high-stakes M&A deals across the Agri Inputs, Infrastructure (Power), FMCG, Cement, Metals, and Financial Services sectors.

    As group pof Hinduja Group HR Amit Chincholikar put it, “With the Group’s businesses entering a phase of strategic expansion, strong financial leadership is crucial. Anand’s vast experience in corporate finance and M&A, along with his proven ability to manage large-scale financial strategies, will be key in driving the Group’s growth.”

    Agarwal, too, sounds ready to get down to business: “My focus will be on enhancing financial efficiency, optimising capital deployment, and supporting the Group’s expansion plans.”

    With Agarwal’s appointment, the Hinduja Group appears poised to fine-tune its financial engine accelerating towards a future built on bold strategy, smart capital, and sharper execution.

  • Skin deep secrets reveal India needs more than foreign fixes

    Skin deep secrets reveal India needs more than foreign fixes

    MUMBAI: Turns out, Indian skin isn’t just a vibe, it’s a science. And no, that imported miracle cream may not know what it’s dealing with. In a fresh move that puts the focus (and the microscope) on local skin needs, ITC Dermafique has launched the Dermafique Indian Skin Knowledge Centre (DISKC), a first-of-its-kind initiative to decode the DNA of desi skin. And it’s not just skin-deep. Backed by the Dermafique Indian Skin Health Report, created with Kantar and top dermatologists, the campaign spills the serum on what truly sets Indian skin apart and why your skincare routine might need a rethink.

    Among the glow-getting revelations? Indian skin has more melanin, larger pores, stronger collagen, and a weaker moisture barrier making it a unique cocktail that doesn’t quite play well with one-size-fits-all solutions from abroad. For instance, pigmentation not wrinkles is our early sign of ageing. And while sunburns are rare, 81 per cent of Indian women battle tanning far more frequently.

    One insight that’s pore-raising? Indian skin reportedly has four times larger pore size and five times the pore density of Chinese skin. Yet only 7 per cent of respondents saw it as a concern meaning there’s a serious knowledge gap between what’s visible and what’s understood.

    The report also sheds light on common concerns like dryness, under-eye flakiness, and acne. A staggering 94 per cent of women aged 20–25 are still battling breakouts, proving acne isn’t just a teenage trauma. And despite diligent moisturising, 87 per cent report under-eye dryness, likely due to a weaker skin barrier and low natural moisturising factors.

    ITC Limited divisional chief executive personal care products business Sameer Satpathy states, “Indian skin is unique and requires customized solutions. With the launch of the Dermafique Indian Skin Knowledge Centre, we are committed to fostering awareness and education on the distinct characteristics of Indian skin. Building on this initiative, the ITC Dermafique Indian Skin Health Report offers insights from Indian consumers, that highlight the need for skincare solutions specifically designed for Indian skin. Our new digital infomercials help consumers to understand the uniqueness of Indian Skin, and highlight Dermafique’s expertise in providing solutions that are designed for and dermatologist tested on Indian skin.”

    Internationally celebrated cosmetic dermatologist Jaishree Sharad adds, “The Indian consumer is not only more informed today but also deeply invested in understanding the unique needs of their skin. It is vital to recognize the distinct nature of Indian skin, as it presents specific challenges and requirements that are often overlooked in global skincare narratives. The Dermafique Indian Skin Health Report is a great step to bring to light these crucial insights, offering a science-backed perspective on the unique characteristics of Indian skin. Raising awareness about these differences is not just important, it is essential. The Institute marks a significant step towards better understanding the diverse skincare needs of Indian consumers and offers solutions to address the specific challenges they face, empowering them to make more informed, effective choices in their skincare routines.”

    To make the science sing, Dermafique has launched a series of digital infomercials demystifying key concerns from pigmentation and tanning to pore care and hydration paired with targeted products designed for Indian skin. There’s even an AI-powered Smart Skin Advisor to help decode your own dermis in a few clicks.

    With over 800 women surveyed across four metro cities, the Dermafique report doesn’t just scratch the surface. It reveals that Indian skin needs and deserves skincare that’s rooted in local insight, not just global trends.

    And if the Skindian Dot (yes, that’s a thing) is anything to go by, the future of Indian skincare is looking smooth, bright, and gloriously homegrown.

  • ITC posts strong half-year performance with 11 per cent revenue growth

    ITC posts strong half-year performance with 11 per cent revenue growth

    Mumbai: In a period marked by economic challenges and shifting market dynamics, ITC Ltd has achieved a robust financial performance in the half-year ending September 2024, showcasing notable growth across its diverse business segments. With an 11.6 per cent year-on-year increase in gross revenue, ITC reached Rs 42,311 crore, up from Rs 37,910 crore in the same period last year, cementing its leadership in the FMCG sector and expanding its footprint in hospitality, agriculture, and packaging.

    The FMCG segment, particularly cigarettes, remains a pivotal component of ITC’s portfolio. Cigarette revenue for the six-month period reached Rs 16,095 crore, an increase of 6.4 per cent from last year. Cigarette segment profit grew to Rs 10,497 crore, reflecting strategic cost efficiencies despite ongoing regulatory pressures. Meanwhile, FMCG–others, which includes packaged foods, personal care products, and education stationery, grew to Rs 11,085 crore, representing a 6 per cent increase from the prior year.

    ITC’s hotels division experienced a significant recovery, with revenues rising to Rs 1,393 crore for the first half of FY2025—a 21 per cent increase compared to Rs 1,150 crore in the previous year. This rebound was fueled by higher occupancy rates and improved average room rates across ITC’s properties, especially in metropolitan cities.

    The Agri-business segment saw a remarkable revenue increase of 33 per cent year-on-year, reaching Rs 12,754 crore. The growth reflects increased demand for ITC’s agricultural products, including wheat, rice, and coffee, as well as the company’s efforts in optimising logistics and market penetration. Paperboards, Paper & Packaging contributed Rs 4,091 crore to total revenues, highlighting ITC’s strength in sustainable packaging solutions, though growth was more modest at 2.5 per cent.

    For the half-year, ITC’s profit before tax rose to Rs  13,305 crore, up by 8.6 per cent year-on-year. Net profit after tax stood at Rs 10,084 crore, marking a 7.8 per cent increase over the previous period’s Rs 9,283 crore. Operating profit margins were supported by cost containment and efficiency initiatives, alongside incremental gains in product mix.

    Cash flow from operations remained solid, with ITC generating Rs 7,963 crore in cash from operations after tax. This strong cash flow enabled the company to continue investing in brand building, capital expenditure, and acquisitions, solidifying its multi-business structure.

    In the latest quarter, ITC further diversified its portfolio by acquiring a 47.5 per cent stake in Sproutlife Foods Private Ltd. The acquisition underscores ITC’s commitment to expanding its footprint in health-focused foods, aligning with consumer trends towards health-conscious products. Additionally, ITC consolidated its holdings in EIH Limited, a prominent hospitality player, to 16.13 per cent, enhancing its position in the luxury hospitality market.

    ITC continues to lead in sustainability, with a focus on renewable energy, waste reduction, and water conservation. In its paper and packaging segment, ITC has invested in biodegradable solutions that meet both commercial and environmental goals. The company’s sustainability initiatives not only enhance its corporate image but also align with global and domestic regulatory shifts towards environmental accountability.

    While ITC’s recent performance highlights resilience and effective strategy execution, the company remains vigilant of regulatory changes, especially in the tobacco sector. ITC’s balanced portfolio and strong cash position provide a foundation to navigate potential challenges while investing in high-growth areas, such as digital and e-commerce.

  • Sunfeast Mom’s Magic launches ‘Will of Change’ to advocate equal inheritance

    Sunfeast Mom’s Magic launches ‘Will of Change’ to advocate equal inheritance

    Mumbai: Sunfeast Mom’s Magic unveils its powerful initiative, ‘Will of Change’, to inspire mothers across India to advocate for equal inheritance rights for daughters. The campaign addresses the stark reality revealed by research, which shows that only 7 per cent of daughters receive equal inheritance through a will, despite having the same legal rights as sons. The deep-seated belief that ‘betiyan paraya dhan hoti hain’ (daughters are ultimately someone else’s responsibility) still lingers in many Indian families, and the campaign seeks to challenge this bias.  

    ITC Limited, chief operating officer of the biscuits & cakes cluster, foods division, Ali Harris Shere emphasises the role of mothers in leading this change: “A large number of mothers in India themselves having faced unfair treatment in matters of inheritance by their parents, are the ones who can truly spark a change now in their own families for their daughters. Through the ‘Will of Change’ campaign, we hope to inspire mothers to ensure equal inheritance rights for daughters and become a Mom of Change.”  

    The initiative continues the brand’s legacy of advocating for social issues that impact mothers. Sunfeast Mom’s Magic encourages mothers to become the #MomOfChange, standing against the societal bias that often overlooks daughters in inheritance matters. The campaign features an emotional film starring Shefali Shah and Manish Chaudhari, which poignantly portrays a modern family grappling with inheritance decisions. When the father, Shekhar Verma, excludes his daughter Shreya from the will, the mother, played by Shefali Shah, subtly challenges the bias, reminding him that while their daughter is addressed as ‘beta’ (son) in daily life, she becomes ‘beti’(daughter) when it comes to inheritance. Her words prompt him to rethink the ingrained bias in his decision.  

    At the heart of the campaign is the belief that mothers, as pillars of change, possess the power to challenge the biases that stand in the way of their children’s future. By spotlighting one of the most ingrained societal issues, Sunfeast Mom’s Magic aims to empower moms to lead the movement for equality in inheritance practices.  

  • Bingo! becomes the official snacking partner for DreamHack 2022

    Bingo! becomes the official snacking partner for DreamHack 2022

    Mumbai: ITC Ltd.’s Bingo! has partnered with Nodwin Gaming as the official snacking partner for DreamHack 2022.

    Following this partnership, Bingo! has set up an exclusive Bingo! Streamer Zone, which will bring together popular YouTube influencers and streamers such as Thug, Mortal, Scout, Ocean, 8Bit Mercy, 8Bit, 8Bit Rebel, Sid Joshi, Xyaa, Hydraflick, Samay Raina, Sagar, and many more.

    This is the third edition of DreamHack being hosted in India, where gamers can experience professional e-sports tournaments and watch top players battle it out in the gaming arena.

    This engaging and innovative collaboration between Bingo! and DreamHack highlights the brand’s interest in and support for the e-sports community.

    ITC Ltd. head of marketing – snacks, noodles, and pasta Aishwarya Pratap Singh said, “We are thrilled to be collaborating with DreamHack, India’s largest e-gaming festival. Bingo! owns the platform of young and innovative snack offerings and is a brand loved by the youth. Gaming has always been at the forefront of the activities that the youth enjoy, & Bingo! aspires to be the preferred snacking partner for the gaming community. DreamHack has a strong track record and a large fan base, and we, at Bingo!, hope to jointly deliver an exciting gaming experience to the fans. This collaboration will be a fantastic experience for both fans and industry professionals, who will be able to interact with and learn from experts in the e-sports fraternity while also growing with it.”

    Alongside, Bingo! will be hosting several fun activities for the event attendees. The brand will set up a dark room in which the audience must evade laser beams and reach the end of the room to collect a pack of Bingo! Cheese Nachos Flavor, Namkeen. Bingo! will also set up a neon-themed photobooth where GIFs will be created of the attendees and a chill zone where a Cheese Nachos Favour and Namkeen DIY counter will facilitate customised ‘namkeen’ dishes using Bingo! Cheese Nachos Flavour.  An AR & VR game arena will also be set up, where one must scan around and tap on as many Cheese Nachos Flavor packs as possible within a set amount of time to win.

    Adding to it, Nodwin Gaming co-founder Akshat Rathee said, “DreamHack is a fun, entertaining gaming and esports event that can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life and across age groups. We are delighted to collaborate with our snacking partner, Bingo!, to make this event even more memorable. The audience can really let their hair down with their loved ones by taking part in all the exciting esports activities and other games while munching on a Bingo snack to keep their energies up. Not only that, Bingo has also set up an exclusive streamer zone and a meet-and-greet zone for e-sports enthusiasts and fans to interact with their favourite gaming influencers, so there is a lot to look forward to.”

  • ITC Savlon launces Braille enabled pack of antiseptic liquid

    ITC Savlon launces Braille enabled pack of antiseptic liquid

    MUMBAI: ITC Savlon celebrated World Braille Day with the launch of a Braille enabled pack of Savlon Antiseptic liquid in India. As per the brand, the Braille packs have been designed not just to enable access but also, in its simple way, help the visually impaired to identify and access the product easily. This proactive initiative exemplifies the brand’s commitment to an empowering consumer experience.

    Savlon said in a press statement, “With the support of India's largest association for the Blind and visually impaired, National Association for the Blind (NAB), ITC Savlon began engaging with this thought on World Sight Day and today has made Savlon Braille packs available across the country. The initiative is not only to raise awareness on Braille but also enable a design language that enables inclusivity. The Braille packs have been distributed to NAB centres in India and the initiative marks a beginning to a series of educative and interactive workshops in select blind schools in India in the first phase. In addition, Braille magazines, newspapers and radio form the core communication outreach for the initiative.”

    NAB executive director Pallavi Kadam said, “It is an incredible step forward and I would like to thank ITC Savlon for this initiative. Many of us have the gift of vision and not often do we realise the everyday struggles of the visually impaired especially when everything around is designed for people with vision. A braille pack is not only enabling but also makes it easily accessible for all. Definitely, an inclusive beginning!”

    ITC Limited chief executive—personal care products business Sameer Satpathy said, “In line with ITC’s commitment to serve a larger societal purpose and to create enduring value for all stakeholders, Savlon celebrates World Braille Day by making this unique first of its kind braille enabled packaging in the FMCG space accessible across touchpoints. The initiative is a determined step forward to create a more equal and inclusive society by enabling access.

    As part of the communication outreach, visually impaired individuals shared screen time as protagonists of two television commercials to encourage inclusiveness and bring alive how a simple change empowers their everyday life.

    Ogilvy chief creative officer worldwide and executive chairman India Piyush Pandey said, “It is not commonplace to find clients like ITC Savlon who are not only rooted in the realities of their consumer but also have a heart that believes in inclusive and positive change. The concept of making the antiseptic bottle easily accessible through Braille, to the visually impaired, is extremely empowering. I hope this marks a beginning in a category like FMCG which has a portfolio of everyday products!”

  • Reckitt Benckiser again top television advertiser

    Reckitt Benckiser again top television advertiser

    BENGALURU: Indian FMCG and consumer health products company Reckitt Benckiser (India) Ltd (RBIL) has once again climbed the almost sole andperpetual bastion of Indian FMCG company Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL). For the second time this year, RBIL was the biggest advertiser in terms of insertions in week 14 of 2018 (Saturday, 31 March 2018 to Friday, 6 April 2018) according to BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council of India) data. The previous occasion when the company beat HUL in terms of TV ad insertions was in week 11 of 2018 (Saturday, 10 March 2018 to Friday, 16 March 2018) according to BARC’s list of top 10 advertisers across genres – all India (U+R) : 2+ individuals -in terms of ad insertions or spots. During the 52 weeks of calendar year 2017 (Saturday, 31 December 2016 to Friday 30 December 2017), it was HUL that held the top slot as the largest television advertiser in the country. 

    In week 14 of 2018, according to BARC data, RBIL had 1,21,102 insertions to HUL’s 1,19,602 ad spots. In week 11, RBIL had 1,10,173 to HUL’s 99,405 ad insertions. RBIL accounted for 30.2 percent ad insertions of the combined total insertions by the top 10 advertisers in week 14 and 28.6 percent in week 11, while HUL had 29.8 percent and 25.6 percent of the ad insertions during the same weeks respectively. Hence the big two accounted for 59.9 percent and 55.4 percent of the combined total insertions by the top 10 advertisers in week in weeks 14 and 11 of 2018 respectively.

    It must, however, be noted that if one were to account for the insertions by HUL affiliates/subsidiaries/associate (HUL group companies) companies, the total would far exceed the ad insertions by any other advertiser. For example, among the top 10 advertisers in week 14 of 2018 wasBrooke Bond Lipton India Ltd (Brooke Bond) at rank eight with 18,075 insertions, while in week 11 Brooke Bond did not find a place among BARC top 10 advertisers list, neither did any other HUL group company.Refer to the table below showing BARC’s list of top 10 advertisers in weeks 11 and 14 of 2018.

    public://barc_4.jpg

    Also Read :

    Top television advertisers in 2017 based on BARC’s Top 10 lists

    News channels rake in advertising on budget day

  • Goafest 2017 receives 4500 entries from 329 companies

    GOA: Goafest 2017, India’s foremost advertising, media and marketing convention kick started its annual festival with a ceremonial popping of the champagne bottle to herald a brand-new edition of the event. The day one of the festival saw an exciting conclave with industry stalwarts such as Upasana Taku of Mobikwik, Hemant Malik of ITC Limited and Acharya Balkrishna of Patanjali Ayurved taking the center stage.

    In its 12th year, the convention has received a whopping number of 4500 entries with about 2500 delegates attending the three-day long festival. This year, Goafest has received the highest number of sponsors. What’s more? It has also gone digital with an app and a website this year. The festival is also going green in partnership with National Geographic who have arranged several campaigns like conservation of water, recycled paper, etc.

    Advertising Agencies Association of India president Nakul Chopra said, “Twelve years ago, Goafest began as an event for people from the world of advertising to get together to network and celebrate quality work. Today, it gives me immense pleasure to see how this festival has grown into becoming one of the foremost events in the creative calendar. It’s extremely encouraging for us to see so many young people participating in the event with such enthusiasm – and not just attending the ABBYs but also showing immense amount of interest in the varied seminars that we have lined up this year. If the scene on day one is anything to go by, I’m pretty sure the next two days are going to be just as exciting with some exemplary speakers taking the stage and some must attend seminars taking place.”

    The industry body claims to have invested approximately 8-10 crore in the event this year.

    The Advertising Club president Raj Nayak said, “Goafest is the world’s largest industry event in the advertising industry – organized by two industry bodies coming together. In the true sense, it is an event by Indians, for Indians and completely made in India. Goafest is the world’s largest even organised by an industry body. It is not for profit. This year, we had over 300 jurors from across the country coming together to judge the entries for which awards will be presented over these three days of the event…with almost 112 of them judging tonight’s Media and Publishing ABBYs. Goafest, when it started was only a creative awards ceremony. However, today, in its twelfth edition, it has become a festival of knowledge, wisdom, entertainment, fun and a great networking opportunity.”

    Nayak also said that the event can get almost 10000 people provided there is an infrastructure to support the same.

    Goafest 2017 chairman Ashish Bhasin said, “With changing times, Goafest has also evolved. For the first time Goafest is going green in part by getting the delegates visiting the event to conserve water and taking other baby steps to our bit for the environment. This year we have heavily subsidized entry to let more and more young people to attend the event. It is extremely exciting for us to see so many young people participating in the event and appreciating the changes we have brought in. Curious young minds are keen to attend seminars and talks by interesting speakers this year. Day 1 has been such a huge success. We can only see this getting better and better over the next two days.”

    Chairman of the Awards Governing Council of Goafest 2017 Ramesh Narayan added, “The atmosphere at Goafest is always filled with excitement, camaraderie and a whole lot of fun. And this year is no different. It is absolutely heartening to see members of the advertising and marketing fraternity sending in some wonderful entries this year which have kept the jury on their toes. Judging any award is a difficult process and more so when you’re pitting one excellent entry against another. Judging by the level of excitement today, I’m sure that the next two days are going to be absolutely spectacular.”

    With industry specific conclaves to expert seminars and ABBYs presentations, the Goafest ABBYs 2017 presented by the The Advertising Club and The AAA’ of I has once again seen the entire advertising and marketing community descend upon the silver sands of North Goa to celebrate excellence in creativity across media platforms and genres.

  • Biggest television advertisers in week 12 of 2017

    BENGALURU: The top 10 advertisers in week 12 of 2017 (Saturday, 18 March 2017 to Friday, 24 March 2017) were almost the same as those in the previous week (Week 11) as per Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) data for TOP 10 Advertiser *Across Genre : All India (U+R) : 2+ Individuals.

    This paper must be read with a caveat: It deals only with the players present in Broadcast Audience Research Councilof India (BARC) top 10 lists of advertisers per week. The sums/percentages of other advertisers/brands other than those indicated in BARC’s top 10 lists have not been considered/mentioned in this paper during the period under consideration.

    One genre –the Food & Beverages (F&B) represented by one company – Coca Cola India Ltd  which was at seventh rank in terms of ad insertions in week 11 moved out from the top 10 advertisers list in week 12. FMCG major ITC Limited entered the list at rank eight with 16,893 insertions in week 12. Consequently, the genres present in the top 10 advertisers list reduced from four in week 11 to three in week 12. Except for FMCG, the other three genres were each represented by a single advertiser – Music was represented by Super Cassettes Industries (Super Cassettes) and Confectionary by Cadburys India Ltd (Cadburys) during both the weeks under consideration in this paper.
    Please refer to the figure below:

    public://111111111111111111111.jpg

    Hindustan Lever Limited (Lever) stuck to its pole position as top advertiser in terms of number of television ad insertions or spots with 1,08,522 insertions in week 12 as compared to 1,00,666 insertions in week 11. As a matter of fact, the first four ranks and order of largest televisionadvertisers in week 12 were same as in week 11 of 2017 in terms ad insertions – After Lever, they were Reckitt Benckiser (India) Ltd, Reckitt (Benckiser),Cadburys and PatanjaliAyurved Ltd (Patanjali). Please refer to the figure below for the top 10 advertisers in terms of ad insertions for weeks 11 and 12 of 2017.

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  • ITC’s Kurush Grant is new chairman of ISA

    MUMBAI: ITC Limited executive director Kurush Grant has been elected as the chairman of the Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA) at a meeting held on 11 September.

    ISA is the only national body of advertisers and its members from across industries contribute to over two-thirds of India‘s national non-governmental advertisement spends.

    The other office bearers of ISA are Bharat Bambawale (Bharti Airtel) is vice-chairman-north, N. Srikumar (IOCL) is vice chairman-west, Ajoy Chawla (Titan Industries) is vice chairman-south, Paulomi Dhawan (Landmarc Leisure) is honorary treasurer and Hemant Bakshi (HUL) is chairman of the media committee.

    The other members of the executive council are — Bharat V. Patel (Yes Bank), Rajiv Dube (Aditya Birla), Narendra Ambwani (Agro Tech Foods), Chandramouli Venkatesan, (Cadbury India), Sameer Satpathy (Marico Limited), Chandrasekar Radhakrishnan (Nestle India), R. Ramakrishnan (Polycab Wires), Brahm Vasudeva (Hawkins Cookers), Kainaz Gazder (Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care), J. C. Chopra (Infogain India), Harish Bhat (Tata Global Beverages) and Anil Chugh (Wipro – Consumer Care and Lighting Division).

    Grant said he looked forward to next year being more interesting. He hoped the formation of BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) and other initiatives would be taken forward as appropriate and saw continuous opportunities for working together in the executive council and with ISA members.