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Tag: Starbucks

  • Animeta’s star power turns influence into real business currency

    Animeta’s star power turns influence into real business currency

    MUMBAI: When influence meets intelligence, the result is Animeta Brandstar’s latest winning streak. The tech-data enabled influencer marketing firm has been scripting campaigns that don’t just trend, they translate into measurable brand outcomes.

    Take Uber India’s campaign with cricket stalwarts Gautam Gambhir and Ravichandran Ashwin. Known for their stern on-field personas, the duo were reimagined in playful avatars, highlighting how Uber flips daily commutes from frustrating to delightful. Animeta managed the marquee talents and execution, sparking chatter across social feeds and proving its knack for stitching stars into relatable, mass-consumption narratives.

    And that’s just one play. Since July 2025, Animeta has rolled out 30 influencer campaigns, activating 1000 plus creators across Instagram, Youtube and Snapchat. In the same period, it has partnered with 20 new brands, while also retaining repeat mandates from stalwarts, a testament to its consistency.

    The roster spans global giants like Amazon Fashion, Starbucks, Warner Music and Uber, alongside homegrown champions such as GCPL and Jyothy Labs, whose everyday staples Cinthol, Maxo, Margo, Exo and Pril have been re-energised through creator-driven storytelling.

    Animeta also helmed influencer rollouts for fresh launches: Shotgun, Fratelli’s carbonated wine label; Ninja, GCPL’s pet food brand debuting in Chennai; and Reposenergy, a doorstep fuel delivery entrant making waves in a nascent category.

    At its core is the Animeta Brandstar platform, which powers creator discovery from a verified pool of 85,000 plus profiles, minimises spillovers, and tracks campaigns in real time. Performance isn’t just judged on reach but also advanced metrics shares, saves, click-throughs and trials linking influencer buzz directly to consideration, leads and even sales. The result: a 30 per cent ROI uplift compared to industry benchmarks.

    “Influencer marketing today is no longer just about amplification, it’s about authenticity, storytelling, and business outcomes. At Animeta, we take pride in servicing diverse categories and partnering with brands at every stage whether they are global leaders, homegrown stalwarts, or ambitious challengers. What sets us apart is our ability to consistently deliver across objectives, from awareness to trials, leads and even creator-led commerce,” said Animeta Brandstar SVP for branded content & creator strategy Biswamitra Ray (Vishu Ray).

    From scaling pop culture with Arijit Singh, Ed Sheeran and Guru Randhawa, to onboarding micro- and nano-creators for hyperlocal impact, Animeta has shown it can flex seamlessly across the spectrum.

    Looking ahead, the company is doubling down on its promise to unlock full-funnel influencer marketing. As advertisers increasingly demand conversion-driven storytelling over vanity metrics, Animeta is positioning itself as the partner that blends data, cultural relevance and creator firepower into campaigns that both trend and transact.

  • Animeta rolls camera on AI Film Studio to redefine storytelling in digital age

    Animeta rolls camera on AI Film Studio to redefine storytelling in digital age

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera, algorithm. Animeta, the Singapore-based creator tech company, has launched its brand-new vertical, Animeta AI Film Studio, in Mumbai, promising to shake up the way stories are told on screen.

    Billed as a first-of-its-kind hybrid studio, the venture combines human creativity with cutting-edge AI tools to deliver everything from slick promotional clips to full-length films. The aim is to help filmmakers, brands and creators merge original scripts, music and voiceovers with AI-driven visuals that preserve artistic intent while speeding up production.

    The studio is powered by Animeta’s patent-pending AI model and bolstered by its participation in Google Cloud’s startup programme, giving it access to Vertex AI’s veo3 video generation model along with copyright indemnity on content created through the platform.

    “For two decades, I have reimagined storytelling through animation. Now our AI Film Studio is here to push those boundaries further,” said Animeta founder Anish Mehta. “By blending creativity with AI, we are empowering storytellers to scale their vision faster, smarter and with greater confidence.”

    The new division builds on Animeta’s strengths in computer vision, natural language processing, video encoding and large language models. It also draws from the company’s experience producing award-winning influencer-led content for global names like Amazon, Starbucks, L’oréal, Tata Group and Mcdonald’s, powered by its tech platform Animeta Brandstar and a creator network of more than 400,000.

    With this launch, Animeta hopes to give creators a futuristic canvas where imagination meets innovation, ensuring that storytelling not only keeps pace with the digital era but stays one step ahead.

    Because in today’s content-hungry world, the future of film might just be part human, part machine, and all story.

  • Animeta launches AI film studio

    Animeta launches AI film studio

    MUMBAI: Singapore-based Animeta has fired up an AI film studio in Mumbai, betting that artificial intelligence can turbo-charge content creation for brands and filmmakers hungry for rapid-fire storytelling.

    The creator-tech company’s new vertical marries human creativity with machine-generated visuals, promising to churn out everything from promotional clips to feature-length films at breakneck speed. The venture taps into Google Cloud’s start-up programme, which provides access to the tech giant’s Vertex AI Veo3 video generation model alongside copyright protection.

    “We’ve built a hybrid model where human creativity and AI technology work together seamlessly, empowering creators to tell their stories faster, smarter, and infinitely scalable,” said Animeta founder Anish Mehta who has spent two decades reimagining animation storytelling.

    The Mumbai studio aims to capitalise on India’s booming digital content market whilst addressing creators’ perpetual challenge: producing high-quality material at scale without breaking budgets or timelines. The platform allows writers and filmmakers to blend original scripts, music and voice work with AI-generated visuals.

    Animeta already boasts heavyweight clients including Amazon, Starbucks, Warner Music, L’Oréal Group, Tata Group, McDonald’s and Uber through its Brandstar platform, which corrals over 400,000 creators. The company’s tech arsenal spans computer vision, video encoding, natural language processing and large language models.

    The move signals how AI is reshaping content production as streaming platforms and brands scramble for fresh material. Traditional filmmaking’s lengthy production cycles increasingly clash with digital-first audiences’ appetite for constant content consumption.

    Google Cloud’s backing provides crucial copyright indemnity—a key concern as AI-generated content faces legal scrutiny over intellectual property rights. The partnership positions Animeta to exploit AI’s creative potential whilst shielding clients from potential litigation.

    The venture underscores Mumbai’s emergence as a hub for AI-powered media innovation, challenging Hollywood’s traditional dominance in cutting-edge production technology.

  • Brewing love and blooms as FNP and Starbucks toast to mums with meaning

    Brewing love and blooms as FNP and Starbucks toast to mums with meaning

    MUMBAI: There’s no Wi-Fi strong enough to match a mother’s connection and this Mother’s Day, FNP and Tata Starbucks are making sure that love gets a cosy seat at your coffee table. From 9–11 May, select Starbucks outlets in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru will become mini sanctuaries of sentiment, where every coffee ordered comes with a little something extra, a delicate dried flower bouquet and a heartfelt keepsake, courtesy of India’s favourite gifting brand, FNP.

    It’s not about the grandeur, it’s about that quiet “you matter” between sips. Whether it’s a mum-and-me catch-up or a solo breather for the woman who wears a hundred hats, the initiative wraps affection in fragrance and warmth, turning a caffeine fix into a celebration of care.

    FNP chief marketing officer Avi Kumar said, “At FNP, we’ve always believed that the simplest gestures carry the deepest meaning. This collaboration with Starbucks is our way of honouring those everyday expressions of love that mothers gift us, often without a word. A flower, a warm coffee, a shared smile – sometimes that’s all it takes to say what matters most. As India’s most loved gifting brand, we’re delighted to make those moments even more personal and memorable.”

    Tata Starbucks head of product and marketing Mitali Maheshwari said, “This year, for Mother’s Day at TATA Starbucks, we wanted every mom to feel even more special with something that could be remembered, and taken home. Our partnership with FNP brings that intention to life through simple, thoughtful tokens of love and appreciation. Just like our stores are built for connection over a cup of coffee, this collaboration is a quiet celebration of the little things that make the mother-child bond so meaningful.”

    In a world that rarely pauses, FNP and Starbucks are inviting customers to do just that: slow down, sip, and share a quiet moment of gratitude with the woman who made it all possible.

  • Indonesian coffee unicorn hopes to brew up a storm in India

    Indonesian coffee unicorn hopes to brew up a storm in India

    MUMBAI: The aroma of Indonesian coffee has wafted into India’s bustling café scene as Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing coffee chain, Kopi Kenangan, has  planted its flag at Pacific Mall in Delhi’s Tagore Garden. Valued at over $1 billion—making it the region’s first food and beverage unicorn—the brand is brewing ambitious plans for the world’s most populous nation.

    “India’s vast young population and growing appreciation for diverse coffee experiences make it an ideal market for Kenangan Coffee. We are committed to delivering high-quality coffee that resonates with local preferences, creating memorable moments for every customer,” says  Kenangan Brands co-founder & CEO Edward Tirtanata, backed by heavyweight investors including Peak XV Partners and Meta co-founder Eduardo Saverin’s B Capital.

    The coffee upstart is positioning itself as a challenger to pricier global giants like Starbucks and Tim Hortons. With espresso shots starting at a modest Rs 99 and larger servings below Rs 150—roughly Rs 80-100 cheaper than premium competitors—Kopi Kenangan is clearly betting its beans on price-conscious customers.

    The company’s secret ingredient? Gula Aren, an Indonesian palm sugar with a lower glycemic index than refined alternatives, aimed at health-conscious Indians who still fancy a sweet fix. This nutritious twist might just be the sugar rush needed to stand out in India’s increasingly frothy café marketplace.

    With plans to open 10+ stores by end-2025 and intentions to pour up to Rs 40 crore into sourcing and expansion over the next two years, the brand isn’t just dipping its toe in the market—it’s diving in headfirst.
    “Our mission is to blend Indonesian craftsmanship with local flavours,” says vice president and general manager for India Sanjay Mohta, as the company prepares to tap local coffee producers to complement its Indonesian offerings.

    India’s café culture is still percolating compared to mature markets, but with consumption estimated at over one million 60-kilogram bags between 2023-2024, there’s plenty of room to grow. While established chains like Café Coffee Day have seen their market share drip away due to financial troubles, newcomers including Third Wave Coffee and Blue Tokai have been gaining steam.

    For now, the Indonesian outfit is targeting students and young professionals in their first jobs—Gen Zers and millennials looking for an affordable caffeine kick. After Delhi, the brand plans to expand to Mumbai and Bengaluru, hoping its wallet-friendly prices and locally-sourced ingredients will help it brew up a loyal following.
    In a market where even fast-food giants like McDonald’s are trying to espresso themselves, Kopi Kenangan will need more than just cheap prices to avoid becoming another has-bean. But if it can capture India’s increasingly caffeinated hearts, this Indonesian import might just become everyone’s cup of tea—or rather, coffee.

     

  • Starbucks & New Era launch a new collection in India

    Starbucks & New Era launch a new collection in India

    Mumbai: Starbucks teams up with international street and lifestyle brand New Era to launch a limited-edition Starbucks x New Era collection in select stores across India. Celebrating individuality, style and coffee, this collaboration blends two cultures to bring out bold attitudes and unique stories, elevating the daily cup of coffee into a moment of fashionable self-expression.

    Inspired by Starbucks and New Era’s shared values of individuality and authenticity, this designer collection combines sophistication with spontaneity. With sleek monogram designs, the vibrant lineup of Starbucks drinkware and lifestyle merchandise encourages customers to express their unique style with confidence.

    Starting on 13 August for a limited time, the collection will be available at select Starbucks stores in India, while supplies last.

    Uniting New Era’s buzzing streetwear style with Starbucks mission to forge genuine human connections, the Starbucks x New Era collection provides a platform for sharing, amplifying and celebrating each individual’s unique story.

    Coffee and fashion lovers in India can deck out in three classic merchandise options while sipping their coffee in style. With its timeless and sleek design in neutral earth tones, khaki and black, this collection boosts self-confidence and infuses positivity, bringing fresh energy to streetwear lovers and creating moments of delight in their everyday lives.  

    Fans and fashion lovers can look forward to this limited-edition collection, starting at Rs 2500.

  • Starbucks launches Starbucks Studios

    Starbucks launches Starbucks Studios

    Mumbai: Starbucks is launching Starbucks Studios, a new production studio aimed at creating original entertainment to foster deeper connections and spark conversations. This initiative is in partnership with Sugar23, a media company founded by Oscar-winning producer Michael Sugar. Sugar23 specializes in connecting brands with filmmakers to produce high-quality branded content.

    The studio’s launch coincides with broader changes at Starbucks. In March, CEO Laxman Narasimhan announced a new global leadership structure that took effect on 1 April, designed to support Starbucks’ global expansion goals. The coffee giant plans to increase its number of stores from the current 38,000 to around 55,000 worldwide, with a significant portion of new locations opening outside the U.S.

    Starbucks has long focused on human connection, and Starbucks Studios will further this mission through collaborations across various creative fields, including the arts, design, architecture, fashion, publishing, and music. This initiative also includes hiring a global brand creative leader, who will report directly to Narasimhan.

    Starbucks joins other brands, such as Nike, AB InBev, Saint Laurent, Mailchimp, and LVMH have ventured into creating their own entertainment divisions.

    This isn’t Starbucks’ first foray into entertainment. In 2016, the company released “Upstanders,” a two-season original series, and in 2019, it released the documentary “Hingakawa,” which marked the 25th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. Additionally, Starbucks was involved in the six-part documentary series “This Is Football,” which explored the impact of football on communities worldwide.

  • Indian Digital BrandFest 2023: Are Virtual Reality & User Experiences Driving The Future Of Genz Customers

    Indian Digital BrandFest 2023: Are Virtual Reality & User Experiences Driving The Future Of Genz Customers

    Mumbai: The 3rd edition of Indian Digital BrandFest 2023 kicked off and had brands, advertisers, and tech platforms discuss all these trends and more. The summit looked at the latest trends driving the change in consumer behaviour and how it has impacted the industry’s growth.

    Whether it was a boom in influencer marketing or the popularity of short-video platforms, brands did not hesitate to jump onto the digital bandwagon to up their marketing game. So Indian television.com is taking this opportunity to bring a host of industry experts together under one roof to discuss all these new trends shaping the future.

    The panellists for this session were Indian Gaming League CEO & co-founder Yash Pariani, Starbucks director – marketing, category- loyalty & digital Deepa Krishnan, Tyroo chief revenue officer Akshay Mathur, Amazon mini TV director & business head Aruna Darayanani. The session chair for this panel was Good Ants Media founder & CEO Parul Menghani.

    Menghani kicked off the session by saying some key points to be highlighted around the gaming & VR industry. She then turned towards the panellists by asking about the current ecosystem around the industry and what changes they see

    Beginning with Pariani, he said, “One of the biggest factors of why virtual reality hasn’t been adopted by a lot of the users is the price tag, the portability, logistics and of course the quality of the games that are currently on it.”

    Krishnan replied by saying, “I think the two things that Starbucks has done globally, one is used virtual reality and Web 3.0 overall to create better experiences and you could go on to personalize it and also creating NFTS which consumers can then use as part of the loyalty program.”

    Mathur shared something on attention span by which he said, “This is a generation which has extremely limited time spans or attention spans. Within 3 seconds you do your communication or you’re out of it.”

    Darayanani had said something differently about the industry, “These are some early thinking days I would say, for the content industry to really look at it and I’m hopeful we’ll be able to crack that formula to move forward.”

    Meghnani concluded the session and thanked the panellists for sharing their insights and making the conversations pretty lively. 

  • Tata Starbucks rolls out 360-degree campaign #ItStartsWithYourName

    Tata Starbucks rolls out 360-degree campaign #ItStartsWithYourName

    Mumbai: Tata Starbucks has launched its new 360-degree campaign #ItStartsWithYourName, calling out all new customers to come and experience the warmth, personalization and strong sense of connection the brand offers. The campaign has been crafted specifically for customers across the cities of Bengaluru, Gurgaon, Indore, and Bhopal to begin with.   

    As a people-first brand, Starbucks sees all its customers as people. It is celebrated for warmly greeting its customers by their name and making each interaction personal.  

    Created by Edelman India, #ItStartsWithYourName campaign taps into the insight of, if you know a person’s name, more so his/her ‘special’ name or name they were given by friends, relatives, etc., you become closer to them. You break barriers and make them feel at home.

    The campaign celebrates this simple gesture, which welcomes each person walking into any Starbucks store across the country and makes the brand more inclusive.

    The film starts off with two working women making their way to a Starbucks store, one hesitant and homesick as she misses her mother in a new city. To cheer her up, her colleague shares her nickname with the Barista, which leads to him calling out her order by a name that brings a smile to her face. The film showcases the small, but significant personal touches that spark joy and a sense of belonging – experienced at every Tata Starbucks store.

    Tata Starbuckalso announced an exciting array of launches as a part of its strategy to drive growth and acquire new customers. The pilot will see the introduction of the New ‘Picco’ size for beverages, delicious South Indian filter coffee, a range of exciting signature milkshakes, masala chai, cardamom chai and a completely revamped food menu featuring Bite-sized snacks, shareable food and a range of freshly assembled sandwiches. The brand will also be unveiling a range of exciting price points through this launch.

    Each of these launches is supported by a short film that connects the new innovations to a sweet personal moment of connection and warmth. These short films will go live in a staggered manner over the next fortnight.

    The film introducing the new size ‘Picco’ is a lovable take on how customers can enjoy their favourite coffee at an exciting price.

    The ‘filter coffee’ film celebrates the special relationship between a grandmother and grandson as they both enjoy a wonderful cup of South Indian filter coffee, as good as Daadi’s, well almost.

    The ‘masala chai’ film is a sweet tribute to families and shared memories over the perfect cup of tea, just the way mom makes it.

    Introducing Starbucks Signature milkshakes through the romance shared by a senior couple and demonstrating the revamped food menu through camaraderie between two friends as they share their food and have a great time; all films celebrate the special relationships customers have and the sweet moments in their lives.

    Talking about the campaign, Tata Starbucks CEO Sushant Dash said, “At Tata Starbucks, we believe that meaningful relationships are rooted in thoughtfulness. We see people, not customers. In our stores, it starts with asking customers their names and goes beyond a cup of coffee. We believe in connecting with local audiences by identifying and acting on their specific needs. Through this campaign, we aim to form a closer connect with our customers and make them feel more welcome in our stores. Over the last decade, we have been fortunate to connect with a diverse group of customers in India and look forward to the road ahead as we address a newer set of customers.”

    Further talking about the campaign, Edelman Asia, Pacific and India head of brand Ashutosh Munshi said, “Brands today need to be for the people and guided by the people. In creating this campaign, we were inspired by TATA Starbucks’ guiding value of seeing a customer beyond their order by asking for names; thereby taking the first step to know each of us that much better. #ItStartsWithYourName celebrates TATA Starbucks’ service philosophy that fosters genuine connection, while also offering a product range that reflects customer preferences. We have articulated this in a brand film and various creative assets that evoke this sense of belonging that the Starbucks experience stands for.”

  • Puneet Das elevated to Tata packaged beverages president India & south Asia

    Puneet Das elevated to Tata packaged beverages president India & south Asia

    NEW DELHI: Tata Consumer Products (TCP) has elevated Puneet Das as president – packaged beverages, India and south Asia. Das, who has been associated with Tata Consumer Products since 2017, was earlier senior vice president- marketing for the India beverages business.

    Das takes over from Sushant Dash, who was recently named chief executive officer for coffee chain Starbucks in India. 

    Before joining Tata Consumer Products, Das held senior marketing roles in companies such as Marico, PepsiCo, GSK Consumer. He comes with about 20 years of experience in the FMCG sector, having worked in India, Africa and other international markets.

    In a recent statement, TCP stated that Das has played a crucial role in formulating marketing strategies for Tata Tea and Tata Coffee Grands. 

    "We are happy to elevate Puneet Das as president for packaged beverages. This is in line with our aspiration to recognise and groom internal talent. We have an exciting time ahead for our packaged beverages business with focus on scaling up our distribution and reach, building on product innovation while strengthening the core portfolio. Puneet’s appointment comes at a time when the organisation is going through its transformation journey and we are confident that his experience and leadership will help us accelerate the business and achieve new heights," said Tata Consumer Products managing director & CEO Sunil D'Souza.