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Tag: Sunfeast

  • ITC’s diversification strategy gains traction as profits climb to record highs

    ITC’s diversification strategy gains traction as profits climb to record highs

    KOLKATA: ITC, India’s Rs 1.25 lakh crore conglomerate, demonstrated the resilience of its multi-business model in the quarter ended 30th September 2025, posting net profit from continuing operations of Rs 5,179.82 crore—up 4.1 per cent—as its diversification investments continue to mature. For the half year, profit surged three per cent to Rs 10,092.18 crore, underscoring the momentum building across its portfolio.

    The numbers reveal a company hitting its stride. Cigarettes, the engine that funds ITC’s expansion ambitions, delivered robust 6.7 per cent revenue growth to Rs 8,722.83 crore, with segment profit reaching Rs 5,240.66 crore. This performance, achieved despite elevated taxation, provides the cash flow for the group’s ambitious forays into branded foods, personal care and digital ventures.

    More importantly, ITC’s strategic investments in FMCG are showing tangible progress. The other FMCG businesses—spanning Aashirvaad staples, Bingo snacks, Sunfeast biscuits and personal care products—grew revenue 6.9 per cent to Rs 5,964.44 crore. Whilst brand-building costs continue to weigh on near-term margins, EBITDA for this segment improved to Rs 594.08 crore. Management’s patient capital approach is paying dividends as these brands gain market share in India’s vast consumption economy.

    The paperboards division, a testament to ITC’s manufacturing prowess, grew revenue 5 per cent to Rs 2,219.92 crore with healthy margins. The agri business, though affected by seasonal commodity price volatility, remains a critical link in ITC’s farm-to-fork value chain.

    On a consolidated basis—reflecting the group’s expanding footprint through subsidiaries including ITC Infotech and new acquisitions like Sresta Natural Bioproducts—the picture brightens further. Revenue stood at Rs 21,255.86 crore whilst profit climbed 4.2 per cent to Rs 5,186.55 crore. For the half year, consolidated profit jumped 4.6 per cent to Rs 10,529.96 crore, with earnings per share at Rs 8.28.

    The company’s balance sheet remains fortress-like, with total assets of Rs 90,802.66 crore and negligible debt. Cash generation remained strong, with operating activities throwing off Rs 5,782.15 crore in the half year, funding both dividends of Rs 9,823.58 crore and continued capital expenditure of Rs 1,006.71 crore.

    The board’s decision to appoint Amitabh Kant, architect of India’s economic reforms as former Niti Aayog chief, as an independent director signals ambitions for the next phase of growth. The reappointment of Hemant Malik as wholetime director ensures continuity in execution.

    ITC’s transformation from a cigarette company into a diversified consumer powerhouse is well underway. With market-leading positions emerging in multiple FMCG categories, a robust pipeline of innovation, and the financial muscle to sustain long-term investments, the company is positioning itself to capture India’s consumption boom. The patience investors have shown may soon be rewarded as scale benefits begin to flow through.

  • Sunfeast Dark Fantasy’s spaceship lands in Delhi to fuel young imaginations

    Sunfeast Dark Fantasy’s spaceship lands in Delhi to fuel young imaginations

    Delhi got a sweet taste of space this week minus the astronaut training. Sunfeast Dark Fantasy’s much-talked-about Fantasy Spaceship touched down at Nehru Planetarium on National Space Day (23 August), inviting city kids to dream bigger and think bolder. Part of the brand’s playful campaign, “Big Fantasies: Give Wings to Your Imagination,” the initiative blended art, tech, and a dash of cosmic curiosity. Children hopped aboard the spaceship actually a tech-powered bus fitted with giant interactive screens that transformed their hand-drawn sketches into dazzling 3D digital characters, right before their eyes.

    The Delhi pitstop comes after successful runs in Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. The spaceship will stay in the capital till 16 September, travelling to schools like Ryan International, Modern Academy, Glorious Public School, and Aakash International, turning classrooms into launchpads for creativity.

    India’s youngest astronaut, Jahnavi Dangeti, beamed down as chief guest, reminding kids that imagination isn’t just child’s play, it’s rocket fuel for creativity and problem-solving. “When children are encouraged to dream and create, they nurture skills that help ignite new ideas and overcome challenges,” she said.

    For ITC Foods’ COO for Biscuits & Cakes Cluster Ali Harris Shere the initiative was a perfect fit for the day: “National Space Day at Nehru Planetarium is a perfect way to celebrate young minds and their boundless potential. Every moment shared is a reminder of the incredible creativity that resides within them.”

    With kids sketching, scanning, and sending their ideas soaring into a digital universe, the Fantasy Spaceship is less about reaching the stars and more about sparking the imagination needed to one day get there.

  • Sunfeast bakes it special with a first-ever bouquet just for mum

    Sunfeast bakes it special with a first-ever bouquet just for mum

    MUMBAI: This Mother’s Day, Sunfeast Baked Creations has whipped up more than cupcakes, it’s cooked up a celebration of mums and their untold firsts with its touching new campaign, Her First Ever. Because while mums are busy being there for our first steps, heartbreaks, and birthdays, they often skip their own milestones.

    To turn that around, the brand has launched a fresh initiative that calls on families to give back by creating new ‘firsts’ for the woman who gave them all of theirs. Taking that thought from oven to action, Sunfeast Baked Creations opened its new café on Bengaluru’s MG Road with a fittingly emotional gesture. Indian cricketer Shreyanka Patil’s mother, Pravina Patil, stepped into the spotlight to inaugurate the café, a first for her, and a moment to savour.

    While speaking about the campaign ITC Ltd food tech business head Rohit Bhalla. “With ‘Her First Ever’, we wanted to honour not just what mothers do for us, but who they are beyond their roles.Mother’s often miss out on their own milestones while helping us achieve ours. This campaign is our way of encouraging families to create small, joyful moments for her ones that are hers and hers alone. Sunfeast Baked Creations, with its indulgent and thoughtfully crafted creations, becomes the perfect medium to make these memories.”

    Speaking on her association with the campaign, Indian cricketer Shreyanka Patil said, “Being a part of this campaign was more than just a collaboration it was personal. My mom has been my biggest supporter and cheerleader, throughout my journey. Seeing her step into the spotlight for the very first time, inaugurating ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations was an incredibly special and proud moment for both of us. I hope this inspires others to do the same.”

    To sprinkle more joy on the initiative, the brand has rolled out a limited-edition menu complete with a Mother’s Day Assorted Cupcake Bouquet (“the only bouquet she’s encouraged to eat”), a Pamper Your Mom Hamper for breakfast in bed, and a Heart Bento Cake, all designed to say: this time, it’s all about her.

    With Her First Ever, Sunfeast Baked Creations serves a slice of sentiment and a generous dollop of love.

  • Parle tops charts as the most chosen in-home FMCG brand for 12th year in a row: Kantar Brand Footprint India 2024 report

    Parle tops charts as the most chosen in-home FMCG brand for 12th year in a row: Kantar Brand Footprint India 2024 report

    Mumbai: Kantar has released the twelfth edition of its annual Brand Footprint India report. The report ranks the most chosen (in-home & out-of-home) FMCG brands based on consumer reach points (CRP’s). CRP considers the actual purchase made by consumers and the frequency at which these purchases are made in a calendar year.

    Key findings: In-home segment:

    1.    With a CRP score of 7980 million, Parle holds the top spot for a record twelfth year in a row, followed by Britannia, Amul, Clinic Plus and Tata Consumer Products.

    2.    Consumer reach points (CRP’s) continue to grow, however is slightly lower than last year. Overall, CRP’s have increased almost 33 per cent in the last five years.

    3.    All sectors have seen a CRP growth slow down, except dairy:

    4.    Brands chosen more often have greater probability of growing in CRP:

    5.    Haldiram’s and Balaji are the only two brands in the 2024 top 25 in-home brand list to grow by more than 30 per cent in CRPs in 2023.

    6.    Sunfeast leads the way in biggest penetration gains in 2023 at 6.4. The following brands make it to the top 10 list:

    7.    Seven brands in the top 25 in-home rankings show more than 20 per cent penetration increase in the last decade. Britannia leads the way, followed by Surf Excel, Sunfeast, Haldiram’s, Patanjali, Brooke Bond and Vim.

    Key findings: Out of home segment:

    1.    Britannia leads the way in the second edition of OOH brand rankings with 628Mn CRP’s. It is followed by Haldiram’s, Cadbury, Balaji and Parle. The top five rankings are all snacking brands and remain the same as 2023.

    2.    The five most chosen OOH beverage brands in India are Thums Up, Frooti, Amul, Maaza, & Bisleri.

    Speaking about this year’s report and rankings, Kantar MD – South Asia, worldpanel division, K. Ramakrishnan said, “Consumer choice is very reliable strength test for a brand across market conditions and Brand Footprint has been a widely acclaimed ranking system to measure this for over a decade now. As we see over the years, consumers are making increasing trips for purchase and that adds their options and in-turn, their choice. This is reflected in the constant increase in CRP’s. We also introduced an out of home rankings last year as OOH consumption is on the rise and has different choice triggers.”

  • ITC’s Sunfeast YiPPee and Bingo became the regional sponsor of AFA

    ITC’s Sunfeast YiPPee and Bingo became the regional sponsor of AFA

    Mumbai : In an recent move that is certain to delight football fans in India, Bingo! And Sunfeast YiPPee! from ITC Ltd have joined hands with the Argentine football association (AFA), as their official regional sponsor.

    The World Champion Argentina Football team enjoys huge fan following in India. The admiration for the team and game is significantly growing especially among the young audience. YiPPee! and Bingo! as youth-oriented brands, are all about fun, excitement, being playful, which beautifully resonates with the spirit of AFA.

    As part of this partnership, YiPPee! and Bingo! will harness the rich legacy of AFA to engage with consumers through a series of unique initiatives. Participants will have the chance to win match tickets, meet and greet team players, branded merchandise, memorabilia and much more. Further, through this association the brands aim to deepen their reach and offer unparalleled experience that celebrates the shared adoration for the sport.

    Celebrating the partnership, the respective brands unveiled exclusive packs featuring star players like Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María, Julián Álvarez and Emiliano Martínez, merchandise and memorabilia at an event held at ITC Sonar.

    Commenting on the exciting association, ITC Foods, vice president & head of marketing, snacks, noodles & pasta, Suresh Chand, said, “As brands, we are constantly pursuing innovative ways to connect with our audience. Our partnership with World Champion Argentina, is a testament to our continuous efforts to delight our consumers by offering them memorable experiences. Through this collaboration, we aim to elevate the fan experience and deepen our connection with consumers, offering them unique opportunities to immerse themselves in their beloved sport.”

    Echoing the excitement, Argentine Football Association chief commercial and marketing officer Leandro Petersen said, “We are thrilled to welcome Bingo! and YiPPee! as our regional sponsor in India. Football possesses the power to transcend borders and cultures, and we are confident that this collaboration will not only amplify the love for the sport in India, but also create unforgettable experiences for fans. Together, we look forward to crafting cherished memories for fans across India.”

    YiPPee! also launched a unique G.O.A.T (greatest offer of all time) promo, where participants will have to sign up for the contest and share their YiPPee! happy moment with the Argentina football players to receive personalised digital memorabilia and compete to win original autographed jerseys and several other AFA branded merchandise.

  • ITC’s Dark Fantasy partners with Brodha V to launch ‘The Vanilla Fills Anthem’

    ITC’s Dark Fantasy partners with Brodha V to launch ‘The Vanilla Fills Anthem’

    Mumbai: ITC Foods’ Sunfeast Dark Fantasy Vanilla Fills crème biscuits were launched with the endeavour to bring the signature experience to the vanilla crème and dark shell biscuit segment. Crafted to break the monotony of the regular crème biscuits, the brand revamped the category with the introduction of a rich molten vanilla crème filling encased in a dark chocolate shell, giving consumers a delectable upgrade. Furthermore, to dial up its appeal among the youth, the brand has collaborated with renowned artist and rapper Brodha V to establish a deeper connection with the new age rap song “Grow Up Grow Up,” the new Vanilla Fills Anthem.

    Sunfeast Dark Fantasy Vanilla Fills’ rap song asks young adults to be open to new experiences like the Dark Fantasy Vanilla Fills. The quirky lyrics communicate the message of “Grow Up to the Vanilla” in a relatable manner with catchy and upbeat music. The video song has been launched on Sunfeast Dark Fantasy’s social media handles like YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Dark Fantasy Vanilla Fills has also launched a mega contest on social media platforms like Moj and Instagram and in colleges where consumers can participate in a “dance hook step challenge” and get an opportunity to win a special gift hamper from Dark Fantasy Vanilla Fills.

    Speaking on the new campaign, ITC chief operating officer, biscuits & cakes cluster, foods division Ali Harris Shere commented, “We are thrilled to be launching a rap song for our Sunfeast Dark Fantasy Vanilla Fills campaign with rapper Brodha V, and we’re convinced that our younger audience will appreciate it. The Vanilla Fills were launched with the purpose of upgrading the regular crème biscuit category with a superior centre-filled experience. The cookie is filled with rich molten vanilla crème inside a dark crunchy chocolate shell, raising the bar on traditional crème biscuits. Dark Fantasy Vanilla Fills are a manifestation of our continued efforts to provide exciting new experiences to millennial consumers. With the launch of the rap song, we aim to dial up the appeal of Dark Fantasy Vanilla Fills—the new age of crème biscuits for grown-ups among its consumers.” 

    Rapper Brodha V said, “I enjoy doing projects like this because it’s relatable and endearing. The song is about maturing from childhood habits to more mature tastes. Creatively, I’ve tried to bring out the fun part of growing up and kept it lighthearted.”

    The Sunfeast Dark Fantasy Vanilla Fills are available in South & West India in packs of MRP Rs 25 and Rs 10.

  • ITC and Britannia resolve packaging feud

    ITC and Britannia resolve packaging feud

    Mumbai: FMCG majors Britannia and ITC have reached a resolution over the nine-month long case in which the former had dragged ITC to the Delhi high court alleging infringement of product packaging.

    The judgement, dated 4 August, considered the matter resolved after ITC changed the packaging (pillow and box) scheme for its ‘Sunfeast Farmlite 5-Seed Digestive’ and ‘Sunfeast Farmlite Veda Digestive’ biscuits which was challenged by Britannia Industries in December, last year as being “deceptively similar” to that of its NutriChoice Digestive biscuit brand.

    “The respondents have modified the packaging of their products ‘Sunfeast Farmlite 5-Seed Digestive’ and ‘Sunfeast Farmlite Veda Digestive’ which are already in the market. The Appellant has no objection to the use of the modified packaging of the Respondents as depicted hereinabove,” the judgement read.

    In view of the above settlement, Britannia Industries has withdrawn all claims for rendition of accounts, damages, and costs.

    Hearing the matter in April, a single judge bench of the Delhi high court had ruled that the impugned packaging cannot be called “deceptively similar” because in both the cases the name of the product is abundantly clear. Britannia appealed against the judgement on the grounds that ITC’s promotion of April order is causing harm to its goodwill. “It is averred that the impugned judgment is being publicised heavily and is therefore causing immense harm and injury leading to loss of goodwill and reputation of the appellant,” it said.

    Responding to Britannia’s appeal in an order dated 8 July, the Delhi high court had asked the two parties to reach a consensus on the matter within four weeks.

  • Sunfeast Farmlite says lets take care in new ad

    Sunfeast Farmlite says lets take care in new ad

    MUMBAI: The much-talked about and widely viewed online film #LetsTakeCare, recently launched by Sunfeast Farmlite biscuits has gone viral, sparking multiple conversations about the sacrifices a mother makes that take a toll on her health. The 2-minute heartwarming film, which was viewed by a staggering 12 million netizens spanning all generations, has witnessed a surging online performance by mirroring the larger societal truth of how moms stop taking care of themselves when they start taking care of their children. The film calls upon the kid in each one of us to start taking care of our mothers. This can be done by adopting a healthier lifestyle and snacking habits.

    The social experiment conducted by the brand brought forth one of the most pressing issues which tends to go unnoticed. The film opens with a vital question about who cares for the family the most, the most obvious answer being — “our mothers”. With the #BacktoSchool campaign, Sunfeast conducts a social experiment wherein mothers participate in a physical exercise class. It seems that halfway through the class, the women run short of breath. This makes the children wonder how their mothers are always so busy taking care of them while they end up forgetting to look after their own health. This emotive piece is now creating waves in the digital space with a robust viewership of more than 12 million views already.

    ITC COO, for foods-confectionary Paritosh Wali says, “With this online film, Sunfeast Farmlite aspires to promote a healthier lifestyle for the care-givers and the nurturers of our families — our mothers. #LetsTakeCare is driven by this objective and talks to the kid in each one of us to help our mothers lead a healthier lifestyle. Even if few of us are able to nudge our mothers to a healthier lifestyle, this campaign will be truly successful.”

    FCB Ulka CEO Nitin Kankare adds, “The video portrays how while growing up; our mothers have always been our heroes & inspiration. Their exceptional multi-tasking abilities and deep affection have left us secure, cradled in their love. As we slowly grow up, sheltered in her love, we ask ourselves – ‘Why and when did our heroic mothers stop taking care of themselves?’ Sunfeast Farmlite tried to answer this question through a heartwarming social experiment by taking them back to school and asking us to take the pledge #LetsTakeCare for our sacrificing mothers.”

    ITC’s branded packaged foods business is one of the fastest growing foods businesses in India, driven by the market standing and consumer franchise of its popular brands – Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Bingo!, Yippee!, Kitchens of India, B Natural, Mint-o, Candyman and GumOn. The Foods business is today represented in multiple categories in the market – Staples, Spices, Ready-to-Eat, Snack Foods, Bakery & Confectionery and the newly introduced Juices & Beverages.

    ITC’s Foods brands delight millions of households with a wide range of differentiated, value-added products developed by leveraging ITC’s in-house R&D capabilities, deep consumer understanding, knowledge of preferred Indian tastes, agri-sourcing & packaging strengths, and a robust distribution network.

    ITC’s uncompromising commitment to its consumers ensures adherence to high levels of quality, safety and hygiene standards in manufacturing processes and in the supply chain. All ITC-owned manufacturing units are Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certified. The quality performance of all manufacturing units is monitored continuously online.

    The business continues to invest in every aspect of manufacturing, distribution and marketing to ensure that it can leverage emerging opportunities and fulfil its aspiration of being the most trusted provider of branded packaged foods in the country. ITC’s Foods business also exports its products to the key geographies of North America, Africa, Middle East and Australia.

  • Alia Bhatt to endorse Sunfeast Dark Fantasy

    Alia Bhatt to endorse Sunfeast Dark Fantasy

    MUMBAI: Sunfeast Dark Fantasy aspires to take its business to new heights on the back of its association with Alia Bhatt. The premium cookie brand from ITC Foods has signed the Bollywood star as its brand ambassador.

    The brand expects this collaboration will turn its campaign theme of “Can’t wait, won’t wait” more exciting. With this campaign, the brand aspires to position itself as the ultimate dessert indulgence.

    To leave more impact among consumers, the brand has teamed up with Gauri Shinde for the new TVC. The video indicates how one cannot wait to treat themselves with this sinful indulgence of choco-filled cookie along with the line of brand tagline “Can’t wait, won’t wait”.

    “With Dark Fantasy’s new communication we are providing a unique proposition of making an easy yet delightful dessert using Dark Fantasy cookies. I am confident that Dark Fantasy’s association with Alia Bhatt, will only build the excitement about our innovative offerings and enrich consumer experiences about the product,” ITC Foods- Confections COO Paritosh Wali said.

    The TVC shows how Alia gets tempted to have a Sunfeast Dark Fantasy cookie while the background score ‘is that you on my mind’ sets the tune.

    “The association of Sunfeast Dark Fantasy and Alia Bhatt is a match made in heaven. In Alia we found the perfect fit as far as seamlessly bringing alive the irresistibility and spontaneity of consumption goes. This association is the perfect next step towards further entrenching the story of an irresistible indulgence, and towards demonstrating the versatility of occasions that the brand can address,” FCB ULKA CEO Nitin Karkare commented on the campaign.

  • Sunfeast Mom’s Magic celebrates the mom in all of us

    Sunfeast Mom’s Magic celebrates the mom in all of us

    MUMBAI: In a digital campaign conceptualised by Ogilvy Bangalore, Sunfeast Mom’s Magic veered off the beaten path for Mother’s Day and paid homage to the mother-like figures that have positively impacted the lives of those they care for in an attempt to get people to acknowledge these relationships.

    Ogilvy South chief creative officer Mahesh Gharat says, “Sunfeast Mom’s Magic stands for mom’s values. We believe that there is a mom in every one of us and this instinct transcends conventional boundaries. On this Mother’s Day, we wanted to celebrate the beauty of such relationships through this video.”

    In July 2003, ITC made a foray into the biscuits market by launching the Sunfeast range of biscuits. Within a span of 12 years, Sunfeast has well-established presence in almost all categories of biscuits.

    Sunfeast Biscuits straddle all segments of the market led by Dark Fantasy at the premium end. In addition, ITC also launched Sunfeast Farmlite Digestive All Good biscuit made from whole wheat flour of Aashirvaad Atta which makes it naturally rich in fibre content and brings alive ITC’s commitment to provide delightful experiences to every consumer. The company also Sunfeast Dark Fantasy Yumfills Cake in its portfolio which is a soft pie cake, filled with crème.