1. At least eight senior and middle-level executives have quit Hindustan Unilever over the past two months after spending more than a decade with Indias largest fast moving consumer goods company,indicating a festering dissatisfaction with pressures both within and outside the organisation.
2. Italian brand Bulchee will tap the youth segment of the estimated Rs 4,000-crore Indian accessories market with the introduction of a special line.Besides,the brand will be increasing its exclusive retail chain by sevenfold to take it to 35 outlets by the end of 2010,from five currently."We will launch an exclusive line dedicated for the youth segment later this year called 'BLC'.This line will be based on latest styles and designs from Italy,"said Atlas Brands managing director Ramesh S Bulchandani.Despite targeting the youth,he said the new line will be positioned at a similar price segment as its existing upper- end products.At present,its belts are priced at an average of Rs 1,000,silk ties at around Rs 800 per piece and bag at about Rs 2,000-4,000.
3. With a view to tap the huge purchasing-power potential of the rapidly-growing middle-class,Delhi-based value retail chain,V-Mart,plans to add 15 more stores to its network in FY 11. The seven-year-old retail chain V-Mart,which opened its first store in Ahmedabad in 2004,presently has 52 mid-size hypermarts (10,000 sq ft) across 45 Tier II and III cities.
4. Mumbai-based nutraceuticals and health products company Mission Vivacare aims to more than double its sales to Rs 500 crore by next year on the back of launch of new product in the US market.
5. Global soft drink major Pepsico may have phased out its ageing brand ambassadors,including Sachin Tendulkar and Shah Rukh Khan,but its rival Coke is still holding on with 45-yearold Aamir Khan to target youth.With successive hits like'3 Idiots' and 'Ghajini'enhancing Aamir's brand value amongst the youth,industry sources said Coca Cola has renewed contract with the star for another three years last month.The value of the deal could not be ascertained.In contrast,Pepsico had dropped 44-year-old Shah Rukh and 37-year-old Tendulkar in 2008 as brand ambassadors and signed new Bollywood faces like Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone for its 'Youngistan'campaign.Yet,Coke is still banking on Aamir,who has been its brand ambassador since 2003,although the firm signed on his nephew and Bollywood star Imran Khan to attract youth."No marketing person can ignore the younger audience now,considering the kind of population we have... depending on the creative requirement we will use Aamir Khan,"said McCann Erickson executive chairman and regional creative director (Asia Pacific) Prashoon Joshi.McCann Erickson handles the advertising account for Coke.
6. WIPRO Consumer Care & Lighting (WCCL) is nudging its glucose powder brand,Glucovita,into the juice powder category.From a plainvanilla energy enhancer,WCCL's flavoured extension seeks to pitch Glucovita into a larger market which has brands such as Rasna and Krafts Tang.Glucovita was acquired from Hindustan Unilever Ltd for Rs 5 crore in 2003 as part of a brand rationalisation strategy of HUL. WCCL has consistently stated that it has bigger ambitions for the wellness FMCG segment,which is largely underdeveloped and fragmented today.In 2005,it entered the branded honey segment with Sanjeevani,which was later extended into isabgol as well.This was followed through with Wipro Sweet & Healthy,lending it a presence in the artificial sweetener or sugar substitute category which is largely targeted at diabetics. Although these categories remain niche,at this point,WCCL expects to capitalise on the Indian wellness market which is expected to grow due to growing disposable income,education and health consciousness among the masses over the next 10 years.
7. Yahoo! India is on a roll.After a successful brand campaign launched last October,the brand is close on the heels of launching a new business-to-business advertising campaign.The company is not only developing the online advertising market,but also driving innovations in the field and convincing advertisers to spend more ad dollars on the medium.
8. YOU CAN NOW SNIFF,SWIRL AND snip wine while indulging in retail therapy.Kingfisher Bohemia,the wine brand from the stables of the United Breweries Group,has launched wine kiosks and cafes within food court at malls.The Kingfisher Bohemia wine express,as its being called,is being rolled out across malls in Bangalore.
9. ANOUSHKA Shankar will be the new brand ambassador for Shoppers Stop,a retail chain promoted by the K Raheja Corp Group.Anoushka will be the face of a new brand of women apparel clothing line named 'Haut Curry',a private label of Shoppers Stop to be promoted from next month.Anoushka will be the brand ambassador for Haut Curry.She fits the bill completely because she is perceived as a perfect blend of tradition with modernity in her real life, says Anujita Jain,COO of Alchemist,who handles the account of Anoushka.
10. MALE professionals,who are often hard pressed for time,can now shop at home.Victorinox India is set to sweep into the homes of businessmen across Bangalore,Hyderabad,Mumbai and New Delhi to sell its premium range of luggage called Security Fast Pass,designed to enable quicker airport security checks.Long working hours,frequent travel and a shopping environment that is burdened by traffic jams and parking limitations,has meant that men hardly shop, MD Victorinox India,Anish Goel,said.
11. ADIDAS INDIA seems to be hunting for a new ad agency for its biggest-ever campaign that it plans for India.Adidas is one of the top sponsors for the FIFA World Cup,which will be held in June this year.The company has surely parted ways with TBWA India,a partnership that worked well for the last eight years.Even though the company has not yet finalised the agency,O&M is already working on the next project for ICC T20 World Cup.
12. Google's mobile operating system,Android,is catching up with major handset makers with Korea's LG Mobiles and US's Motorola on Monday announcing the launch of Android phones in the Indian market.While LG's 'LG GW620'is priced at Rs 16,490,Motorola's smartphone 'Milestone' would be available at Rs 32,990 based on Android systems.
13. Electrical equipment maker Havells India on Monday said it will increase its marketing spend by over 40% to Rs 100 crore by next fiscal and plans to enhance retail overseas footprints,starting with Africa.The company,which is mainly into electricals and lighting products,plans to enter new segment like water heater by next winter.
14. Cocoberry,the New-Delhi based premium frozen yogurt retail chain,is planning to foray into pre-packaged foods segment under the same brand,reports Gulveen Aulakh from Chandigarh.The company is planning a manufacturing unit in Himachal Pradesh to cater to its readymade food foray.
15. AD AGENCY Temple Advertising dominated the latest edition of the Times Group-instituted REMMY (Recruitment Marketing) Awards by bagging three awards for its client,REVA Electric Car.
16. WE REMOVED the AC and decided to become a warm company, says Piyush Mathur,managing director of The Nielsen Company South Asia,referring to the change of the research firms name from AC Nielsen.
17. AC Nielson: Neurofocus is in the realm of neuromarketing.We dont ask consumers any questions but instead get them to wear a hat and track their brainwaves as they are shown stimulus: advertising thats being tested,packaging or even the experience of walking down an aisle of a store.We get into their subconscious and know what and how they are thinking.Sometimes the consumer may not be able to articulate these things,even if they want to tell you.Research is about getting into the minds of the consumer and using technology to do so.Listening rather than asking what they have to say.It is already being used in the US by companies like Pepsi and P&G and we want to bring it to India.Another service we have is buzz metrics that lets us track 40 million blogs online.This is another example of not really asking the consumer but listening to what they say online.
18. The animated characters of Vodafone commercials will walk away with the festivals top honour,when the winners of the Abby Awards are announced at the Goafest 2010 being held during April 8-10,industry insiders told ET.
19. THE next time you crave for a cigar,you neednt a splurge Rs 2,000 on a Havana.ITC,the countrys largest cigarette maker,will soon offer premium handrolled cigars at less than half the price. The $6-billion cigarettes-to-hotels conglomerate has teamed up with La Aurora,one of the oldest cigar makers run by the Leon Jimenes family of Santiago in the Dominican Republic,to unveil a mintfresh line of premium handrolled cigars.Bharti Wal-Mart,the joint wholesale retail venture between Bharti Enterprises and the Wal-Mart Stores of the US,is expanding its retail presence in India.On Tuesday,it launched a direct farm produce sourcing system to streamline the supply chain between farmers and consumers in Punjab.The company will open second Best Price Modern Wholesale cash-and-carry store in Zirakpur.
15. AD AGENCY Temple Advertising dominated the latest edition of the Times Group-instituted REMMY (Recruitment Marketing) Awards by bagging three awards for its client,REVA Electric Car.
16. WE REMOVED the AC and decided to become a warm company, says Piyush Mathur,managing director of The Nielsen Company South Asia,referring to the change of the research firms name from AC Nielsen.
17. AC Nielson: Neurofocus is in the realm of neuromarketing.We dont ask consumers any questions but instead get them to wear a hat and track their brainwaves as they are shown stimulus: advertising thats being tested,packaging or even the experience of walking down an aisle of a store.We get into their subconscious and know what and how they are thinking.Sometimes the consumer may not be able to articulate these things,even if they want to tell you.Research is about getting into the minds of the consumer and using technology to do so.Listening rather than asking what they have to say.It is already being used in the US by companies like Pepsi and P&G and we want to bring it to India.Another service we have is buzz metrics that lets us track 40 million blogs online.This is another example of not really asking the consumer but listening to what they say online.
18. The animated characters of Vodafone commercials will walk away with the festivals top honour,when the winners of the Abby Awards are announced at the Goafest 2010 being held during April 8-10,industry insiders told ET.
19. THE next time you crave for a cigar,you neednt a splurge Rs 2,000 on a Havana.ITC,the countrys largest cigarette maker,will soon offer premium handrolled cigars at less than half the price. The $6-billion cigarettes-to-hotels conglomerate has teamed up with La Aurora,one of the oldest cigar makers run by the Leon Jimenes family of Santiago in the Dominican Republic,to unveil a mintfresh line of premium handrolled cigars.Bharti Wal-Mart,the joint wholesale retail venture between Bharti Enterprises and the Wal-Mart Stores of the US,is expanding its retail presence in India.On Tuesday,it launched a direct farm produce sourcing system to streamline the supply chain between farmers and consumers in Punjab.The company will open second Best Price Modern Wholesale cash-and-carry store in Zirakpur.
