In a sharp mid-course correction, Karan Bilimoria, the NRI beer maker, is in talks for a distribution tie-up in the US with Anheuser-Busch, whose Budweiser lords it over half the beer market in that country. While Cobra managed to hold its own in the SABMiller-dominated South African beer market, it managed only flat results with Krait Prestige, which was marketed as the world's first Champagne Lager.
Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), aiming to expand and double sales of its flagship brand Cinthol, has recently roped in actor Hrithik Roshan as brand ambassador.
French cosmetics major L'Oral recorded a turnover of Rs 600 crore (Rs 6 billion), and a growth of nearly 40 per cent, in India in 2007. L'Oral India, launched 13 years ago taking into account the sheer size of the Indian market, has recently set up its own manufacturing plant in Pune. L'Oral India imports most of its products from its own facilities abroad and manufactures the rest in Pune. L'Oral spends 30.7 per cent of its worldwide turnover on advertising & promotions.
World Sport Group India (WSG), the sports marketing partner of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is in talks with three more sponsors, one each from the banking, petroleum and airlines industries to sign deals worth $200 million (about Rs 800 crore) for ground sponsorship of the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. These sponsors will have an opportunity to exclusively advertise their brands on the grounds for five years.
The rankings on the value are set to change. A role reversal is silently taking place in the Indian consumer durable business landscape. LG, which has built a huge reputation and amassed a significant market share on the back of affordable pricing, is consciously promoting higher end products. The Korean company has undertaken a strategic initiative to position itself as a maker of premium consumer electronics.
Camera makers are getting bullish on Indian markets as the consumer base here is increasing. Major camera brands are banking on retail sales in India. For this, Nikon has tied up with consumer electronics retail chains such as Croma, while Sony India has exclusive retail store network. Samsung has tie-ups with Reliance Digital, Croma, and other multi brand outlets. But all the brands face stiff competition from grey markets that are canabalising the brands' share in retail.
Encouraged by the buzz created among the consumers by the Black Dog 12-year-old deluxe, the company has now decided to launch the 8-year-old centenary variant of the brand. Despite a tagline reading "Proudly old-fashioned since 1883", it has tried to make a connection with the younger lot. With the existing restrictions on liquor advertising, USL has promoted the brand by having strong on-trade presence through exclusive tie-ups with retailers.
With the wine market in India poised for heady growth, liquor companies are ready to uncork their best wines. Currently, the Indian wine market is estimated at 1.2 million cases (one case has 12 bottles of 750 ml each), with imported wines accounting for a mere 200,000 cases.
The French cosmetics major's sales in India grew 40.3 per cent last year. According to the company spokesperson, "Being a part of the BRIMC (Brazil, Russia, India, Mexico and China) countries, India offers high potential for us. This was recognised by L'Oral from the start of our Indian operations 13 years ago."
The intellectual property rights battle between Britannia Industries and French dairy and beverages giant, Groupe Danone, is heading for an early breakthrough.
As FMCG giant ITC has entered the snacking segment, the well established brand FritoLay has geared up its marketing strategy to meet rising competition.
When the husband-wife duo of Yatin and Kiran Patil inherited a 200-acre grape farm, they decided to enter the wine business and position the brand at the top of the price pyramid. Vintage Wines' brand, Reveilo, was launched in 2006 from its winery in Nashik valley and is currently the most expensive wine brand in India.
Brands in FMCG sector have taken to brand valuation to identify the potential and realised value of the brand names.
Bullish on the Indian market, Japanese companies dealing in consumer durables are all set to strengthen their presence in India by targeting niche categories and expanding their reach to tier-2 markets. The Rs 25,000-crore consumer durables market in India is currently dominated by Korean companies -- LG and Samsung.
Perfetti has won the suit against Candico that was filed 9 years ago over the latter's trademark.
Major ad agencies face a rise in attrition rate, as top officials change jobs at the beginning of the year.
The FMCG sector has taken some steps to match the pace of growth in the organised retail sector. Companies have launched dedicated sales personnel for modern trade channels and taken initiatives to boost point of purchase management at the large stores. Modern trade refers to retailing through large-format stores whereas general trade refers to retailing through kirana stores.
Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies can rejoice as the Rs 27,369 crore rural market in the country registered a growth rate of 17 per cent in the first 10 months this year.
In an attempt to tap the growing market for lifestyle products, the Videocon group plans to come out with laptop computers, mobile phones and gaming solutions by the last quarter of 2008.
English club may send coaches to train players
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