WestStyleClub Hosts Cooksmiths in Association With IHCL SeleQtions

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India – WestStyleClub - the exclusive subscription program from one of India’s leading fashion brands, Westside hosted ‘Cooksmiths’ a unique culinary contest exclusive for kids in association with IHCL SeleQtions Hotels in Mumbai on 16th and 17th April at The President, Mumbai.

The event had kids from WestStyleClub members from the catchment showcasing their cooking skills under the guidance of top chefs. Additionally, Westside featured their latest summer holiday collection with pop-up shops at the event from brands like Y&F, Utsa, Studiowest, LOV, WES & HOME. Two more chapters of the event are planned at The Connaught, Delhi on 23rd & 24th April & Blue Diamond, Pune on the 14th & 15th May.

Commenting on this exclusive association, Mr Umashan Naidoo – Head Customer & Beauty, Trent Ltd. said “We’re super thrilled to be collaborating with the IHCL SeleQtions hotels. It is the perfect event for us to build community with WestStyleClub. The Cooksmiths x WSC event is a fabulous platform with a great brand match. It will inspire budding chefs & help mums or dads understand nutrition better. These concepts of teaching resonate perfectly with the brand. We are also excited to use the space to pop up our very exciting Holiday Shop & tell customers more about WestStyleClub.”

The cook-off aims to uplift culinary aspirations of the young kids while focusing on the importance of team building and leadership skills while the parent members enjoy shopping from Westside pop-up shops. Guests will also have a chance to visit the Holiday Shop by Westside and witness the exclusive collection on display for kids and adults alike.

Taljinder Singh, Senior Vice President SeleQtions & Mumbai, said, “In line with our commitment of creating unique experiences, Cooksmiths is an endeavour to engage young minds and fuel creativity. I’m excited as Cooksmiths offers them a unique platform to discover not just food but also harness imagination and creativity. We are looking forward to kick-off this one-of-a-kind experience from the foremost dining destination – President, Mumbai – IHCL SeleQtions.” 

Pre-Sales Open - India's Tastiest Vegan Protein Powder, with 25.7 Grams of Protein per Serving

Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India – Vegan Way, a brand of Supercluster Pi (House of Brands), is gearing up to officially launch the first of its kind vegan protein powder made from pea and brown rice protein combined with other superfoods. With 25.7 grams of protein per serving (The highest protein content as a percentage in 33 grams serving), it could solve the protein deficiency that 80% of Indians face. Vegan Way’s pre-sale is currently open, while the brand is set to officially launch in May.

How much daily protein consumption per day is sufficient?
 
The protein recommended dietary allowance(RDA) for an average adult is 0.8-1.0 g per kg of body weight or 50-60 g of protein per day for the healthy adult population. Low, depleted, or compromised protein levels caused by modern living, stress, and minimal physical activity causes health issues such as inflammation, mood swings, hair, nail, and skin problems. Over 80% of the people in India have a protein deficiency that goes unnoticed while 93% of them are unaware of their daily protein requirements and the deficit in their diet. This, if unaddressed, leads to other severe consequences like fatigue, fatty liver and a decrease in natural immunity.

Why Is Protein Essential? How is Plant-Based Protein different from Animal-Based Protein?
 
Protein is a necessary component of life, and it is utilised for all bodily functions and makes hormones, antibodies, enzymes, tissues, and energy. A high-protein diet aids the body's repair and regeneration of cells. Maintaining a good acid-alkaline balance in one's body helps to keep acidity in check. The benefits of plant-based protein include increased intake of fibre, lower risk of cardiovascular disease and some types of cancers, and benefits for weight management.

Additionally, plant-based proteins do not contain some of the unhealthy compounds found in meat, including saturated fat and cholesterol. While animal-based proteins are considered complete proteins, they may negatively affect one's digestive system and contribute to the development of certain disorders and health complications that mainly affect the liver and kidneys. With a projected worldwide population of nine billion people by 2050 and a growing protein scarcity, Vegan Way offers a fresh and new-age approach to combat protein deficiency.
 
Why choose Vegan Way?
 
Vegan Way’s protein powder is derived from plant-based proteins making it more fibre-rich. The ingredients for the powder are non-GMO, sustainably sourced and have no artificial flavours or colours making them intrinsically healthier for the body.
 
It’s easy to switch to Vegan Way from regular protein powder because of its tasty flavour - Cafe-Mocha which can be consumed as a drink or as a flavour enhancer in a regular smoothie. This protein powder also acts as a healthy alternative to flour for baking cookies & other baked goods. The small sachet is easy to carry and effortless to mix and is consumable in seconds.
 
For consumers who are not fitness junkies, this acts as their daily protein intake guarantee and reduces their carbon footprint considerably.

The Ingredients In Vegan Way Protein Powder

Vegan Way(www.getveganway.com) is a good alternative for people who wish to follow or are currently following a vegan diet or are lactose intolerant. Supercluster Pi’s team of formulation specialists and nutritionists arrived at a unique formula that consists of:

Protein Blend:

The Protein Blend consists of Pea Protein, which is a rich source of protein and is a great source of iron that helps with muscle growth and its development while Brown Rice is an excellent source of dietary fibre and protein, is hypoallergenic and also contains high levels of magnesium.

Digestive Blend:

The Digestive Blend consists of Bromelain, an enzyme extracted from the stem of pineapples that fights pain and inflammation in the body. Papain, a proteolytic enzyme obtained from the raw fruit of papaya, helps improve digestion. Himalayan pink salt contains a total of 84 minerals and is a nutrient-rich alternative to white salt, which helps improve sleep quality.
 
Multi Green Blend:

The Multi Green Blend consists of Spinach, Moringa, Alfalfa, Chlorella, Barley, Amla, and Spirulina. This blend is loaded with fibre and protein and is stuffed with tons of nutrients in a low-calorie package, while certain ingredients(Alfalfa and Amla) are known to boost the immune system and help to reduce inflammation and cholesterol levels while also promoting weight loss. The major outcome of this blend is that it promotes good digestive health and aids weight management.

Antioxidant Blend:

The Antioxidant Blend consists of Curcumin Extract, Green Tea Extract and Grape Seed Extract that is rich in antioxidant qualities. This blend aids weight management, boosts metabolism rates, and improves blood circulation and wound healing.

Weight Management Blend:

The Weight Management Blend consists of Nigella Sativa, Guggul, Cumin Seeds, Aloe Vera and Garcinia Cambogia. These ingredients help with weight management as it is shown to improve levels of fasting sugar and keep the average blood sugar levels steady. Ingredients like Guggul aids in the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and helps promote the healthy secretion of thyroid hormone while Cumin seeds increase the activity of digestive enzymes in the gut while removing the bad cholesterol from the body.

Other Ingredients:

Coconut Water Powder: Coconut water powder contains an abundance of electrolytes that help rejuvenate the body after a tiring workout session.
 
Cafe Mocha Flavour: The flavouring within Vegan Way protein powder combines the goodness and taste of coffee and chocolate.

Stevia: Stevia is considered the best sugar substitute and is a natural sweetener. It consists of 30 to 150 times the sweetness of normal sugar while containing zero calories!

Pre-Sale Offer
 
For first-time customers, Vegan Way offers a discount of 50% OFF for their protein powder with the additional launch offer of 20% OFF on purchases with a value above Rs. 1299.
 
The Vegan Way protein powder is also available on Amazon, 1MG, Flipkart, Meesho and will be available on other e-commerce platforms soon.

About Vegan Way

Vegan Way, a brand from the House of Brands, Supercluster Pi, is set to launch products that are vegan based and at the same time delicious. Starting with protein powder in the cafe-mocha flavour, the brand will launch additional flavours in the months to come. Packing the goodness and benefits of research-backed processes and infusing it with clinically proven ingredients, Vegan Way's protein powder will allow people to lead a happy, healthy life and experience what it feels like to be fully energised every day!

Ballantine's Ushers in a New Era of Golf in India with First Golf Mixed Pro Challenge

18 teams with two men golfers and one woman golfer each to tee-off for the title

New Delhi, Delhi, India - In continuation with their promise of many firsts in the Indian Golf Circuit, Ballantine’s, from the house of Pernod Ricard, is ready to host India’s first Golf Mixed Pro Challenge. The tournament will be played over 36-holes at the DLF Golf and Country Club, Gary Player course and is open to men and women professional golfers, from the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) and the Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI). In a unique format, one lady professional will team up with two gentlemen professionals and compete. 18 such teams would be teeing off for the championship between 5th and 6th of April.

Known golfers from across the country such as Veer Ahlawat, Khalin Joshi, Udayan Mane, Yuvraj Sandhu, Gaurika Bishnoi, Vani Kapoor and JahanviBakshi will play in the Mixed Pro Challenge.

Speaking about the launch of the Ballantine’s Golf Championship, Mr. Kartik Mohindra, Chief Marketing Officer, said, “Greatness in the game of life always stems from self-belief. Something Ballantine’s has unwaveringly stood for. It and celebrates self-belief in individuals. Inspiring them to stay true to their passions and excel on their own terms. The game of golf is a reflection of these values. Every golfer has his or her unique swing and stroke. The Ballantine’s Golf Championship celebrates these unique quirks, and drives you to stay true to YOUR game. 
 
Resonating with the fact that the soul of Ballantine’s and golf is Scotland, this tournament takes the brand’s timeless affiliation with the game even further by setting new precedents – including India’s first ever mixed pro golf challenge. This tournament, with its nationwide footprint, is an attempt to bring the illustrious sport of golf on the map of India.
 
We believe that through this initiative, we will inspire and bring together a tribe of Indian golfers to raise toasts of accolades and conviviality, as well as engender a great exchange of ideas. Golf and Ballantine’s: both a class act. Made for the discerning.”

Speaking about the championship, Ms. Kavita Singh, President, Women’s Golf Association of India (WGAI) said, “It gives me immense pleasure to know that the DLF Golf & Country Club will be hosting the first-ever mixed gender event for professional golfers in India. I am sure that this unique experiment in getting the men and women professionals together in a team competition will generate huge interest amongst lovers of the Sport and act as a catalyst for promotion of professional golf in India. I take this opportunity to thank Ballantine's, the Sponsors, for their support in making this innovative format a reality and congratulate both the PGTI and WGAI professionals taking part in this historic tournament. I wish all players the very best and extend my good wishes for the success of this exciting team championship”

Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), said, “The PGTI is excited to be part of this first-of-its-kind event in India where men and women professionals will rub shoulders and compete alongside each other. The event is a step in the right direction in promoting both men’s and women’s professional golf in India. The unique format of the event promises to be an enthralling experience for Indian golf fans. We thank the WGAI for sharing our vision by partnering with us in this event. We also thank Ballantine’s and the DLF Golf & Country Club for supporting the event and making it possible.”

The tee-off is scheduled for 8 AM onwards at DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurugram, on 5th and 6th of April, 2022.

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s no. 2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,682 million in FY16. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin & Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin and Malibu, Mumm and Perrier- Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of 18,500 people and operates through a decentralized organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 85 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

Iconic Global Coffee Brand Tim Hortons® Set to Enter India in 2022

Canada’s most loved coffee brand to open 250+ restaurants across the country over the next five years.

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India – Tim Hortons®, an iconic coffee brand established in 1964 in Canada, will enter India as part of an exclusive agreement with AG Café, a joint venture entity owned by Apparel Group, a global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate and Gateway Partners, an emerging markets alternative investment manager.

Popular for its freshly prepared iconic beverages like the smooth and creamy 'French Vanilla' and its creamy blended frozen coffee, the 'Iced Capp®' along with made-to-order food and baked goods offerings, like the delicious bite-sized morsels of traditional donuts called 'Timbits®’, Tim Hortons will open in New Delhi this year, quickly followed by Punjab and other parts of the country. With over 50 years of coffee expertise, the brand has captured the hearts and taste buds of many.

India is one of the world's fastest-growing markets for speciality coffee retail chains. The growth can be attributed to the changing lifestyle of the young population, rising disposable income, and a keenness to explore global experiences. With this launch, India will become the brand's fourth country in the Asia Pacific region and plans to open over two hundred and fifty outlets over the next five years.

"We are thrilled to be bringing Tim Hortons to India, with Apparel Group and Gateway Partners. India is known for taking its beverages and food very seriously," said David Shear, President, RBI International, parent company of Tim Hortons. "The delicious premium quality coffee and fresh food that guests around the world have grown to crave from Tim Hortons will be coming to India, marking this launch as a critical step in our international expansion plans."

Tim Hortons India will be led by Navin Gurnaney, an experienced and reputed professional who will serve as the company’s India CEO. He was previously the CEO for Starbucks India. Speaking on the announcement, Navin Gurnaney said, "We are very happy to bring Tim Hortons, a global café brand, to our guests in India. The launch will lead to major investments in market-leading talent and innovation, creating new jobs and providing a direct boost to the hospitality sector. We are excited ahead of this launch and we look forward to bringing the best of the café experience to Indians.”

Speaking on the announcement, Nilesh Ved, Chairman & CEO, Apparel Group said, "The food and beverage sector is seeing a revival after a long period of covid-induced lull, and we see this as the most opportune time to introduce a new brand and have an aggressive plan to cater to the demand. As a global company with proven capabilities worldwide, we are happy to bring the Tim Hortons experience to India.”

V. Shankar, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gateway Partners, said, "This exciting new venture builds on our existing strong partnership with Apparel Group, and the India venture has the promise and the potential to be a true “game-changer”. It is also aligned with Gateway's approach of investing in well-established market leaders who cater to core consumption needs. I cannot wait to have a cup of Tim Hortons coffee when we open in New Delhi."

Tim Hortons is Canada’s largest restaurant chain operating in the café industry, and international expansion has become an increasing priority for the brand. Over recent years the brand has introduced its well-loved offerings to guests beyond Canada and the United States. Currently, Tim Hortons has over 5,100 restaurants across 13 countries and growing, including the Middle East, China, the UK, Mexico, Spain, Thailand and Philippines.

About Tim Hortons®

Tim Hortons® is one of North America's largest coffee/tea/donut restaurant chains. In 1964, the first Tim Hortons® restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario opened its doors and Canadians and guests around the world have been ordering Tim Hortons iconic Original Blend coffee, Double-Double™ coffees, Donuts and Timbits® in the years since. Over the last 55 years, Tim Hortons has captured the hearts and taste buds of Canadians and guests around the world and has become synonymous with serving Canada's favourite coffee. More than a coffee and bake shop, Tim Hortons is part of the Canadian fabric and guests can enjoy hot and cold specialty beverages – including lattes, cappuccinos and espressos, teas, and our famous Iced Capps® – alongside delicious breakfast, sandwiches, wraps, soups and more. Tim Hortons has more than 5,100 restaurants around the world. For more information on Tim Hortons visit TimHortons.com

About Restaurant Brands International Inc.

Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("RBI") is one of the world's largest quick-service restaurant companies with more than $35 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 28,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. RBI owns four of the world's most prominent and iconic quick-service restaurant brands – TIM HORTONS®, BURGER KING®, POPEYES® and FIREHOUSE SUBS®. These independently operated brands have been serving their respective guests, franchisees, and communities for decades. Through its Restaurant Brands for Good framework, RBI is improving sustainable outcomes related to its food, the planet, and people and communities.

About Apparel Group LLC

Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate residing at the crossroads of the modern economy – Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Today, the Apparel Group caters to thousands of eager shoppers through its more than 1750+ stores and 75+ brands across all platforms employing 16,500 multicultural staff covering four continents.

Apparel group has carved its strong presence not only in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia but opened thriving gateways to market in India, South Africa, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Additionally, clear strategies are in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary, Pakistan, Egypt and Philippines.

Apparel Group Operates Brands from around the world, originating from USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia and include leading names in Fashion, Footwear & Lifestyle such as Tommy Hilfiger, Charles & Keith, Skechers, Aldo, Nine West, Aeropostale, Jamie’s Italian to name a few and other key brands include Tim Hortons, Cold Stone Creamery, Inglot, Rituals etc.

The Apparel Group owes its amazing growth to the vision and guidance of its dynamic Founder & Chairwoman, Sima Ved who has taken the company from strength to strength since its inception in the last two decades. www.appareluae.com

About Gateway Partners

Gateway Partners is an emerging markets alternative investment manager established in 2014 to connect private capital to attractive investment opportunities across South and Southeast Asia, Middle East and Africa, with fund management and advisory operations in both Dubai and Singapore which are dual registered and regulated by the Dubai Financial Supervision Authority (DFSA) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

Gateway’s portfolio companies operate in over 30 countries and collectively generate over $13 billion in revenues while employing close to 250,000 men and women. Gateway's first private equity fund, Gateway Fund I, L.P., closed in September 2016 with commitments of US$ 757.5m. Gateway launched its second fund, Gateway Fund II, L.P. in February 2021 which intends to target growth and strategic opportunities in proven companies and presents a one-stop solution to investing across exciting growth markets that are long on opportunities and short on capital.

A UN PRI Signatory, Gateway is committed to being a responsible investor. www.gatewayfund.net

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, which reflect management's current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, initiatives and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about our expectations regarding the ability of the Tim Hortons business in India to open more than 300 restaurants in the next ten years and a flagship in New Delhi in 2022. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from RBI’s expectations are detailed in filings of RBI with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, such as its annual and quarterly reports and current reports on Form 8-K and include the following risks: risk related to our ability to successfully implement its domestic and international growth strategy and risks related to its international operations; risks related to our ability to compete domestically and internationally in an intensely competitive industry; global economic or other business conditions that may affect the desire or ability of our customers to purchase our products; our relationship with, and the success of, our franchisees and risks related to our fully franchised business model; and the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising programs and franchisee support of these programs. Other than as required under applicable laws, we do not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, change in expectations or otherwise. 

Premium Dry Fruit Brand Happilo, Joins the Royals Family as Their Title Sponsor for IPL 2022

A Royal snack and a Royal team - India's most loved Nuts and Dry Fruits brand will feature on the front of the team’s official playing kit

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India – Royals Sports Group-owned franchise Rajasthan Royals today announced its association with Premium Dry Fruit brand Happilo as the Title Sponsor for the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which is set to be held from March 26 – May 29, 2022. The deal will see India’s most loved Nuts and Dry Fruits brand’s logo appear on the front of the Rajasthan Royals’ official playing kit.

Happilo, which caters to consumers of all ages with a variety of products including nuts, dried fruits, organic seeds, dry-roasted snacks, trail mixes, Dry Fruit bars & more, marks the return of an FMCG brand in the IPL after quite a while, reiterating how popular and widely appealing the IPL and its teams remain as a marketing platform. “The FMCG sector, particularly in the lifestyle & premium sub-segment is seeing a major resurgence as the pandemic’s impact fades, and it’s going to be an industry to keep an eye on for this IPL and upcoming tournaments”, said Paroksh Chawla, CEO of ITW Catalyst, the agency that stitched the deal together. “Brands know their objectives, and have become savvy at how to efficiently use outlets like these to achieve them, which is what we usually consult them on”, he added. 
 
Happilo sold more than 20 million packets last year, a testament to its popularity, and is entering the IPL arena with the objective of reaching out to a wider consumer base, both in India and across the world. In fact, Happilo has had associations with multiple sports leagues and its decision to sponsor the inaugural champions of the IPL, the Rajasthan Royals, marks its first foray into the IPL.
 
Commenting on the association, Jake Lush McCrum, Chief Executive Officer, Rajasthan Royals, said, “Happilo’s growth story demonstrates how the brand has effectively promoted a healthy style of living among masses, which is something we admire and want to support. There are many synergies between our brands that enable seamless integration throughout the season and year-round, which is something very important to us in our major partnerships. I know our players, support staff and management are excited to have Happilo as a partner, and enjoy their fantastic products year round. Therefore, on behalf of everyone in our setup, I am delighted to welcome Happilo to the Royals family.”
 
Vikas Nahar, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Happilo, said: “We are one of the largest Dry Fruit Brands and the association with Rajasthan Royals will give Happilo the required share of voice in India’s high-intensity, and edge-of-the-seat sporting event. This exciting RR partnership will bring Happilo’s Healthy products to millions of fans. Happilo & Rajasthan both stand for Premium & Royal, #Happilove.”
 
The Royals are one of the most exciting franchises to watch in the IPL with leading icons who are the epitome of fitness and a healthy & fit lifestyle representing them. The association between the two brands is an ideal fit as fans can munch on Happilo’s wide range of healthy products while enjoying the nail-biting action of the IPL.

About the Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals were the champions of the inaugural 2008 season and have recently completed a major shareholding restructure, with Emerging Media having the majority ownership of the franchise with support from new co-investor RedBird Capital Partners.

For more information, please go to https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/

Download the Rajasthan Royals Official App https://bit.ly/RRApp2022 to stay updated about your favourite players, participate in exciting games to win prizes as well as interact with fellow fans. 
 
Follow the Rajasthan Royals on:
Website: https://www.rajasthanroyals.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RajasthanRoyals/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/rajasthanroyals
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rajasthanroyals
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals
YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/rajasthanroyals
 
About Happilo
 
Happilo is a leading D2C snacking brand in Dry Fruits, Nuts and Berries. It was founded in the year 2016 by Vikas D Nahar, a Bangalore-based fast growing start up, which has grown 4X in the covid times. It sources its products directly from farms across the globe & processes them at a state of art automated facility in Bangalore.
 
Happilo, a young & dynamic brand, was born with a vision to offer and deliver healthy Dry fruit based snacking options without having to compromise on the taste. Over the years Happilo has offered an array of products across various channels catering to health and it plans to launch more products which coincides with the IPL season. 
 
To find out more visit Happilo’s website www.happilo.com

Coca-Cola India Ramps up Focus on Digital Transformation, Sponsors First-of-Its-Kind Metaverse Wedding in India

New Delhi, Delhi, India: The Coca-Cola Company has increasingly been focusing on digital transformation initiatives at a global scale. Last year, the Company launched its inaugural collection of Coca-Cola NFTs reimagined some of the brand’s iconic assets for the metaverse—with dynamic motion, movement, and multisensorial elements—inspired by shared moments of friendship. Auctioned as one lot, the collection featured multi-sensory NFTs housed inside a Friendship Box (itself an NFT) packaged as a loot box, a play on the popular video game feature involving sealed “mystery boxes”.

 
Aligned with their global vision, Coca-Cola in India was recently the official beverage sponsor for the country’s first-ever metaverse wedding, to curate unique digital-first experiences for guests attending virtually. The company is putting-in steadfast efforts on digital transformation at a global scale and is investing heavily in technology and innovation in India.
 
Commenting on this unique initiative by the brand, Sumeli Chatterjee, Head - Integrated Marketing Experiences (IMX), Coca-Cola India, said, “We are in an era of digital disruption, where technology and digitization are key catalysts. At Coca-Cola, Innovation, experimentation, and digital acceleration are all key priority pillars for us. We’re devising innovative ways to reach our consumers through a host of digital mediums. As a futuristic Company, we are happy to partner for India’s first, one-of-a-kind ‘metaverse wedding’. This concept is at the fore of progressive digital transformation, and we are proud to have played a part in it.”
 
Guests who joined experiences numerous engaging activities, with options to choose from and enjoy virtually. The wedding floor was completely owned by Coca-Cola India, and the beverages section was branded with Coke cans. When guests moved towards the Coca-Cola beverages counter, the infamous Coke jingle began playing automatically. The guests also received discounts and gift cards from the brand as return gifts. This is a big step forward for the Company in the sphere of innovative ad integration formats.
 
Coca-Cola India has witnessed rapid triple-figure growth in e-commerce sales over the last year. At the back of this growth, the Company has accelerated its investment plans with respect to disruptive digital initiatives and is focused on devising new and innovative ways to reach consumers through digital platforms, for driving future growth.

About Coca-Cola India

Coca-Cola in India is one of the country’s leading beverage companies, offering a range of healthy, safe, high-quality, refreshing beverage options to consumers. Since its re-entry in 1993, the company has been refreshing consumers with its beverage products – Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola No Sugar, Diet Coke, Thums Up, Thums Up Charged, Thums Up Charged No Sugar, Fanta, Limca, Sprite, Sprite Zero, Maaza, VIO flavoured milk, Minute Maid range of juices, Minute Maid Smoothie and Minute Maid Vitingo, Georgia range of hot and cold tea and coffee options, Aquarius and Aquarius Glucocharge, Schweppes, smartwater, Kinley and Bonaqua packaged drinking water and Kinley Club Soda. The Company along with its owned bottling operation and other bottling partners, through a strong network of over 2.6 million retail outlets, touches the lives of millions of consumers, at a rate of more than 500 servings per second. Its brands are some of the most preferred and most sold beverages in the country, with Thums Up and Sprite being the top two selling sparkling beverages.

The Coca-Cola India system provides direct employment to 25,000 people and indirect employment to more than 150,000 people. The Coca-Cola system in India is contributing in its own small way to building sustainable communities through community initiatives under World Without Waste, Fruit Circular Economy, water stewardship, women empowerment, and many others.

For further information on the company's India operations and its products, please visit: www.coca-colaindia.com and www.hccb.in

Calling Changemakers to Identify Solutions on Malnutrition and Hunger in India!

 

Nutrition Innovation Mini-Challenge to Offer Funding and Mentorship

New Delhi, Delhi, India - Cargill, the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in India are proud to announce the Nutrition Innovation Mini Challenge as part of the ‘PoshanPehal aur Pragati’ project, for improving children’s nutrition intake in their first 1,000 days.

 
With the inception of the Decade of Action to deliver global and national commitments of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, there is a need for urgency. The Zero Hunger commitment under SDG 2 on ending hunger and malnutrition is a key goal.
 
The private sector has an important role in bolstering efforts on the delivery of SDG 2 and national nutrition targets. This is even more critical with the world reeling under the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the vulnerable and marginalised sections bearing its brunt. Businesses, large and small, can support the delivery of the right composition of nutrients in high-selling food products for the affected families. Initiatives such as proper consumer education can aid individuals and communities to make informed and better choices.
 
The project, ‘PoshanPehal Aur Pragati’ initiated jointly by Cargill, CRB and WFP is aimed at improving the nutritional quality of Take-Home Ration (THR) served to children, pregnant and lactating mothers in Rajasthan. The project is working by taking a multi-front and multi-stakeholder approach providing information on nutrition, access to quality nutrition, product innovation, targeting micronutrient deficiencies and innovative collaborations and partnerships at the community level.
 
The Nutrition Innovation Mini-Challenge aims to identify scalable solutions that will contribute towards creating an enabling environment for nutrition-seeking behaviour using innovative and inclusive approaches. This will provide a seed fund of INR 3,00,000 and mentorship to the selected applicants to help enhance their potential to successfully implement and scale their ideas. It will also help access relevant expertise that will enable the selected applicants to stay competitive and relevant to the changing market dynamics through responsible and responsive business models. 
 
The Challenge will identify three local private sector-led initiatives contributing towards promoting nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific environment through innovative interventions, including community mobilisation activities, mass media for awareness creation, technology-enabled solutions that strengthen market linkages, impactful solutions to access information on nutrition, and capacity building initiatives tailored to meet the nutrition needs of children (up to 3 years), pregnant and lactating mothers in Rajasthan. The Challenge will serve as an incubator for the select private sector actors, helping them design and develop responsible business and revenue models, strengthen their management skills, and link them up with institutions/initiatives for scalability or replicability.
 
Interested applicants are requested to submit their proposals on the following problem statement
‘Collaborative approaches for scalable community-driven models that influence the adoption and maintenance of behaviours that are important to meeting the objectives of Poshan Abhiyan delineated under Social Behaviour Change Communication.’
 
The Challenge will be conducted for a period of five months, beginning February 2022 and ending June 2022. All private players, SHGs, entrepreneurs, intermediary organisations working with the local community are welcome to apply. Existing initiatives/programmes/processes on nutrition and food security that want to scale and/or replicate their models may also be considered. Lastly, a consortium of small organisations coming together for the competition are also eligible.

For more details about the eligibility criteria and the terms of reference, visit our website or contact Bhavya Sharma at bhavya@c4rb.in

About WFP
 
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been working in partnership with the Government of India for more than 50 years to contribute to its efforts to achieve food and nutrition security. WFP is currently doing this by demonstrating scalable pilots and best practices, providing specialised knowledge and international experience for effective implementation of food safety nets, and supporting evidence-based analysis.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
 
About Cargill
 
Cargill’s 155,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive.
 
We combine 156 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.
 
About CRB
 
The Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) was established in 2011 as a think-tank to pursue its vision, ‘businesses integrate sustainability into their core business practices’. Given that sustainability is a multi-dimensional problem especially in the context of India and other emerging economies, CRB has adopted a model of engaging multiple stakeholders to develop action plans for promoting sustainable/responsible business, across various sectors in India.