Arizona-based BWH Hotels, housing renowned brands like Best Western Hotels & Resorts, announced on Friday its plans to enhance its presence in South Asia. The company aims to introduce WorldHotels to markets such as India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
In 2019, BWH Hotels acquired WorldHotels and currently operates in South Asia through Sorrel Hospitality, serving as the master franchisee for the region.
Larry Cuculic, President and CEO of BWH Hotels, emphasized the company’s ‘dedicated’ commitment to expanding the brand’s presence in India. He expressed the firm’s determination to elevate standards in luxury accommodation and ensure guest satisfaction.
“This move, fuelled by the landmark acquisition of WorldHotels in 2019, underscores BWH Hotels’ unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional service and creating unparalleled guest experiences throughout the diverse landscapes of South Asia,” he added.
BWH Hotels is a global hospitality network that comprises three hotel brands: World Hotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay Hotels.
Established upon the framework of Best Western Hotels & Resorts (BWHR), BWH Hotels came into existence after BWHR acquired WorldHotels. WorldHotels curates a portfolio of hotels and resorts situated in various destinations globally, particularly in the upper upscale and luxury segments.
Atul Jain, COO- India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at BWH Hotels, mentioned that the company currently operates 31 hotels in India, with an additional 20 hotels in the pipeline.
“2023 was a good year for us and you will see more hotels opening in 2024. We want to be a part of the growth story of India,” he said.
Cuculic said WorldHotels is a collection of four brands spanning 560 ‘iconic’ properties around the world.
BWH Hotels’ Quality-Centric Approach to Expansion:
“We have 35 more hotels in the pipeline. It’s not about quantity. It’s about quality. We want the right hotels and the right communities that will create that experience that customers are looking for,” he added.
“Partnering with Sorrel Hospitality, our esteemed master franchisee, we are poised to extend our influence in the dynamic South Asian market,” said Ron Pohl, president of international operations and of WorldHotels.
UNIREC, the clothing brand, has successfully raised INR 1.5 crore (approximately $1.9 lakh) in a seed funding round from BeyondSeed, as announced in a press release on Friday.
The funding will be utilized to broaden the brand’s market presence and to develop innovative and sustainable fabrics.
Kapil Bhatia, CEO and founder of the company said, “Our immediate goal, fuelled by this funding round, is to manufacture and sell 25,000 garments every month, ensuring that the environmental impact achieved in the past 18 months is replicated every month.”
UNIREC Innovates with Eco-Friendly Fabrics:
Additionally, he mentioned that the company has produced approximately 40,000 garments in the past 18 months by utilizing recycled PET bottles.
Established in 2021, the eco-friendly apparel brand is currently present on e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart.
On Friday, the Supreme Court undertook a review of a ruling from the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The High Court had declined to prohibit a local company from producing and marketing whisky, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, using trademarks, appearance, and trade dress that were purportedly similar to those of Pernod Ricard India’s Indian made foreign liquor brands—Blenders Pride and Imperial Blue.
A panel headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud has requested a response from Karanveer S Chhabra, trading under J.K. Enterprises. This comes in response to an appeal by Pernod, seeking to prevent the latter from infringing on its trademark and producing beverages under the name ‘London Pride.’
“The matter at hand revolves around the trade dress,” remarked the Chief Justice of India, concurrently issuing a notice regarding the stay application filed by Pernod.
Pernod Ricard’s Allegations:
Mukul Rohatgi, senior counsel for Pernod Ricard, informed the Supreme Court that the Indore-based company had imitated Pernod’s trademark, Blenders Pride, by incorporating and utilizing the term London Pride for its whiskies. Additionally, he asserted that the company had replicated the color scheme, presentation, and overall trade dress of Pernod Ricard’s Imperial Blue whiskies, including the use of bottles embossed with its housemark, Seagram.
The High Court and the trial court “meticulously examined the trademarks and features displayed on the complete label and packaging of the Petitioners (Pernod), scrutinizing them for distinctions rather than evaluating the overall similarity of the competing trademarks, get-up, and trade dress as a whole, contrary to the deceptive similarity test established by the Supreme Court,” asserted the appeal submitted by counsel Mohit D Ram.
In November last year, the High Court refused to prevent the local company from employing the contested trademark, appearance, and trade dress resembling that of Pernod. Pernod claimed these to be a “dishonest and fraudulent imitation” of its well-known and registered trademarks. The High Court justified its decision by stating that the products of both brands encompass premium or ultra-premium whiskies, catering to an educated and discerning consumer base.
Pernod Ricard asserted that it has been utilizing these trademarks since 1973 and in India since 1995, achieving an annual turnover exceeding INR 1700 crore and INR 2700 crore for Blenders Pride and Imperial Blue, respectively.
Patanjali Ayurved told the Supreme Court that it is committed to adhering to all laws governing its advertising practices and will not engage in any violations.
In November, the apex court instructed the Baba Ramdev-led company to cease all misleading advertisements, warning that any false or deceptive claims by the company could incur a penalty of INR 1 crore for each such assertion.
“Patanjali assures the court that henceforth there shall not be any violation of any laws, especially relating to advertising or branding of products manufactured and marketed by it,” Patanjali told the court during a hearing.
Additionally, its legal counsel affirmed in court after the November warning that no informal statements asserting medicinal efficacy or opposing any system of medicine would be disseminated to the media in any format. The counsel reassured that Patanjali was firmly committed to such an assurance.
A spokesperson from Patanjali Ayurved mentioned that the matter is sub judice and declined to provide any further comments.
Legal experts emphasize that failing to uphold a commitment made in court could result in severe consequences.
“Any assurance or undertaking to the court adds a greater obligation on the company to comply with all applicable laws,” said Bharat Chugh, an advocate and former judge. “If an assurance or undertaking is given to the court, and then if there’s any non-compliance, the court can even initiate action for contempt of court, the consequences of which are very grave.”
Baba Ramdev Defends Patanjali Ayurved Against False Propaganda:
A day after the Supreme Court issued the warning in November, Baba Ramdev denied the allegation of false propaganda, and said, “If we are spreading false claims, give the death penalty.”
In response to a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association, which represents over 350,000 members of modern medicine doctors, the Supreme Court ordered Patanjali to discontinue misleading advertisements. The petition contended that Patanjali’s ads “falsely claim to cure certain diseases.”
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for February 6.
Source: Fahmi Fakhrudin (@fahmipaping) | Unsplash Photo Community
Coffee is happiness. It takes people on a joyride!
Do you find yourself feeling comforted by the same aromas and flavours every single time? Do you always have the best conversations with your friends over the same cup of coffee?
Ordering the same coffee again and again isn’t just a habit. It’s a little bit more. It speaks volumes about the kind of person that you are.
Consider this for a moment.
Letting the magic unfold one sip at a time, coffee answers one important fact about who we are: as humans, we are all connected by hook or crook. Yet, another fact is that our personalities are as different as latte, cappuccino, affogato, and mocha. So the next time you stand at the counter, do ask yourself: who are you, as a person, and what makes you stand out from the crowd?
These answers might just be lurking at the bottom of your coffee cup!
LATTE LOVERS – Riding the Waves of Coffee Bliss
Already enjoy the sound of the word ‘latte’? Do you always happily wish to take a “lot” of latte? Why not! The experience of having a latte has such a mellifluous ring to it. It evokes memories of those laidback and carefree days on a beach on a beautiful, remote island, sipping latte! You could sip on a latte today, tomorrow and the day after. It brings good thoughts to mind.
Lattes have that perfect balance of flavours and that luxurious silky feel of the foam that swirls on the top. If you are a latte person, or you know somebody who is a latte person, in the truest sense, then probably – you or they count among the latte lovers who like to go with the flow of life and are generally blissful. The idea of having a good time is always on their mind. They find the joy of little things very exciting. You can’t expect that they will always feel jolly when drinking latte, but all in all, latte people are joy-seekers, and their idea of a thrill may simply be deriving joy from the comfort of being around laidback people who also enjoy the same things as them! If you are in the company of latte lovers, you are in good company.
CAPPUCCINO PEOPLE
Made with espresso and steamed milk, this beverage appeals to people for its bold and sweet flavour that leaves quite the impression. Cappuccino may look boring to some, but it may look stunning to the right person who doesn’t see the brown hue as a dull colour.
Here’s why you might take a shot at it (pun intended!). The drink may appeal to those people who see life in its richness despite being completely aware of the monotony that life is made of.
The rich, brown colour may never bore them, just like life’s colours never fail to fascinate them. But the taste of the coffee may occasionally exhaust their imagination so cappuccino lovers may desire a hiatus once in a while to rejuvenate. Once they’re back from the hiatus, their energy shall always light up the atmosphere and make the day feel a little less burdensome. While they will always order the same cup of cappuccino and their contagious energy will always evoke the good old positivity that cappuccino art evokes – it takes a lot to sustain that energy; that top-of-the-morning feeling is tough to get right every time!
Why not top up your batteries before the day begins? Maybe the swirls of foam create some rhythm in your day. If that cappuccino helps you to wake up and reenergize for the day ahead, you are somebody who deserves it. Treat yourself to a cappuccino for the perfect start to the day!
A bold and unfiltered brew! We already know everything about espresso – that strong black coffee. No sugar, simply a bunch of finely ground beans that exude a very strong aroma!
Our opinion is that espresso takers are people who find it difficult to twist or turn their actions and words to please people with sugarcoated words. They have strong personalities and have no time to sugarcoat words in their hectic schedules. But this is just our opinion!
Espresso aligns with the unique breed of people who are considered to be the unapologetic truth-speakers. They say it as it is. Or, maybe, just maybe, the espresso drinkers are simply keeping up too late and sleeping very little and that is why they limit their interaction by keeping matters to the point out of sleep-deprivation. It may be the personality type or the sleep-deprivation. Either way, next time you order an espresso from your boss’s behalf who is a hardcore espresso lover, maybe you shall notice how he or she exhibits those no-nonsense traits.
Do think about these aspects which will help you to decide what is your personality type when you order your coffee next time!
Ready-to-cook packaged food company iD Fresh Food has appointed industry veteran Rajat Diwaker as the CEO for India, with PC Musthafa taking on the role of Global CEO. This move strengthens the company’s domestic and global leadership team, as mentioned in a media release on Friday.
Diwaker, an industry veteran with more than two decades of experience in the FMCG sector, previously held the position of managing director at Marico Bangladesh. Additionally, he serves as a director on the board of the Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in Bangladesh.
Musthafa will continue to serve as the chairman of the board of directors. His responsibilities encompass overseeing global expansions, developing food-tech capabilities, executing strategic acquisitions, fostering organizational culture, and spearheading innovative initiatives for iD Fresh in the global market.
In alignment with its growth strategy, iD Fresh will appoint dedicated Business Heads and CEOs for each international market. The company is currently in the process of hiring its CEO for the US market. Presently, more than one-third of its revenues are generated from outside India.
In 2024, it plans to enter new markets, such as Singapore and Australia, while expanding its footprints in the existing markets.
Commenting on the latest development, PC Musthafa, Global CEO, iD Fresh Food, said, “I am delighted to welcome Rajat Diwaker to the iD Fresh family. Under his able and forward-looking leadership, I’m confident that we will scale new heights and win more hearts in the years to come. And as we embark on new adventures, I am thrilled to lead the brand into new global markets, driven by the incessant consumer love that we have garnered over the years.”
The development comes at a time when there is an unprecedented surge in consumer demand for fresh and wholesome foods, along with promising opportunities for expansion in international markets. To harness this growth, the company is strategically planning an initial public offering (IPO) within the next three to four years.
The company had recently announced the appointment of Megha Latawa as its Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for India and international markets, and Enakshi Dasgupta as Head of New Business and New Product Development (NPD). As the Bengaluru-based company accelerates its global growth plans, the focus is on strong leadership that paves the way for a bright future.
Funding Milestone for iD Fresh Food:
In 2022, it secured a funding of INR 507 crore in its Series D round, marking one of the largest deals in the food start-up sector. This funding round was spearheaded by a prominent global private equity firm specializing in the Asia-Pacific region, accompanied by the continued support of existing investor Premji Invest.
Established in 2005, the company now operates in over 45 cities spanning India, the US, and the UAE, boasting a team of over 1500 employees.
On Friday, Godrej Consumer Products issued a quarterly update, affirming that the volume growth in India for the quarter ending on December 31, 2023, remains in the double digits. The FMCG giant also emphasized that the operating conditions persistently mirror those of the second quarter.
“Despite this, our organic business delivered steady underlying volume growth of mid-single digit. Growth was broad-based across both Home Care and Personal Care,” said Godrej in an exchange filing.
According to the company, the recently acquired brands, Park Avenue and KamaSutra, under Raymond Consumer Care, are demonstrating strong performance and are on course to meet the full-year goals.
It’s worth mentioning that the brands mentioned above recorded sales amounting to INR 142 crore in the preceding quarter.
Although the Indonesia operations achieved nearly double-digit volume growth and high-single digit constant currency sales growth, the Godrej Africa, USA, and Middle East business experienced either stable or slightly declining volume growth.
“This was driven by trade destocking in geographies that we plan to restructure in Q4. Although it sustained double-digit constant currency sales growth, the impact of the Naira devaluation will result in high-single digit sales decline,” the consumer goods giant explained.
Additionally, due to a significant devaluation of the Argentinian Peso from 361 to 808 and hyperinflation in Latin America (LATAM), the business of Godrej Consumer in this region has been significantly affected, impacting nine months of revenue.
“This is likely to have a negative impact of mid-single digit on the consolidated sales. However, the impact on profit is minimal. Despite the challenging environment, the LATAM business continues to deliver positive volume growth,” the company said.
Godrej Consumer Products Anticipated Growth:
Nevertheless, the Mumbai-based company remains optimistic about achieving reported volume growth, anticipated to be in the high-single digits at the consolidated level. Simultaneously, it foresees reported sales growth to remain relatively stable in INR terms.
“At a Consolidated level (organic), we expect to deliver mid-single digit volume growth, double-digit constant currency sales growth but low-single digit sales decline in INR terms due to GAUM and LATAM currency and hyperinflation accounting impact,” Godrej Consumer added.
Despite significantly higher category development investments, the company continues to drive year-on-year expansion in EBITDA (incl. Forex) margin.
Myntra, the e-commerce platform, announced on Friday that it has seamlessly integrated over 50 international brands in 2023. The latest additions encompass a diverse range of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty labels, including Next, Oasis, Anne Klein, FCUK, BoohooMan, Parfois, Herschel Supply Co, Saucony, Gymshark, Champion, Iconic, Adidas by Stella McCartney collection, and Barry M.
In addition to the aforementioned brands, Myntra enhanced its global fashion offerings with renowned names such as Victoria’s Secret, NYX Professional, Peripera, Kanine, and Misspap.
Myntra presently features a diverse collection of more than 400 international brands, ranging from Mango, H&M, Levi’s, The Collective, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Aeropostale, Adidas, DKNY, Diesel, Birkenstock, to Forever New.
Myntra’s Nationwide Reach:
Based in Bengaluru, Myntra is home to more than 6,000 fashion and lifestyle brands, including H&M, Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Philippe, Jack & Jones, MANGO, Forever 21, Marks & Spencer, Nike, Puma, Crocs, M.A.C, and Fossil. The platform extends its services to over 19,000 pin codes across India.
Honasa Consumer Pvt. Ltd, the beauty and personal care conglomerate, has launched its first multi-brand store pan India at Seasons Mall in Pune, as announced by a mall representative on social media.
“Exciting news! Honasa Consumer Ltd. opens a new store at Seasons Mall. The first store in pan India in MBO format. Wishing them a year filled with success and growth,” said Aajjay Divatay, mall operations manager at Seasons Mall in a LinkedIn post.
Diverse Brands at Honasa Consumer’s Store:
The store showcases a variety of in-house beauty and personal care brands, such as Mamaearth, Aqualogica, The Derma Co, Ayuga, Dr. Sheth’s, and the hair care brand BBlunt.
Founded in 2016 by Varun Alagh and Ghazal Alagh, Honasa Consumer, adopting a digital-first approach, introduced Mamaearth, a toxin-free baby care brand. This brand subsequently expanded its offerings to include beauty and personal care products for adults.
In 2020, The Derma Co became a part of the conglomerate, and in 2021, Aqualogica and Ayug joined the lineup. The acquisitions of BBlunt and Dr. Sheth’s occurred in 2022, and in that same year, the parent company achieved an annual revenue milestone of INR 1,000 crores.
In October 2023, the company secured INR 765 crore from anchor investors ahead of its initial public offering (IPO).
Taco Bell and Kraft Heinz have announced the introduction of two new meal kits named Craving Kits, providing consumers with the opportunity to create homemade versions of the fast-food chain’s Crunchwrap Supreme and Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla.
Kraft Heinz is responsible for producing Taco Bell’s branded retail items, encompassing sauces, taco kits, taco shells, and seasoning mixes.
Taco Bell’s Signature Flavors in Craving Kits:
The Craving Kits use the same ingredients, seasonings, and sauces crucial for recreating the dishes at home.
Danielle Coopersmith, associate director of marketing for Taco Bell at Home, said, “A partnership founded on a mutual obsession with their consumers, Kraft Heinz and Taco Bell created the Taco Bell at Home line to bring signature and crave-worthy Taco Bell offerings and flavours straight to the grocery aisle and allow fans to make Taco Bell their way.”
“Grounded in this core mission, our innovation strategy focuses on creating new products inspired by beloved Taco Bell classics that encourage fans to customise their at-home creations and take them to new heights.”
Alan Kleinerman, VP of disruptive innovation at The Kraft Heinz Company, added, “Our release of the Cravings Kits – the first of several Taco Bell at Home innovations planned for this year – is a great example of how Kraft Heinz is delivering against its goal to lead the future of food”.
“As we kick off 2024, we’re focused on finding the white spaces at retail where we can make an impact for fans and develop products we know they will be excited to try. Our partnership with Taco Bell is a great example of this.”
The Craving Kits can be exclusively found in Walmart stores and are available for online purchase nationwide.
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