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PepsiCo India has announced athlete Hima Das as the Brand Ambassador for its sports drink brand Gatorade. India ace sprinter joins athletes PV Sindhu and Neeraj Chopra who also promote the brand in India.

The company said in a statement, “Gatorade India will also work with Hima Das during the period of partnership to understand her training and race-day nutrition better.”

Tarun Bhagat, Director-Marketing, Hydration and Cola, PepsiCo India, stated, “We are delighted to welcome Hima Das into Gatorade’s family of athletes. Hima personifies the spirit of the brand through her persevering attitude and unwavering spirit to win. We believe that Gatorade is the perfect fuel to partner with Hima Das as she sets out to achieve new accolades for the country.”

The sports drink brand is actively working with sportspersons across the world. In the last few years, Gatorade worked with Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, Argentine professional footballer Lionel Messi, and American tennis star Serena Williams and Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez, among others.

Das added, “I am honored to join the Gatorade family which consists of sporting legends across the world. I am looking forward to working with them to understand my hydration requirements and using the insights to better my athletic performance.”

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Asahi Kasei, a global Japanese leader in chemical and materials science products, has announced a partnership with Amrita Raichand, eminent Indian chef and celebrity. Amrita will be the brand ambassador for Asahi Kasei's consumer products in India. The partnership agreement has been facilitated by Heeta Parikh, Founder & CEO, of Silver Spun Brand Solutions, a fully integrated marketing firm.

Talking about the partnership, Chef Amrita Raichand says, "I'm very happy to be the brand ambassador of this renowned Japanese company for premium wrap who have in great detail explained to me about how good and reliable their products are. I feel a 360 degrees approach is always best while promoting a brand you believe in and, hence, I'm glad that through this association I will be able to do justice in bringing forth the advantages of using these products to the end users." 

Asahi Kasei manufactures three main food-related products which are available in the Indian market - Asahi Kasei Premium Wrap which can be used for wrapping food for preservation, and can also be microwaved for heating the food; Asahi Kasei Frying Pan Foil which can be used to cook food without using oil and prevent food from sticking to the pan with silicon coating on one side and Asahi Kasei Cooking Sheet, whose silicon coating prevents food from sticking to the utensil and is heat resistant for its use in baking/cooking in oven and microwave.

Asahi Kasei's Luve Oberoi says, "We are excited to announce Chef Amrita Raichand as a brand ambassador for our products in India. Her focus on promoting a healthy lifestyle complements the values we endorse as a company. The experience and expertise she brings to the table are invaluable and we are glad to have her on board." Heeta Parikh who along with two other agencies paved the way to finalize the deal, says, "Amrita Raichand has won many accolades for her contribution to the food industry. Her award-winning shows and other platforms will help Asahi Kasei in connecting with the Indian consumers."

Bingo, ITC Foods’ salted snack brand, has signed Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as the new Brand Ambassador for its portfolio. With this association, Ranveer will now be the face of the brand on all its advertising across multiple media touchpoints. 

The company said, “The ads are sure to enthral the audience with its quirky, fun and lovable sequences featuring Ranveer with Bingo!. His quintessential quirky avatar is a perfect fit for Bingo!.”

Hemant Malik, Divisional Chief Executive (Foods Division), ITC, stated, “We are delighted to have Ranveer Singh onboard as his personality exemplifies quirkiness and originality like no other which is in absolute sync with the brand’s ethos. Ranveer Singh has elevated the excitement quotient in our new communications for Bingo! Mad Angles & Bingo! Tedhe Medhe with energy only he can bring. With this association, ITC aims to break further barriers and scale new heights in the snacking space.”

Ranveer Singh added, “It is an absolute pleasure to associate with a world-class brand like Bingo!. I have always enjoyed the innovative flavours and witty communication that Bingo! serves to its consumers. Through this association, I hope we excite to delight the consumers even more and take the success story of Bingo! to further heights and glory.”

Parle Agro, the largest Indian beverage company, has announced actor Varun Dhawan as the new face for its flagship brand Frooti. In the new 360 degree integrated communication by Frooti, Varun Dhawan will be seen in a new fun-filled avataar with Alia Bhatt.

The new campaign featuring the two in the surreal world of Frooti will be rolled out this summer further immersing the fans into #TheFrootiLife with Bollywood's two most energetic, quirky and naughty icons. It is for the first time that brand communication will showcase two celebrities.

Nadia Chauhan, Joint Managing Director and CMO, Parle Agro, said, "Introducing Varun Dhawan as Frooti’s new brand ambassador is a step towards accelerating our aggressive ambition to be the no.1 in mango drinks segment. Presence of Varun alongside Alia will help us connect better with the consumers to take the brand to newer heights."

Varun Dhawan stated, "I am thrilled to be associated with Frooti as it not only brings forth memories but also personally connects with me even today. I look forward to taking the fun world of #TheFrootiLife to all my fans and invite them to be a part of this fun-filled journey."

Alia Bhatt added, "Frooti is the drink that I truly relish and enjoy. I look forward to immersing myself once again into the magical world of #TheFrootiLife with one of my closest allies Varun."

Parle Agro, an Indian beverage company, has signed Tollywood star Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr, also known as Jr NTR, as the brand ambassador for Appy Fizz for South India. With this, Jr NTR will be seen as part of the new Appy Fizz campaign in the region. However, Salman Khan will continue to be the national brand ambassador for Appy Fizz.

The move is part of the company's plan to reinforce brand recall and connect with the consumers in southern states. Recently, Parle Agro has set up its new manufacturing facility in Mysore, Karnataka. 

Nadia Chauhan, Joint Managing Director and CMO, Parle Agro, said, "Parle Agro has an aggressive target to gain tremendous market share in South India. We understand the influence and affinity for regional cinema and celebrities to build stronger cultural relevance and this is a key agenda driven towards our vision to be the No. 1 beverage company in India."

Jr NTR added, "I have always loved Appy Fizz and the decision to be the face of the brand was an easy one after I saw the vision and plans of the brand."

Kurkure has appointed Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu as its brand ambassador. The snack brand has also unveiled its new positioning, 'Khayal toh Chatpata hai', which celebrates progressive thinking that young Indian homemakers bring in to traditional Indian families.

The company in a statement said, "With a promise to add more fun and excitement to family time, the brand rings in a new mantra, together with the boundless energy of Taapsee, who stands synonymous to the essence of Kurkure."

Taapsee Pannu stated, "I am extremely excited to be associated with India’s much-loved, and my personal favourite snack, Kurkure. It has been an integral part of my family 'masti' moments back home in Delhi and during my breaks while shooting in Mumbai. I have always admired Kurkure for its family and fun orientation. And, as the brand takes on a new positioning of 'Khayal Toh Chatpata hai', I look forward to an exciting and chatpata journey with Kurkure."

Jagrut Kotecha, Vice President (Snacks Category), PepsiCo India Ltd, added, "As Kurkure enters a new and exciting phase with 'Khayal Toh Chatpata Hai' positioning, we are thrilled to be carrying forward this journey with Taapsee, who resonates well with the brand philosophy. With the new positioning, we aim to celebrate the forward-thinking brought-in by today’s women and Taapsee who is an inspiration to them; and has proved her strength and mettle by taking on unconventional roles, in movies or beyond, is a natural fit. We welcome her to the Kurkure family."

Uber Eats has roped in Bollywood star Alia Bhatt as its brand ambassador in India. For Uber Eats, India is the first country where it has appointed a brand ambassador.

Bhavik Rathod, Head of Uber Eats India and South Asia, said, "We are excited to have Alia on board, as we stay focused on building and strengthening our presence in India."

Uber Eats' first Indian launch was in Mumbai in May 2017. Currently, the company is present in 37 cities across the country.

Alia Bhatt stated, "My work hours and plans keep changing, so the freedom/flexibility to get what I’m craving for whenever I want, right at the tap of a button, almost seems magical. I’m delighted to be associated with a young, innovative and energetic brand like Uber Eats and I look forward to all the excitement that’s in store with this partnership."

Jacqueline Fernandez has been signed by the Homegrown FMCG company Dabur as the new brand ambassador for its health supplement brand Dabur Honey.

Prashant Agarwal, DGM Marketing, Dabur India, said, “We are excited to have Jacqueline Fernandez as Dabur Honey’s new face. Health & Fitness has become a way of life for all Indians today through improved lifestyle and dietary habits.”

A new TVC and print campaign, ‘Stay Fit, Feel Young’ featuring Jacqueline, will be launched soon. The message which will be communicated through this new campaign is “Drop your excuses and start work out and stay fit & healthy with Dabur Honey”.

Jacqueline Fernandez said, "When I was approached by Dabur for this association, I found this to be something that I would love to communicate to Indian consumers about. The brand proposition of “Stay Fit, Feel Young” was something that I immediately connected with."

As a part of the strategy to double business, Food and beverages major PepsiCo India is giving its Tropicana juice an image make-over, roping in Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif as brand ambassador.

Apart from focussing on smaller cities, rest of urban (RoU) and rural market expansion, the company is also looking at packaging innovations to enhance the reach of the brand.

"Given the fact that juice is a really under-penetrated category in the country, we want to be participating in the penetrative growth," Deepika Warrier, Vice President Nutrition, PepsiCo India said.

She said Tropicana is one of the fastest growing brands of the company and PepsiCo India has laid out "a pretty ambitious plan that we want to double Tropicana business by 2020".

At present, the Tropicana master brand, including Slice and other sub-brands, is over Rs 1,000 crore, she added.

Commenting on the repositioning of the brand, Warrier said, "Earlier Tropicana was seen as an international aspirational brand and we were targeting to young adults and metro consumers as a complement to rushed breakfast."

Now the company will target youth, making Tropicana "an enabler in lifestyle for the time-pressed millennials who find their own health and nutrition hacks and to suit their individual lifestyles".

“PepsiCo India has a redefined strategy through its strategic partnership with bottling partner, Varun Beverages Ltd (VBL) for sale and distribution of Tropicana range of juices along with Gatorade and Quaker Value-Added Dairy in the north and east India announced in January,” she shared her thoughts regarding the distribution front.

"The north and east regions together account for 80 per cent of the juice market in India," Warrier said, adding VBL's reach will help the brand more than double the distribution reach in these regions, with a focus on rest of urban (RoU) and rural market expansion.

The target for Tropicana is to reach 2.5 lakh outlets in 330 towns from one lakh in around 80-100 towns at present, she added. In the south and west India, Tropicana will be sold through PepsiCo's system for core carbonated beverage.

Warrier also said PepsiCo India could consider smaller pack sizes for Rs 10 as compared to the current entry-level size of Rs 20 as it looks to penetrate deeper into the rural markets. Besides, innovations like the transparent packaging in order to convince consumers that the juices don't contain preservatives may be looked at.

Fresh fruit importer, IG International, has roped in Indian celebrity chef and restaurateur, Kunal Kapur to endorse its fruit brand, Stemilt Growers.

IG has roped in the celebrity chef as brand ambassador for a year in order to generate awareness among the masses regarding the high-quality and fresh fruits of Stemilt, Washington’s largest tree fruit company. Chef Kunal will also be a part of promotional campaigns and spread information about health benefits of the fruits sold across various platforms.

Currently, IG imports different varieties of apples, pears and cherries from Stemilt. 

Tarun Arora, Spokesperson, IG International, said, "We are truly delighted to have chef Kunal Kapur on board as our brand mascot. With his innovations in cuisine, creative combination of ingredients, and popularity on national and international food-focused shows, Kunal has been able to win the hearts of many food lovers. This clubbed with his unsurpassed knowledge on healthy foods makes him an ideal choice to represent Stemilt and popularize the rich benefits its produce offers. We look forward to nurturing this association and bringing the best to our consumers."

Chef Kunal Kapur said, "Fruits are a staple in my diet and I look forward to spreading awareness around their health benefits. Stemilt as a brand is known for its high-quality and great-tasting produce and as a chef nothing delights you more than superlative and fresh ingredients. I am pleased to be associated with IG International that secures the best of exotic fruits globally to India, all the year round."

IG International imports 31 varieties of fruits across 22 countries and uses its distribution network to cater to a pan-India market in cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Pune, Ludhiana, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kolkata, Kochi, Patna and Nagpur.

Online restaurant reservation platform, EazyDiner has appointed cricketer Yuvraj Singh as global brand ambassador.

Yuvraj Singh has been closely associated with EazyDiner right from its inception, the company said.

Eazydiner is an app that lets customers book reservations for dining out in restaurants and hotels. The app has 53000 restaurants listed and gets 15 lakh unique subscribers every month.

EazyDiner is currently live in eight India cities, namely, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Goa and Dubai.

Rohit Dasgupta, CEO, EazyDiner, told PTI, "We felt that Yuvraj and his personality resonates well with our brand and what we stand for."

Yuvraj Singh told PTI, "I am pleased to be associated with a brand like EazyDiner which is contributing to Indias restaurant business in such a significant way and creating memorable experiences for diners."

Ice Cream major Vadilal has appointed Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra as their brand ambassador.

Vadilal is promoting three variants of their drool worthy ice creams called Badabite select (Belgian chocolate based bar), 20 variants of Flingo (centre filled cones) and Gourmet (cups). The variants ranges from Rs 50 to Rs 150 in price.

“Parineeti is a bubbly, cheerful and really very cooperative. We were able to complete all our ads in one day. Her nature is very similar to when we sell Vadilal to a person and they get. Her feeling for the ice-cream comes out,” said Devanshu Gandhi, MD of Vadilal to IANS.

The "Ishaqzaade" actress, who has lost weight, says she loves ice-creams and that the trick to have ice-creams without any guilt is to have it before a work-out session.

"I am genuinely excited about today because Vadilal has been part of my childhood and now it is part of my adulthood. I am genuinely so proud that they chose me," Parineeti told media.

Vadilal MD Devanshu Gandhi and sales and marketing president Vishal Surti also unveiled their latest ad campaign for three of their new ice-creams.

Manpasand Beverages has signed Bollywood actor Sunny Deol as the brand ambassador for its flagship brand Mango Sip. They plan to invest over Rs 100 crore in the next one year in a bid to continue on its fast-paced growth and to take its sales from the current Rs 300 crore-plus to Rs 1,000 crore in the next three years.

Dhirendra Singh, Chairman and MD, Manpasand Beverages, said, “We are very proud and confident that his association will help in significantly increasing the per capita consumption of mango drinks in the country.”