Medimix
gets a new look
The venerable Medimix soap has been launched in a new
packaging after 36 years. The company has made the changes
in order to increase the soap's appeal to the younger
generation and also to make it amenable to variants
and extensions.
In
essence, the changes are peripheral and the company
has not altered the ingredients or its fragrance. The
new pack contains information about the ingredients
and its clinically-proven benefits, information that
the new consumer does not gather from the old pack.
The
company said that research revealed that consumers wanted
a change even in a traditional, ayurvedic soap. In addition
the packaging had alienated the younger generation of
consumers who did not want to be seen using the soap
even though it was convinced of its efficacy.
Lux,
Lifebuoy, Godrej No 1, Breeze and Nirma are the top
five brands in the country that command 51-per cent
market share. Medimix sells more in the South and the
West.
Award
for Kerala tourism commercial
Kerala Tourism's television commercial, 'Highway,' has
won the `Das Golden Stadttor' (Golden City Gate) award
at the recently held ITB Berlin tourism and travel fair.
The commercial that was selected from over 300 films
from across the world is one of a series of six ad films
developed for Kerala Tourism by Stark Communications.
Titled `Life in God's own country', comprises a six-film
series shot by cinematographer, Santosh Sivan and presents
Kerala the State in a new light, the release adds.
Hyundai's
first million car rolled out
The one millionth Santro rolled out from Hyundai Motor
India's assembly line at its plant near Chennai. The
company said it achieved this milestone within 90 months
of starting production.
Future
plans of the company include coming out with a diesel
version of the Santro or the Getz, launching a successor
to the Accent with new design and new powertrain in
September and a diesel variant of the luxury sedan Sonata
by the end of the year.
Hidesign
to sell apparel
The Pondicherry-based Hidesign brand is getting into
the apparel segment under its existing Hidesign brand
name. The company is eyeing export markets for the garments.
In the recent past, Hidesign entered the Chinese market
with its first shop at the Hong Kong airport.
The
company has already forged joint ventures in Dubai,
Malaysia, South Africa, Russia and more recently China.
At the same time, in India, Hidesign is considering
options of roping in a JV partner who could be invest
in the company.
Without
any imminent plans of entering the capital market, it
hopes to enter into a partnership arrangement with an
international company, which could bring in funds in
the future.
Marking
an investment of Rs17 crore for its international forays,
which includes forging JVs in various companies with
its existing distributors, Hidesign will funding it's
plans through internal accruals. Hidesign's next outlet
will be in Shanghai with the help of its distribution
partner, Ray Chan. Other recent local JVs forged include
one with the Jashanmal Group in Dubai.
Scorpio
gets a new look
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has launched a new
version of the Scorpio, replacing its earlier model
in the domestic market without any change in the price
tag. The new version of Scorpio incorporates over 40
changes and sports a common rail diesel engine (CRDe)
across all finishes.
Scorpio
prices currently span Rs 7.06 - 8.18 lakh (ex-showroom
Delhi).
The
company is setting up a "customised vehicle cell"
to cater to specific customer tastes.
Reliance
Info makes changes in One India offer
Reliance Infocomm has extended its One Nation (Re 1
STD) plan, and has made changes in it to offer of 40
paise-a-minute for Reliance-to-Reliance STD calls on
specific postpaid and prepaid schemes. This 40 paise
offer (and the Re 1 per minute STD calls to all other
phones) is available on the postpaid Reliance `India
One 399' scheme and also on the prepaid Rs1,100 voucher,
said a statement from the company.
On
the postpaid India One 299 scheme as well as on all
other prepaid schemes, Reliance to Reliance intra-circle
calls will cost 40 paise a minute and STD calls to any
phone Re 1 a minute. On certain other postpaid schemes,
STD charges to non-Reliance phones have been cut to
75 paise a minute.
Honda
launches Shine
Honda has launched a 125-cc bike, named Shine in two
versions. While the drum brake version costs Rs45,120,
the disc brake version costs about Rs2,000 more. Honda
has opted to fit a dual-suspension system at the rear,
deviating from the mono-suspension that it promoted
with Unicorn.
Tata
Motors offers free insurance for models
Tata Motors is offering a free insurance cover on the
Indigo, Marina, Safari Dicor and Sumo Victa. The offer
is valid till March 21.
Hyundai
cuts prices
Hyundai has slashed prices on its models straddling
the small car and premium sedan segments. The prices
of the Santro have been cut by up to Rs26,165 and that
of the Getz GLE and the Elantra GLS by Rs2,000 each.
Hyundai has also cut the price of the Accent by Rs1,002
and that of the Sonata AT (L) by Rs 15,001.
New
Camry
Toyota has launched its premium sedan, Camry in two
new versions the automatic transmission is priced
at about Rs 21.6 lakh and the manual transmission, about
Rs20 lakh. The new 2.4L petrol powered Camry
is more powerful than its earlier version.
Mother
Dairy for increased retail visibility
Mother Dairy India, the marketing arm of the National
Dairy Development Board (NDDB), has chalked out a new
growth strategy for the company this year.
It
is planning to strengthen and expand its distribution
network, especially for the Safal brand and introduce
more varieties of processed food products. The company
is targeting to add another 8,000 to 10,000 outlets
for the Safal brand this year. In particular, Mother
Dairy is looking for increased availability of its Safal
fruit juices in local outlets as well as emerging retail
formats such as foodmarts. The Rs180-crore fruit juices
segment is witnessing a 25-per cent growth rate and
Mother Dairy along with other players wants to cash
in on the rising demand.
The
company has also decided to increase its ad and marketing
spend and apart from introducing two new flavours in
the juices category, the company is working on rolling
out more varieties of its milk-based products. The company
is also evaluating options to introduce more varieties
and flavours in cheese, ice-creams and yoghurt-based
items.
Currently
Mother Dairy ice-creams, dahi (curd), lassi, flavoured
milk, butter, cheese and dairy whitener.
Shringar
Cinema to start food courts
Shringar Cinemas will soon open food courts through
a wholly owned subsidiary, Oxford Multiplex Cinemas.
The food courts will operate under the brand name, Via
1 Food Street.
The
company would formally launch food courts in two of
Shringar's upcoming properties at Chandigarh and Surat.
Initially, the company plans to introduce the food courts
only in Fame multiplexes, but would also explore other
opportunities later.
Tata
Indicom introduces `Walky with FM'
Tata Indicom has launched its `Walky with FM' product
here today, an Axesteel P830 instrument that doubles
as a FM radio receiver and Walky telephone. The Axesteel
P830 phone also features 12 polyphonic ringtones, dual
speakerphone system, Internet capability, internal phonebook,
and a dual language menu. Customers can buy the phone
for Rs 1,999 or exchange existing Walky instruments
and pay a non-refundable charge of Rs 1,000.
also see : List
of marketing review
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