Havas Acquires Liquid to Enhance Ecommerce and Retail Media Expertise
In a landmark move to redefine the Shopper marketing, ecommerce and retail media landscape in the Middle East, Havas – one of the world’s largest global communications networks – today announces the strategic acquisition of Liquid, a leading omni-commerce company, marking a significant step forward in enhancing its ecommerce and retail media capabilities. Liquid will be rebranded as Liquid Havas and join the organisation under Havas Market, Havas’ full-service ecommerce offering dedicated to delivering meaningful shopping experiences for people, brands and retailers. Launched in 2020, Havas Market has grown steadily and is now scaled globally across 30+ markets.
Established in 2016 and renowned for its dynamic approach in marrying science, art, and instinct, Liquid has risen to prominence by revolutionising how brands connect with consumers at retail touchpoints. With a team of over 100 specialists, Liquid has cultivated a notable portfolio of leading, global FMCG clients such as Nestle, PepsiCo, Beiersdorf, and Procter & Gamble.
This acquisition is a fusion of shared visions and values, aiming to redefine the shopper marketing and ecommerce landscape. The integration of Liquid’s agile and creative retail strategies into Havas Market’s global resources and technological expertise will deliver unparalleled value to brands and consumers alike. The addition of Liquid also reinforces Havas’ presence in the Middle East where it maintains a partnership with luxury goods sales and marketing specialist Chalhoub Group.
Liquid’s chief executive officer, Sachinn J Laala will remain in his role.
Yannick Bolloré, chairman and CEO of Havas commented, “At Havas, we’re dedicated to creating meaningful shopping experiences that not only resonate with consumers but also drive brand growth across all channels. The addition of Liquid builds upon Havas’ investment in the Middle East through our partnership with Chalhoub Group, extending our capabilities in this crucial region and ensuring our clients’ digital commerce transformations are not just reactive but ground breaking.”
Sachinn J Laala, chief executive officer of Liquid added, “Our partnership with Havas signifies a pivotal step towards amplifying the digital retail transformation globally, benefiting consumers, operators, and third-party sellers alike. By uniting Liquid’s innovative strategies with Havas’ global network and expertise, we’re poised to lead the Shopper marketing, ecommerce, and retail media landscape, extending value creation and setting new benchmarks for our clients worldwide.”
Michael Chalhoub, president strategy, Growth, Innovation, Investment and Joint Ventures at Chalhoub Group commented, “This acquisition underscores our steadfast commitment at Chalhoub Group, alongside Havas, to digital transformation and innovation, keeping our customer and her habits at heart, and paving the way for new benchmarks in shopper marketing and ecommerce. Together, we will cultivate meaningful connections, delivering unparalleled value to both brands and consumers, and elevating the shopping experience to unparalleled heights.”
Carat India Wins Waaree Energies Media Mandate
Carat, the media agency from dentsu India, has been awarded the television media mandate for Waaree Energies Limited, India’s largest manufacturer of solar PV modules with the largest aggregate installed capacity of 12 GW, as of June 30, 2023 (Source: CRISIL Report), with the aim to amplify its brand presence.
As per the mandate, Carat – the media agency from dentsu India, will oversee the brand’s television media across India exclusively. They will also support in strategizing and planning other traditional media and buying for print, radio, and digital. Furthermore, OOH (Out-of-home) will be executed by Posterscope, the OOH specialist agency from dentsu India. Carat aims to enhance the brand’s visibility across diverse media channels through its data-driven capabilities. We believe the agency is poised to develop innovative campaigns that resonate with the target audience, and aims to solidify Waaree Energies Limited’s position as a renewable energy brand in the market.
The collaboration between Waaree Energies Limited and Carat exemplifies dentsu’s dedication to advancing sustainability. We believe that this collaboration will underscore the network’s commitment to fostering environmentally conscious solutions and driving positive change toward a more sustainable future.
According to Nilesh Malani, Chief Marketing Officer, Waaree Energies Limited, “Selection of Carat as our media partner is a choice intended to amplify our brand’s impact and to contribute towards promotion of sustainable advancements in India. We have confidence in Carat India’s ability to create imaginative and visually appealing campaigns that will help us connect with our target audience, thereby reinforcing our commitment to expediting the clean energy transition in India and facilitating positive transformations for a more environmentally friendly future.”
Commenting on the partnership, Anita Kotwani, CEO, Media, South Asia, dentsu, said, “It is an absolute privilege and honour to join hands with Waaree Energies Limited and contribute to their growth journey in India. This partnership marks a pivotal moment, where our expertise and dedication merge with Waaree Energies Limited’s vision and ambition. Together, we believe that we are poised to achieve milestones and drive growth, emphasizing our commitment to delivering quality in every aspect of our collaboration.”
Sanchayeeta Verma, CEO, Carat India, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “Waaree Energies Limited is one of India’s largest manufacturer of solar PV modules and a global player. We believe that it has an important role towards India’s net zero goals. At Carat, we are deeply committed to this as it is a vital priority in dentsu’s Business to Business to Society B2B2S goals. Moreover, we believe that our expertise will be pivotal in realizing Waaree Energies Limited’s vision: delivering cost-effective sustainable energy solutions across the market. We are extremely delighted to come on board as ‘Partners on Record’ of Waaree Energies Limited.”
The collaboration between Waaree Energies Limited and Carat India, a dentsu company, underscores Waaree Energies Limited’s commitment to advancing sustainability and contributing towards a cleaner future.
Admitad and JioCoupons Forge a Strategic Partnership to Boost E-Commerce Growth and Optimize Jio Product Expansion
Admitad India, an affiliate marketing network, has recently announced an exclusive partnership with JioCoupons to emphasize business growth and expansion of existing Jio products. JioCoupons is a prime and reliable platform in the affiliate e-commerce business across domains in India. This platform assists brands in customizing and distributing their coupons across platforms, tracking their coupon campaigns and optimizing the same.
JioCoupons has achieved significant advantages through its partnership with Admitad. These benefits include exclusive access to campaigns, ensuring a competitive payout structure, streamlined performance monitoring through Admitad’s proprietary tracking platform, and faster payment processes. Additionally, JioCoupons benefits from the consolidation of various integrated brands on Admitad’s platform, which enhances operational efficiency and effectiveness. The collaboration has led to a significant improvement in Click to Conversion (CTC) rates and Return on Ad Spend (ROAS). By optimizing ad placements, refining targeting strategies, and delivering compelling offers, JioCoupons has created a win-win situation for both customers and brands.
Through this, JioCoupons can offer more exclusive deals and offers from a wider range of brands, while Admitad can leverage JioCoupons’s unique audience set to drive more sales for its brands.
“Working in collaboration with Admitad as our affiliate partner has been a remarkable journey of synergy and mutual growth. Their proactive approach, clear communication, and shared vision have fostered a culture of mutual trust and respect. We cherish this partnership, and I am confident that our partnership will continue to flourish in the years ahead.”
– Vijay Tiwari , Business Head, JioCoupons.
The partnership between Admitad and JioCoupons is a great example of how strategic collaborations can benefit all parties involved. It has created a strategic alliance that aims to provide greater value and savings opportunities to consumers across various categories.
Cannes Lions announces Unilever as Creative Marketer of the Year
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced Unilever as the 2024 Creative Marketer of the Year. The honorary accolade is presented to a marketer that has amassed a body of iconic, Lion-winning work over a sustained period of time, with Unilever establishing a reputation for producing brave, creative and innovative marketing solutions.
Unilever was last honoured as Creative Marketer of the Year in 2010 and in the following years has amassed hundreds of Lions. At last year’s Cannes Lions, Unilever was awarded Lions across a number of its brands including Dove, Hellmann’s, Dirt Is Good (known as Persil, Skip and OMO), Magnum, Vaseline, Marmite and Pot Noodle.
In 2023, Unilever’s largest brand, Dove, was awarded the Media Lions Grand Prix for its ‘#TurnYourBack’ campaign by Ogilvy, London / DAVID, Madrid. ‘#TurnYourBack’ was deemed by Media Lions Jury President, Christian Juhl, to be “a timely example of how our industry can use the power of media to protect young people and empower them to reject the pressure they feel to conform to artificial standards and be confident in their true, unfiltered selves.”
Dove’s inclusive beauty mission was first launched through its 2004 campaign ‘Real Beauty’, which celebrates 20 years this year. Since then, the brand has been a trailblazer in demonstrating how marketing can drive impressive commercial results. Building on this platform in 2013, the ‘Dove Real Beauty Sketches’ campaign set out to give striking proof that women are more beautiful than they think – picking up 16 Lions, including the highly coveted Dan Wieden Titanium Lion Grand Prix as well as the Gold Creative Effectiveness Lion the following year.
Today, Dove is a €6bn brand that continues to champion real-world change for DEI, including through the introduction of the CROWN Act in the US which makes race-based hair discrimination illegal. First passed into law in 2019, there are now 24 states with legislation in place.
Unilever brand Hellmann’s also continues to stand out in culture through the brand’s ‘Make Taste, Not Waste’ creative platform, highlighting its long-standing mission to help people tackle food waste in the kitchen, most recently with the help of ‘Mayo Cat’ at the Big Game. With the same humorous tone, Hellmann’s ‘Mayo McHack’ campaign taught Brits how to ‘hack’ the missing mayo item on a famous restaurant chain’s menu, picking up two Silver Lions in PR and Brand Experience & Activation last year.
These Award-winning campaigns are testament to the company’s commitment to creativity, underpinned by its marketing philosophy, ‘Get on the Frontline’, and delivered by its Creative Excellence programme focused on effectiveness education, increasing creative ambition, nurturing creative talent, and eliminating barriers to creativity. This dedicated programme is championed by Unilever’s Creative Council, which brings together its Chief Marketing Officers and creative agency leaders and is chaired by Unilever’s Chief Growth & Marketing Officer, Esi Eggleston Bracey.
About Unilever’s award, Simon Cook, CEO, LIONS, said: “This award is about recognising and celebrating those brands that are consistently delivering work that raises the bar for creative excellence across the global creative communications industry. Unilever is pushing the creative boundaries consistently and continuously across a wide range of brands from different markets, in collaboration with a breadth of agency partners, demonstrating a clear understanding and commitment to the power of creativity as a driver for progress and growth. Congratulations on this much deserved win.”
Esi Eggleston Bracey, Chief Growth and Marketing Officer, Unilever, commented: “Thank you, Cannes Lions, for recognising our brand leaders and agency partners who are always pushing creative boundaries. Our commitment to bold, brave, and more creative marketing is unwavering. Creativity that starts with inspiration, connects to commerce at every moment and resonates with people to build desirable and unmissably superior brands. It is a huge honour to accept this award on behalf of our exceptional team that truly grasps the power of human connection to serve people and grow our brands.”
The Creative Marketer of the Year award was Introduced in 1992, with past recipients including AB InBev, Apple, Burger King, Coca-Cola, Google, Heineken, IKEA, Mars, McDonald’s, Samsung and Microsoft, each of which have demonstrated that consistent and world-class creativity underpinned by a culture of creativity drives business performance – and have won multiple Lions at the Festival as a result.
FCB India ropes in Mayuresh Dubhashi as the new Chief Creative Officer
FCB India, part of the FCB Group agencies in India, today announces the appointment of Mayuresh Dubhashi as the new Chief Creative Officer.
Mayuresh brings a wealth of experience to his new role as Chief Creative Officer, with over twenty years in the advertising industry working on some of the biggest brands in the country from The Times of India, Airtel, Pepsi Co, P&G, Oreo, Flipkart, Amazon etc. He’s been at the forefront of combining new-age technologies with classic storytelling in his work which includes designing the Indian Cricket Team’s jersey for MPL using data as well as turning an Oreo cookie into an A.I tool to express oneself.
Mayuresh’s work has been consistently recognized and celebrated at national and international award shows, including multiple Grand Prix. His Oreo #BringBack2011 campaign was not only a creative success but also recognized as India’s most-awarded campaign for 2023 by WARC, a testament to his creative prowess and ability to deliver impactful campaigns.
As the new Chief Creative Officer, Mayuresh will be at the forefront of FCB India’s creative efforts, partnering closely with FCB India’s CEO Ashima Mehra. His role extends beyond FCB India, as he will also be a key member of FCB Group India’s creative leadership, collaborating with leaders across agencies to continue to elevate the work across the network.
Tata Play and Amazon Prime Collaborate to Offer Prime Benefits to Viewers Across TV and OTT
● As part of its DTH & Binge packs, Tata Play will offer Prime Lite subscription which provides access to Prime Video’s extensive content library, as well as free unlimited same day delivery across 1M+ products and next day delivery across 4M+ products on Amazon
● Prime Lite with Tata Play is available on TV packs starting at INR 199 per month on Tata Play DTH
● On Tata Play Binge, viewers can enjoy benefits of Prime Lite with Tata Play, along with 6 other OTT apps, through new packs starting at INR 199 per month
MUMBAI, India—May 14, 2024— Leading content distribution platform, Tata Play, has joined hands with Amazon Prime to offer Tata Play DTH and Tata Play Binge customers multiple ways to access Prime Video’s blockbuster content. Tata Play DTH subscribers can now choose from multiple packs starting from INR 199 per month, that offer a variety of their favourite TV channels along with Prime Lite with Tata Play. In addition, Binge subscribers can enjoy Prime Lite with Tata Play along with 30+ other popular apps at various price points. At INR 199 per month, users can subscribe to 6 OTT apps, including Prime Video, from a list of 33 apps, or can subscribe to all 33, including Prime Video at INR 349 per month.
The new price plans from Tata Play Binge put the freedom of choice in the hands of its audience to make their own OTT packs. Prime Video’s addition to the league of 30+ national, international, and regional apps on Tata Play Binge aims to further elevate content bingeing into an even more indulgent experience, all in one convenient location across languages, genres, and devices.
This extensive collaboration between Tata Play and Amazon Prime is dedicated to offering comprehensive value to the customers, ensuring they enjoy video, shipping and shopping benefits. Consumers can enjoy the full selection of amazing shows and movies on Prime Video including the highly popular Original series like Panchayat, Mirzapur, The Family Man, Dhootha, Inspector Rishi, Farzi, Dahaad, Made in Heaven, Indian Police Force, Suzhal – The Vortex, Dil Dosti Dilemma, Poacher, among others, blockbuster movies like Pathaan, Jailer, Ponniyin Selvan I & II, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Tiger 3, Kantara, Mast Mein Rehne Ka, Maja Ma, Bawaal, Pippa, Captain Miller, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, and many more, along with international series and movies like Fallout, Citadel, The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, The Idea of You, The Boys, Jack Ryan, Reacher, to name a few. This is in addition to other Prime Lite benefits like, free unlimited same day delivery across 1M+ products and next day delivery across 4M+ products, prime early access & exclusive deals and 5% cashback on Amazon Pay ICICI Bank Credit Card while on shopping on Amazon.
“While on the one hand, Tata Play’s robust content distribution network will help in expanding Amazon Prime’s outreach to newer audience segments, on the other, addition of Prime Lite Membership with Tata Play will make Binge a more compelling proposition,”
– said Harit Nagpal, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Play, on this first-of-its-kind partnership.
“At Prime Video, our mission is to super-serve our customers with the best of entertainment, and we are constantly looking at ways to strengthen our distribution to ensure wider availability of our much-loved movies and series,”
– said Gaurav Gandhi, vice president, APAC & MENA, Prime Video. “The collaboration with Tata Play provides its DTH and digital customers seamless access to Prime Video’s full selection of content, as well as Prime Lite benefits like unlimited free shopping & shipping of ‘Same-day/Next-Day’ delivery, Prime exclusive deals and much more. We look forward to working with Tata Play to make premium entertainment even more accessible to customers in India.”
Amazon Prime and Tata Play – Plans & Benefits |
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DTH Packs and Prime Lite with Tata Play |
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Prime Lite with Tata Play Binge |
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In addition to the above new plans, DTH customers can also subscribe to the annual subscription of Amazon Prime through Tata Play DTH at an attractive limited time introductory offer, and gain access to Prime Video, free shipping/ shopping benefits, Amazon Music, Prime Reading, Prime Gaming etc., and access through 5 devices.
About Tata Play
Tata Play Limited (formerly known as Tata Sky Limited) was incorporated in 2001. It commenced its DTH operations in 2006. Tata Play is a part of the TATA Group. It is the market leader in the DTH category as per revenue for Fiscal 2022 and is one of India’s leading content distribution platforms providing Pay TV and OTT services.
Tata Play Limited launched PVR (Personal Video Recorder) technology in 2008. This was followed by the launch of Hindi Programming Guide, Video-On-Demand services, DIY video library and Smart Guide feature that personalizes content recommendation on TV. Tata Play
VOD library allows subscribers access to over 3000 titles. Tata Play mobile app enables on- the-go viewing experience from linear channels, remote recording facility on HD-PVR set top boxes and offers TVOD model for movies.
Tata Play has more than 40 platform services that are available at an additional monthly fee. New broadcast channels and platform services across genres and languages get added to the DTH offering regularly to enrich the entertainment needs of the audiences.
In 2019, Tata Play forayed into OTT aggregation with the introduction of Tata Play Binge. Tata play Binge is a unique platform that brings diverse and popular OTT apps on a single user interface while providing the benefit of single subscription and single payment. It can be
accessed through the Tata Play edition of Amazon Fire TV Stick, Tata Play Binge+ Smart set top box powered by Android TV and Tata Play Binge mobile app. Access to Tata Play Binge mobile app does not require Tata Play DTH connection and is available for download on all smartphones.
Tata Play has made entertainment further convenient and consumer friendly with the introduction of Tata Play Binge Combos – an inventive bundled offering that brings the best of direct-to-home channels and OTT apps in one integrated pack for the subscribers.
Tata Play has invested in advanced digital infrastructure to provide superior technology services and offerings. It has 24×7 high-end call centers in 12 languages across the country, manned by multi-lingual customer service associates to offer professional and efficient customer service.
Tata Play has PAN-India footprint, with more than 22 million connections.
TATA® and TATA PLAY® are registered trademarks of Tata Sons Private Limited, used under License
by Tata Play Limited.
ABOUT AMAZON PRIME
Amazon Prime is designed to make your life better every single day as it provides the best of shopping, savings, and entertainment in one single membership. In India, members get free same day delivery across 1M+ products and next day delivery across 4M+ products, unlimited 5% cashback on all purchases using their co-branded ICICI credit card, access to exclusive deals, early and exclusive access to our shopping events including Prime Day. Amazon Prime also provides unlimited access to award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Video, unlimited access to more than 100 million songs, ad-free and over 15 million podcast episodes with Amazon Music, a free rotating selection of more than 3,000 e-books, magazines and comics with Prime Reading and access to the monthly free-in game content and benefits with Prime Gaming. Visit amazon.in/prime to join Prime now.
ABOUT PRIME VIDEO
Prime Video is a premium streaming service that offers Prime members a collection of award-winning Amazon Originals, thousands of movies and TV shows—all with the ease of finding what they love to watch in one place.
Prime Video is just one of the many benefits of a Prime membership, available for just ₹1499/ year. Amazon Prime is designed to make your life better every single day as it provides the best of shopping, savings, and entertainment in one single membership. In India, members get Free Same-day/1-day delivery on eligible items, access to exclusive deals, early access to shopping events, exclusive access to our global shopping event Prime Day; and unlimited access to award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Video, unlimited access to more than 100 million songs, ad-free and millions of podcast episodes with Amazon Music, a free rotating selection of more than 3,000 books, magazines and comics with Prime Reading, access to monthly free-in game and benefits with Prime Gaming. Prime members can also earn unlimited 5% cashback on all purchases on Amazon.in using the Amazon Pay ICICI Bank credit card i.e., Co-Branded Credit Card (CBCC) as compared to 3% for customers without Prime membership. Go to www.amazon.in/prime to learn more about Prime.
● Included with Prime Video: Thousands of acclaimed TV shows and movies across languages and geographies, including Indian films such as Shershaah, Soorarai Pottru, Sardar Udham, Bawaal, Gehraiyaan, Jai Bhim, Jalsa, Shakuntala Devi, Sherni, Narappa, Sarpatta Parambarai, Kuruthi, Joji, Malik, Pippa and #HOME, along with Indian-produced Amazon Original series like Indian Police Force, Farzi, The Family Man, Mirzapur, Dhootha, Jubilee, Dahaad, Made in Heaven, Panchayat, Jee Karda, Adhura, Four More Shots Please!, Mumbai Diaries, Suzhal – The Vortex, Sweet Kaaram Coffee, Modern Love, Paatal Lok, Bandish Bandits, Cinema Marte Dum Tak, AP Dhillon: First of a Kind, Rainbow Rishta, Wedding.con, Mission Start Ab and Amazon Original movies like Maja Ma, Ammu, Mast Mein Rehne Ka, among others. Also included are popular global Originals like Citadel, The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power, Reacher, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, The Boys, Hunters, Fleabag, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Wheel of Time and many more, available for unlimited streaming as part of a Prime membership. Prime Video includes content across Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Bengali.
● Instant Access: Prime Members can watch anywhere, anytime on the Prime Video app for smart TVs, mobile devices, Fire TV, Fire TV stick, Fire tablets, Apple TV, and multiple gaming devices. Prime Video is also available to consumers through Airtel and Vodafone pre-paid and post-paid subscription plans. In the Prime Video app, Prime members can download episodes on their mobile devices and tablets and watch anywhere offline at no additional cost.
● Enhanced experiences: Make the most of every viewing with 4K Ultra HD- and High Dynamic Range (HDR)-compatible content. Go behind the scenes of your favourite movies and TV shows with exclusive X-Ray access, powered by IMDb. Save it for later with select mobile downloads for offline viewing.
● Video Entertainment Marketplace: In addition to a Prime Video subscription, customers can also purchase add-on subscriptions to other streaming services, as well as, get rental access to movies on Prime Video.
● Prime Video Channels: Prime Video Channels offers friction-free and convenient access to a wide range of premium content from multiple video streaming services all available at a single destination – Prime Video website and apps. Prime Members can buy add-on subscriptions and enjoy a hassle-free entertainment experience, simplified discovery, frictionless payments, and more.
● Rent: Consumers can enjoy even more movies from new releases to classic favourites, available to rent – no Prime membership required. View titles available by visiting primevideo.com/store. The rental destination can be accessed via the STORE tab on primevideo.com and the Prime Video app on Android smart phones, smart-TVs, connected STBs, and Fire TV stick.
Zomato announces its Q4 2024 Quarter Results
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
● Quick commerce business Blinkit turns Adjusted EBITDA positive in March 2024
KEY TAKEAWAYS
● Year-on-year topline growth accelerated to 61% and continues to trend above the stated outlook of 40%+;Growth driven by robust growth in both food delivery and quick commerce
● Bottomline continues to expand and grow with Adjusted EBITDA at INR 194 crore. Margin expansion continues in both food delivery and quick commerce. Quick commerce business gets to Adjusted EBITDA breakeven milestone for the month of March 2024
● Rapid store expansion underway in quick commerce business. Aiming for 1,000 stores by March 20 25
On Shareholder value creation:
● “We could not have imagined the current state of all four of our businesses – food delivery, Blinkit, Going-out and Hyperpure. I think the team has executed phenomenally well over the last couple of years, and continues to stay (more or less) focused with their ears to the ground. Our journey in the last two years has, in so many ways, increased the expectations our stakeholders have from us and we will try our best to live up to them“
– Deepinder Goyal, Founder & CEO, Zomato
On Blinkit’s growth vectors:
● “One of the key vectors for growth for us right now is store expansion. In Q4FY24, we added 75 net new stores taking our total store count to 526. In the current quarter (Q1FY25), we expect to add another 100 stores. At this point, we are aiming to get to 1,000 stores by the end of FY25 .”
– Albinder Dhindsa, Founder & CEO, Blinkit
On profitability
● “On the profitability front, consolidated Adjusted EBITDA was INR 194 crore and improved by INR 369 crore as compared to the same quarter last year. Quick commerce business turned Adjusted EBITDA profitable in the month of March and Hyperpure losses also reduced meaningfully.”
– Akshant Goyal, CFO, Zomato
On ESG
● “Our progress on the ESG front last year resulted in our ESG rating improving from ‘medium risk’ to ‘low risk’ by one of the leading global agencies – Sustainalytics. We are proud to share that we now have the best ESG rating amongst major global food delivery companies across the world.We hope to continue to improve this rating with progress on our ambitious Net Zero goal to achieve net zero emissions across our food delivery value chain by 2033.” – Deepinder Goyal, Founder & CEO, Zomato our delivery partners.”
–Deepinder Goyal, Founder & CEO, Zomato
Quick commerce (Blinkit)
- Quick commerce GOV grew 97% YoY
- Growth driven by store expansion:
○ 75 net new stores added in Q4FY24, taking the total store count to 526. This is more than the number of stores added in the three preceding quarters cumulatively. ○ 100 more stores expected to be added in the current quarter (Q1FY25); Aiming to get to 1,000 store by the end of FY25
- Profitability
○ Blinkit turns Adjusted EBITDA positive in the month of March 2024
○ In steady state, 4-5% Adjusted EBITDA margin (as a % of GOV) expected in this business.
“In addition to scaling up the existing store network and use cases, we will be adding more use cases so the Blinkit platform is even more useful in the everyday lives of our customers. We plan to stick to making our service even more reliable and loved for our customers. And just like today, we will strive to maintain an edge over competition for the quality and innovation that we stand for.”
– Albinder Dhindsa, Founder & CEO, Blinkit
ESG
- Progress on the ESG front last year resulted in ESG rating improving from ‘medium risk’ to ‘low risk’ by one of the leading global agencies – Sustainalytics.
- Zomato now has the best ESG rating amongst major global food delivery companies across the world.
- 20,000+ delivery partners across cities trained to perform first-aid and CPR in case of any on-road casualties as part of the ‘first-responder training program’ launched last quarter
○ Delivery partners are voluntarily registering for this training program as they understand the importance of timely first-aid which can make all the difference in saving a life
- Zomato has been building a proprietary network of 650+ on-ground weather stations (largest private infrastructure of this kind in the country in our view) that provides precise and real-time data on key weather parameters such as temperature, wind speed, rainfall, etc. This network was created by Zomato to help in making the right business decisions
and serve customers better. As a Zomato Giveback, this data is now freely accessible to anyone who wishes to leverage it, through an API available on weatherunion.com.
“We hope to continue to maintain this rating with progress on our ambitious Net Zero goal to achieve net zero emissions across our food delivery value chain by 2033.”
– Deepinder Goyal, Founder & CEO, Zomato
Hyperpure
- Revenue grew by 99% YoY | Losses reduced meaningfully
Going-Out
- GOV grew 207% YoY
On the proposal to create a new ESOP pool
- Proposal to create an additional ESOP pool of 2% of our outstanding share capital on a fully diluted basis, subject to shareholders’ approval
“ESOPs are important to help build a culture of long-term thinking and innovation and create a ‘founder mindset’ amongst senior employees, which ultimately drives the right outcomes for long term shareholder value creation. Also, in people-dependent businesses like ours, where great execution and constant innovation are the only determinants of survival, ESOPs are a great way to drive the high-performance culture that we thrive on.”
– Akshant Goyal, CFO, Zomato
QUOTE BANK FROM Q4FY24
On way forward
“Our internal name for our organisation (Zomato + Blinkit + Hyperpure + Going-Out) is called Eternal. But, Eternal can never be the state of an organisation, because, the moment you think that an organisation is going to last forever, that’s the day it starts dying.”
– Deepinder Goyal, Founder & CEO, Zomato
On the organization
“I believe the key to building an organisation which lasts is to not aim for size (and let it be a by product), but to aim for survival. As Simon Sinek said in his book “The Infinite Game” – all you should strive for is to stay in the game, and you have to stay in the game for long enough to win”.
– Deepinder Goyal, Founder & CEO, Zomato
On growth in food delivery
“I think customers value the convenience and predictability layer Zomato has built on top of the services offered by restaurants, which is why the growth of Zomato is a tad bit higher than that of the restaurant industry.”
– Deepinder Goyal, Founder & CEO, Zomato
On Blinkit’s growth
“Our investments (intellectual and financial) in the business are over-indexed to making our service more and more reliable. Reliability means a) availability of products at all times and b) quick and predictable delivery times. We believe that a business built on the back of great service quality is much tougher (and hence more defensible) than just offering lower prices .”
– Albinder Dhindsa, Founder & CEO, Blinkit
On store expansion
“While we have a presence in 26 cities, the focus from an expansion standpoint is the top eight cities in India. The job for us over the next few quarters is to get Bengaluru and other large cities like Mumbai and Hyderabad to the penetration of Delhi NCR, both in terms of store footprint and GOV. This alone will lead to ~4x increase in our GOV.”
– Albinder Dhindsa, Founder & CEO, Blinkit
On success witnessed across cities
“We believe that a business built on the back of great service quality is much tougher (and hence more defensible) than just offering lower prices. In March 2024, our average delivery time was 12.5 minutes. Besides delivering quickly, ~75% of our orders were delivered within two minutes of the promised time we showed to our customers and our accuracy on fulfilling items to customers was 99%+. This meant our service was fast, reliable and stood up to the promise we made to our customers.”
– Albinder Dhindsa, Founder & CEO, Blinkit
Dentsu India and Ripplr Partner To Connect Supply Chains to Demand
Dentsu India and Ripplr have formed a strategic partnership to drive client growth through customized strategies, led by Narayan Devanathan and co-founders Abhishek Nehru and Santosh Dabke. Through this partnership, their combined expertise will be able to provide solutions that efficiently connect supply chains to demand.
Ripplr partners with Dentsu India
The partnership will serve customers looking for a wide range of customer-facing and distribution solutions. While Ripplr will focus on delivering strategy and execution, including technology and fulfillment, for full-funnel distribution and logistics, Dentsu’s expertise lies in strategy, growth solutions, and execution for consumer-facing business operations.
In the beginning, the partnership will offer clients in FMCG, retail, D2C, and other distribution-intensive industries throughout India customizable end-to-end solutions across the value chain. The partnership will demonstrate its commitment to meeting changing industry demands as it expands into new markets and sectors over time.
Read More: Dentsu Announces the Launch of Attention Study Platform in Arabic Digital Advertising
Here’s what they said
Commenting on the alliance, Narayan Devanathan said,
“Ripplr stands out as the unparalleled digital-first leader in distribution and logistics solutions, facilitating the most efficient movement of products from factory to retail. Moreover, when it comes to motivating consumers to engage with products across various channels—be it offline, online, or omnichannel—nobody does it better than dentsu. With our comprehensive suite of solutions at the intersection of marketing, technology, and consulting, this alliance will enable businesses to pinpoint the sweet spot between demand and supply, creatively and effectively bridging gaps across the entire value chain.”
Abhishek Nehru added,
“Ripplr is one of the largest FMCG authorised distribution companies, and our platform services more than one lakh retailers across 10+ cities. We have built a robust tech-enabled playbook for all FMCG brands, along with smart data analytics, helping brands to scale up in the ever-changing omnichannel market. With dentsu as a partner, which is a powerhouse of research, analysis, and strategy, and Ripplr’s execution and reach capability, the combined synergy will enable us to launch and scale brands faster and more efficiently across multiple geographies.”
Harsha Razdan, CEO South Asia, dentsu remarked,
“In today’s dynamic business landscape, where time is of the essence, we understand the urgency of responding swiftly to client needs. We firmly believe that complementary solutions are paramount to not only meeting these demands but also overcoming challenges and fostering sustainable growth. Our partnership with Ripplr marks a significant milestone in our journey. By joining forces, we are empowered to offer a comprehensive spectrum of distribution and customer-facing solutions that cater to the evolving needs of our clients. This collaboration enables us to provide unparalleled value and innovation, ensuring that our clients remain ahead of the curve in an ever-changing market landscape.”
Read More: Abhinay Bhasin Joins Dentsu as Senior Vice President of Product and Technology
Warner Bros. Discovery Appoint BigSmall to Handle Launch of Streaming Service Max
Max, an enhanced streaming service, will be launched by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in collaboration with Once Upon a Time, an entertainment creative advertising and marketing specialist, and BigSmall, a brand consultancy and creative agency. Warner Bros.’ Max is a streaming service that combines HBO, Eurosport, and Discovery. Along with OOH, audio, digital, and social media, the campaign will also include film and television.
WBD appoint BigSmall to launch an enhanced streaming service, Max
The agency will collaborate with entertainment company Once Upon a Time to prepare for the streamer’s launch in 22 markets on May 21st. Max combines all of the action from Eurosport’s subscription service, HBO Max’s programming, and Discovery’s real-life entertainment to create a comprehensive viewing experience for the entire family in one location. Max does not have a country-specific release schedule; it has been available for streaming in the US for a year. Initially, it will be available in the Nordics, Iberia, and Central and Eastern Europe. Poland, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium will follow. At this time, the UK is not scheduled.
WBD streaming programs
Numerous Warner Bros. movies, including Barbie and Wonka, and classics like Paddington and the Harry Potter books, will be available for streaming on Max. In addition, there will be Grand Slam tennis competitions, cycling, HBO Originals like The White Lotus and The Last of Us, and news networks like CNN and Euronews. There will be three distinct plans to choose from: basic with advertisements, standard, and premium, with an additional sports add-on option. BigSmall, which most recently won the global money transfer fintech Wise competition, has previously collaborated with clients in the entertainment industry such as 2K Games, Amazon Music, and BBC America.
Read More: Sydney Airport Reappoints JCDecaux as Exclusive Media Partner
Here’s what they said
Elana Loewenthal, VP Brand and Content Marketing, said.
“For this launch we wanted to deliver quality at scale, whilst unlocking the evocative power of our content. With Once Upon a Time providing a wide range of agency skills, everything from brand strategy to creative to production to localisation, and BigSmall creating our anthem TV and cinema campaign, we have the perfect partners to launch Max across Europe.”
Tom Stroud, Managing Director – Creative Advertising, Once Upon a Time Marketing added,
“Launching Europe’s newest streaming service, Max, for Warner Bros Discovery, across 20+ markets, has touched every corner of the agency from brand strategy to creative and production. Delivering end-to-end strategic creative solutions for entertainment clients across the globe is our expertise and passion, and we couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with the team at Max to bring their enhanced streaming service to life.”
Read More: CNN and WBD Sports Collaborate for Programmatic Platform – WBD Connect
Sydney Airport Reappoints JCDecaux as Exclusive Media Partner
JCDecaux was reappointed by Sydney Airport as its exclusive media partner for the country’s top airport advertising contract after a demanding and competitive pitch procedure. The new contract is effective July 1 and extends until 2029. The media estate at Sydney Airport will be significantly upgraded, with an emphasis on the outer road network, parking lots, and terminals. The latter is done to optimize the potential of the Sydney Gateway Road project, which is set to open later this year.
JCDecaux retains Sydney Airport media tender
A 2000 square meter digital large format billboard and Giftbox, one of Australia’s largest billboards, are part of the airport’s media estate. The announcement and the debut of Sydney Airport’s Brand Connect platform are simultaneous. The transformation of Sydney Airport is still ongoing at both the international and domestic terminals. With the opening of Australia’s fastest-growing luxury retail district in the international terminal and a new department store offering streamlined check-in, security, and amenities across the domestic terminals, the airport has ushered in a new era of traveler experiences.
In collaboration with renowned architects Tzannes, JCDecaux will unveil a plethora of new iconic features, especially in the redesigned T1 international terminal. Additionally, there are plans to improve current assets, such as the digital large format sites that are a part of the St. Peter’s Interchange and the new Domestic Gateway. Sydney Airport will work with JCDecaux to leverage enhanced and new data capabilities.
Read More: VIOOH Launches Programmatic Sales for Digital Out-of-Home with Beijing Metro
Sydney Airport and JCDecaux’s partnership and enhanced data capabilities
Sydney Airport and JCDecaux will work together to leverage new and enhanced data capabilities as part of their new partnership. Brands will be able to acquire more profound insights into their audience thus, giving them creative approaches to comprehend, target, and win over valuable customers. The fact that JCDecaux and Sydney Airport are still partners highlights the company’s strength in the trans-Tasman airport advertising market, which also includes Perth, Adelaide, Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown in its impressive portfolio.
JCDecaux is the preferred media partner for 153 major airports in 38 countries, including London Heathrow, Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, Dubai, Shanghai, Singapore, and LAX. For the first time, advertisers can now run multi-market programmatic campaigns across 15 of the busiest airports in the world, including Sydney Airport, thanks to JCDecaux’s introduction of its global programmatic airport solution this year. It gives advertisers and agencies access to more than 70 million passengers each month and more than two billion impressions from JCDecaux’s global network of more than 3,000 screens.
Read More: JCDecaux Announces the Launch of Global Airport Programmatic DOOH
Here’s what they said
Steve O’Connor, CEO of Australia and New Zealand, JCDecaux, said,
“Sydney Airport has set a bold and ambitious vision for the future. With passenger numbers expected to grow to over 50 million in the next three years, we are perfectly aligned to deliver the ongoing transformation of their international and domestic passenger experience. Retaining this contract solidifies our position as a leader in premium airport advertising both locally and globally. We can’t wait to continue our partnership and deliver our refreshed and remarkable offering to both Sydney Airport and the market.”
Sydney Group Executive – Commercial Mark Zaouk stated,
“We’re delighted to continue our strong partnership with JCDecaux, who share our vision to make Sydney Airport the premier airport media destination in the region. Our objectives were to reset our media portfolio and push the boundaries on what airport media could be – beyond traditional out-of-home advertising and into a more holistic suite of media opportunities across partnerships, activations, and sponsorships. We believe Sydney Airport offers one of the most compelling media propositions in Australia, with a unique ability to connect iconic brands with highly qualified, high-value audiences when they’re most engaged. Every year almost half of Australia’s international passengers land here and over the course of this agreement we expect to move beyond 50 million passengers annually, presenting an incredible opportunity for advertisers. Through the tender process we affirmed that JCDecaux are the right partner and the entire team here is excited and energised to be working with them to realise our ambitions.”
Jemma Enright, general manager – Airports ANZ at JCDecaux, commented,
“We are reinventing Sydney Airport for advertisers after extensive consultation with brands. Our focus isn’t just on delivering ads. We have developed more impactful ways to engage with travellers throughout their journey, and a new model to influence them at the right moment with the right experiences, creating meaningful interactions that drive results for brands.”
Read More: CNN and WBD Sports Collaborate for Programmatic Platform – WBD Connect