MAM
APAC shows highest growth in ad spends over mobile web: Smaato report
MUMBAI: Real-time advertising platform Smaato recently released its Global Trends in Mobile Programmatic report, by analysing data from billions of mobile ad impressions served on its exchange during the first half of 2015. As per the report, Asia Pacific countries recorded the highest growth during the first half of 2015 with India growing by 279 per cent followed by Singapore 225 per cent, Indonesia, 142 per cent and Malaysia 126 per cent.
“Asia Pacific (APAC) showed the most growth during the first half of 2015 vs. the first six months of 2014, with China delivering an astounding 315 per cent increase in growth, India showing a 279 per cent increase in growth and Singapore growing by 225 per cent. More disposable income means bigger and more powerful smartphones; this in turn drives both the publisher/app developer and mobile advertiser ecosystems that rely on Smaato’s platform,” reads the report.
When it comes to Smaato exchange, the report suggests India takes the second rank in top 10 countries list by supply and ranks third by spending.
“Rich media and larger ad sizes are becoming increasingly popular in the Asia-Pacific as marketers use more creative and engaging content to get their messages across,” said Smaato Asia Pacific vice president and general manager Malcolm Wong.
“The average individual would have about 27 applications on their smartphone (Nielsen 2014), and with a voracious appetite for mobile applications observed in the Asia-Pacific, more advertising budgets could be expected to shift to mobile in future,” added Wong.
Social apps like Facebook and Twitter could be the driving force behind this surge in mobile web usage. According to a recent report from IAB, 52 per cent of smartphone owners say they tap links in mobile apps that take them to web articles they want to read.
“The shift to mobile began with the mobile web – and then apps took over,” said Smaato CEO Ragnar Kruse. “Although we can’t say for sure whether we’re looking at a huge comeback of the medium, the fact remains that publishers and advertisers can’t afford to ignore the mobile web. Mobile ad strategies -whether it be the size of ads or the use of rich media – must be created with both app and mobile web usage in mind,” he added.
Brands
Hocco crosses Rs 530cr revenue in two years
Sauce.vc-led Rs 100cr raise values ice cream brand at Rs 2,500cr pre-money as quick commerce hits 20 per cent of sales.
MUMBAI: Hocco has just scooped a seriously sweet milestone crossing the Rs 530 crore revenue mark in just two full years of operations. The fast-growing Indian ice cream and indulgence brand announced it has raised Rs 100 crore in fresh capital led by Sauce.vc. The round values the company at Rs 2,500 crore pre-money and underscores investor confidence in its rapid scale and distinctive India-first approach.
Founder Ankit Chona said the brand’s success stems from solving real Indian challenges extreme summer heat, fragmented cold chains and culturally rooted tastes. “In India, product development doesn’t end in the lab. It only ends when it survives the street,” he noted. This philosophy has produced viral hits such as Aamchi mango ice cream, BIX cake-sponge sandwiches, the Oh cone and culturally relevant collaborations like Haldiram’s Barfi and festive Modak specials.
Hocco currently operates manufacturing facilities in Ahmedabad and Panipat with a production capacity of approximately 3 lakh litres per day, running near full capacity in peak season. The fresh capital will help expand this to around 4.5 lakh litres per day.
Quick commerce has emerged as a major growth engine, now contributing ~20 per cent of overall business and growing nearly 2x year-on-year. The channel has boosted product discovery, increased consumption frequency and helped extend ice cream beyond its traditional seasonal limits.
Sauce.vc founder Manu Chandra said, “At Sauce, we believe that when you chance upon an outlier business, you double down with stronger conviction. We see Hocco as just that.”
With a strong innovation pipeline, deeper distribution and continued focus on cultural relevance, Hocco is entering its third year aiming to capture even more mind space and market share. In a category long dominated by legacy players, this young brand is proving that the coolest way to win is to build for India’s realities, one scoop, one street and one satisfied craving at a time.
