Brands
Callebaut partners with Chef Arvind for the second consecutive year in India
Mumbai: Callebaut, renowned for its authentic Belgian chocolates with a 100-year legacy, is thrilled to announce its continued collaboration with acclaimed chef Arvind Prasad as their brand ambassador in India for the second consecutive year. This partnership holds significant importance for Callebaut as it aims to fortify its connections with partners and showcase the diverse applications of its products.
Over the past year, Chef Arvind has represented the brand across several platforms. Some key highlights of last year are representing Callebaut at prominent events like India’s largest trade show, Aahar in Delhi, engaging with the chef community and influencers in the food industry, and participating in the CIBUS Parma trade show in Italy representing India.
Chef Arvind shared, reflecting on his collaboration with Callebaut, “In my culinary journey, I’ve worked with numerous renowned chocolate brands, but it’s with Callebaut that I’ve found a truly reliable partner. What excites me most about Callebaut chocolates is its workability, versatility, and unique Belgian Chocolate taste, enabling me to craft my best creations.”
For Diwali this year, Chef Arvind has conceptualized an exciting entremet, ‘Diya,’ an egg-free creation that pairs the richness of dark chocolate with saffron and a blend of nuts. He noted, “For this creation, I really wanted to create an indulgent dessert, pairing Belgian Chocolate with ingredients synonymous with Indian festivities, in this case, a blend of pistachios, almonds, and cashews, which are used extensively for Diwali gifting.”
Discussing the brand’s growth and the ongoing partnership with Chef Arvind, Barry Callebaut India MD Dhruva Sanyal the company that produces the Callebaut brand, stated, “Our focus is on expanding our reach among the chef’s community and promoting the Finest Belgian Chocolate across India. The collaboration with Chef Arvind has been incredibly fruitful, drawing attention to our Callebaut brand and integrating its products into well-known hospitality brands across India. We eagerly anticipate Chef Arvind’s extensive pastry expertise and reputation to elevate Callebaut’s brand awareness and market share.”
This year, Chef Arvind is scheduled to conduct several masterclasses, with the first interaction scheduled at the Bakery Biz in Mumbai on 29 November 2023. He will also continue creating, sharing, and inspiring his best creations via Callebaut’s digital platforms and be involved in Callebaut’s pan-India competition, which is aimed at providing an opportunity for the chef community to showcase their talent and compete for the title of ‘Callebaut Patissier of the Year.’
Brands
Aman Gupta launches new venture OffBeat Studios
Boat co-founder steps into fresh entrepreneurial chapter after shifting to non-executive role.
MUMBAI: Aman Gupta just flipped the beat because when you’ve already made waves with Boat, the next move is to start a whole new rhythm.
boAt co-founder Aman Gupta has unveiled his new entrepreneurial venture, OffBeat Studios, marking his first independent project since stepping away from day-to-day operations at the audio and wearables brand. In a post on X on 3 March 2026, Gupta wrote: “With every birthday, some grow older, I grow bolder. I am still hungry, still impatient and still driven. Aman 2.0 begins soon. Introducing my new venture. @Offbeatstudios1.”
Details about OffBeat Studios remain scarce. Gupta has shared only a stylised “OFF/BEAT” logo and no specifics on the business model, sector focus, funding, team or launch timeline. It is unclear whether the venture will operate independently or hold any strategic link to Boat.
Gupta played a pivotal role in building boAt’s brand and marketing identity since its inception and gained wider visibility as a judge on Shark Tank India. His shift to a non-executive board position followed a leadership transition at Boat last year, Gaurav Nayyar was appointed CEO, while co-founder Sameer Mehta took on the role of executive director focused on strategy, reflecting a move toward professionalised management.
The announcement arrives as Boat’s parent company, Imagine Marketing, gears up for its initial public offering. The Warburg Pincus-backed firm received SEBI approval after confidentially filing in April 2025 and is reportedly targeting a valuation of around Rs 13,000 crore. This marks Boat’s second IPO attempt, the first, filed in January 2022 for Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 900 crore fresh issue + Rs 1,100 crore offer for sale), was withdrawn amid market volatility.
Boat has not commented on whether Gupta’s new venture will impact the upcoming public issue. For a founder who helped turn Boat into a youth-favourite audio brand, OffBeat Studios signals not a slowdown, but a bold new track proving that when one rhythm fades, another is already waiting to drop.
