News Broadcasting
HTA, Chennai bags Ad Club, Madras Awards honours in close finish
India’s largest ad agency Hindustan Thompson Associates (HTA) is in the limelight, down south. Not in Ozzland but it shone at the 25th South India Advertising Awards 2002 organised and hosted by the Advertising Club, Madras.
At the finishing line, the fight was close between HTA Chennai and HTA Bangalore for the coveted Agency of the Year trophy. The former romped home and additionally picked up as many as 14 additional awards. HTA Chennai senior vice-president & general manager Anita Gupta went up on stage to receive the Agency of the Year honour at the hands of chief guest ad veteran and former O&M India managing director Mani Iyer. 3Aof I president Ramesh Narayanan also graced the occasion. A panel of about 14 senior creative advertising professionals adjudged the awards under the chairmanship of K. S. ‘Chaks’ Chakravarthy.
HTA Chennai’s big wins were in various categories for work done for brands like Ford, LifeStyle International, Parry’s Coffy Bite, KTV Channel and Aquafina.
“HTA’s sound strategy, relevant planning and the ability to offer clutter-breaking creative solutions has resulted in high impact and success for its clients. It is extremely gratifying to receive recognition from our peers in the creative fraternity,” says Gupta.
In the Press Advertising category, HTA Chennai won awards for the corporate campaign of Ford India. In the Press Product campaign category, it won awards for Ford Ikon and LifeStyle International in the Colour and Black & White campaigns respectively.
In the single press colour category, HTA Chennai bagged three awards for Ford Ikon again. The agency also bagged three awards for Ford Mondeo – one each in the Direct Response Package, Multimedia Presentation and Multimedia Campaign categories.
HTA Chennai went on to win awards in Media Innovation and Outdoor Advertising for LifeStyle International.
In the Television Advertising category, HTA Chennai won awards for TV spots for Parry’s Coffy Bite, KTV Channel and Aquafina.
HTA Bangalore’s haul of 10 awards came from Spice Telecom and I-flex.
The cheering never stopped at the HTA camp as the ‘Art Director of the Year’ went to HTA Chennai’s Jaju Krishnankutty and the ‘Copywriter of the Year’ prize to HTA Bangalore’s Senthil Kumar.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
