MAM
O&M’s polio television ads triumph at EFFIES
MUMBAI: A Unicef -supported television and radio campaign to fight polio won a silver medal at this year’s EFFIE Awards given by the advertising industry. The ceremony took place a few days ago.
The media campaign, developed by Ogilvy & Mather and featuring Amitabh Bachchan, came first in the services category at the annual awards.
According to a official release, Unicef’s India reprsentative Maria Calvis said, “This award is a credit to the hard work of the Government of India and its polio immunisation programme. The television and radio campaign has made an important contribution in raising awareness and motivating families to get their children protected from polio.”
The release informs that the media blitz was launched in January 2003 for National Immunisation Day. A research study in UP commissioned by Unicef found that more than 94 per cent of respondents reported that they came to a polio booth after seeing the spots on television.
The campaign coincided with the immunisation of an additional six million children at polio booths across the state between November 2002 and February 2003.
Calivis added, “This final push to beat polio is on track, thanks to the efforts of the government and its partners. We will continue to rely on the media to get the message home that no child is safe from polio until the disease is totally eradicated.”
About 112 polio cases have been reported so far in India this year, compared with 1600 cases in 2002. The next polio round is set for 14 September in 10 states covering northern India, Gujarat and West Bengal.
Brands
Perfetti Van Melle names BWO as Chupa Chups licensing partner in India
Partnership expands iconic confectionery brand into lifestyle categories
MUMBAI: Perfetti Van Melle has appointed Black White Orange Brands Pvt. Ltd. as the official licensing agent for its iconic Chupa Chups in India, marking a push to extend the brand beyond sweets into lifestyle categories.
Under the agreement, Black White Orange will develop and manage the licensing programme across segments such as apparel, accessories, home goods, personal care and back-to-school products. The move signals a broader strategy to tap into India’s growing appetite for brand-led consumer products.
Known for its colourful identity and instantly recognisable logo created by Salvador DalÃ, Chupa Chups has evolved into a global pop-culture icon. The India licensing programme aims to translate that playful appeal into products tailored for local consumers.
Perfetti Van Melle area licensing manager Anna Amat said the partnership would help unlock opportunities beyond confectionery, adding that the company sees strong potential for the brand’s expansion in India.
Black White Orange Brands Pvt. Ltd. co-founder and COO Mitali Desai noted that the focus will be on building a visually distinctive and design-led licensing portfolio that reflects the brand’s playful identity.
With India’s retail landscape evolving rapidly, the partnership is expected to drive collaborations with manufacturers and retailers across fashion, lifestyle and gifting segments. Product rollouts are likely to begin in phases through key distribution channels.
As global brands look to deepen their footprint in India, Chupa Chups’ move from candy counters to lifestyle shelves could add a fresh pop of colour to the market.
