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SV Distributors to market McDowell International brands
MUMBAI: Media personalities had an opportunity to relish some exquisite international wine brands such as JP Chenet and Golden Gate at The Advertising Club, Bombay’s Emvies 2003 grand finale held at Mumbai’s Taj Land’s End Hotel recently.
SV Distributors in association with UB group’s McDowell International Brands Limited was responsible for this sneak preview and sampling exercise. SV Distributors has been distributing UB group products since the last few decades in India.
SV Distributors has just bagged the exclusive rights for presenting a selection of classic imported wines (from France) to Indian consumers. The brands include exotic names such as JP Chenet, Golden Gate Vintners, Borie Manoux Bordeaux and President Brut amongst others. The wines are priced at Rs 736 onwards.
The company has also established bonded warehouses in India whereby imported liquor will be available to a select group of customers at 50 per cent discounts. This is to take advantage of the recent government regulations that permit hotels to spend five per cent of their foreign exchange revenues in purchasing imported liquor at large discounts. SV Distributors also has a presence in cities such as Bangalore and Kolkata.
However, for the imported wines, SV Distributors will sponsor events selectively – and the Emvies 2003 was the first in the series. While speaking to indiantelevision.com, SV Distributors director marketing Viveka Rawal says: “In India, wine culture still has a long way to go due to the pre-occupation with spirits and beer. We are aggressively promoting wine culture amongst the upper socio-economic classes. We shall strive to partner with clubs, discotheques, five star hotel restaurants and other hotspots during specially created events. After all, consuming wine is like making a fashion statement.”
The company has also taken the direct marketing route and is targetting selected retail outlets in Mumbai that have the requisite ambience to stock these imported wine brands. SV Distributors has a sales team that is identifying and building relationships with these outlets. SV Distributors is getting the support from the local UB group marketing representatives – for instance, Mumbai region marketing head Vasant Bhandari.
When asked about the potential, Rawal says: “There is a certain section of consumers that has developed a taste and passion for wines. We shall target people in the active age groups in upper socio-economic classes. The market can only grow from where it is now!” Looks like there is a way where there is a wine….
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
