MAM
Big Bazaar’s ‘Asli Dukaan’ locks horns with Amazon’s ‘Apni Dukaan’
MUMBAI: Big Bazaar has crossed swords with Amazon India by taking a dig at the e-commerce giant’s flagship campaign India ki Apni Dukaan (India’s own shop). The Future Group-owned chain of hypermarkets on Thursday released full front page ads in major newspapers across cities calling itself India’s Asli Dukaan (real/ original store). The ad promises to make deliveries of grocery to customers’ doorsteps in under two hours.
Apart from the Asli Dukaan moniker, it has played on the word ‘Amazing’ by using terms such as “amazing” service, deals, and products at “amazing” prices. The harping on the word “amazing” is hard to miss! The south India editions of leading print publications had a largely English tagline with only Asli in Hindi, and dukaan changed to ‘store’.
Amazon has been running an advertising campaign since 2016 with the tagline ‘India ki Apni Dukaan’(India’s own shop), and it is no coincidence that the superstore chain led by Kishore Biyani is now marketing itself as ‘India ki Asli Dukaan’.
The brick-and-mortar superstore chain Big Bazaar has been entangled in a fierce legal battle with Jeff Bezos’ Amazon for its deal with Reliance Retail. RIL had announced in August last year that it was buying out the retail and wholesale business of Future Group, but Amazon — with a minority stake in an unlisted Future Group company — subsequently dragged the Mumbai-headquartered retailer to court, alleging that the proposed deal violated contractual agreements. The case is currently sub-judice.
Meanwhile, the debt-laden Future Group is looking at ways to put its assets to better use. Big Bazaar has launched a marketing blitzkrieg taking a dig at the US e-tailer and is ramping up its two-hour home delivery across India to get more customer orders amid the pandemic that has largely confined people to their homes restricting outdoor movement. The company has tied up with hyperlocal delivery companies with employees at their stores doubling up as delivery executives, to drive its Store2Door program and double its online business in the span of a month.
Brands
Magellanic Cloud names Syed Ameeruddin CEO of e-surveillance arm
Keeping a sharper eye on the future, Magellanic Cloud is putting a seasoned watcher in charge.
MUMBAI – Magellanic Cloud Ltd. has elevated Syed Ameeruddin as Chief Executive Officer of its e-surveillance business, bringing its iVIS and Provigil operations under a unified leadership to accelerate growth in intelligent monitoring and infrastructure solutions.
Ameeruddin, a nearly two-decade veteran of the company, steps into the role after leading the e-surveillance vertical. His career trajectory—from Business Development Manager to the top of the vertical—reflects a steady climb built on operational depth, client engagement, and strategic execution across multiple subsidiaries.
Over the years, he has played a central role in expanding the company’s footprint, strengthening client relationships, and streamlining operations. He has also been instrumental in integrating acquisitions, helping align new businesses with Magellanic Cloud’s long-term strategy while stabilising performance across diverse domains.
More recently, Ameeruddin has contributed to securing key mandates spanning railways, the National Highways Authority of India, and the BFSI sector—wins that have bolstered the company’s order book and deepened its presence in critical infrastructure.
Commenting on the move, Joseph Sudheer Thumma said Ameeruddin’s leadership has been “pivotal in shaping the e-surveillance business,” citing his ability to drive growth, build teams, and deliver strategic wins as key to the company’s journey. His elevation, Thumma added, is expected to further accelerate expansion in AI-driven surveillance and infrastructure solutions.
The transition comes as demand surges for AI-enabled monitoring, centralised command systems, and large-scale deployments across mission-critical environments. Magellanic Cloud’s e-surveillance segment—anchored by iVIS and Provigil—has emerged as a significant growth engine, delivering projects across banking, transport, highways, and public infrastructure.
In his new role, Ameeruddin will focus on scaling platform capabilities, expanding deployments in complex environments, and developing integrated solutions that enhance real-time intelligence and operational resilience. He will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer of the company alongside his new responsibilities.
With this leadership shift, Magellanic Cloud is doubling down on its ambition to stay ahead in India’s rapidly evolving surveillance ecosystem—where seeing, increasingly, is not just believing, but predicting.
