Brands
Colgate’s Bright Idea hits 2 billion smiles globally, 185 million in India
MUMBAI: A smile really does go a long way in Colgate’s case, 2 billion smiles. The oral care giant has announced that its flagship initiative and CSR arm, Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® (BSBF), has now reached over 2 billion children worldwide. In India alone, more than 185 million children and families have already been touched by the programme’s message of preventive oral health.
Launched in 1991, BSBF has become one of the world’s largest oral health education drives, offering not just toothbrushes and toothpaste but also something far more powerful: awareness. By partnering with governments, NGOs, schools and dentists, Colgate has helped make brushing and oral hygiene a priority in communities that often lack access to even the basics of dental care.
In India, where tooth decay and gum disease remain stubbornly common, the programme is working closely with state education and health departments in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Goa. Each year, the aim is to reach over 10 million more children and their families, spreading the habit of brushing and the confidence that comes with a healthy smile.
“As India shifts from reactive to preventive healthcare, public-private-policy partnerships are critical,” said Colgate-Palmolive director – esg & communications Shilpashree Muniswamappa. “Our programme is a shining example of how collaboration can inspire lasting behaviour change.”
From bustling metros to the remotest villages, Colgate’s vision is clear: every child deserves the chance to flash a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime. And with 2 billion already reached, it’s proof that even the smallest habit, brushing your teeth twice a day can create truly world-changing results.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
