Awards
Muscle & Strength India flexes its franchise muscle with health and fitness award win
MUMBAI: Supplements met success as Muscle & Strength India walked off with the ‘Upcoming Franchisor of the Year – Health & Fitness’ award at the Franchise Awards 2025. Held at Delhi’s Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, the awards marked their 20 year of recognising excellence in Indian franchising.
With more than 1,000 fitness supplements across 42+ brands, the company has steadily grown its footprint through a robust franchisee network. From protein powders to wellness stacks, the brand caters to a growing health-conscious demographic seeking authenticity and value.
Founder Praveen Chirania said, “We wish to dedicate this award with our incredible staff & franchisees, who share our vision and are driven by the same pursuit of excellence… We are also elated that our commitment in the industry has been recognised”.
Currently operating in multiple cities, the brand is aiming for aggressive franchise-led expansion, leveraging its existing reputation for genuine, affordable products and customer-focused innovation.
CMO Akhil Mahajan added, “This recognition is not just an honour, but a reflection of the positive impact we’re making in the industry”.
The Franchise Awards are among India’s most prominent platforms for recognising scalable business models. With a record turnout of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry veterans this year, the event placed a spotlight on brands driving meaningful growth in niche sectors.
Muscle & Strength India now plans to diversify its portfolio with product variants aimed at specific wellness categories, tapping into the ever-expanding Indian nutraceutical market.
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
