Brands
Barista Coffee etches 25 years of brewing memories across India
MUMBAI: The homegrown pioneer of India’s café culture, Barista Coffee is celebrating its 25 anniversary on 28 February 2025. For over two decades, Barista has been serving up aromatic brews, nostalgic moments, and a sense of belonging, cementing its position as one of India’s most loved coffee chains. With 465+ outlets across India and beyond, the brand continues to redefine coffee experiences for every generation.
To mark this milestone, Barista is treating its loyal customers with a special anniversary offer—free beverage upgrades from 28 February to 2 March. Adding to the celebration, the brand will unveil limited-edition anniversary coffee packs, blending nostalgia with innovation.
Reflecting on this achievement, Barista Coffee CEO Rajat Agrawal expressed, “Celebrating 25 years is an incredible milestone for Barista Coffee. As India’s largest homegrown coffee chain, we have consistently evolved to keep pace with the ever-changing preferences of coffee lovers. Over the years, we have introduced innovative menus, unique campaigns, and experiences that resonate with generations. Barista Coffee is more than just a café—it’s a place where stories are brewed, friendships are forged, and memories are made. We are excited to continue this journey with the same passion and commitment.”
Since its inception, Barista Coffee has been instrumental in shaping India’s coffee culture. Whether it’s a steaming cup of cappuccino on a busy morning or a relaxed evening with friends over a cold brew, the brand has been an integral part of countless moments.
As Barista steps into its next chapter, it aims to further expand its footprint, introduce bold new flavours, and continue its mission of making coffee more than just a beverage—it’s a lifestyle.
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.
