Brands
Jolly Rancher Hotties launched in India
MUMBAI: Hershey India has launched Jolly Rancher Hotties, a hard candy especially developed to appeal to the ‘hot’ Indian palate.
The candy is a part of the Jolly Rancher confectionery range, which is known for its unmistakable bold, sweet and tart fruity flavours.
Jolly Rancher Hotties is uniquely crafted. Consumers first experience its tongue-tingling fruity flavours, which then give way to a sudden spicy burst at the centre, thereby leaving a lingering taste, that is a stimulating mix of both sweet and spice. The candy will be available in three exciting flavours – Raw Mango, Pineapple, and Lemon – and is priced at Re 1.
Hershey India managing director for Jolly Rancher Hotties Herjit Bhalla says, “Hershey India is continuously evolving its product portfolio, based on strong consumer understanding. When we researched the Indian taste preferences, we discovered that as a culture, we prefer hot and spicy flavours as much as the sweet ones. It has always been our vision to provide a differentiated product experience to our consumers. We are very excited about the launch of Jolly Rancher Hotties as it is set to strike a chord with both `meetha’ and `theekha’ being fused into a single offering. Jolly Rancher is a key brand in the Hershey India portfolio, and with the launch of Jolly Rancher Hotties, we aim to offer yet another unique innovation that is set to tingle the taste palate of Indians.”
The Jolly Rancher Hotties launch will be communicated across media, including television and digital, and will be endorsed by celebrity Tamannaah Bhatia.
In her comments on the new launch, Tamannaah Bhatia mentions, “Jolly Rancher has always been a favourite, and I would eagerly wait for friends or relatives travelling from the United States to get me a few packs of the candy. I look forward to the exciting launch of Jolly Rancher Hotties in India and to being a part of a brand that I have personally loved over the years.”
Brands
Lululemon picks former Nike executive to be its next chief
Heidi O’Neill, who helped grow Nike into a $45 billion giant, will take the top job in September
CANADA: Lululemon has found its next chief executive, and she comes with serious credentials. The athleisure giant named Heidi O’Neill as its new CEO on Wednesday, ending a search that has left the company running on interim leadership since earlier this year. O’Neill will take charge on September 8, 2026, based out of Vancouver, and will join the board on the same day.
O’Neill brings more than three decades of experience across performance apparel, footwear and sport. The bulk of that time was spent at Nike, where she was a central figure in one of corporate sport’s great growth stories, helping take the company from a $9 billion business to a $45 billion global powerhouse. She oversaw product pipelines, brand strategy and consumer connections, and played a significant role in shaping how Nike spoke to athletes around the world. Earlier in her career, she worked in marketing for the Dockers brand at Levi Strauss. She also brings boardroom experience from Spotify Technology, Hyatt Hotels and Lithia and Driveway.
The board was unequivocal in its enthusiasm. “We selected Heidi because of the breadth of her experience, her demonstrated success delivering breakthrough ideas and initiatives at scale, and her ability to be a knowledgeable change and growth agent,” said Marti Morfitt, executive chair of Lululemon’s board.
O’Neill, for her part, was bullish. “Lululemon is an iconic brand with something rare: genuine guest love, a product ethos rooted in innovation, and a global platform still in the early stages of its potential,” she said. “My job will be to accelerate product breakthroughs, deepen the brand’s cultural relevance, and unlock growth in markets around the world.”
Until she arrives, Meghan Frank and André Maestrini will continue as interim co-CEOs, before returning to their previous senior leadership roles once O’Neill steps in.
Lululemon is betting that a Nike veteran who helped build one of the world’s most powerful sports brands can do something similar for an athleisure label that has genuine love from its customers but is still chasing its full global potential. O’Neill has done it before at scale. The question now is whether she can do it again.
