Brands
Patanjali Ayurved reappears in weekly top 10 advertisers’ list
BENGALURU: Baba Ramdev has been taking on the might of the existing biggies in the Indian FMCG and related spaces right from the launch of his company Patanjali Ayurved Limited. He has been the face of many of the communications of his company cautioning Indians about the second East India Company, speaking of the benefits of his products, conveying messages by featuring as a brand ambassador of his company through television and other advertisements.
Until weeks 1 to 25 of 2017 (Saturday, 31 December 2016 – Friday 6 January 2017 until Saturday, 17 June 2017 to Friday, 23 June 2017) Patanajli was amongst the Top 10 Advertisers Across Genre : All India (U+R) : 2+ Individuals as per Broadcast Research Audience Council of India (BARC). Though never the top advertiser in any week, for that this the bastion of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), Patanjali Ayurved did manage an astounding 589,971 television ad insertions until 23 June 2017, or the last day of week 25 of 2017.
After week 25 of 207, the company was missing from the top 10 advertisers list in weeks 26 and 27, it re-appeared in the top 10 weekly lists in weeks 29, 30,31 and 32 before missing out in weeks 33 and 34 of 2017. The company has again reappeared in the top 10 advertisers lists in week 35 of 2017 at seventh rank with 19,121 insertions.
Despite missing from the lists for four of the 35 weeks of 2017 that have gone by until now, going by the BARC’s weekly data when Patanjali Ayurved was present in the top 10 advertisers list, it is still the fifth biggest advertiser in terms of insertions in 2017 until week 35. Since BARC’s list in the public domain is limited to data for the top 10 advertisers, Patanjali Ayurved’s insertions will be more than the total of 703,706 insertions if one were to add its insertions for weeks 26, 27, 33 and 34 of 2017. This puts the company ahead of multinational FMCG players like Procter and Gamble, Colgate Palmolive (India) and Smithkline Beecham and even the Indian FMCG and tobacco giant ITC Limited.
Please refer to the list of top advertisers in 2017 until week 35 compiled from BARC’s weekly lists of top 10 advertisers. Please note that the actual insertions could be more, or there could be other players that have advertised more, but have not appeared in the BARC weekly lists:
Has Patanjali Ayurved met with expectations of industry pundits in terms of revenues? Going by industry reports, yes and more! A Wikipedia listing of the company says that Patanjali is the fastest growing FMCG company in India. It is valued at Rs 30 billion (US$ 470 million) and some predict revenues of Rs. 50 billion (US$780 million) for the fiscal 2015–16. A Business Standard (BS) article says that Patanjali Ayurved’s revenues more than doubled for fiscal 2016-17 to Rs 105.61 billion. The BS article quotes Yoga Guru Ramdev: “We would grow more than double this year… By next year, Patanjali would be in the leading position and in most of the product categories, it would be number one.”
Brands
Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
