Brands
Akshay Kumar takes the immunity pledge with Dabur Chyawanprash
NEW DELHI: Embattled FMCG Dabur India, whose flagship product Dabur Honey was at the centre of a controversy after failing the NMR purity test, is now relying on star power to turn around its dented fortunes. The company has signed on A-list actor and fitness icon Akshay Kumar as the new face of its health supplements brand Dabur Chyawanprash.
A new campaign featuring Kumar, a paragon of what it means to live healthy, calls on the nation to come together and pledge to build “inner strength and fighting spirit” in these uncertain times.
“Strong immunity is the need of the hour with the threat of illnesses looming around us,” said Dabur India Ltd CEO Mohit Malhotra. “Dabur Chyawanprash, with the power of more than 40 herbs like Ashwagandha, Giloy and Amla, has always stood for boosting immunity to fight illnesses. Dabur Chyawanprash has always celebrated and championed the cause of building the health of the nation. Akshay Kumar is emblematic of health, fitness and inner strength, the properties of Dabur Chyawanprash. We are happy to welcome him to the Dabur family.”
The new campaign serves as a rallying cry, inviting Indians to keep their immunity strong for themselves and for the nation.
“With this communication, Dabur Chyawanprash, along with the charismatic Akshay Kumar, are also establishing our strong sense of pride about ‘Made in India, by Indians, for Indians’, and caring for every Indian household’s immunity and well-being,” added Malhotra.
Conceptualised by McCann Worldgroup India, the film attaches a deeper purpose to why each one of us needs to keep our immunity high. It takes the idea of immunity from safety for an individual to the strength for an entire nation. And it does that by inviting Indians to take a pledge for becoming strong from within so that we can support each other in this journey and emerge stronger.
“Har ghar me, har kisi ko, leni he ek shapat khud ko strong banane ki, kyuki hum strong rahenge tabhi toh har mushkil se ladenge. Bharat kare vishwas, har din Dabur Chyawanprash.” Leading this pledge is Akshay Kumar, who helps galvanise the masses in joining this movement.
Prasoon Joshi, chairman, McCann Worldgroup, Asia Pacific CEO & CCO McCann Worldgroup India, said: “Akshay is a fitness icon in our country and so is the brand Dabur Chyawanprash. I have always believed that there should be an inherent resonance between the brand and its endorser, which is absolutely so in this case. I have been part of Dabur’s communication for more than two decades and seen the journey to the top. This will be another great chapter in the brand’s journey and would strengthen the relationship with the consumers.”
Akshay Kumar said: “I am immensely proud and happy to be a part of the Dabur family. Dabur has relentlessly nurtured the country’s health and fitness through the science of authentic Ayurveda. I really believe that together, Dabur and I, will take Dabur Chyawanprash to every household, every person – so that collectively our nation’s immunity becomes stronger and we can conquer every challenge.”
The film’s essence is in activating and tapping into the power of immunity and collective action. It portrays Indians from different walks of life who are doing their bit to keep the nation going. And at the heart of it is their inner strength driven by the core of benefit of Dabur Chyawanprash – 2X immunity.
Brands
Nestlé weighs trimming ice cream footprint and Froneri stak
Swiss giant reviews options including stake cut in €15bn JV as it eyes higher-margin focus post-Unilever split.
MUMBAI: Nestlé is melting down its ice cream ambitions or at least scooping back a few spoonfuls amid a strategic review that could see it slim its stake in blockbuster joint venture Froneri. According to a Bloomberg report published 18 February 2026, the Swiss food and beverage powerhouse is mulling a reduced presence in the global ice cream segment. Options on the table include trimming its holding in Froneri, the joint venture with private equity firm PAI Partners that houses crowd-pleasers like Häagen-Dazs, Mövenpick, and Rowntree’s or even shifting some of Nestlé’s remaining wholly owned ice cream operations into the JV.
Discussions remain fluid, with no final decisions locked in and no guarantee of any transaction materialising. One scenario has PAI Partners boosting its ownership if Nestlé pulls back, while another could see the Swiss group offloading a portion of its stake to an existing investor like the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).
Froneri itself got a hefty valuation boost in October (likely 2025), when Goldman Sachs and ADIA poured in fresh capital, pegging the business at around €15 billion (about $17.69 billion). The move turned heads in the sector, especially as Unilever spun off its ice cream arm last year into the now-independent Magnum Ice Cream Company freeing both giants to chase sunnier, higher-margin pastures.
Nestlé’s rethink, reportedly overseen by new CEO Philipp Navratil as he sifts through the company’s vast portfolio, mirrors broader industry trends: consumer giants are sharpening focus on core strengths amid shifting tastes and profitability pressures. Ice cream might be delicious, but it’s not always the creamiest part of the balance sheet.
Whether this ends in a stake sale, JV expansion, or just more pondering, the frozen dessert world could soon see another ownership shake-up. For now, Nestlé isn’t screaming “last orders” but it’s definitely checking the freezer temperature.
