Brands
AWL launches Kohinoor book on Basmati’s timeless legacy
MUMBAI: Rice has never read so well. AWL Agri Business Limited has served up Qisse kuchh khaas, a coffee table book that celebrates the aroma, allure and ageless appeal of Basmati rice.
The glossy volume was unveiled at World Food India 2025 in New Delhi by food processing minister Chirag Paswan and AWL managing director Angshu Mallick, in the presence of celebrity chef Kunal Kapur. Authored by padma shri awardee Pushpesh Pant, the book stirs up stories from royal banquets to modest kitchen tables, tracing Basmati’s journey as India’s most prized grain.
Kohinoor, AWL’s flagship rice brand, has long been synonymous with fine Basmati. With this book, it goes beyond the plate to capture the grain’s role in shaping traditions, festivals and family feasts. Readers can also dig into 15 recipes showcasing the versatility of Basmati, from rich biryanis to everyday fare.
“Basmati is more than food. It is heritage, nostalgia and a shared cultural bond,” said Mallick, adding that the launch reflected Kohinoor’s commitment to authenticity and taste. Pant called it his “humble attempt” to preserve the grain’s flavourful history for generations.
With Qisse kuchh khaas, Kohinoor is not just packaging rice but packaging memories, a fragrant reminder that some grains are truly timeless.
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.
