Brands
Birla Opus eyes expansion as paint industry newcomer makes its mark
MUMBAI: Birla Opus, the fast-growing paint brand from Aditya Birla Group, is focusing on expanding its dealer network and widening its product portfolio for fiscal year 2026, according to CEO Rakshit Hargave.
The brand, which entered the decorative paints segment in February 2024, has achieved high single-digit growth in FY 2025 despite being operational for only about 10 months. Hargave expects similar momentum to continue in the coming year.
“There is a long journey ahead of us. We do not expect any major change in our strategy,” Hargave told the Press Trust of India. “We will drive more throughput for dealers and increase the range available at dealers.”
Birla Opus is rapidly establishing its market presence. The company recently commercialised its fifth manufacturing plant in Mahad, Maharashtra, bringing its total installed capacity to 1,096 million liters per annum. A sixth plant in Kharagpur is scheduled to begin trial production in the next quarter, which will add another 236 million liters of capacity.
Aditya Birla Group has invested Rs 10,000 crore in the paint business and aims to capture a double-digit market share and generate gross revenue of Rs 10,000 crore within three years of full-scale operations.
Birla Opus has employed a multi-pronged marketing approach to establish its brand presence in a competitive market dominated by industry veterans. The company’s advertising campaigns—Naye Zamane ka Naya Paint (New Paint for a New Era) and Make Life Beautiful—have reportedly reached over 70 crore Indians, garnering positive responses across markets.
The paint manufacturer has strategically positioned itself as a major sponsor of the Indian Premier League (IPL), one of India’s most-watched sporting events. The cricket tournament, which airs on the JioStar network of sports channels and JioHotstar streaming platform from 22 March, gives Birla Opus significant visibility among its target audience
To enhance customer experience, Birla Opus is opening 10 Paint Studios across major Indian cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. The first such studio was recently launched in Gurugram.
“The purpose of these studios is to provide a one-stop-shop experience for the end consumer,” explained Hargave.
Currently, Birla Opus offers 145+ products and 1,200+ SKUs across water-based paints, enamel paints, wood finishes, waterproofing solutions, and wallpapers. The brand also provides direct painting services through its PaintCraft initiative.
As a newcomer in an industry dominated by established players like Asian Paints, Berger, and Kansai Nerolac, Birla Opus is focused on getting “many of the basics right, but at the same time, creating differentiation for the consumer in paints,” Hargave added.
With the Indian economy expected to reach $10 trillion by 2034 and the paints sector projected to surpass Rs 3,00,000 crore by that time, Birla Opus appears well-positioned to capitalise on the country’s growing infrastructure development and housing initiatives.
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
