MAM
Boomer brings back the pop with new lollipops and a swagger-filled Bumrah twist
MUMBAI: For over three decades, Boomer has ruled India’s chewing gum turf with its iconic elasticity and fruitiness. Now, the bubble bursts into a stick. On 19 May 2025, Mars Wrigley India launched Boomer Lollipop, a bold foray into the Rs 800 crore lollipop market, aiming to inject a fresh dose of fun, relevance and confidence into a category often dismissed as childish.
The new Boomer Lollipop comes in three punchy flavours — Strawberry, Orange, and Watermelon — crafted to appeal to Gen Z’s expressive spirit. The brand is repositioning the segment as not just a kiddie indulgence but a confident snack that oozes individuality. Tapping into this ethos is cricket star Jasprit Bumrah, whose calm swagger and unflappable poise front the brand’s campaign.
The high-octane TV commercial, now live, opens on a cricket field. A young player stands alone, pressured by a hostile gang. Enter Boomer Lollipop. With a pop and a bite, his confidence flips the script, changing the game. Narrated by Bumrah in his trademark cool, the ad delivers a clear message: your swag speaks when you hold a Boomer.
“Boomer has stood for everything fun and strawberry at its core, for several generations. We are expanding this equity to the fast-growing segment of lollipops. Accompanying a strong launch in trade, we have Jasprit Bumrah lending his brand of fun and swag to Boomer Lollipop. The creative campaign crafted with DDB and Essence Mediacom projects the swag and attitude associated with Lollipops but perhaps lost over the last decade. From the factory to trade and in the media, our associates have added special touches to make this new launch truly unique and carve a space for Boomer at front of store and in people’s minds”, said Mars Wrigley India CMO Nikhil Rao.
DDB Mudra Group CCO Rahul Mathew added, “It’s always great when you get to work on a brand with such a strong memory structure and a brand ambassador whose name also has an effortless connect to the brand. What we now had to do is bring it all together to give a new attitude to Boomer’s newest format – Lollipop.”
The lollipops are being manufactured locally at Mars Wrigley’s Baddi facility, reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovation from within India. With a national rollout underway, Boomer Lollipop marks a flavourful, cheeky new chapter in the brand’s long-standing legacy.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
