Brands
Candyman gives Halloween a tangy desi twist
MUMBAI: This Halloween, ITC’s Candyman Sourzzz is serving up scares with a splash of sour. The candy brand’s new campaign, “A Desi Halloween,” swaps haunted mansions and carved pumpkins for eerie banyan trees, bhoot banglas and Indian-style mischief, all packed with its signature lip-puckering twist.
While the world celebrates Halloween with witches and werewolves, Candyman Sourzzz has resurrected a trio of homegrown legends, tangy tantrik, sour sundari and meetha khatkula, to reclaim India’s own folklore of fright. These zesty spirits star in a digital-first campaign that unfolds like a mini Hindi cinema horror flick, complete with neon chaos, comic chills and nostalgia-laced spookiness.
“With Candyman Sourzzz, we’ve always aimed to make sourness fun for young India,” said ITC Limited vice president and head of marketing – chocolates, coffee and confectionery, foods division Anuj Bansal. “This Halloween, we wanted to localise the thrill by celebrating our own folklore in a playful, modern way.”
Conceptualised by FCB India, the campaign takes inspiration from the delightfully campy Hindi cinema horror of the 90s, think smoky graveyards, echoing laughter, and a bhoot with attitude. “Halloween may be new to India, but horror isn’t,” said FCB India national creative director Suchitra Gahlot. “We wanted kids to meet our own spooky icons, tantriks, daayans and bhoot banglas, and make ITC Candyman the brand that owns Halloween, desi style.”
The fun doesn’t stop on screen. The brand’s special edition Halloween pack, complete with a mask that doubles up as a candy bag, is now available on quick-commerce platforms in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the desi Halloween spirit is spilling into the streets with RWA activations, vibrant OOH displays and influencer collaborations featuring spooky storytellers and GRWM content inspired by the campaign’s folklore icons.
With its mix of flavour, folklore and fright, Candyman Sourzzz has turned Halloween into a deliciously desi affair, where every scare comes with a splash of sour.
Brands
IndiGo names William Walsh CEO
Former IATA chief to take charge in August after Elbers exit, Bhatia steers interim
India’s biggest airline has moved fast and gone global. InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, has tapped aviation heavyweight William Walsh as chief executive officer, subject to regulatory approvals, marking a sharp pivot as the carrier eyes its next burst of expansion.
Walsh, currently director general at the International Air Transport Association, will step down on July 31, 2026, and is expected to take charge by August 3. The appointment comes barely three weeks after Pieter Elbers exited the corner office, with Rahul Bhatia holding the fort in the interim.
The choice signals intent. Walsh brings decades of cockpit-to-boardroom experience, having led British Airways and later International Airlines Group, the parent of Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. His tenure across carriers has been defined by hard resets, restructurings and cross-border consolidation—skills IndiGo may need as competition intensifies and scale becomes decisive.
Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman and non-executive independent director of IndiGo, said Walsh’s experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics makes him well-suited to lead IndiGo in an increasingly competitive global aviation environment, adding that the appointment marks a new chapter as the airline scales in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Rahul Bhatia said Walsh’s global perspective, operational expertise and customer-focused approach would be critical as IndiGo enters its next phase of expansion.
Walsh, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential figures, will oversee overall management and strategic direction, with a mandate spanning operational performance, network expansion, commercial strategy and customer experience. He is expected to work closely with the board and leadership team to sharpen IndiGo’s growth trajectory.
Walsh said IndiGo has a strong foundation and is well-positioned to capitalise on the evolving aviation landscape, adding that he looks forward to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and sustainable value creation across the organisation.
A new captain, a bigger runway—and a market that rewards scale. IndiGo is lining up for its next take-off.
