Brands
Coca-Cola brings American sports drink to India’s scorching summer market
MUMBAI: Coca-Cola India is set to introduce American sports drink BodyArmorLyte to the subcontinent this summer, as the beverage giant scrambles to capitalise on what executives have joyfully described as “early arrivals” of heatwave conditions.
Coca-Cola India & southwest Asia vice-president Sundeep Bajoria announced the expansion with palpable enthusiasm for the premature scorching temperatures that have already begun tormenting the nation’s 1.4 billion residents.
BodyArmorLyte, a coconut water-based hydration drink popular in the US, will join other newcomers including Honest Tea – an organic offering sourced from Assam – and Vitaminwater, which has thus far been confined to testing in airport terminals where dehydrated travellers are presumably less price-sensitive.
The company expects its established brands ThumsUp and Sprite to each reach the $2 billion sales mark in India, though Bajoria tactfully avoided committing to any timeline for this achievement, to Economic Times.
When questioned about competition from Reliance Industries’ resurrected Campa Cola brand, Bajoria echoed his global president’s diplomatic stance: “We welcome competition,” he said, presumably while clutching a stress ball under the table.
Coca-Cola appears undeterred by inflation concerns, with Bajoria explaining they would capture “a significant part of that inflation through price package mix and architecture” – corporate speak for “we’ll make the bottles slightly smaller rather than raising prices directly.”
The company is counting on recent tax relief for the middle class to drive consumption.
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
