Brands
Dentsu to acquire Spanish sports marketing specialist Alesport
MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis Network has reached an agreement with the principal shareholders of Spanish sports marketing and brand activation specialist Alesport Group to acquire the operation.
Founded in 1975, Alesport Group has a strong reputation in the Spanish market as a leader in the sports and event marketing industry. The four companies under the Alesport umbrella are RMP Racing, which plans and organises sports events such as two-wheel and four-wheel motor sports, cycling, car racing, mountain bike racing and marathons; RPM Events, which plans and operates B-to-B events; Alesport, a specialized sports publishing company; and Aventurismo, which is responsible for making travel and accommodation arrangements related to competitions and other events.
Alesport is involved in the planning and operation of third-party events as well as its own sports events.
After the acquisition has been completed, Alesport Group will maintain its service structure and will work with other Dentsu Group companies in Spain and other countries to create synergies.
In its September 2015 worldwide advertising expenditure forecasts, the Dentsu Group’s media communications agency Carat announced that advertising expenditures in Spain grew 6.2 per cent in 2014, reflecting the recovery of the country’s economy. The strong growth is expected to continue, with an increase of 6.9 per cent forecast for both 2015 and 2016.
Brands
Hocco crosses Rs 530cr revenue in two years
Sauce.vc-led Rs 100cr raise values ice cream brand at Rs 2,500cr pre-money as quick commerce hits 20 per cent of sales.
MUMBAI: Hocco has just scooped a seriously sweet milestone crossing the Rs 530 crore revenue mark in just two full years of operations. The fast-growing Indian ice cream and indulgence brand announced it has raised Rs 100 crore in fresh capital led by Sauce.vc. The round values the company at Rs 2,500 crore pre-money and underscores investor confidence in its rapid scale and distinctive India-first approach.
Founder Ankit Chona said the brand’s success stems from solving real Indian challenges extreme summer heat, fragmented cold chains and culturally rooted tastes. “In India, product development doesn’t end in the lab. It only ends when it survives the street,” he noted. This philosophy has produced viral hits such as Aamchi mango ice cream, BIX cake-sponge sandwiches, the Oh cone and culturally relevant collaborations like Haldiram’s Barfi and festive Modak specials.
Hocco currently operates manufacturing facilities in Ahmedabad and Panipat with a production capacity of approximately 3 lakh litres per day, running near full capacity in peak season. The fresh capital will help expand this to around 4.5 lakh litres per day.
Quick commerce has emerged as a major growth engine, now contributing ~20 per cent of overall business and growing nearly 2x year-on-year. The channel has boosted product discovery, increased consumption frequency and helped extend ice cream beyond its traditional seasonal limits.
Sauce.vc founder Manu Chandra said, “At Sauce, we believe that when you chance upon an outlier business, you double down with stronger conviction. We see Hocco as just that.”
With a strong innovation pipeline, deeper distribution and continued focus on cultural relevance, Hocco is entering its third year aiming to capture even more mind space and market share. In a category long dominated by legacy players, this young brand is proving that the coolest way to win is to build for India’s realities, one scoop, one street and one satisfied craving at a time.
