Brands
Heineken introduces Star Can
MUMBAI: Heineken, the world’s No.1 international premium beer announced the launch of the STAR CAN in India, coinciding with the global roll-outof the new modern and progressive STAR CAN design which conveys sophisticated simplicity. In India, Heineken is currently available in 650ml and 330ml bottlesand the latest500ml aluminum STAR CAN, which expands the brand offering in India, is expected to attract new consumers and cater to more consumption occasions.
Commenting on the launch, Samar Singh Sheikhawat – Senior Vice-President, Marketing, United Breweries Limited said, “Heineken STAR CAN will be launched in a phased manner, beginning with Daman, Goa, Delhi, Pondicherry & Bangalore, followed by other key consumption markets like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Haryana, UP and Punjab. Cans will help increase the sales of Heineken and we expect the overall brand to grow organically by over 50% this year. We hope to extend the drinking experience to more drinking occasions and reach out to new consumers.”
The STAR CAN has been designed by the Heineken Design team in collaboration with Amsterdam-based packaging design agency DBOD over the last two years, exploring multiple routes and iterations, with a focus on details aided by consumer feedback and insights.
Commenting on the STAR CAN, Mark van Iterson, Manager – Heineken Global Design & Concept said, “The packaging design of Heineken must always stay true to its core values, it must be progressive and iconic and it must be clearly recognizable on the retailers’ shelf. The visibility of the aluminum on the STAR CAN creates a fresh, masculine look with an open character. Bare aluminum looks very fresh and thirst-quenching when you take the can out of the fridge. The red star is one of our most important visual symbols and has always been part of the brand identity. We’ve made it larger and more visible so it really stands out to consumers.”
Heineken has been targeting the globe-trotting, James Bond-inspired demographic through its various initiatives and the new can plays into the image. Packaging is a vital element of the overall brand experience as it is the most tangible point of contact between a brand and consumers. With Heineken already strengthening its foothold in the super-premium beer market in India, the introduction of the STAR CAN to the existing distribution network will also bring in global consistency.
The Heineken Star Can will be available in the 500ml size and will be priced at Rs. 120/- in Maharashtra & Bangalore. The can is priced at Rs 100/- and Rs 70/- in Delhi & Goa respectively.
Brands
Kansai Nerolac tests paint in stratosphere for durability proof
Excel Everlast sent to 86,000 ft, survives -64°C and extreme UV exposure
MUMBAI: If walls could talk, this one would say it’s been to space and back. Kansai Nerolac has taken product testing to dizzying new heights quite literally by sending its exterior paint into the stratosphere in a bid to prove durability beyond the lab. In what the company calls a first for the Indian paint industry, a stratospheric balloon carried a payload coated with its Excel Everlast paint to an altitude of 86,000 feet above Earth. Up there, conditions are less “extreme weather” and more “near space”: temperatures drop below -64°C, ultraviolet radiation hits unfiltered, and atmospheric pressure is only a fraction of what it is at sea level.
Most materials struggle to survive such a hostile environment. This one didn’t. According to the campaign, the painted surface returned intact no visible damage, no compromise effectively turning a marketing claim into a high-altitude experiment.
The initiative, conceptualised by ULKA, moves away from simulated lab tests to something far more theatrical and verifiable. The campaign film documents the entire journey, positioning the exercise as proof rather than promise.
The test also doubles as a showcase for the Excel Everlast range, which includes features such as nano-silica-based protection, 30 per cent higher toughness and crack-bridging capability, along with a 20-year warranty claims now dramatised under conditions few buildings will ever face.
For Kansai Nerolac, the stunt is less about spectacle and more about signalling intent: in a category often dominated by functional messaging, it’s an attempt to turn durability into something tangible and memorable.
Because when your paint survives near-space, the neighbourhood monsoon suddenly feels like a very small test.
