Brands
Human bags branding and creative mandate for jumbo pops
Mumbai: Launched by creative duo Chirag Raheja and Imran Khan, the integrated agency ‘Human’ has been onboarded by an Africa-based FMCG brand.
Part of Parrogate Ginneries’ FMCG range, Jumbo Pops is a lollipop and candy brand operating in Zambia, Tanzania, and other African countries. While lollipops generally fall under the broad spectrum of ‘junk food’, they make for an affordable source of sugar and energy among children – something that people in these economies greatly benefit from.
Commenting on the partnership, Jagdish Kandpal of Parrogate Ginneries said “It’s refreshing to collaborate with Human on our emerging brand. Their creative and branding efforts are already creating a strong foundation for us, capturing the essence of our brand and building anticipation among potential customers.”
“Partnering with Human was a stroke of genius for our budding brand. Their fresh and innovative approach has already begun to generate buzz and anticipation in the market. Their dedication to understanding our vision and translating it into impactful campaigns is truly remarkable.” added Parrogate Ginneries business head Venkat Muralidadi.
The agency’s mandate includes working on the branding and packaging of the different lollipop flavours and variants, as well as creating retail communication for the brand.
Human co-founder and director Chirag Raheja said “The FMCG category has always been special for me, but this time, it’s a much bigger game we’re playing. In addition to boosting happiness levels among kids, we’re on a mission to help them stay on their feet all day, without putting a dent in their parents’ pockets. I’m delighted that Human is their partner of choice for this project, and I look forward to creating some stellar work for them.”
Adding to this sentiment, Human co-founder and director Imran Khan said “More than just good-looking work, this is our chance to create work that makes a real difference to people in African countries. That’s exactly what we want Human to stand for, and I’m grateful for the trust placed in us by the brand.”
Brands
Devyani International Ltd plans three-subsidiary merger to streamline operations
QSR operator moves to streamline structure and unlock operational synergies
Devyani International is tightening its corporate kitchen. The quick-service restaurant operator has approved a scheme to merge three subsidiaries—Sky Gate Hospitality, Blackvelvet Hospitality and Say Chefs Eatery—into the parent company in a bid to simplify its structure and sharpen operational efficiency.
The decision was cleared at a board meeting on March 10 and disclosed in a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges. The merger will take effect from April 1, 2025, subject to statutory approvals.
All three transferor companies are direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, meaning no fresh shares will be issued and the shareholding pattern of Devyani International will remain unchanged once the scheme is completed.
The subsidiaries together operate more than 100 outlets—including dine-in restaurants and cloud kitchens, spread across over 40 cities such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.
Devyani International, the largest franchisee of Yum Brands in India, said the consolidation is aimed at generating operational synergies, optimising resource utilisation and reducing layers within the corporate structure.
Financially, the move brings together businesses of varying scale. As of March 31, 2025, Devyani International reported a net worth of Rs 10,381.02 million and turnover of Rs 33,493.33 million. Sky Gate Hospitality posted a net worth of Rs 761.14 million with turnover of Rs 2,657.57 million, while Blackvelvet Hospitality and Say Chefs Eatery reported smaller operations and negative net worth.
The merger will consolidate these operations under a single corporate umbrella as the company sharpens its focus on scale and efficiency.
Devyani International currently runs more than 2,000 outlets across over 280 cities in India, Nigeria, Nepal and Thailand. Its portfolio includes franchise rights for brands such as Pizza Hut, KFC, Costa Coffee, Tea Live, New York Fries and Sanook Kitchen, alongside its own food brands.
With the paperwork underway and approvals pending, Devyani is essentially clearing the corporate clutter—turning three subsidiaries into one tighter, leaner operation. In the QSR world, even the back office needs a spring clean.
