Brands
ITC to acquire J&J’s Savlon, Shower To Shower; expand FMCG portfolio
KOLKATA: Kolkata-headquartered cigarettes-to-hotels conglomerate ITC has entered into an agreement with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to acquire Savlon and Shower To Shower trademarks and other intellectual property (IP) primarily for use in India in order to expand its FMCG portfolio.
Savlon is an antiseptic brand while Shower To Shower is a personal care product brand.
It should be noted that this acquisition, which will be ITC’s first purchase in the personal care segment, is in line with the company’s growing focus on its non-cigarette FMCG business.
“The company has entered into asset purchase agreements with Johnson & Johnson, India & Johnson & Johnson, Singapore on 12 February for purchase of Savlon and Shower To Shower trademarks and other intellectual property, respectively, primarily for use in India,” ITC said in a BSE filing.
These agreements are subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory permissions as may be necessary, the filing further reveals.
A senior official on the condition of anonymity said that the company has used inorganic route to expand and strengthen its business earlier. “We acquired juice brand B Natural for our entry into fruit beverages market,” he said.
When being asked to comment on the revenues ITC is looking at, he said that the current acquisition is in line with ITC’s aim for a revenue of approximately Rs 1,00,000 crore from the new FMCG businesses alone by the end of year 2030.
ITC had acquired Bangalore-based Balan Natural Food’s B Natural brand last year to strengthen its portfolio.
When asked to comment, ITC declined to divulge the size of the deal for purchasing the two brands from Johnson & Johnson.
However when some analysts tracking FMCG firms were contacted to comment on the probabilities of the deal, they assume that the size of the current acquisition would be small compared to ITC’s total size of the business.
After this acquisition, the company’s topline in FMCG segment may go up by a small amount of about one per cent, said a Kolkata based analyst.
ITC’s non-cigarette FMCG revenue stood at around Rs 8,122 crore during the financial year 2013-14.
Brands
KKR sixes to power EV charger rollout under VIDA campaign
Cricket meets clean mobility as big hits spark India’s charging growth
NEW DELHI: VIDA, the electric mobility arm of Hero MotoCorp, has teamed up with Kolkata Knight Riders to launch a campaign that turns cricketing flair into real-world impact.
Titled ‘6 for 6’, the initiative promises to install a 6kW fast EV charger for every six hit by KKR during the ongoing Indian Premier League season. The idea is simple but powerful, as each big hit on the field contributes directly to expanding India’s fast-charging infrastructure.
The campaign builds on VIDA’s growing network, which already spans over 5,300 fast-charging points across more than 430 cities. With EV adoption gaining pace, the brand is using cricket’s mass appeal to accelerate both awareness and infrastructure growth.
Explaining the thinking behind the move, Hero MotoCorp emerging mobility business unit chief business officer Kausalya Nandakumar said, “Cricket has an incredible ability to unite and inspire millions across the country. With the ‘6 for 6’ campaign, we are turning every big hit on the field into a step towards a cleaner and a more accessible mobility future.”
She added that VIDA’s expanding fast-charging network and removable battery technology are designed to make EV ownership more convenient and practical for everyday users.
From the franchise’s side, the campaign is also about giving on-field moments a larger purpose. Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive officer Venky Mysore said, “The ‘6 for 6’ campaign exemplifies the potential of sport as a platform for meaningful, real-world impact. By linking every six to the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, this partnership transforms fan excitement into tangible progress.”
As part of the rollout, VIDA has introduced co-branded charging stations in KKR’s signature colours, with a flagship installation unveiled alongside team players. The chargers are designed for quick top-ups, powering VIDA scooters from zero to 80 percent in about an hour, while also being positioned along key highways to support longer journeys.
The initiative also taps into VIDA’s removable battery system, which allows users to charge using standard household plug points, adding flexibility to the charging ecosystem.
By blending the thrill of cricket with the urgency of clean mobility, VIDA and KKR have found a neat way to make every six count twice, once on the scoreboard and again on India’s road to an electric future.
