MAM
Mindshare retains Unilever media biz in India
MUMBAI: It is a win that came after a six-month evaluation process. Mindshare has retained its Unilever account for South Asia, including India, the US, Canada, Western Europe and South and Central Europe.
The FMCG giant will, thus, split its $5 billion global media business between Mindshare, Interpublic Group (IPG) and Omnicom Media Group (OMG).
It could not be independently verified how much was the size of the India account. Hindustan Unilever Ltd, however, spent Rs 17.65 billion on advertising and promotion for the first three quarters of this fiscal in India, up from Rs 12.41 billion a year ago.
Mindshare gets to handle the India account once again at a time when the margins of HUL are squeezed and its market supremacy in many products are threatened. The FMCG major has been fighting back and has increased its ad spend while it is eyeing the premium brands to widen its margins.
HUL is the top advertiser under FMCG sector on television during the calendar year 2009. It accounted for 19 per cent of FMCG sector‘s TV ad pie in terms of volumes, while Reckitt Benckiser (India) Ltd grabs the second spot with a share of 7 per cent.
Ponds White Beauty, Clinic All Clear Tech Soft and Dove Hair Fall Therapy System, all from the HUL stable, are the top three new brands of FMCG sector advertised on TV during 2009 in terms of secondage consumption, according to Tam data.
Before finalising on Mindshare, Unilever had initiated its global media agency review in July 2009 across 53 countries, in line with the company policy to evaluate media agency arrangements periodically.
Subsequently, in October, the FMCG major had shortlisted the battle to Aegis Mediabrands, Mindshare and OMG.
Says Unilever VP global media Laura Klauberg, “As we increasingly make use of digital and social media, we are confident that we have the best agency partners to help us engage in new ways with the 2 billion consumers whose lives we touch. In addition, greater alignment within our key country clusters will contribute to achieving exceptional results for our business in an increasingly complex and fragmented media environment.”
The outcome for Unilever‘s lead countries is as follows:
| India | Mindshare (WPP) |
| Thailand | Mindshare (WPP) |
| US and Canada | Mindshare (WPP) |
| China [previously announced] | PHD (OMG) |
| Mexico | Initiative Media (IPG) |
| Colombia | Initiative Media (IPG) |
| Argentina | Initiative Media (IPG) |
| UK | Mindshare (WPP) |
| Netherlands | Mindshare (WPP) |
| Germany | Mindshare (WPP) |
| France | Mindshare (WPP) |
| Spain | Mindshare (WPP) |
| Nordics | Mindshare (WPP) |
| Poland | Media Direction (OMG) |
| Russia | Initiative Media (IPG) |
Brands
Lovetc appoints Tamannaah Bhatia as brand face
Ananya Birla’s premium colour cosmetics line gears up for strong second year with 30 per cent monthly growth and fresh face category launch.
MUMBAI: Lovetc is tinting its success story with a starry new shade Tamannaah Bhatia has just been named the face of Ananya Birla’s premium beauty brand. As the colour cosmetics label under Birla Cosmetics completes a vibrant first year in April 2026, it is entering its second chapter with impressive momentum. The brand has delivered 30 per cent month-on-month growth, expanded thoughtfully into offline and quick-commerce channels, and built a loyal following through a digital-first approach mixed with genuine consumer connections.
Priced between Rs 650 and Rs 1,850, Lovetc focused its debut portfolio on lips and eyes categories. Hero products such as Tint, Talk, Etc Radiant Glow Hydrating Tint (SPF 30 PA++), Pout, Perfect, Etc Matte Bullet Lipstick, and Melt, Miracle, Etc Treatment Oil-Infused Lip Balm quickly won hearts. Early shoppers showed strong purchase intent, with average order values ranging from Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,800 and an average of two items per transaction, signalling healthy basket-building and repeat purchases.
The brand made its mark in key metros including Mumbai, NCR, Chennai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Patiala, Ludhiana, and Cochin, while Tier-2 cities surprised with robust demand and loyalty. On the distribution side, Lovetc entered 90 offline retail doors in year one and is on track to cross 150 doors by Q2 2026, choosing each outlet carefully to match its premium positioning.
To mark the milestone, Lovetc is stepping into the face category with the launch of Ace, Face, Etc 4K Blur Matte Foundation in eight shades tailored for diverse Indian skin tones. Additional innovations like the multi-purpose The Etc stick and longwear lip tint Love Bites are also in the pipeline.
Tamannaah Bhatia, known for her pan-India appeal across films and her authentic love for beauty, brings cultural relevance and credibility to the brand. Ananya Birla, founder of Birla Cosmetics, said, “Year Two is going to be big. The brief for every new launch remains the same: Does it perform? Is it playful? Is it kind to the person wearing it? Performance, playfulness, and kindness that is the promise we intend to keep. Bringing Tamannaah on board feels especially pertinent because she brings together an authentic love for beauty with a connection that cuts across audiences and geographies.”
Tamannaah Bhatia added, “I have always loved beauty as a form of self-expression, and what drew me to Lovetc is that it feels playful, thoughtful, and modern at the same time. I am excited to be the face of a brand that is creating products with both performance and personality.”
With deliberate growth, quality-focused retail expansion, and a celebrity partner who genuinely connects with beauty lovers nationwide, Lovetc is blending performance with personality in a market hungry for thoughtful premium options. As it steps into year two, the brand is proving that in beauty, the right tint can make everything glow a little brighter. Delhi, Mumbai, or a Tier-2 favourite Lovetc is colouring India’s beauty shelves with confidence and charm.
