MAM
Pantaloon and Planet Sports ink joint venture agreement
MUMBAI: The buoyant retail industry in India received a further shot in the arm today when Pantaloons and Planet Sports firmed up a strategic JV according to which, Pantaloon will subscribe to 49 per cent equity in Planet Sports.
The agreement was signed today in Mumbai between the Pantaloon managing director Kishore Biyani and Planet Sports chairman V P Sharma.
With the coming together of the two retail powerhouses, the branded lifestyle retailing segment is expected to receive an unprecedented boost and impetus in India.
Pantaloon is already one of the larger players in retail and owns retail chains with the names of Pantaloons, Big Bazaar, Food Bazaar and Gold Bazaar. It also has the Central chain of seamless shopping malls.
Planet Sports, on the other hand, is a leading sports and fashion retail company and is the sole franchisee of UK-based retailer Marks and Spencer. It also has the exclusive distribution / licensing rights for brands like Wilson, Puma, Speedo and Converse. Planet Sports currently has six Marks and Spencer and 25 Planet Sports stores in India.
Biyani said, “The strategic alliance is going to change the face of branded lifestyle retailing in India. The access that we will now have of Sharma’s retail expertise, as witnessed in South East Asia, will create a landmark in the already booming retail sector.”
Sharma, on the other hand has been instrumental in bringing some of the leading European and US brands to this part of the world. Said he, “The fact that Planet Sports will now be working in synergy with Pantaloons will give a leverage and a strategic advantage to both the companies. Furthermore, the cohesion will bring about a new momentum in the retail industry of the country. Biyani’s proactive, pragmatic approach and the vision he has for the thrust of the retail sector will make us break new ground.”
MAM
Ad:tech honours 2026: Full list of winners announced
Expanded awards spotlight winners across 22 categories as industry doubles down on intelligent automation
NEW DELHI: Marketing’s tech elite took the spotlight as the ad:tech honours 2026 returned with a sharper focus on AI, data and immersive media, signalling how deeply technology now underpins brand strategy. Held at Yashobhoomi on March 17, the second edition drew industry leaders to celebrate innovation that is reshaping engagement and performance.
Presented with the International Advertising Association India chapter and new partner Huella, the awards expanded from 8 to 22 categories, tracking the rapid convergence of creativity, automation and analytics.
The winners’ list reads like a snapshot of marketing’s future. In affiliate and partner marketing, Lyxel & Flamingo – Boat and Paytm Ads – Giva took silver. Mobavenue Media Private Limited struck gold in AI-driven dynamic creative optimisation, alongside a silver for Laqshya Media Limited.
Creative AI collaboration saw Rediffusion Brand Solutions Private Limited win gold, with Saltinc Consulting Private Limited securing silver. Laqshya Media Limited continued its strong run, taking gold in AI conversation agents and adding multiple wins across categories, including silver in GenAI-led creative and both gold and silver in interactive DOOH campaigns for Tanishq and Tata Coffee.
Predictive AI honours went to Strong Metrics and Tyroo, both silver, while Orient Bell Limited picked up silver in immersive retail tech. In GenAI-led creative, Laqshya Media Limited, Salt – Kotak and Sumimoto each secured silver, reflecting the crowded race in generative creativity.
Publicis bagged silver in influencer management and gold in performance marketing, where it shared the stage with Arm Worldwide and The Trade Desk, both silver. Glad U Came Private Limited stood out with gold in influencer measurement and analytics.
Marketing automation saw CereOne Media Pvt. Ltd. and Globale Media win silver, while ADMOTT Private Limited claimed silver in OTT innovation.
Programmatic media categories highlighted the shift to advanced targeting and connected screens. Mobavenue Media Private Limited clinched gold in connected TV advertising, with Animmoov Digital Media Pvt Ltd – Asus and Lyxel and Flamingo taking silver. Cheggout Services Private Limited won silver in retail media advertising, while Paytm Ads – Versuni secured gold.
On social platforms, Vayner Media India took gold in community and UGC engagement, with Under 25 – Oppo winning silver. Segumento rounded off the list with silver in the innovation category.
Jaswant Singh, country managing director at ad:tech India, underscored the momentum, saying generative AI and data-driven decision-making are now central to marketing impact. Neena Dasgupta, IAA mancom member and chief executive and founder at The Salt Inc Consulting, added that the awards celebrate not just technology, but “the people, the creativity, and the relentless effort behind it.”
Backed by Comexposium Group, ad:tech New Delhi has long tracked digital disruption. Now, with the honours, it is rewarding those who are not just adapting to change but engineering it.
In an industry racing towards automation, the message from 2026 is unmistakable. The future of marketing will be written not just in ideas, but in algorithms.
