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
Pee Safe launches Comfort Range, signs Smriti Mandhana
#BeInYourComfortZone campaign spotlights hygiene, confidence and ease
MUMBAI: Comfort isn’t a luxury, it’s a power play, and Pee Safe is batting firmly in that direction with a campaign that puts ease front and centre. The brand has rolled out its latest digital video campaign, #BeInYourComfortZone, alongside the launch of its new Comfort Range, while bringing on Smriti Mandhana as brand ambassador. The move ties product innovation with a broader narrative around confidence, positioning comfort not as an afterthought but as a daily essential.
The campaign leans into relatable, everyday moments where discomfort quietly chips away at confidence. Through a storytelling-led approach, it highlights how the right hygiene solutions can restore control and ease turning what is often a private concern into a more open, mainstream conversation. By doing so, the brand also nudges at long-standing taboos around intimate hygiene, framing comfort as both physical and emotional.
At the product level, the Comfort Range includes period panties, night pads, ultra-thin pads and panty liners, designed to cater to different stages of the menstrual cycle. The emphasis is on combining protection with wearability products that promise freshness and reliability without disrupting daily routines.
Mandhana’s association adds a layer of credibility and cultural resonance. Known for her composure under pressure, she mirrors the campaign’s core message: confidence begins with feeling at ease. The choice of ambassador also signals Pee Safe’s intent to connect with a younger, more vocal audience that values both performance and authenticity.
The campaign marks a shift in tone for the category. Instead of focusing purely on functionality, Pee Safe is attempting to reframe hygiene as an enabler of confidence subtle, personal, yet impactful.
In a market often defined by hushed conversations, the brand is turning up the volume just enough to make one point clear: when comfort clicks, confidence follows.
