MAM
Parag Milk Foods elevates Nitin Kanodia to lead the brand’s growth sprint
MUMBAI: Parag Milk Foods has flexed some serious in-house muscle by elevating Nitin Kanodia as business head of Avvatar, its homegrown sports and active nutrition brand. The move signals the dairy major’s commitment to backing internal talent as it doubles down on India’s protein boom.
A chartered accountant by training, Kanodia switched lanes from finance to marketing with impressive flair. Over the past few years, he has played a pivotal role in transforming Avvatar from a niche product into a heavyweight challenger to global protein brands, without compromising on desi pride or performance.
Reflecting on his appointment, Kanodia shared, “It has been an incredible journey — from decoding balance sheets to decoding the minds of modern consumers. Avvatar is not just a product; it’s a mission to bridge India’s protein gap with clean, effective, and trusted nutrition. I look forward to scaling this brand, strengthening consumer trust, and innovating across product formats.”
Parag Milk Foods executive director Akshali Shah added, “At Parag, we believe individual growth drives organisational success. Our culture values performance, empowers potential, and encourages cross-functional evolution. Nitin’s progression from finance to marketing to leading Avvatar exemplifies this. We remain committed to balancing external talent with nurturing internal leaders, building a future-ready organization driven by entrepreneurship, agility, and accountability.”
With a rising appetite for clean-label, high-protein products, Avvatar is well-placed to ride the next wave of India’s wellness movement. Under Kanodia, expect the brand to go full throttle and muscling into more shelves, gyms, and breakfast routines nationwide.
Brands
Funskool enters vehicle toy segment with Blazetrix range
Three construction themed toys priced at Rs 549 mark Made in India push.
MUMBAI: Playtime is shifting gears and it’s revving up with a distinctly desi engine. Funskool India Ltd. has rolled into the vehicle toy segment with Blazetrix, a new Made-in-India range aimed at turning passive play into hands-on action. The debut line-up under Blazetrix leans into a construction theme, introducing three models Buzz Claw, Core Crush and Iron Hook. Built around movement and interaction, the toys are designed to encourage children to build, race and experiment, blending play with motor skill development and social engagement.
But this isn’t just about toy cars with a twist. The range comes wrapped in a narrative layer, complete with storylines and visually engaging packaging, pushing the experience beyond the toy itself into a more immersive play ecosystem.
Manufactured locally, the collection reflects Funskool’s ongoing push towards domestic production while maintaining global benchmarks in safety, durability and quality. The move also aligns with a broader shift in consumer demand, where parents are increasingly looking for toys that combine entertainment with developmental value.
At a price point of Rs 549, the range is positioned as an accessible entry into a category typically dominated by international brands. The affordability, coupled with its interactive features, signals a strategy aimed at scaling quickly across urban households.
With Blazetrix, Funskool isn’t just adding a new product line, it’s stepping into a high-engagement category with a clear pitch: less screen time, more hands-on play. And if the bet pays off, the brand could well find itself driving a new lane in India’s evolving toy market.
