Brands
Parle Agro launches ‘Dhishoom’
Mumbai: Parle Agro, known for its innovative contributions to the Indian beverage industry, has launched Dhishoom, a jeera masala flavored carbonated drink, nationwide. With its availability across the country, Dhishoom establishes itself as the first national brand in this category.
Dhishoom was originally launched in 2012 and was available in rural and small-towns markets. Recognizing the growing demand for jeera-based drinks in India, Parle Agro has now introduced Dhishoom across the country. With this move, Parle Agro aims to not only meet but also lead the expansion of this burgeoning category.
Dhishoom brings consumers the authentic taste of a jeera drink. With the perfect blend of savory, tangy and citrusy flavours, expertly infused with the right mix of jeera masala and carbonation, Dhishoom delivers a taste that’s not just refreshing but also packs a punch. Its quirky eye-catchy packaging is hard to miss on the retail shelf. Available in two sizes – 125ml and 250ml, priced at Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 respectively, Dhishoom offers affordability without compromising on quality.
Speaking on the launch, Parle Agro head of Marketing and International Business Ankit Kapoor said, “The pan India launch of Dhishoom marks our national foray into the masala soda segment with the aim to establish leadership in the fragmented jeera masala drink category. We will leverage our superior understanding of the consumer’s taste, design lead brand building capability and our distribution network to unlock this category.”
The jeera masala drink category, encompassing both organized and unorganized segments, commands a substantial market size of approximately ₹700 crore. While regional players currently dominate pockets of the market, there exists a noticeable gap for a strong national brand to emerge and capture market share. Parle Agro aims to fill this gap by becoming the first nationwide brand in this segment.
Speaking about the launch, Parle Agro managing director Nadia Chauhan added, “Nothing fuels our passion more than elevating categories to unimaginable heights. Dhishoom’s national launch shows our commitment to seizing market potential. Our mission is to position Dhishoom as the ultimate choice in the jeera masala drink category, cementing Parle Agro’s leadership in the category and the beverage industry as a whole.”
Brands
Magnum Ice Cream Netherlands takes control of Kwality Wall’s India from Unilever
61.9 per cent stake transfer reshapes ownership as Unilever exits promoter role
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited has entered a new chapter, with The Magnum Ice Cream Company HoldCo 1 Netherlands B.V. acquiring a controlling 61.9 per cent stake from a clutch of Unilever PLC-led entities, marking a significant shift in ownership.
The transaction, completed on March 30, 2026, follows a share purchase agreement signed in June 2025. The incoming promoter picked up over 145 crore equity shares, effectively taking control of the company and being formally classified as its new promoter under regulatory norms.
As part of the deal, the outgoing promoter group, including Unilever Group Limited and its affiliated entities, has fully exited its shareholding in the company. They have now been reclassified from promoter to public shareholders, closing a long-standing association with the ice cream business in India.
The board of Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited took note of the ownership change and approved a series of leadership updates alongside it. Ritesh Tiwari stepped down as director, while Abhijit Bhattacharya was appointed as chairperson and additional non-executive director. Tahir Toloy Tanridagli also joined the board as an additional non-executive director.
The reshuffle signals a broader strategic reset as the Magnum-led entity looks to steer the brand’s next phase of growth in India. The transition has been carried out in line with regulatory requirements, including disclosures tied to the open offer and reclassification norms under market regulations.
With Unilever stepping back and Magnum stepping in, Kwality Wall’s India is effectively getting a fresh scoop of leadership and direction. The coming months will reveal how the new promoter plans to scale the brand in one of the world’s most competitive ice cream markets.
