MAM
Pepsi slashes prices of 300 ml bottles
NEW DELHI: Come summer and the soft drinks market in India is all geared for another round of price war. But this time, unlike in the past, Pepsi has fired the first salvo.
Heralding the cut-throat summer competition in soft drinks, Pepsi said on Tuesday, 15 April 2003, that it has slashed prices of its 300 ml returnable glass bottles to Rs 6 in the city and this price cut may be extended to other markets to make its brands more affordable, according to a PTI report..
However, the only other soft drinks company, Coca-Cola, appears to have been caught on the wrong foot, with its 300 ml pack still priced at Rs 8.
India is the only market where Pepsi gives some stiff competition to Coca-Cola. In most global markets Coca -Cola is way ahead of Pepsi.
Coca-Cola India vice-president (external) Sunil Gupta was quoted in the PTI report as saying, “We’re making no fresh comments on our pricing strategy. Right now, our 300 ml pack continues to be priced at Rs 8.”
The fresh price war, triggered by Pepsi, follows an earlier onslaught when both the companies reduced prices by about 20 per cent across the board just before the Union Budget for 2003-04 provided them excise duty relief.
A Pepsi spokesperson said, “In a high-consumption market such as Delhi going into the summer, aggressive price points devolving from the 300-ml segment will work much better. Our price strategy for this market, therefore, works off this thinking. As a consequence to this, 200-ml bottles are also priced at Rs 5. The new price points are 300 ml at Rs 6, and 200 ml at Rs 5.”
MAM
Leena Jaisani passes away, leaving a lasting legacy in media
Veteran policy architect and FICCI leader dies after cardiac arrest in Delhi
NEW DELHI: Leena Jaisani, deputy secretary general and head of media and entertainment at FICCI, has passed away following a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening. She had been hospitalised for several days and was on ventilator support prior to her demise. She was widely regarded as one of the quiet architects behind India’s modern media and entertainment policy ecosystem.
Jaisani’s career at FICCI spanned more than three decades, during which she helped shape policy advocacy, industry dialogue and global partnerships for the sector. From steering flagship platforms like FICCI Frames to pushing for industry status for Indian cinema and enabling the Film Facilitation Office, her imprint ran deep across policy and practice alike.
Colleagues and industry stakeholders remembered her as both rigorous and warm, a rare combination in policy circles. “She was a pillar of strength for the M&E industry. Her contribution is immense and long lasting. She will always be remembered for being a thorough professional and solution oriented person,” said an industry colleague. Another added, “This is so sad and shocking… forever grateful for her sincere and consistent efforts to support us all as an industry.”
Beyond conferences and committees, Jaisani played a central role in building bridges between India and global markets. She helped drive audio visual co-production treaties with multiple countries and fostered ties with international platforms such as MIPCOM and the Rome Film Festival. Her work also extended to intellectual property, retail, FMCG and digital commerce within FICCI’s wide ambit.
An alumna of Delhi University, she also served on the board of the Media and Entertainment Skills Council, contributing to talent development and skilling in the industry. Those who worked closely with her recall her ability to translate complex policy into practical outcomes, often with understated efficiency.
Her passing leaves a significant void at a time when India’s media and entertainment sector is expanding rapidly and seeking clearer regulatory direction. For many in the industry, Jaisani was both a steady hand and a trusted voice. Her absence will be felt not just in boardrooms and policy papers, but across the ecosystem she helped build.
