MAM
Pepsi to bring in Gatorade soon?
MUMBAI: Mountain Dew may have been pitched as Pepsi’s new energy drink, but indications are that the beverage major may soon be launching the internationally popular sports drink Gatorade in India in a similar avatar.
Speaking on the sidelines of a media conference to launch Mountain Dew, positioned as a refreshing energy drink for irreverent urban youth, PepsiCo India Holdings chairman Rajeev Bakshi said that the company was looking at launching Gatorade soon. When pressed to specify the timeframe within which the drink would be launched, Bakshi responded with a cryptic “very soon”.
While Tropicana, Pepsi’s offering in the non carbonated soft drinks segment, will continue to be targeted at the top bracket premium consumer with any downward revision ruled out in the short term, Gatorade could well fill the masses’ need for an energy drink in the non CSD market. Pepsi officials present at the Mumbai launch of Mountain Dew, however, pointed out that Gatorade would, in all possibility, not be slotted as a sports drink. Pointing out that India is not a sport crazy country, Pepsi officials said that the company would try and pitch Gatorade as an energy drink instead.
The company is currently conducting ad and consumer research for testing consumer tastes for Gatorade. Bakshi meanwhile said that the company, which had said last year that it was looking at doubling its 120 million strong consumer base in three to four years, is on course for the target. Pepsi A-ha, the lemon tinged cola introduced last March, meanwhile commands an eight to 10 per cent share of total Pepsi sales, he said.
MAM
Dish TV shareholders approve three independent directors
99.49 per cent vote of confidence strengthens board as company expands into connected TV, e-commerce and OTT.
MUMBAI: Dish TV has just been served a near-perfect vote of confidence and the shareholders have dished it out in style. Shareholders of the DTH operator have approved the appointment of three new Independent Directors with an overwhelming 99.49 per cent approval. The three appointees are Mr Arun Kumar Kapoor, Ms Heena Naishadh Bhatt and Mr Ashok Anant Paranjpe.
The strong mandate reflects continued investor faith in the company’s strategy, disciplined execution and long-term value creation. It comes as Dish TV focuses on stabilising its core DTH business while actively scaling new verticals connected TV platform VZY, B2B e-commerce ShopZop, and OTT service Watcho to build a more diversified and resilient growth trajectory.
Dish TV India Limited, CEO & executive director Manoj Dhobhal said, “We are encouraged by the shareholders’ approval of the appointment of the Independent Directors and sincerely thank them for their continued trust and confidence. The Board is already benefiting from the Directors’ collective experience, which will further sharpen strategic focus and support disciplined execution.”
With a fresh, strengthened board in place, Dish TV is well positioned to navigate the evolving media landscape. In a sector where every percentage point matters, a 99.49 per cent thumbs-up is the kind of ringing endorsement that suggests the company’s recipe for the future is already tasting right.
