MAM
Perfetti Van Melle India expands Center fresh brand portfolio with launch of Center fresh 3 Layer Gum
MUMBAI: In 2019, Center fresh – the iconic chewing gum brand from Perfetti Van Melle, celebrates its 25th anniversary in India. And in this milestone year, the brand has launched a new innovative product – Center fresh 3 Layer gum.
The product is a unique combination of fondant with special cooling ingredients sandwiched between layers of gum and promises “fresh breath that lasts long”. Introduced in a multi pack that has tear-refold packaging, the brand is targeting consumers who have an on-the-go lifestyle and require fresh breath for extended periods. The offering will be available in Peppermint and Strawberry flavours at price of Rs. 5 (pack of 4 gums). The product will also be available in a sugar-free variant priced at Rs 25 (pack of 7 gums) exclusively in Modern Trade stores and e-Commerce sites.
The brand has associated with youth icon and southern movie celebrity – Samantha Akkineni as the brand ambassador and she will be seen in the Center fresh 3-layer gum launch campaign. The launch would be supported through a 360-degree campaign on TV, Digital, and cinema.
Speaking on the new launch, Rajesh Ramakrishnan – Managing Director, Perfetti Van Melle India said, “Center fresh is one of our power brands in India. The brand enjoys immense love and trust with the Indian consumer. We plan to own the “fresh breath confidence” space through multiple product offerings under Center fresh, which are tailored for different consumption occasions.”
Speaking on the new launch, Rohit Kapoor – Director Marketing, Perfetti Van Melle India said, “Fresh Breath is one of the fastest growing need spaces within confectionary today owing to the growing consciousness around the concept and Center fresh is synonymous with fresh breath. With the launch of Center fresh 3-layer gum the brand wants to cater to consumers who are looking for long lasting fresh breath experience, all through the day. Center fresh 3-layer gum offering further strengthens the brand portfolio which has offerings across formats and different fresh breath need states.”
Speaking on the new brand ambassador Samantha, Rohit said “Samantha endorsing the brand has been a natural choice. Her youthful and confident personality deeply resonates with that of the brand and we are sure that with Samantha on-board Center fresh is going to have a strong and loyal consumer connect.”
Commenting on the new offering and partnership, Samantha Akkineni – Brand Ambassador said, “For me, Center fresh represents everything that is youthful, stylish and refreshing. Center fresh 3 Layer gum promises long-lasting fresh breath, which is what everyone of us needs to feel confident all day and the product has already become one of my handbag essentials.”
The launch TVC showcases a familiar setting where one needs long lasting fresh breath to impress someone. The new commercial tells a story of a young guy who meets a girl he likes from the get-go, while travelling in a bus. The guy strikes a conversation with her and impresses
her with his mesmerizing fresh breath, thanks to Center fresh 3 Layer Gum. The duo remain engrossed in the conversation till the bus conductor interrupts them, and they realize they have lost track of time and are the last ones left on the bus. All through the journey the guy impresses the girl with his fresh breath confidence. The TVC also features internet celebrity Ayush Mehra.
Explaining the thought behind the advertising, Anurag Agnihotri (Executive Creative Director), Ogilvy India says "Center fresh 3 Layer Gum offers you fresh breath that lasts long. For a youngster, it means having the fresh breath confidence to carry through long conversations with someone special. We brought this out in a boy-meets-girl story in a bus in which the conversation continues till the end of the journey. It may be the beginning of a romance or it may not lead anywhere, but it leaves you with a good feeling. That’s what we have tried to capture."
MUMBAI: In India’s fast-moving payments race, Visa has just swiped in a new leader. The company has named Suresh Sethi as its India country head, marking a key leadership shift as it sharpens its focus on digital payments growth in the market. Sethi steps into the role following his recent exit from Protean eGov Technologies, where he served as chief executive officer. He succeeds Sandeep Ghosh, who has moved on after more than four years at Visa to pursue an external opportunity.
The appointment comes at a time when Visa is doubling down on its expansion strategy across India and the wider region, deepening partnerships and accelerating adoption in an increasingly competitive digital payments ecosystem.
Sethi brings with him a broad, cross-market perspective shaped by decades of experience across corporate banking, retail financial services, mobile money and large-scale government technology initiatives. He began his career at Citigroup, where he spent 14 years working across India, Africa, South America and the United States, focusing on transaction banking services within the corporate bank.
His appointment signals a blend of institutional experience and market familiarity qualities that could prove critical as Visa navigates a landscape where fintech innovation, regulatory evolution and consumer adoption are all accelerating at once.
As digital payments in India continue to scale rapidly, the leadership change underscores a simple reality, in a market where every tap, scan and swipe counts, who leads the charge can matter just as much as the technology itself.
