MAM
Prashant Peres takes on global role at Mondelez, Anil Viswanathan to fill his shoes
MUMBAI: Mondelēz International has made some key elevations in the company, with Prashant Peres, previously director – marketing for chocolates, Mondelez India, moving into a new regional role of senior director for chocolate equity and innovations, AMEA, Mondelēz International.
Furthermore, in line with the company’s ongoing commitment to develop and groom internal talent, it has announced the appointment of Anil Viswanathan as the new director of marketing for chocolates Mondelez India, succeeding Prashant.
Serving as the director of marketing for chocolates Mondelez India since 2015, Prashant has been instrumental in leading the chocolate category turnaround, achieving double digit growth despite external economic challenges, such as the sudden currency demonetisation and GST implementation. He is credited for launching various successful innovations under Mondelez India’s chocolate portfolio, including a made-in-India innovation like Cadbury Dairy Milk Lickables in 2017, which is now a global best practice. Mondelez India is the undisputed chocolate category leader in the country and is currently in its all-time high, with respect to market share.
Stepping into Prashant’s role is Anil Viswanathan who has been with Mondelez India for about 18 years. His journey in the company has taken him into regional and global roles and into different categories including chocolate and biscuits. He has progressed through various product, brand management, and category marketing roles. Most recently, he was part of the global chocolate team driving chocolate innovation based out of Zurich, Switzerland. One of his achievements, during his stint here as senior innovation platform manager has been the launch of Cadbury 5Star globally, which is now present in three continents including markets like Brazil, South Africa and Southeast Asia. Viswanathan has also been instrumental in the launch of Cadbury Fuse in India, in 2016.
His close to two-decade long connection with the chocolate category and understanding of the Indian market will ensure Mondelez India’s continued reign as the undisputed market leader in the chocolate category in the country.
Mondelēz International is building the best snacking company in the world, with 2017 net revenues of approximately $26 billion.
Headquartered in Mumbai, the company has sales offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and manufacturing facilities at Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh in addition to a vast distribution network across the country.
MAM
Barista partners Ginny Weds Sunny 2 with mango campaign
Cafe chain blends cinema buzz with summer menu and 20 per cent offer.
MUMBAI: Love may brew slowly, but marketing clearly doesn’t especially when coffee meets cinema and mangoes steal the spotlight. Barista Coffee Company has partnered with the upcoming hindi film Ginny Weds Sunny 2 as its official beverage partner, in a move aimed at tapping into youth culture through entertainment-led engagement. The collaboration is not just a logo placement exercise. Instead, Barista is translating the film’s high-energy vibe into its cafés with a themed summer menu titled “Main Hoon Mango”, accompanied by a limited-period 20 per cent discount on combo offerings across outlets.
Actors Medha Shankr and Avinash Tiwary feature in the campaign, seen engaging with the mango-themed menu inside Barista cafés, a visual cue designed to blur the lines between reel and real-life consumption moments.
The strategy reflects a broader shift in how consumer brands are leveraging hindi film industry not just for visibility, but for immersive, on-ground engagement. By embedding the film’s narrative into its product experience, Barista is aiming to drive footfall, especially among younger audiences who increasingly seek experiential touchpoints over traditional advertising.
Barista Coffee Company CEO Rajat Agrawal described the partnership as both a branding and growth play, focused on expanding reach beyond the existing customer base and aligning with evolving consumer preferences.
The emphasis on a seasonal, flavour-led hook mango, one of India’s most culturally resonant ingredients adds a timely layer to the campaign, aligning with summer consumption trends while riding on the film’s promotional momentum.
For Barista, the move is part of a larger positioning shift. Rather than operating purely as a coffee retail chain, the brand is increasingly framing itself as a lifestyle destination, one that intersects with entertainment, conversation and shared experiences. By integrating cinema into its physical spaces, Barista is effectively turning cafés into micro-extensions of the film’s universe, where consumers do not just watch a story unfold but participate in it sip by sip.
The 20 per cent offer further nudges trial, lowering the barrier for consumers to engage with the themed menu while amplifying recall through a tangible incentive.
Brand-film collaborations are hardly new, but their execution is evolving. Where earlier partnerships relied on co-branded ads or product placements, the current playbook leans towards immersive storytelling and retail integration.
In that sense, Barista’s “Main Hoon Mango” push is less about promotion and more about participation inviting consumers to experience a slice of the film within a familiar, everyday setting. As the film industry continues to act as a cultural amplifier, such partnerships underline a growing truth, in today’s attention economy, it is not enough to be seen brands must be experienced.
And if that experience comes with a mango twist and a cinematic backdrop, all the better.
