MAM
Publicis acquires mobile agency Monterosa
MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe continued with its shopping streak by acquiring global mobile agency Monterosa.
The newly acquired entity will report into Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH), providing the network with a core specialty in mobile communications and a team of dedicated specialists around the world.
The move follows Publicis Groupe‘s pioneering expansion into the mobile advertising market with its acquisition of Phonevalley in 2007. Like Phonevalley, Monterosa is exclusively committed to mobile marketing and communications, one of the high-growth digital sectors in which Publicis Groupe is committed to expanding its footprint.
Monterosa will retain its name after the acquisition. It will also continue to work with its own clients in addition to other advertising agency partners throughout BBH and Publicis Groupe.
The deal will enable Monterosa to grow its footprint to other areas in the world and work more closely with its clients. Carl Norberg, a co-founder of Monterosa, will continue to manage the agency and will report to BBH Group‘s CEO, Gwyn Jones.
Monterosa was founded in 2009 by four Swedes — Johan Hemminger, Johan St?hle, Anton Holmquist and Carl Norberg and has offices in New York, Singapore. It is headquartered in Stockholm and has a team of 30 that works with brands like Carlsberg, Google, Mercedes Benz, Samsung and Vodafone. Its work for Mini Cooper‘s ‘Getaway‘ campaign (2011) and a number of global apps such as Buick Encore‘s ‘Hide and Seek’ in China, Lufthansa‘s ‘Anywake’ in Scandinavia, AT&T‘s ‘Daybreak’ in the US and the Pan-Asian Axe ‘Dare’ app for Unilever have won the agency accolades and awards.
BBH Group CEO Gwyn Jones said, “The ubiquity and intimacy of smartphones make mobile campaigns an entirely new way to communicate with consumers. Mobile ads can be uniquely useful and pertinent — but they can also be perceived by consumers as disruptive. It‘s vital that we help our clients develop campaigns that are not just technically seamless, but also friendly and relevant. We‘ve been working with Monterosa for 18 months now. They have a great team, and a culture and approach that fit well with ours. We‘re very excited about the potential for this strategically important move.”
Monterosa Stockholm CEO Johan Hemminger added, “Our two companies share a passion for producing highly creative, disruptive ideas with a dedication to craft. This deal will enable us to take our work to the next level. ”
The interactive and mobile advertising and communications sector is currently experiencing spectacular growth as it benefits from convergent technological developments and the massive spread of smartphones. According to eMarketer, worldwide mobile-ad spending will reach $6.4 billion in 2012 and more than $23.6 billion by 2016. Monterosa‘s strong expertise in mobile and its multi-region profile will provide BBH with a core specialty in this key sector, which is one of the fastest growing media channels.
Brands
Reliance Consumer Products partners with Fazer for premium chocolates in India
MoU signed during Finnish President’s visit to leverage RCPL’s distribution for Fazer brands.
MUMBAI: Reliance just added Finnish chocolate to its sweet spot because when the land of saunas meets the land of spices, the result is a premium bar that melts borders. Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Finnish food company Fazer to manufacture, market and distribute Fazer’s premium branded chocolates across India. The agreement was formalised during Finnish President Alexander Stubb’s state visit to India on 7 March 2026.
The long-term strategic partnership combines Fazer’s heritage recipes, quality standards and global chocolate expertise with RCPL’s massive distribution network reaching nearly three million retail outlets nationwide. The collaboration aims to introduce Fazer’s well-known premium products to Indian consumers while strengthening business ties between the two nations.
Reliance Consumer Products Limited director T. Krishnakumar said, “By combining Fazer’s globally trusted brands and manufacturing excellence with RCPL’s local production capabilities, robust distribution network and deep consumer insights, we are well positioned to bring world-class products to Indian consumers and elevate the overall category experience.”
Fazer president and CEO Christoph Vitzthum added, “With RCPL handling commercialisation and distribution in India, we can establish a premium position in the chocolate market and create a foundation for a broader nationwide rollout.”
Since its launch in 2022, RCPL has steadily expanded in the confectionery segment by reviving legacy Indian brands such as Ravalgaon, Toffeeman, Pan Pasand and Lotus Chocolate Company. Fazer, a major player in the Nordics, Baltics, Poland and China with exports to over 40 countries, sees India’s fast-growing chocolate market as a key opportunity.
In a country where chocolate is no longer just a treat but a growing daily indulgence, this tie-up isn’t just about bars, it’s about blending Nordic precision with Indian scale to sweeten the next chapter of the confectionery story.
