MAM
The European Union’s ‘More Than Food’ campaign continues its culinary journey in India
Mumbai: Following the resounding success of its premier food and beverage campaign, ‘More Than Food’ in India last year, the European Union (EU) extended its culinary offerings through an all-new exclusive gastronomical event, ‘Banter Over Brunch’. Anchoring the event, renowned chef, chef Ajay Chopra assumed his status as the ambassador for the campaign once again and helped transport attendees on a captivating journey into the flavours of the European Member States through a delectable brunch spread.
The ‘More Than Food’ campaign in India was conceptualised with the aim to create a range of culinary experiences, bringing alive applications of European food and beverages in Indian cuisine with the objective to transport the audience to the picturesque and culturally rich landscape of the European Union. In line with this, ‘Banter Over Brunch’ saw a variety of mouthwatering dishes, including Berry blast smoothies, chocolate waffles, blackberry and Danablu (PGI) crostini, Mozzarella Avvolta Nel Prosciutto di Parma (PDO) and more, crafted from premium ingredients from the EU, such as fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, dairy and cheese, olive oil, chocolates, , along with pork and poultry products. The EU’s commitment to safety, quality, authenticity, and sustainability was at the heart of the menu, as chef Ajay Chopra introduced each ingredient and its compelling heritage, as well as the EU’s ‘farm to fork’ strategy.
Sharing his thoughts on the extension of the campaign, Delegation of the European Union to India and Bhutan Charge d’affaires a.i H.E. Seppo Nurmi said, “The idea behind EU’s More Than Food Campaign was to bring to Indian audiences exquisite culinary experiences from across Europe, while highlighting our commitment to vigorous food safety regulations that ensures that every European product that one bites into or drink is authentic, of exceptional quality, sustainable, and safe. Given the overwhelming response to the last campaign, we are happy to announce the extension of the campaign. We look forward to our Indo-European collaboration with the Chefs as well as unique curated events that we hope will bring out the rich European flavours.”
Speaking about the event, Ambassador for the More Than Food campaign in India chef Ajay Chopra said, “I am thrilled and honoured to continue my association with the European Union’s ‘More Than Food’ campaign in India, especially as we bring this celebration forward with ‘Banter Over Brunch.’ European ingredients are a testament to the rich and diverse European culture, and this event offers our audience a unique opportunity to savour these culinary treasures. This event and partnership with the EU helped us explore exquisite European food and beverages, knowing they embody authenticity, excellent quality, sustainability, and safety. I look forward to seeing how our guests will craft their own delightful brunch experiences with these incredible ingredients, adding to the tapestry of European food culture.”
The guests were seen in awe of the flavourful dishes and authentic ingredients as they enjoyed the sumptuous brunch curated by the chef. With ‘More Than Food’, the EU will continue to increase awareness about the diverse, rich stories of ingredients and agricultural products from the European Union with campaign ambassadors chef Ajay Chopra and chef Guntas Sethi. The campaign aims to celebrate the diversity of product from across the 27 EU Member States through a series of events, social media features, B2B activities, and promotions.
In addition, The European Commission is organising a High-Level Mission with EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski to New Delhi and Mumbai on 6 – 12 December, to facilitate business networking between high-level delegates from the European agri-food sector and their Indian counterparts.
The Indian market places a lot of value on high quality, authentic products, which is evidenced by the level of imports of EU food and drink, amounting to €857 million in 2021. However, given the size of the Indian market – there is room for significant growth in exports of EU food and beverages, and the ‘More Than Food’ campaign is an initiative aimed at capitalizing on this potential.
Food and beverages from the European Union are available at multiple online and on-ground retail outlets across India.
MAM
BLS International launches #VisaReady campaign to guide applicants
Initiative targets visa myths, delays and rejections with practical guidance
MUMBAI: Visa woes may soon meet their match because paperwork, it seems, is finally getting a user manual. BLS International has rolled out a new awareness drive, #VisaReadyWithBLSInternational, aimed at simplifying the often confusing visa application process and reducing delays caused by misinformation and incomplete documentation. The campaign, led across social media platforms, zeroes in on a long-standing pain point for travellers: lack of clarity around procedures, timelines and requirements. By offering step-by-step guidance, documentation checklists and clear Dos and Don’ts, the initiative attempts to turn what is typically a stressful process into a more predictable one.
At its core, the campaign also seeks to bust common myths that frequently derail applications issues that often lead to avoidable rejections or last-minute complications. The idea is to equip applicants with practical, actionable insights so they can plan better and submit stronger applications within expected timelines.
The push will not remain limited to digital channels. BLS International plans to extend the initiative across its Visa Application Centres globally, reinforcing awareness at key touchpoints where applicants engage with the process.
BLS International joint managing director Shikhar Aggarwal framed the campaign as more than a communication exercise, emphasising the company’s attempt to embed guidance and preparedness into every stage of the applicant journey.
Operating in over 70 countries and working with more than 46 client governments including embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions, the company has built a sizeable footprint in visa and consular services. With this campaign, it is now leaning into education as much as execution, signalling that in the world of visas, clarity might just be the new currency.
