Brands
The Fifth anniversary edition of the BrandZTM India ranking expands to 75 brands
For this fifth anniversary of the BrandZ™ India report, the criteria has been revised and has expanded the ranking to become the BrandZ™ India Top 75. The expanded ranking keeps pace with the changes in India and charts India’s rapidly changing brand landscape and provide insights necessary for building valuable brands.
With the new criteria, the BrandZ India ranking added 30 new brands, with over a third coming from the service sector. Other categories added to the BrandZ India ranking this year are durables and home appliances, tobacco, and entertainment (TV stations). With the addition of new categories, seven Newcomers appear in the Top 15 and the awards will be given out on September 6th in Mumbai.
As India changes, the people with some money to spend and a desire for a better life are not limited to wealthy enclaves in a few major cities, making brand marketing more complicated. Especially in FMCG and personal care categories, success requires understanding the product nuances and linguistic distinctions both across thousands of villages and among the micro markets in India’s major cities.
These challenges are coupled with opportunities. First, having more higher income people, even in rural areas, increases the number of Indian consumers, making it economically feasible for marketers to create niche brands. Second, digital technology and the advent of mobile devices democratizes access to information, enabling marketers to target their messages. Opportunities are everywhere because people throughout India are striving.
Vishikh Talwar, MD Kantar Millward Brown- South Asia says-
The BrandZ™ five-year analysis shows to ensure faster brand value growth, a brand needs to cultivate the drivers of equity: Meaningfulness, Difference, and Salience. For a consumer group like the millennials who grew amid the era of India’s technological awakening and transformation, brands must adopt their values to connect and thereby build trust with this generation. This tectonic shift in Indian society molded these young adults as conscious and highly informed consumers. They expect and demand transparency and prefer to do business with brands that have expertise in their offerings and authenticity in their claims.
Brands
Lotus Herbals unveils HydroActivated sunscreen with high-impact campaign
Harnaaz Sandhu fronts digital push spotlighting breakthrough sun care tech
MUMBAI: Lotus Herbals has rolled out a high-decibel marketing campaign to introduce what it calls India’s first hydro-activated sunscreen, aiming to reshape how consumers think about sun protection.
At the centre of the launch is the Safe Sun HydroActivated Sunscreen SPF 50+ PA+++, a formulation built on a patent-pending Hydrosome Technology that activates on contact with moisture. Unlike conventional sunscreens that can weaken with sweat, this product is designed to do the opposite, boosting protection when the skin is exposed to water or perspiration.
The campaign is led by Harnaaz Sandhu and is being amplified across OTT platforms, social media and outdoor locations in key metro cities. The brand film takes a light, relatable approach to everyday sunscreen struggles such as uneven application and fading protection, while positioning the new product as a reliable, high-performance alternative for active lifestyles.
Beyond its core technology, the sunscreen features next-generation UV filters and Edelweiss Flower Extract, offering hydration alongside protection. The formula claims up to 10 hours of water resistance and even, all-round defence against sun exposure and tanning, targeting consumers who want both skincare and performance in one product.
Speaking about the launch, Lotus Herbals chairman and managing director Nitin Passi said, “We are excited to launch India’s first sunscreen with hydroactivated technology which is our most innovative product launch. This isn’t just a sunscreen; it’s a technological breakthrough that utilises a novel manufacturing process. We’ve created a product that stays invisible on the skin yet becomes a performance powerhouse when the user is most active.”
Sharing her experience, Lotus Herbals brand ambassador Harnaaz Sandhu said, “I am thrilled to be associated with Lotus Herbals Safe Sun for their new sun protection campaign. In my world, there is no room for shortcuts, and I need functional and reliable products that work as hard as I do. The hydroactivated sunscreen is a game-changer because it blends with my skin and protects me better when I’m pushing my limits.”
The campaign is being distributed across platforms including JioStar connected TV integrations and ZEE5, along with television placements such as Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in West Bengal. A large influencer push involving over a thousand creators, along with in-store branding and retail activations, is also part of the rollout.
With a blend of science-led positioning and mass-market storytelling, Lotus Herbals is betting on innovation to stand out in the crowded sun care segment, hoping its moisture-powered promise strikes the right chord with today’s always-on consumers.
