Brands
Third Wave Coffee and Smoor stir up sweet brews with Diwali hampers
MUMBAI: This Diwali, it’s sweets meets sips. Third Wave Coffee and luxury chocolate brand Smoor have teamed up to brew a festive pairing of rich coffees, artisanal chocolates and keepsakes in three limited-edition hampers.
Crafted to capture the spirit of togetherness, the collaboration offers a blend of two rituals at the heart of Indian celebrations: the sweetness of mithai and the warmth of coffee. Priced from Rs 1,299 onwards, the hampers will be available across Third Wave Coffee and Smoor outlets and on Swiggy and Zomato from 25 September.
The collection features: classic hamper with Vienna roast easy coffee bags, a mug, Smoor’s choco mithai and almond snaps, a diya and greeting card; Indulgence hamper layering Vienna and monsoon malabar roasts with choco mithai, pistachio kunafa bites, a diya, handcrafted mug and tote bag; Luxe hamper starring Ratnagiri specialty single-origin festive blend, a French press, choco mithai, kunafa, artisanal mug, diya and bespoke greeting card.
“Coffee is more than a beverage, it is a comforting ritual that connects people,” said Third Wave Coffee, CEO, Rajat Luthra. “Pairing it with Smoor’s indulgent chocolates makes these hampers more than gifts, they’re modern experiences.”
Smoor, CEO, Vimal Sharma added, “Our craft in chocolate paired with their mastery of coffee brings distinct experiences in perfect balance, creating hampers that are thoughtful and truly special.”
With signature brews, handcrafted treats and festive touches like diyas and cards, the hampers aim to elevate gifting from the conventional to the memorable. Because this Diwali, celebration isn’t just about lights and laddoos: it is about savouring every sip and every bite, brewed and sweetened to perfection.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
