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Madison bags Cadbury India AOR business
MUMBAI: Madison Communications has added another feather in its cap by adding Cadbury India to its impressive client list that already has bigwigs such as Coca Cola India, P&G amongst others. The agency will take over from Carat India and will handle the AOR for the chocolate, sugar confectionery and malted food drinks business of Cadbury India.
Carat, MindShare/Maximize, Madison, Mediaedge, MediaCom, Starcom and Zenith Media were some of the agencies pitched for the planning and buying business of Cadbury India after the company called for a review.
For the year ended 29 December 2002, the net sales of Cadbury India Limited were Rs 6846.58 million (source: www.myiris.com). Cadbury by its own admission spends anything between 10 per cent and 10.3 per cent on advertising and promotions. Therefore, it would be fair to say that the spend on advertising and promotion should be anything between Rs 600 million and Rs 700 million.
The media agencies were asked to present credentials, after which two were shortlisted (along with Carat). Following this initial exercise, a proper media brief will be given for the final pitch.
Cadbury India GM-marketing Sanjay Purohit was quoted as saying that Madison best matched the desired requirements – namely excellent media strategy, efficient media buying and superior innovation.
Earlier, Cadbury India announced the rearrangement of its brand portfolio across its three existing creative agencies in line with its future growth ambitions. An official release informs that the reshuffle has been done with the intention of increasing agency focus, nurturing expertise across specific categories and to optimise team efforts.
In this reshuffle, Ogilvy & Mather will continue to handle the four chocolate power brands (Cadbury’s Dairy Milk, Perk, Five Star, Gems) and Bournvita. Contract Advertising (India) will now look after Halls and Eclairs besides Chocki, other mass-market brands and the Gifting portfolio. Lemon has been assigned Milk Treat and Temptations, apart from new brand initiatives such as Delite.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
