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Pepsi goes Gold for the cricket World Cup
MUMBAI: With World Cup fever set to spiral in less than a month’s time beverage conglomerate Pepsi which is one of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) partners has plans up its sleeve.
It has launched a new gold coloured cola to commemorate cricket’s premier event which will air in India on Max and DD. pepsi says that the product’s resplendent gold symbolise every Indian cricket fan’s desire to bring home the gold colored World Cup Trophy.
PepsiCo India executive director, marketing Punita Lal said, “Brand Pepsi has a rich history of bringing value to the Indian cricket fan. Last year, we gave a voice and identity to the Indian cricket fan through the Blue Billion campaign.
“Recognising the yearning that every cricket fan feels for bringing home the World Cup, we have introduced a gold colored cola, Pepsi Gold. Pepsi Gold is our tribute to the gold colored World Cup trophy and to the spirit of winning and going for Gold. It is also our tribute to the never-say-die spirit of the Indian cricket fan”.
The launch of Pepsi Gold and the Blue Billion campaign are initiatives that take forward Pepsi’s endeavor to empower the cricket fan. If the Blue Billion campaign gave the cricket fan a voice through the “Ooh Aah India ” chant, Pepsi Gold is symbolic of the magic that is possible when every Indian cricket fan joins the drive to bring the World Cup home.
To demonstrate this, Pepsi consumers and cricket fans will wish the Indian team good luck by giving them a grand farewell today, ahead of their departure for the West Indies . Cricket fans and winners, including Pepsi brand ambassadors – Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka, singers – Sukhwinder, Adnan Sami and Shankar will cheer and wish the Indian cricket team the very best in their own way.
A slew of marketing initiatives have been planned to back the Gold launch. These range from lenticular POS that showcases the Pepsi Gold bottle morphing into the World Cup trophy, to miniature replicas of the World Cup trophy, which will be given away on purchase of the Pepsi Gold 600ml Pet pack.
A new commercial, created by ad agency JWT, will be on air from 7 March 20077. The TVC depicts cricket fans across the country bringing together a message for the Indian cricket team.
Also lined up are multi-packs consisting of four Pepsi Gold Bottles, available at all large format grocery stores. The multi-pack offer comes with an even more attractive consumer promotion that lets consumers win attractive Pepsi Blue Billion gear.
Lal adds, “Watching cricket matches together, is a great bonding occasion, be it with family or friends. With World Cup fever set to spiral in most homes, we believe the Pepsi Gold multi-pack can add a bit of magic to the occasion”.
Pepsi Gold is a premium offering targeted at cricket fans which will be available in two exclusive packs – a gold coloured 600ml PET bottle priced at Rs. 25, and the trendy, 250ml carry pack priced ar Rs. 15.
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.
