MAM
Media agencies depend heavily on flagship clients
MUMBAI: Single flagship clients account for over one-fifth of revenue for many media agencies, showing a symbiotic long-term relationship between them.
Mindshare earned 20.3 per cent of its revenue in calendar year 2011 from Hindustan Lever, the largest advertiser in the Indian market. The FMCG major’s media spend in 2011 was $214.7 million, handled entirely by Mindshare which had total billings crossing the $1 billion mark in the year, RECMA’s (Research Company Evaluating the Media Agency Industry) global billings report shows.
Incidentally, HUL has marginally scaled down its media spends in 2011 due to the slowdown in the Indian economy. The company had spent $241.9 million in 2010 to promote its rich and diverse reach of brands cutting across all segments.
The GroupM agency’s other clients in India include Pepsico, GSK, Nike, Ford, Star Network, ICICI, Lenovo, Kellogg’s, IBM, Nestle, and Aditya Birla Capital.
| Brand | Media Expenses* | Media Agency | Total Billing*2011 | % contributed by Brand | |
| 2011 | 2010 | ||||
| Hindustan Lever | 214.7 | 241.9 | Mindshare | 1050 | 20.30% |
| LG | 56.2 | 77 | MEC | 300 | 18% |
| Maruti Udyog | 61.3 | 65.5 | LMG | 430 | 14.25% |
| Nokia | 58.7 | 58.5 | Maxus | 570 | 10.20% |
| Pantaloons Retail | 65.6 | 74.2 | Allied Media | 235 | 27.90% |
| Reckitt | 64.7 | 80.2 | ZenithOptemedia | 295 | 21.90% |
| Samsung | 81.8 | 60.2 | Starcom | 275 | 29.70% |
ZenithOptimedia, which had grossed a billing of $295 million in 2011, got 21.9 per cent of its revenue from Reckitt Benckiser. The company had spent $64.7 million in 2011 as compared to $80.2 million in 2010, according to RECMA. It has brands like Harpic, Air Wick, Calgon, Veet, Boots Healthcare, Nurofen, Strepsils, Clearasil, Adams Respiratory.
The Samsung business accounted for 29.7 per cent of Starcom’s billing of $295 million in 2011. The Korean company spent $81.8 million in 2011, up from $60.2 million in the previous year.
Allied Media, with a net billing of $235 million, made 27.9 per cent of its revenue from Pantaloons Retail, RECMA report shows. Pantaloons Retail had a media spend of $65.6 million in 2011, down from $74.2 million a year ago.
GroupM’s MEC derives 18.73 per cent of its revenue from LG Electronics. Out of MEC’s billings of $300 million in 2011, the consumer electronics major shelled out $56.2 million towards media in 2011. LG has also cut its media spend by almost 27 per cent ($77 million in 2010), according to RECMA.
Lintas Media Group got 14.25 per cent of its revenue from Maruti Udyog that spent $61.3 million on media in 2011. This was lower than what the company had spent in the year 2010 which was 65.5 per cent. Maruti Suzuki, Magyar Suzuki, M-800, Omni, Alto, WagonR, Swift, Dezire, Esteem, Zen, Estilo, SX4, Grand Vitara and Versa are the brands that run under the brand.
GroupM’s Maxus earned 10.26 per cent of its total billing of $570 million in 2011 from its Nokia account. The mobile phone handset maker Nokia spent $58.7 million on media, almost the same ($58.5 million) as in 2010.
Brands
Bigbasket launches low GI bb Royal atta for steady sugar control
New blend developed with CFTRI aims to bring science-led nutrition home
MYSORE: Bigbasket has expanded its health-focused portfolio with the launch of bb Royal Slow Sugar Release Atta, a scientifically developed flour designed to help manage blood sugar levels while fitting seamlessly into everyday diets.
The product, part of its bb Royal range, was unveiled by Jitendra Singh at the CSIR-CFTRI in Mysore, underscoring the growing intersection of food science and consumer health.
Developed in collaboration with CFTRI, the atta blends wheat with ingredients such as soya, buckwheat, Bengal gram, oats, psyllium husk and fenugreek. The formulation has been clinically tested and carries a glycaemic index of under 45, significantly lower than conventional wheat flour, indicating a slower release of sugar into the bloodstream.
This slow-release property is designed to support steady energy levels, reduce post-meal sugar spikes and promote satiety. In simpler terms, it aims to keep you fuller for longer while helping manage metabolic health, a growing concern among urban consumers.
Speaking about the launch, bigbasket chief buying and merchandising officer Seshu Kumar Tirumala said, “At bigbasket, private labels are more than just products, they are strategic choices rooted in quality, innovation and consumer insight. With bb Royal Slow Sugar Release Atta, we are bringing scientifically backed nutrition into everyday Indian kitchens, supporting better metabolic health without compromising on taste or versatility.”
Echoing this sentiment, CSIR-CFTRI director Giridhar Parvatam said, “Our collaboration with bigbasket is rooted in a shared vision of making scientifically validated, healthier food choices more accessible to Indian households at scale. Innovations like this are not just about a single product, but about enabling a shift towards better dietary habits.”
The launch reflects a broader trend where consumers are increasingly seeking functional foods that deliver both nutrition and convenience. With science stepping into the kitchen, everyday staples like atta are quietly getting a smarter upgrade.
As bigbasket continues to build out its private label strategy, this latest offering suggests that the future of grocery may well be equal parts taste, trust and technology.
