Cover Story
- Customised to suit the quality of local water and milk, Wagh Bakri dominates tea consumption in Gujarat. So much so that no one can touch the brand's market position in the state - 50 per cent of the tea consumed is Wagh Bakri.
- Business Today presents a selection of small, regional brands that are drawing up aggressive plans that should have the big names in the business worried. Vi-John is a good example of low-profile Indian brands that have stood their ground against multinational onslaught.SUCCESS STORY OF DESI BRANDS Havmor | Sakthi Masala | Mapro | Dantadhavanachoornam | Sosyo | Wagh Bakri | Kalimark
- Sosyo, Gujarat's swadeshi soft drink, is a sprightly 89 years old, and it wants to be a national brand when it grows up.
- Himgange's hair oils are holding their own against competing products from heavyweights Emami and Marico.
- K.P. Namboodiri's capitalises on consumers' trust in its tooth powder to promote other products.
- Customer loyalty has helped soft drink maker Kalimark stand its ground in Tamil Nadu.
- When feisty Indian brands roll up their sleeves, it's time for MNCs to worry. Business Today presents a selection of small, regional brands that have been around for years, and are drawing up aggressive plans that should have the big names in the business worried. SUCCESS STORY OF DESI BRANDS Vi-John | Havmor | Sakthi Masala | Mapro | Dantadhavanachoornam | Sosyo | Wagh Bakri | Kalimark
- Unfazed by competition, ice cream maker Havmor is rapidly moving beyond Gujarat.
- In our effort to bring focus on regional brands that are drawing up aggressive plans to take on big names in the business, we present Mapro. The fruit product manufacturer has developed a radically different product from bigger rivals in the confectionery segment.SUCCESS STORY OF OTHER DESI BRANDS Vi-John | Havmor | Sakthi Masala | Dantadhavanachoornam | Sosyo | Wagh Bakri | Kalimark
- From a 300 sq ft operation to a 30-acre one, Sakthi Masala has come a long way.
Perfect getaway: The Tree House Resort
Amidst aging trunks, leafy greens and chirpy birdsong, The Tree House Resort in Syari valley is where you go to get away from the getaway. Time can do more than just mature your whisky; it can even make you rich.World's biggest brands in three conjoined towers
Standing tall on 1.27 million square metres of gleaming marble, Sands Cotai Central, Macao, combines some of the hospitality world's biggest brands in three conjoined towers.An Adventure-hungry traveller hits the high seas
Disillusioned by the thought of working in a cubicle, an adventure-hungry traveller hits the high seas.Tips on healthy food, grooming, footcare
Image consultant Yatan Ahluwalia and make up specialist Jojo groom the urban business traveller.Get an inside peek into the luxurious life on board Emirates' A380
Get an inside peek into the luxurious life on board Emirates' new giant of the skies, the A380.
All you need to know about new products in the market
The X-Pro1's body includes a 16 megapixel image sensor with Fujifilm's EXR processing technology and a 6x6 colour array.Latest trends in menswear for holiday season
Men's fashion is in an escapist mood. Take a tour of the latest trends as we impart fresh-off-the-runway wisdom for this holiday season.Officine Panerai now caters to a markedly different clientele worldwide
Once proudly worn by the Italian naval commandos during World War I, Officine Panerai now caters to a markedly different clientele worldwide.Amit Burman's favourite things
Amit Burman, Vice Chairman, Dabur India shares his favourite prodcuts.Manish Yadav takes us through his collection of world's best cars
A collector takes us through the gazillion speed monsters resting in his backyard. The race is on.
More and more Indians are downloading music legally
More and more Indians are downloading music legally, and companies are raking it in.Rivals Madhusudan Khemka and Ramesh Kymal take the wind out of Suzlon's sails
Though wind power companies like ReGen and Gamesa Wind Turbines have some distance to go, they are fast adding capacities.Mumbai-based start-up uses geothermal cooling to slash air conditioning bills
A Mumbai-based start-up uses geothermal cooling to slash air conditioning bills.Rajat Gupta's fate hinges on whether judge will dismiss wiretaps as hearsay
As Rajat Gupta faces trial, Betwa Sharma, reporting from New York, says his fate hinges on whether the judge will dismiss wiretaps as hearsay.'Institutes like NID, IDC, and FTII, need to expand capacity'
In just over a decade, the gaming and animation market in Korea has become a multibilliondollar global player, with hundreds of companies, and employing tens of thousands of high value-adding artistsWhat ails India's animation industry
Brave efforts are afoot this summer but Indian animation still reels under missing talent, zero state support and an overdependence on technology.Blackburn Rovers' relegation from EPL has left Venky's with egg on its face
Blackburn Rovers' relegation from the English Premier League has left Venky's with egg on its face.Young, talented Indians developing Apps galore
Young, talented Indians are developing them galore as the entry barrier is low. The developers don't need a sales force to market apps which can be put up at online marketplaces.
People who made news last fortnight
Starring: J.S. Sarma, Rahul Khullar, Dev Amritesh, Y.K. Hamied, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Pallavi Jha
Number of proposals to improve tax compliance are draconian
A number of proposals to improve tax compliance are draconian and leave scope for harassment.Flip-flops in tax policy makes India a riskier destination for foreign investors
Government's GAAR proposal and the retrospective amendment are not discrete developments, but part of a trend that suggests an increasing level of aggression by tax officials. Aggression could eventually increase revenue, but comes with a problem. It has begun to negatively impact foreign investment into Indian companies.After petrol, should diesel prices be hiked to help economy?
India has been living beyond its means and is now being forced to pay for it. After the petrol price hike, the only way out is for the government to raise the diesel price, whatever adverse political consequences may follow.Voice your opinion about the price hikeHow different things work: Number Plates Go Hi-tech
All new vehicles bought in Delhi and a number of specified states from May 1 onwards will have high security registration plates (HSRP).Air India strike: Who said what
The government can't put in order its own flagship carrier... it is a long story of mismanagement, misappropriation, malpractice and patronage of private players, Gurudas Dasgupta, CPI MP, quoted by wire agenciesAsia-Pacific region will remain the fastest-growing in the world in 2012
The Asia-Pacific region will remain the fastest-growing in the world in 2012, says the latest report of the UN's Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).Power producers may soon be able to divert coal to other power projects
The Supreme Court willing, power producers may soon be able to divert coal to other power projects.Roundup: Events of the fortnight
There seems to be no end to the Air India mess, with pilots demanding exclusive training rights on Dreamliner jet planes.
Personal guide to cracking art fair code
Art has the power to befuddle, especially if we are unsure of what we can rave about or treat with disdain. Here's your personal guide to cracking the art fair code.Four Indian stand-up comedy who are redefining what makes Indians laugh
We bring you four rising stars in Indian stand-up comedy who are redefining what makes Indians laugh.
How Samsung Moved Nokia's Cheese: Samsung has many advantages over Nokia
Your cover story How Samsung Moved Nokia's Cheese (May 27) has once again proved that necessity is mother of all innovation.
Read expert recommendations closely, but never follow them blindly
Read expert recommendations closely, but never follow them blindly.
Do not underestimate the power of the human brain
Do not underestimate the power of the human brain.
Ajaz Ahmed and Stefan Olander Vermillion's new book has a digital perspective
Some of the new laws may be similar to old ones, but they come from a digital perspective.
Are software testing firms worth joining
The jury is out on whether software testing firms are worth joining.
ICRA's P.K. Choudhury leadership style is participative
P.K. Choudhury, Vice Chairman & Group CEO, ICRA Ltd admires Deepak Parekh.
Haagen-Dazs had done its homework well for China
In the mid-1990s, the Chinese were highly price-sensitive consumers with little dairy in their diet. In walked Haagen-Dazs, pitching its full-fat ice cream at prices five times higher than in the US. Many of the 'rurban' brands are run with entrepreneurial zest of start-ups
Brands fascinate us at Business Today. When we write about companies, and the men and women who work for them and run them, we are also indirectly writing about their brands, which are inextricably tied to their corporate identities. A good wine can make a good meal even better
The best Indian wines can be as good if not better than the foreign competition, but only if the vineyard gets it right.Italian chef loves feeding hungry souls at Dubai's Ibn Battuta hotel
Italian food is always a favourite but never easy to get right. Sicilia at Dubai's Ibn Battuta hotel has much in its favour.Hong Kong's Chilli Fagara sets the standard in extreme dining.
Hong Kong's Chilli Fagara sets the standard in extreme dining. Challenge your tastebuds to see if you can take the heat.
