Archives May 2023

Bengaluru,27th May 2023: 100 years in a brand’s journey marks a significant milestone in the annals of a company. Among a handful of brands that can boast of this significant achievement in the country, is the legendary and iconic men’s fashion brand from Bengaluru, P N RAO, founded in 1923. Over the last 100 years, P N RAO with its tagline FINE SUITS SINCE 1923 has earned the reputation of suiting up the cities’ elites staying true to its founding philosophy and values.

To commemorate its centennial year celebrations on May 25th 2023, coinciding with the 120th birth anniversary of its founder late Shri Pishe Narayan Rao, P N RAO has brought global industry leaders in fabrics to share their perspectives on how the ever-changing and ever-evolving space of fashion is dictating the fabrics segment, more specifically the luxury fabrics space, globally and in India. Sharing stage with Mr. Ketan Pishe and Mr. Naveen Pishe, Partners, P N RAO were Mr. Neil Hart, Global Sales Director, Scabal; Mr. Bob McAuley, President, HMS International (parent company of Huddersfield Fine Worsteads), Mr. Chandramouli, Director, Huddersfield Fine Worsteds India and Roger La Viale; Mr. Simone, Global Sales Manager, Reda; Vitale Barberis Canonico and Ms. Vandana, MD, Dormeuil India.

Commenting on the shift in luxury fabrics in India and globally,

Mr. Neil Hart, Global Sales Director, Scabal said, “India is demanding more finer and luxurious cloths and we are also working hard to meet those demands from the global and Indian consumer perspective, who is becoming more demanding and more curious to know about the whole process – from the raw materials stage to the finished products stage. The demand is certainly there, but for higher quality materials”.

Mr. Bob McAuley, President, HMS International, said ”India with a population of 1.4 billion is an aspirational market for all the fabric manufacturers but the needs and requirements are very different. The luxury segment is growing at a very rapid pace and hence the brands like us are ready to customize our product in accordance to the country’s requirements”

Mr. Richard Boide, MD, Dormeuil who joined via video conference, added “An important development that I foresee unfolding in India in future, is that, as more and more people become conscious about the environment, brands that are heavily invested in sustainable and ethical manufacturing processes will benefit, because consumers will increasingly align with brands that have strong sustainability commitments”.

“Dubbed as the equivalent of London’s Saville Row of India for the finest suits, P N RAO has given a new meaning to bespoke tailoring with innovations that never existed or thought of before” added the global executives.

Commenting on the shifts taking place in luxury fabrics in India, they said “as global manufacturers and merchants of the finest fabrics for suits, we have observed a marked shift in demand of fabrics, especially the luxury fabrics, a segment largely dictated by wedding seasons, festive and special occasions in India. A collection of garments in the wardrobe styled in the trending fabric is the name of the game. But it doesn’t end here. As environmental consciousness gains momentum in all walks of life, the fabrics that they choose are also viewed with the same eyes resulting in a marked shift in demand for eco-responsible products. P N RAO has been at the forefront of playing an ‘advisory role’, a core value, to help consumers navigate through these tides of change and relaying back these gravitations to help us innovate and improve our buffet of offerings from time to time”.

Speaking to media persons on the occasion, Ketan Pishe, Partner, P N RAO, said “Year 2023 is a significant year for P N RAO for it marks the centennial year of the brand and more so today as it coincides with the 120th birth anniversary of our great founder late Shri Pishe Narayan Rao. P N RAO and all our global friends and partners have walked hand-in-hand these years to bring to customers the best suits in the finest fabrics which has made us a household name in suits and a force to reckon with. As we prepare for the next 100 years with renewed spirit and vigour and strengthen our partnership with the global fabrics manufacturers, we aim to further consolidate our leadership position in the segment”

“ To offer the finest suits at the most competitive prices to our customers, P N RAO has built one of the largest bespoke tailoring units on the outskirts of Bengaluru which is completely solar powered demonstrating our commitment to the environment and clean, safe and hygienic manufacturing of our apparels”, added Naveen Pishe, Partner, P N RAO.

On this special occasion, representatives from the World Federation of Masters Tailors presented a memento to P N RAO for their outstanding contribution towards bespoke tailoring furthering it and propagating it among suit aspirants. The memento was received by Ketan Pishe and Naveen Pishe, Partners, P N RAO. The memento was presented by Dr. Prakash Parmar, Director, World Federation of Master Tailors.

Later in the evening, P N RAO will give a glimpse of its new Women’s Wear line-up of garments that it will be launching soon along with its specially crafted Centennial Collection of apparels to commemorate its 100 glorious years at a glittering fashion show while also honoring 100 eminent personalities from Bengaluru from various walks of life who have brought name and fame to the city and have been part of the growth story of Bengaluru, akin to P N RAO.

Actress Zita Vass and Miss Europe 2020 & Model Gaby Guha attended one of the most prestigious global events, the Cannes Film Festival and walked on the carpet. For her walk at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, Zita Vass selected a sensational and cutting-edge couture gown by Reynu Taandon that complemented the actress’s aesthetic and demeanor. The designer dress had a halter neck cut that accentuated the attractiveness of the silhouette and was made up of beads, Swarovski, and sequins. The silhouette was coupled with fashionable organza and included a waist cutout. The stunning and regal ingenuity enhanced the grandeur of the complete ensemble. Gaby Guha, a French model, opted to wear Nikhita Tandon’s designs. Inspired by The Archangel Mehra trim energy, whose aura was included in a 10-metre-long hand-embellished sequin net trail, served as the inspiration for the Miss Europe 2020 sequin embroidered orange ray light gown. The prima donna was hugged by the accentuated waistline and plunging neckline, creating a ground-breaking and jaw-dropping appearance.

Zita Vass was astounded by the couture dress’ top-notch design. She claimed that Reynu Taandon’s creation “matched my ideals. She and her team deserve my deepest congratulations for coming up with such a stunning look. “Nikhita and her team curated an inspiration gown that made me look like a celestial angel,” said Gaby Guha in a statement. Thanks to the designer for coming up with such a fantastic and distinctive style that suited what I was looking for.

The journey of a lifetime begins with the right start and Royal Canin is committed to making this journey enriching & valuable for all pet owners. Building on the principle of “Mutuality”, one of the fundamental guiding principles of the way we do business, Royal Canin has for the first time partnered with key stakeholders, i.e. Veterinarians & Breeders to provide them a platform where they can share their precious pearls of wisdom on the Start of Life phase every pet owner goes through. At the same time this common platform will enable pet parents to also reach out to these experts with their queries, concerns and help on this critical life stage, ie the Start of Life. The campaign has created a Kitten & Puppy Growth Programme as a seamless, precise, and holistic experience to help reverse a trend where pet owners fail to provide their puppy or kitten with suitable diets or move to adult food too soon.

The first months of a puppy or kitten lay the foundation of their future health and well-being whose benefits will last a lifetime. Their body requires adapted levels of nutrients – especially energy, proteins, and minerals – to develop them into a healthy adult. Common mistakes include switching to adult food during that period. It directly impacts the growth pattern which may lead, for example, to osteoarticular problems. So, feeding puppies and kittens with diets that reflect their needs in their composition is crucial. Growth diets are complete and balanced, no supplements are necessary.

This is an educative campaign in collaboration with experts in the field of pet care, pushes the boundaries of nutrition and knowledge under the direction of science and pediatric veterinary medicine, with a series of video narratives that are candid, informative, and very practical. The first series will help new pet parents right from choosing the right pet for their homes till they bring them home and the first few months of settling in. This phase moves on to subsequent stages of the pet growing into an adult and will handhold all new pet parents on this unique journey.

This campaign has been a genuine attempt at making a difference in the lives of pets and their parents with an extensive and unique range dedicated to cats and dogs from birth to adulthood – incorporating gestation and lactation – which is available at veterinarians and pet specialty stores.

The campaign is divided into four distinct stages, each made up of nutritional products specifically formulated to fulfil a pet’s unique physiological and behavioral needs from infancy to adolescence in accordance with his breed, age, size, weight, and newly developed common sensitivity. Recipes are created specifically to maintain a robust immune system, aid in the healthy growth of the brain, organs, and skeletal system, support a balanced microbiome, and provide the proper amount of energy. Additionally, a distinctive formula delivered in a specially created kibble that is tailored to the size and shape of each breed’s jaw contributes to the food’s digestibility and palatability.

Speaking about the campaign Mr. Satinder Singh, General Manager (Managing Director) at Royal Canin, India “Growth of kitten & puppies is an intense building phase. Their body requires adapted levels of nutrients – especially energy, proteins, and minerals – to develop themselves into healthy adults. As a leading health through nutrition company, Royal Canin is dedicated to showcasing the cooperation between pet owners and pet specialists. We believe that every pet deserves the best Start in life, and that begins with proper nutrition. Such a sound and enduring relationship demonstrate a belief that every pet deserves the best possible start in life in terms of nutrition, guidance, and care.”

The Start of Life campaign will feature a range of educational materials, including blog posts, social media content, and webinars. Pet owners will have the chance to gain more knowledge about the value of adequate nutrition during their pet’s formative years and learn about the advantages of giving them a diet that is suited to their individual requirements.

We would like to thank Dr. Mohammad Ali – Assistant Professor, Department of Clinics, Madras Veterinary College, Dr. B. Nagarajan – President Association for Veterinary Dermatology India, Dr. Srikanth – Prakruthi Veterinary Clinic and Diagnostic Centre and breeder, Chandrashekhar T K – Breeder of the year 2013 – 2014, Sudhakar Babu Katikineni – World Cat Federation Judge for 5 years, C. Santosh – Bengaluru Canine Club Secretary and Ganesh Anand for their words of wisdom and helping us educating pet parents on responsible pet parenting.

Panaji, 26th May 2023 – In an age where popular food aggregating apps have been accused of running a duopoly and dictating terms to the restaurant sector, the advent of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is expected to revolutionize the food industry, according to the Prahlad Sukhtankar, Goa Chapter Head of the National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI).

The Goa Chapter of NRAI recently facilitated an informative session in Panaji on the likely impact of the ONDC on the restaurant sector in particular and the food industry in general in the coastal state, where a senior ONDC official said that the unique central government-run network facilitates seamless integration of various digital services, such as online ordering, delivery logistics, and payment solutions, into a single ecosystem.

According to Sukhtankar, ONDC, which is currently operational in beta phase across the country, would help restaurateurs break the shackles of the food aggregator apps-driven duopoly.

“Currently, food delivery is controlled majorly by a couple of food aggregators which provide the logistics as well as discovery of the brand. It will change with ONDC, because each such component on the network either can be availed of together or separately. Hence prices will also vary and customers would then have the discretion to choose who to do business with,” Sukhtankar said, adding that ONDC’s entry would hopefully rationalise prices, give more control to the user and revolutionise the way people generally do retail business.

“And this is not just for food, it could also apply to shopping for clothes, groceries, etc,” Sukhtankar said.

ONDC enables restaurants to directly connect with consumers, eliminating the need for intermediaries. The network is also expected to democratize the whole interactive experience for both consumers as well as restaurants. This innovative network has emerged as a viable alternative for the restaurant industry, offering new opportunities for growth and profitability, according to Marichi Mathur, F&B Domain Leader at ONDC.

“ONDC has emerged as a game-changer for the restaurant industry by revolutionizing the way businesses connect, transact and engage with customers. By leveraging this network, restaurants can streamline their operations, enhance efficiency and improve customer experiences,” Mathur said.

Sharing his experience or benefits of using ONDC, Murali Krishnan, CEO & CMO of Wow! Momo, a pan-India restaurant chain, said that the new network promises to usher in a new era of profitability for restaurant owners compared to their current reliance on food aggregators.

“By leveraging the power of ONDC, restaurateurs will gain consumer ownership and the ability to hyper-personalise customer experience. Unlike limitations imposed by food aggregators, ONDC will provide restaurants with valuable data, such as details of the customers’ past orders, identifying repeat customers and other relevant information which will help the restaurant improve the customer experience. ONDC will also aid in increased visibility and profitability for the restaurants and result in possible reduction of commissions (which restaurants have to pay) from around 25 percent currently to five to eight percent,” Krishnan said.

New Delhi, 26th May 2023:India’s apex solar organization, National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) has finalized the location for the upcoming solar-powered EV-charging carport project in Hauz Khas, Delhi. As per the guidelines of this pilot project, Servotech will cover all phases of the upcoming carport from design to fabrication to implementation.

This project will comprise two DC chargers with a capacity of 15 kW and 30 kW each, 12 solar panels for 540wp, a 7 kW AC charger, a 3.3 kW AC charger, and a 10 kW on-grid inverter.

National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), and Servotech Power Systems Limited had signed a pact to establish a Solar-powered EV Charger-enabled carport as a pilot project.

As per this pilot project, NSEFI had given an opportunity to Servotech Power Systems Limited for demonstrating its capabilities in the solar power and EV charging domains by establishing a carport. This is an innovative project and will definitely show new doors of hope & sustainability to the people.

Hyderabad,India.26th May 2023 PremierEnergiesLimited,India’s2ndlargestintegratedSolarcellandModule manufacturer has been recognised as top performer’ among global PV manufacturers inPVEL’s2023PVmodulereliabilityscorecard.PremierEnergies,backedbyglobalenvironmentfundGEFCapital(basedinWashingtonDC),hasofficesinIndiaandTorontoandoffersreliable,highperformance Solar Cells and Modules across the globe.Tstate-of-the-art, fullyautomatedlineinHyderabad(India)hasannualcapacityof2GWofcellsand3GWofmodules.

Based on PVEL’s rigorous Product Qualification Program (PQP) that includes a battery of tests likethermal cycling, damp heat, mechanical stress sequence, potential-induced degradation (PID), light- induced degradation (LID), light and elevated temperature-induced degradation (LETID) and PANperformance, 88 modules of Premier Energies spanning 400W, 450W, 500W 540W series, have qualified as Top Performer. Premier Energies modules have in fact delivered high reliability scores of less than 1% degradation in critical tests like LID+LETID and less than 2% degradation in PID. These reliability scores, in simulated real world rigorous conditions are highly relevant to solar developers who are looking for modules that perform reliably under varying and testing conditions.

Chiranjeev Saluja, Managing Director of Premier Energies said “As an integrated Solar Cell andModule manufacturer, we have better controls on quality and cost and we are uniquely placed toofferlongtermreliableandcosteffectivemodules.Wehavebeenapioneerinthesolartechnologyand manufacturing space f 28 years. PVEL ‘Top Performer’ achievement is a further testament ofourengineeringcapabilityandmodulereliabilitythatwe havebuiltoverthelast3decades.”

“We congratulate Premier Energies for achieving Top Performer status in the 2023 PV ModuleReliability Scorecard,” commented Tristan Erion-Lorico, VP of Sales and Marketing at PVEL. “This is particularly noteworthy given that they have achieved this distinction in the first year of participating in PVEL’s Product Qualification Program which provides vital knowledge on PV module long termreliability and performance.”

HCLTech, a leading global technology company, is recognized with the 2023 Intel Partner Award for Market Acceleration SI/CSP.The award honors Intel partners demonstrating excellence in technology innovation, go-to-market strategy and growth. This is a recognition of HCLTech’s long-standing and successful partnership with Intel to accelerate digital transformation for clients.

“This award celebrates our 30-year partnership and reinforces HCLTech’s capabilities to leverage Intel’s cutting-edge technologies with our world-class digital, hybrid digital workplace, engineering and cloud services to develop innovative, practical solutions for our clients,” said Anand Swamy, EVP and Head, Tech OEM and Telco Ecosystems and Strategy, HCLTech.

“We are thrilled to recognize Intel’s partner award winners across the APJ region,” said John Kalvin, Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Global Partners & Support organization. “Our partners have achieved the highest standards in growth, innovation and market acceleration. Congratulations to HCLTechfor your remarkable achievements. We value your Extreme Partnership and look forward to continued success as we unleash the future together.”

“We are proud to honor the exceptional partnership between Intel and HCLTech in driving innovation and excellence in technology. What makes this year’s awards for our APJ partners extra special is our shared commitment in overcoming adversity, exemplifying resilience and determination amidst the prevailing macroeconomic headwinds. APJ continues to be a leading growth region and we value the collaboration with our partners in offering the best solutions and experiences to our customers. Thank You,” said Steve Long, Corporate Vice President and General Manager for Intel Asia Pacific and Japan.

The 2023 Intel Partner Award recognizes Intel partner organizations that are a part of the Intel Partner Alliance and have demonstrated commitment to leverage the technology advancements of Intel and its ecosystem, thereby impacting the enterprise IT landscape and securing its roadmap.

HCLTech and Intel have worked together to embed Intel optimizations into CloudSMART, HCLTech’s unique strategy that provides organizations with a complete, high-value cloud consulting and delivery platform that enables continuous modernization, increased agility and improved operational efficiency.This award also recognizes the acceleration of HCLTech’s Digital Workplace solutions and Intel’s technology portfolio as we continue to co-create solutions that enable seamless, connected and secure hybrid workplaces.

Mumbai,26th May 2023: The Crossword Bookstore at Growel’s 101 Mall has been relaunched within the mall to a brand new refreshing store. The delightful new store is a must-visit for book lovers to explore a vast range of book genres, eclectic office and back-to-school stationery items, among other categories.

This refurbished Crossword Book store is located on the second floor of Growel’s 101 Mall, Suburban Mumbai’s favorite family destination, and spreads over 1200 sq. ft. of retail space. Various categories of merchandise available at Crossword Bookstore include books ranging from fiction, non-fiction, business & management, kids’ books to books for young adults; Toys & Games; Stationery & Gifts – art supplies, general stationery, writing equipment, office stationery, school stationery, premium pens, besides others.

The expansion and new look of the Crossword Bookstore in Growel’s 101 with a profound focus on customer experience, more to explore & choose for booklovers, enhanced happiness quotient for kids and shoppers with increased options for kids learning & kids activities. The bookstore will also be engaging book reading sessions and interactive workshops for kids. These innovative workshops aim to inspire and educate children through a variety of hands-on activities, sparking their imagination and curiosity. The store has also come up with a lot of back-to-school options and an enticing range of travel guides, novels and activity books for families seeking adventures during vacations.

Speaking about the renewed Crossword Bookstore, Gerald Mathew, General Manager, Growel’s 101 Mall, said, “At Growel’s 101 Mall we are constantly working to enhance customer experience and the new Crossword Bookstore is a welcoming space for book lovers to explore and discover merchandise beyond books.”

Growel’s 101 Mall is a wholesome experience for a family’s day out. From shopping at your favourite brands; to a tete-a-tete over coffee or meals with loved ones or to catching a movie at PVR or even enjoying the day with kids in the entertainment zones, Growel’s 101 mall has it all covered. The mall also provides exciting selfie points to take exciting instagramable pictures, which includes a larger-than-life ‘I Love Kandivali’ installation.

Everything from a single source – with this aim in mind, the international ink specialist hubergroup Print Solutions has revised and strengthened its UV offset portfolio for non-absorbent substrates. The portfolio includes printing inks, varnishes, and fountain solution additives that are optimally matched to each other and thus enable a smooth printing process. Thanks to intensive development work, the globally available food and non-food ink series NewV poly (MGA) and NewV tin (MGA), as well as the varnish series NewV lac (MGA), are now also formulated to be sensorially neutral and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene)-free.

“Our customers are our focus, so it was important to us to provide printers with a well-matched and globally available portfolio with the best printing performance.” With these words Roland Schröder, Product Manager UV-Offset at hubergroup, explains the new positioning as a complete range, which does not only include inks but also varnishes and fountain solution additives.

But even beyond that, there are some changes in hubergroup’s UV offset portfolio: for example, the ink and varnish series are now formulated PTFE-free in order to comply with the regulations of the American market as well as the requirements of important brand manufacturers and to be prepared for future specifications in other global markets. In addition, the NewV lac series is now free of benzophenone, a substance that is considered controversial due to its potential carcinogenic effects. Last but not least, there is a new NewV tin LED series for metal packaging, which includes UV inks and varnishes for LED drying.

According to subgroup, the common feature of all products is very good reactivity and adhesion. Roland Schröder sums up: “With this repositioning, we have designed our portfolio future-oriented. At the same time, however, it was important to us that printers can continue to rely on a stable printing process with high-quality printing results. Our international service staff are therefore available for our customers with their expertise at all times and accompany the complete project handling from the idea to implementation and continuous further support.” Tools such as the company’s own HDCC color management system, which guarantees customers the same colour all over the world, round off the service offering.

Bangalore,26th May 2023 Max Life Insurance Company Ltd. (“Max Life” / “Company”) has announced its highest-ever participating (PAR) bonus of Rs. 1,604 Cr. for its eligible policyholders in FY22-23. This is the Company’s 21st consecutive annual bonus; ~8% higher than the bonus declared in the last fiscal.

The declared annual bonus will be added to benefits of approximately 21,00,000 (21 lakhs) eligible participating policyholders, aiding their long-term financial goals. Max Life has consistently announced bonuses for its eligible policyholders over the past two decades, demonstrating its customer commitment and a focus on offering superior risk-adjusted returns.

Prashant Tripathy, MD & CEO, Max Life said, “We are proud to announce our highest-ever PAR Bonuses for our eligible policyholders who have trusted us to secure their families’ financial futures. Our continuous bonus declaration for over two decades is based on strong business outcomes and a commitment to offer constant value to our customers. This has been possible through a robust investment portfolio, and highly competitive fund management capabilities which has enabled us to reward our participating policyholders with an ever-increasing bonus on their investments.”

Over the past year, Max Life has been at the forefront of driving product innovation and creating first-in-industry propositions. The Company also strengthened its participating propositions that made up 24%* of the proprietary channel product mix in FY23. As a result, Max Life’s participating fund has reached approximately Rs. 61,000 Cr. of assets under management (AUM)* and has grown nearly ten times over the last decade. Today, Max Life’s participating fund is amongst the top participating funds (by size) in the private life insurance sector, where the debt assets of participating funds have yielded consistent and stable returns over the last five years.

Max Life’s individual annual premium equivalent (APE) grew by 12% to Rs. 6,178 Cr., and the Gross Written Premium was Rs. 25,342 Cr. in FY23 that reflects a 13% increase over the last fiscal*.

*Basis audited financials