Top Stories 

Wipro Consumer Care plans two acquisition targets: reports

Wipro Furniture, a part of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting Group is planning two acquisition targets, a Bangalore-based furniture brand and another overseas chain, according to reports.

Reports stated that the company is planning to expand non-information technology (non-IT) markets,particularly in furniture business.

Wipro’s consumer care and lighting business recorded an increase of 30% in revenue to Rs.9.80bn from the year ago, says report.

HC restrains Videocon from marketing Pebble

Videocon Industries reportedly to take the washing machine brand ‘Pebble’ off the shelves as the Bombay High Court has ruled that the product is a clear imitation of Whirlpool’s ‘Ace’ washing machine and has restrained Videocon from its marketing.

According to reports, the court found that Pebble was similar to Ace, a design registered by Whirlpool in 2009. While Whirlpool India had launched Ace in 2010, Videocon got its Pebble brand of semi-automatic washing machine into the market in 2012, with a substantially similar design of semi-circular wash area and square spin area at a comparatively lower price.

The court further held that there was a real and cogent likelihood of consumers getting deceived by similarity in designs. The court concluded that it was a case of infringement and ‘passing off’, reports added.

Result

Vadilal Industries net profit up 59% in Q1 of FY2013

India’s leading ice cream and frozen foods major, Vadilal Industries Limited has reported a 59% jump in net profit at Rs. 137.8mn for the first quarter ended June 30th, 2012 as against Rs. 86.6mn in the Q1 of previous year.

Net sales in Q1 of 2012-13 have gone up by 25% to Rs. 1.33bn over previous fiscal’s first quarter turnover of Rs. 106.75 crore.
 
Commenting on the financial performance of the company, Rajesh Gandhi, Managing Director of Vadilal Industries Ltd. said, “Major expansion in production capacities completed last year as well as aggressive marketing campaigns during this summer have paid off with strong growth in sales and even higher increase in profits. The company’s board has also recently given approval for undertaking capital expenditure of Rs. 30.62 crore towards expansion-cum-modernisation of its ice-cream production facilities situated at Pundhra in Gujarat and at Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, as well at its processed food division situated at Dharampur in Gujarat.”
 
Devanshu Gandhi, Managing Director of Vadilal Industries Ltd. added, “This summer, Vadilal Industries came out with a completely new range of products targeted at the kids’ category under the umbrella brand of ‘Ice Trooper’ and it met with big success amongst the kids across all states where it was launched. With the purchasing power of the Indian middle class having gone up considerably during the last few years, we felt that this was the right time to launch a new range of higher-end products. Children are a major influence while making purchases for this class of consumers, especially for impulse category products like ice creams.”
 
Along with the kids’ category, Vadilal had introduced around 20 new brands this summer. It has recently introduced a new variant Mocha Fudge in the ‘Flingo’ cone category. In the ‘Gourmet’ range Vadilal has added a few more variants. Due to the tremendous response that the company got for its 500 ml Gourmet tubs, it plans to launch smaller Gourmet tubs of 140 ml, especially for consumption by airlines and for people on the move.

Godrej Industries Q1 net profit at Rs414.50 mn

Domestic News

Round Table India partners with P&G

Honourable Speaker of Haryana Assembly Kuldeep Sharma and Education Minister of Haryana Geeta Bhukkal, inaugurated the Round Table India – P&G Shiksha School Block at Gita Vidya Mandir built at Purkhas Village in Sonepat district of Haryana. In its first phase, the school has 5 classrooms, 1 Library-cum-computer lab, 1 Activity room with full sports facilities, 1 principal and staff room, a playground, 2 toilet blocks each for the male and female child, a filtration plant for providing bacteria-free drinking water and hosts of other facilities. The school is located in an underprivileged area but sports the best of facilities to rival any urban school.

With a motive of providing education to millions of students and taking a stand against illiteracy, Round Table India had embarked on a mission “FREEDOM THROUGH EDUCATION” in 1998 which aimed at building infrastructure for underprivileged schools in the rural and remote areas of the country.  In this endeavor Round Table India has partnered with P&G; Infinity Group; The Federal Bank Ltd; Institutional donors; and various State Governments. Through its effort and commitment, Round Table India, over the last decade, has provided a holistic educational environment for the underprivileged children’s in India. Round Table India has stressed on the importance of promoting Education for Posterity for future Infrastructure-Building.

Since the inception of “Freedom Through Education” campaign, Round Table India over the last decade has constructed more than 4200 classrooms in 1630 schools. Going by its commitment to provide education, it is estimated that by the year 2020, Round Table India would complete more than 7000 classrooms and impacting more than 1 crore children in Indian villages.

Vineet Parekh, National President, Round Table India says, “Illiteracy is a major problem in India. According to a report by World Literacy Foundation, illiteracy has been costing the Indian Economy around $53 billion a year, there is income imbalance to the tune of 30 – 42% between a literate & illiterate person. We have
always been passionate about eradicating illiteracy from the nation.

We are excited that our ‘Freedom Through Education’ campaign is taking a huge step impacting number of children around the nation. We would also thank all the donors who have participated and funded this initiative.”

GUNNAR Eyewear to hit Indian stores on Independence Day

inkfruit.com presents spunky LED umbrellas for monsoon

DDB Foundation partners Videocon to launch New Age LEDs

Steelcase presents Leap Chair with QR codes

The reasons behind massive success of Decor from MagicBricks.com

F&D launches top of the range wireless speakers

Fevikwik go all out with on ground activation programme

Star CJ presents Shopping ki Swatantrata Festival

Global News

Whirlpool, Honeywell launch environmental-friendly insulation

Demonstrating their mutual commitments to environmental leadership, Whirlpool Corporation and Honeywell have announced that all Whirlpool Corporation U.S.-made refrigerators will begin incorporating Honeywell’s Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent. This includes future product lineups from Whirlpool Brand, Maytag, Amana, Jenn-Air and KitchenAid brands. The most environmentally responsible blowing agent available, boasting the lowest Global Warming Potential (GWP) available among non-ozone depleting substitutes, Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent (LBA) outperforms commonly used hydrocarbons such as C-Pentane, providing better low-temperature insulation performance and higher energy savings.

Whirlpool Corporation is the first refrigerator manufacturer in the U.S. committed to incorporating this new class of blowing agents into its products, providing customers with refrigerators that offer the best efficiency and lowest environmental footprint. Honeywell Solstice LBA offers an 8-10 percent improvement in efficiency over refrigerator platforms tested with hydrocarbon blown foam insulation, and a 2 percent improvement over 245fa, currently the most widely-used foam blowing agent in the U.S.

“Whirlpool Corporation is an environmental leader, developing high-quality products that offer both efficiency and low environmental impact,” said Ludovic Beaufils, general manager refrigeration and sustainability lead for Whirlpool North America. “Through this collaboration with Honeywell, we are once again leading the way with the most advanced materials that offer the greatest benefits to consumers.”

Honeywell Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent, which was granted approval under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) today, has a 100-year global warming potential between 4.7 and 7, a 99 percent improvement over 245fa, the most common manufacturing solution in the U.S. today. A near drop-in replacement, it also offers cost benefits and is non-flammable providing safety advantages over other hydrocarbon blowing agents.

“Honeywell’s Solstice branded solutions deliver the optimal combined enhancement of environment, performance, safety and cost effectiveness,” said Terrence Hahn, vice president and general manager, Fluorine Products. “We are pleased to supply Whirlpool with Solstice LBA to ensure those benefits are experienced both in their operations and for their customers.”
Whirlpool will begin production in late 2013.