Monday 21 November 2011


Jelly for the belly

Sukk is the drink and the Clever Jelly Company the creator — there's the beginning of why Tata Global Beverages' new health drink stands out from the crowd

 
The background
When you're hungry — especially when you're hungry — eat and drink healthy, say the wise and the wizened. Tata Global Beverages (TGB), smart by disposition and young of age, certainly believes that to be true, which explains its vision of delivering 'good for you' drinks to a market that sees the healthy option as extremely desirable.
 
Tata Global Beverages innovation — Jelly drink health drink
Company: Tata Global Beverages
Innovation: Jelly drink health drink
Taking this vision to the task of creating a healthy offering was what got TGB thinking about stirring up the soft drinks segment industry in the United Kingdom. That led to the idea of fashioning something completely new and different, even changing the way consumers perceive the beverages category.
 
TGB understood that consumers tend to grab fizzy drinks, crisps and chocolate when they are hungry. So why not give them something distinct, and healthy to boot, a mini snack, if you will? This drink-snack could be more than useful for those in-between periods that separate lunch and tea, when the stomach is rumbling and the pangs are particularly demanding. The table was ready for Sukk, not soft drink or chocolate or fruit, but healthy and filling and fulfilling.
 
The innovation
A TGB team comprising Andrew Dobson, Avgi Tsotsou, Krishna Shanbhog, Nick Firrell, Don Ecford, Barry Jansen, Rudiger Wolf and Sunil Kumar, pulled in from different corners of the company, worked over a period of six months to bring Sukk to market shelves. That's a short time for such a product to come so far, but the team was quick to grasp the new drink's potential.
 
Sukk is a low-calorie jelly drink from a marketing entity that TGB crafted for this venture, the Clever Jelly Company. The drink contains fruit juice, vitamins, green tea and added fibre and comes in two flavours: lemon and kiwi.
 
Launched in the United Kingdom in April 2010, each 180-gram pouch of Sukk has six grams of fibre and more than its share of vitamins B and C, and it rests light at just 83 calories.
 
TGB sees the drink as perfect for people on the go, more so for the young. The development of the drink was driven by consumers and their needs. Once these had been ascertained, the TGB team developed prototype products to test and these were well-accepted.
 
The payoff
A year since its launch, Sukk has been a hit in the British market, particularly in the 18-24 age group, precisely the band of consumers TGB had set its sights on when putting the drink together.
 
"People who email us on our website say they like it and want to buy it in a supermarket near them," says a member of the team that developed the drink. "We have got social media to play a vital role in spreading the word on Sukk."
 
Jelly drinks are a big deal in Japan, but hardly get a look-in elsewhere in the global market. That may be about to change, in Britain at least, as Sukk makes its mark.

NDPL launches Bachat Lamp Yojana


North Delhi Power launches ‘Bachat Lamp Yojana’

 
New Delhi: North Delhi Power (NDPL), a Tata Power and Government of Delhi joint venture, which distributes electricity in North & North West Delhi, today, launched the Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s (BEE) ‘Bachat Lamp Yojana’ scheme for its consumers. The scheme, which is being implemented under a tripartite agreement of NDPL with BEE and C-Quest Capital (CQC), was launched today by Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi, in a ceremony at the Delhi Secretariat. Haroon Yusuf, minister of power, GONCTD; PK Tripathi, chief secretary, GONCTD, Parimal Rai, principal secretary, power, GONCTD and CMD, DTL; Ajay Mathur, director general, BEE; Mathew Mendis, managing director, CQC; Sunil Wadhwa, managing director, NDPL, and Yuvraj Singh, Indian cricket team member and founder Yuvraj Singh Foundation, were also present on the occasion.

Under BEE’s Bachat Lamp Yojana, each NDPL residential consumer can get up to a maximum of four compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) at Rs15 each in exchange of an equal number of working incandescent bulbs. NDPL plans to distribute 22 lakh CFLs to its consumers under this scheme and, once completed, it is expected to result in a reduction of more than 65MW in the demand for energy in NDPL's area

“We are focusing extensively on creating awareness about energy conservation and also adoption of energy-efficient technologies in our distribution areas as part of our sustainability drive. CFLs are an excellent alternative to the bulbs since they use five times less electricity and we are confident that our consumers will benefit immensely from the Bachat Lamp Yojana scheme,” said Sunil Wadhwa, managing director, NDPL.

NDPL is the first discom in Delhi to undertake the project after the BEE’s Bachat Lamp Yojana programme of activities was officially registered with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on April 29, 2010. The entire project is financed by CQC, which will earn revenue through the sale of carbon credits. The CFLs are being supplied by Energetic India and the distribution of CFLs will be undertaken by Yuvraj Singh Foundation. NDPL and C-Quest Capital will distribute about 22 lakh CFLs in NDPL’s distribution area. Energetic India has specially designed a new generation CFL with an extended life of 10,000 hours (as against the normal life of 6,000 hours) for CQC, which would be distributed in Indian households under the Bachat Lamp Yojana scheme. The distribution across all areas of NDPL is expected to be completed in a phased manner by mid-2012.

Tata Literature Live! Mumbai LitFest


Siddhartha Mukherjee presented with the Tata Literature Live! First Book Award for ‘Emperor of All Maladies’

 
  • Landmark Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mahasweta Devi
  • Tata and Landmark Awards to be an annual event at the Tata Literature Live! Mumbai LitFest
Mumbai: As four days of celebrating literature from across the spectrum were drawing to a close, the Tata Literature Live! Mumbai LitFest added yet another contribution to the field of literature in India — the establishment of the Tata and Landmark Awards to honour the Indian minds behind some of the best writing on the literature scene.
The Tata Literature Live! First Book Award was awarded to Siddhartha Mukherjee and the Landmark Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mahasweta Devi.
The Tata Literature Live! First Book Award was presented by Philip Auld, CEO, Trent, to Siddhartha Mukherjee for his marvellous book, Emperor of All Maladies. The prize included a cheque for Rs1 lakh and a silver plaque. Dr Mukherjee said that it was a real privilege for him because he had read some of the books that were nominated alongside his, such as Serious Men and One Little Finger and had been deeply moved by them. Dr Mukherjee also thanked the jury members and the organisers of Tata Literature Live! Mumbai LitFest for bestowing him with the award.
Attendees awaited the presentation of the second award with bated breath as Anil Dharker announced the name of Ms Devi, one of the most influential writers of post-independence India. She is known for her wide range of writings including short stories, novels, plays, essays, and so on, that compliment her life as a social activist. Mark Tully introduced her as a remarkable woman who had contributed to the lives of tribals and poor people who had until then been deprived of their basic rights. She was welcomed on stage by the audience with a standing ovation. Mr Tully spoke of her role as an activist, her insight into the tribal areas and her selfless dedication to her cause.
Ms Devi was presented with Rs5 lakh and a silver plaque. In a short speech she expressed her thanks and spoke a few words about her activities for the welfare of tribals, which she has carried on doing relentlessly. Talking about 30 years of working with tribals and the rural poor, Ms Devi said, “I have jumped where others’ feet would fail.” As an end to the short, moving thank-you speech, she added that the award money would be used to do something more for the people that she has worked with all her life.
The ceremony was hosted by Ashutosh Pandey, COO, Landmark, who spoke of the inception of these awards. The concept came about when the festival organisers and sponsors discussed the festival and realised that there was a need to highlight the major contribution to literature made by Indian authors. Thus, two awards were born. While the First Book Award to recognise debutant authors would resonate with the ethos and values of Tata group, the Lifetime Achievement Award would compliment Landmark’s commitment to celebrate good literature across the nation.
The jury for the Tata and Landmark Awards comprised Mr Tully, Dileep Padgaonkar, David Davidar, Ashutosh Pandey and festival director Anil Dharker. The nominees for the Tata Literature Live! First Book Award were:
  • Raghav Bahl for Superpower
  • Malini Chib for One Little Finger
  • Siddhartha Mukherjee for Emperor of All Maladies
  • Prakash Iyer for Habit of Winning
  • Anjali Joseph for Saraswati Park
  • Manu Joseph for Serious Men
In final thanks, Mr Dharker, festival director, announced, to much applause and approval, that these awards would now be an annual phenomenon.

Tata Power - Campaign for prevention of hand injuries


Tata Power’s Jamshedpur-based plant Power House - 6 

initiates a safety campaign for prevention of hand injuries

 
Mumbai: Tata Power’s Power House - 6 located in Jamshedpur has initiated a safety sensitisation campaign for prevention of hand injuries. The safety sensitisation programme covers all employees including contract workforce, field engineers and supervisors.

The safety awareness campaign was initiated with a mass opening meeting at the Power House - 6 plant and a large number of contract workmen and company employees attended the session. A detailed sensitisation on the use of various types of hand gloves for different activities was explained by the safety team. Safety observation and site inspection was also done by the leadership team and free hand gloves were distributed to all concerned. All the attendees enthusiastically participated in the session.

Speaking on the occasion, PL Manjrekar, general manager, Jojobera, said, “Safety is of utmost importance to us and we believe that we should undertake a drive to make all aware about the ways to prevent such injuries from time to time. It is observed that hand injuries are the most common form of injury, therefore we decided to kick off the campaign focusing on hand safety.”

From the industrial safety perspective and as per the safety data analysis and results, it has been observed that large numbers of cases are related to hand injuries. Hand FAC cases constitute 60 per cent of the injuries, followed by legs (23 per cent) and face (9 per cent).

Carbon Footprint Calculator by Tata Power


Tata Power launches carbon footprint measurement and tracking facility for its employees under its ‘Greenolution’ campaign

 
Mumbai: As part of its endeavours of powering a greener world, Tata Power, India’s largest integrated private power company, launched a carbon footprint measurement and tracking facility for its employees under its brand campaign called ‘Greenolution’.
The company has launched ‘Mapping and Measuring Carbon Footprint’ for its employees on its intranet portal. Under this facility, the employees can calculate their carbon footprint through a ‘Carbon Footprint Calculator’ and monitor their individual performance to reduce it. The system also allows data to be viewed in the form of numbers as well as graphically (as graphs) for a maximum period of 18 months. Four hundred and sixty-seven employees of the company have already been monitoring their carbon footprint in the organisation as an individual initiative and have now been moved to this unique system.

Speaking on this launch, Anil Sardana, managing director, Tata Power, said, “Sustainability forms the core of the company’s vision to make a difference and remain committed to the issues of resource conservation, energy efficiency, environment protection and enrichment of our communities. We at Tata Power would like to ‘lead by example’ and believe that all our employees should also traverse the journey and make green living their ‘way of living’. Thus, with the launch of Greenolution, we have introduced a simpler brand word, so that all of us can associate and contribute to this resilient and important cause.”
The name Greenolution is a fusion of two concepts — ‘Green’ and ‘Evolution’ — which signifies the processes and initiatives that Tata Power has undertaken or will undertake towards ensuring a greener and sustainable planet. The programme has 236 employees enrolled as ‘Green Heroes’ for championing this initiative internally. The key programmes being pursued under Greenolution are:
  • Implementation of 100 per cent recycled paper usage in office.
  • Tree plantation at all its plants and site locations.
  • Saving water at its plants, office and site locations.
  • Saving fuel through carpooling and other initiatives.
  • Waste management at its offices.
  • Energy conservation and efficiency initiatives at all its locations and outside.
  • Reducing air travel and using webcast / video conferencing facilities.
  • Participation in ‘Clean your city’ drives and campaign.
Going forward through the brand name Greenolution, Tata Power intends to put in efforts / practices / programmes that infuse the belief of sustainability as a ‘movement’ by making all stakeholders a part of it.

Titan launches Raga Weaves





Titan launches Raga Weaves

 
Bring out the sensuous and beautiful you with the all new Raga Weaves collection from Titan Raga. Inspired by the traditional Indian art forms in textiles such as kalamkari, zardozi, phulkari and Benarasi work, this collection is crafted to suit the evolved taste of contemporary Indian women. The collection, an ode to vibrant Indian art forms, is offered in a variety of colours, in leather, metal, gold, rose gold and steel. 
 
Each timepiece in this collection forms an intrinsic part of every Indian woman’s trousseau. Priced between Rs1,750 to Rs11,000, Titan Raga Weaves collection is available at World of Titan showrooms, leading multi-brand outlets and department stores across the country.
 
Straight from the heart of Punjab, phulkari embroidery is the finest expression of floral splendour on fabric. The featured watch is inspired by the timeless geometric pattern of phulkari.
 
The phulkari leaf motif flows from the bracelet to the mother of pearl dial.  A shaped crown and Swarovski crystals enhance the beauty of the wrist accessory. The watch is also available in steel, gold, rose gold, bi-metal finish, as well as fuchsia colour. Other timepieces in this collection also have an embroidered fabric strap inspired by phulkari work.

Inspired by the
Persian art form of zardozi, the featured regal watch personifies a feminine style of opulence with sophistication. Encased in Swarovski crystal, the turquoise stone-studded bracelet is made with a twisted wire look, a speciality of zardozi embroidery. The zardozi patterns are emulated uniquely in press pattern to mark the indices.
 

Kalamkari form of textile, derived from the Persian words kalam(pen) and kari (craftsmanship), is a heavenly rendition of the most intricate designs. The quintessential peacock, leaf and floral motif of kalamkari printing has been used extensively in the featured watch. The dial is printed with vintage peacock motif. The floral pattern borders the accessory. This watch is available in steel, gold and rose gold finish as well as in leather and kalamkari fabric straps.

Oliviero Toscani - The man behind Benetton's UNHATE ad campaign

























Oliviero Toscani (born 1942) is an Italian photographer, best-known worldwide for designing controversial advertising campaigns for Italian brand Benetton,from 1982 to 2000. Most of these advertising campaigns were actually institutionals for the brand, always composed of rather controversial photography, usually with only the company logo "United Colors of Benetton" as caption.
One of his most famous campaigns included a photo (by Therese Frare) of David Kirby dying of AIDS, lying in a Columbus, Ohio, hospital bed, surrounded by his grieving relatives. That picture was controversial due to its similarity to a pietà painting and because some thought the use of this image to sell clothing was exploiting the victim; though the Kirby family stated that they authorized the use and that it helped increase AIDS awareness.
Other advertisments included allusions to racism (notably one with three almost identical human hearts, which were actually pig hearts, with the words 'white', 'black', and 'yellow' as captions), war, religion and even capital punishment.
In the early nineties Toscani co-founded the magazine Colors (also owned by Benetton) with American graphic designer Tibor Kalman. With the tagline "a magazine about the rest of the world", Colorsbuilt on the multiculturalism prevalent at that time and in Benetton's ad campaigns, while remaining editorially independent from Benetton.
In 2005, five years after his resignation from Benetton following the controversy surrounding the death row campaign, he sparked controversy again with his photographs for an advertising campaign for the men's clothing brand 'Ra-Re'. Their portrayals of men participating in homosexual behaviour angered groups such as the Catholic parents' association Movimento Italiano Genitori who called the pictures 'vulgar'. The campaign came amidst on-going debate in Italy about gay rights.
Oliviero Toscani unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for parliament for the new Rose in the Fist party in the Italian general election held on April 9 and 10, 2006.
In September 2007, a new campaign against anorexia was again controversial due to his shocking photography of an emaciated woman (Isabelle Caro).
He is creating with La Regione Toscana a new research facility for modern communication called 'La Sterpia'.