Raja Srinivas Rao Bijarapu

VARUN BEVERAGES LIMITED to #Acquire South Africa’s Twizza for ₹1,118.7 Crore, #Expands African Footprint #VarunBeverages, PepsiCo’s largest franchise bottler outside the United States, has #announced a definitive agreement to acquire South Africa based non alcoholic #beverage company Twizza (Pty) Ltd in an all cash transaction valued at ZAR 2,095 million, translating to an #enterprise value of about ₹1,118.7 crore. The #acquisition will be executed through Varun Beverages’ South African subsidiary, #TheBeverageCompanyProprietaryLimited, strengthening the group’s footprint in the region. Ashu Agrawal | VARUN BEVERAGES LIMITED | PepsiCo | Twizza (Pty) Ltd #VarunBeverages #Acquisition #Company #Enterprise

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Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB), a leading FMCG company, has announced a series of senior leadership appointments across key functions such as supply chain, commercial operations, people and transformation. Girish Sivaraman has been appointed Vice President- Commercial Transformation, where he will spearhead HCCB’s commercial transformation agenda, focusing on go-to-market excellence, sales effectiveness, and capability building across the organisation. His appointment marks a return to HCCB, where he spent several years earlier in his career. Girish brings extensive experience across India and international markets having previously held senior leadership roles at Mondelēz International, PepsiCo, VARUN BEVERAGES LIMITED, Britannia Industries Limited, and Vodafone. 👉Read More: https://lnkd.in/g-G-v4dn #girishsivaraman #vp #vicepresident #commercial #transformation #hccb #cocacola #beverages #leader #leadershipannouncement

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Pernod Ricard India has appointed Industry Veteran Anoop Srivastava as Regional Manufacturing Manager – East. With over 22 years of experience in FMCG and alco-bev industries, Srivastava brings deep expertise in manufacturing operations, engineering, greenfield projects, TPM, and operational excellence. Srivastava has been with Pernod Ricard India for the past three years, most recently serving as Unit Head in Karnal and Behror, where he led large-scale bottling operations and managed automated manufacturing facilities. His leadership was instrumental in driving plant efficiency, safety, and sustainability goals. Prior to joining Pernod Ricard, he held key roles at Dabur India, Unilever, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, and Jaypee Cements. From managing food and ayurvedic plants in Assam to leading TPM initiatives and engineering excellence across multiple locations, Srivastava has consistently delivered results in complex manufacturing environments. In his new role, he will oversee manufacturing strategy and operations across Eastern India, strengthening Pernod Ricard’s production capabilities and supply chain performance. #AnoopSrivastava #PernodRicardIndia #LeadershipAppointment #ManufacturingExcellence #FMCGIndustry #AlcoBev #PlantOperations #TPMLeadership #GreenfieldProjects #OperationalExcellence

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Most people want results. Few are willing to wait long enough to build them. In an era of 10-second reels and quarterly KPIs, long-term thinking has quietly become a superpower. At Dabur, our 140-year legacy wasn’t built through quick wins — it was built through patient innovation, cultural alignment, and decades of trust. Long-term thinking means: • Choosing sustainability over shortcuts • Building systems, not silos • Investing in people, not just roles Yes, it may seem slow at first. But in the end, it outpaces trends — and builds empires. If you’re building something meaningful, take the long view. It changes everything. Are you playing the short game or the infinite one? #LegacyBuilding #BusinessStrategy #MohitMalhotra #LongTermThinking #LeadershipMindset

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Reliance Retail Acquires Kelvinator: Forging a New Era in India's Consumer Durables Market Mumbai, July 18, 2025: Reliance Retail today announced a landmark acquisition of Kelvinator, a strategic move poised to significantly amplify its leadership in India's fast-growing consumer durables sector. This acquisition is a testament to Reliance Retail's unwavering commitment to shaping the future of the consumer durable sector in India by delivering unparalleled value and choice to consumers, nationwide. Kelvinator, a brand synonymous with trust and innovation for over a century, pioneered electric refrigeration for home use globally. In India, it achieved iconic status in the 1970s and 80s with its memorable tagline, "The Coolest One," and continues to be revered for its cutting-edge technology, superior performance, enduring quality, and exceptional value. This acquisition strategically aligns with Reliance Retail's vision of democratizing aspirational living. By integrating Kelvinator's rich legacy of innovation with Reliance Retail's expansive and unparalleled retail network, the company is set to unlock substantial consumer value and accelerate growth in the rapidly expanding premium home appliances market across India. This synergy will ensure that high-quality, globally-benchmarked products are accessible to every Indian household, enhancing their daily lives. "Our mission has always been to serve the diverse needs of every Indian by making technology accessible, meaningful, and future-ready," stated Isha M Ambani, Executive Director, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL). "The acquisition of Kelvinator marks a pivotal moment, enabling us to significantly broaden our offering of trusted global innovations to Indian consumers. This is powerfully supported by our unmatched scale, comprehensive service capabilities, and market-leading distribution network." With Kelvinator now firmly integrated into its formidable ecosystem, Reliance Retail is strategically positioned to accelerate category growth, deepen consumer engagement, and unlock substantial long-term opportunities within India's dynamic consumer durables market. This move reinforces Reliance Retail's ambition to not only anticipate but meet the evolving demands of the Indian consumer, solidifying its position as the undisputed leader in the retail landscape.

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Proost Beer Achieves 115 Crore Revenue in FY25 & Turns EBITDA-Breakeven Grano69 Beverages, the maker of fast-growing beer brand Proost, has crossed ₹115 crore in revenue in FY25 and achieved EBITDA breakeven, marking a major milestone for the company. Tarun Bhargava, CEO and Co-Founder of Proost Beer (Grano69 Beverages) Read more: https://lnkd.in/gvGDA_gs #ProostBeer #Grano69Beverages #BeerIndustry #IndianBeer #CraftBeerIndia #StartupMilestone #RevenueGrowth #FY25 #BeverageBusiness #MakeInIndia #RestaurantIndia #IndustryNews

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Celio India Revamps Leadership Team to Drive Next Phase of Growth François Gomez has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Celio India while Nidhi Raj has been named Chief Brand Officer (CBO). celio India, François Gomez, COO for celio India, Nidhi Raj, CBO, Manoj Bathija, Sales and Operations head Read More: https://lnkd.in/gbV2SHpz #CelioIndia #RetailLeadership #FashionBusiness #BrandStrategy #RetailNews #LeadershipUpdate

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The global energy drink leader Red Bull has appointed Saurabh Sharma as its new Sales Director for India, signaling a strong push to accelerate its growth strategy and strengthen market leadership in one of the fastest-growing beverage markets in Asia. With nearly two decades of leadership experience across top FMCG and beverage organizations PepsiCo, NourishCo Beverages Limited (a Tata-PepsiCo JV), Mars, and Perfetti Van Melle Saurabh brings deep expertise in sales leadership, franchise management, and market expansion. In his most recent role at PepsiCo, he served as Franchise Director for North, East & Central India, overseeing operations across major territories including North India, Nepal, and the Tropicana (All India) business. He played a crucial role in driving volume growth, enhancing franchise partnerships, and leading strategic initiatives in revenue management and distribution development. At Red Bull India, Saurabh will be responsible for steering the brand’s sales architecture, channel development, and growth initiatives, with a focus on strengthening regional penetration, expanding retail reach, and driving sustainable business growth. #redbull #saurabhsharma #salesdirector #fmcg #beverages #indiabusiness #marketexpansion #leadership #franchisegrowth #energydrink

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Proost Beer (Grano69 Beverages) recorded strong FY25 performance with revenue surging 2.7X to ₹115 crore and achieving EBITDA breakeven. Driven by sharp volume growth and strict cost discipline, the D2C-led beer brand demonstrates that sustainable, capital-efficient growth is possible in India’s regulated alco-bev market.#pulsedaily Read more: https://lnkd.in/gknY8Aqk Abhishek Shah Tarun Bhargava

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Dusit International has announced plans to expand its presence in the country by launching its luxury and upper midscale brands in key emerging markets. Siradej Donavanik, Vice President – Development (Global), Dusit International said, “India represents an exceptional growth opportunity for Dusit – across major metros and particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where premium hospitality options remain limited despite strong demand." Read more: https://lnkd.in/guPctEby Deepika Arora Gilles Cretallaz Raksh Bhandari Dusit Hotels and Resorts #news #expansion #dusitinternational #hospitalityindustry

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Sales Closing: The Great Indian FMCG Thriller:- If you believe that only Hollywood and Bollywood write thrillers, you haven't experienced the thrill of FMCG sales during month-end closing. The last 3–4 days of the month turn ordinary sales professionals into superheroes, mathematicians, psychologists, and sometimes, stand-up comedians. The Countdown Begins All month long, targets feel distant, manageable, and almost friendly. But the moment the calendar says 26th, the sales office transforms—the war drums start beating. Suddenly, every boss is a General, every Excel sheet is a battle plan, and every distributor is a fortress waiting to be conquered, and WhatsApp groups buzz with messages like, “Guys, why only 85% covered till date? Let’s push... anything less than 100% is not acceptable. The Distributor Hide-and-Seek Game At month-end, distributors develop a special skill: invisibility. Calls go unanswered, shutters mysteriously close, and the classic excuse arrives: “Sir, cheque clear nahi hua,” or “Sir, ek Ghante mein RTGS ho jayega, UTR number aa gaya".. Meanwhile, sales professional turn into Sherlock Holmes, tracking them down in tea shops, warehouses, or at weddings—anywhere but the office. Scheme-ology Month-end means schemes mutate into creatures of their own. “Buy 10 cartons, get 2 free.” “Lift 20, and we’ll gift you a pressure cooker.” “Target close kar lo, Goa trip milega.” By day 28, sales professionals are less salespeople and more magicians, pulling schemes out of thin air to make the closing look possible. The Boss Calls The most feared ringtone at month-end is the boss’s call. At month-end, targets shrink time faster than a Maggi packet cooks. The Legendary Distributor Dump Desperate times, desperate measures. Month-end often ends with a classic FMCG move: stock dumping. Suddenly, distributors who didn’t want 5 cartons are persuaded into taking 500—with the promise, “Sir, agle mahine adjust kar denge.” Distributors smile knowingly—they’ve survived more month-ends than anyone in the room. Everyone knows this dance. Everyone plays along. It’s the FMCG version of deja vu. Midnight Closing Drama On the 30th or 31st, offices resemble stock markets. Phones ring nonstop, numbers fly, and sales chaps file sales till midnight like they’re trading gold. When the clock strikes 12, there is finally relief. Month-end closing in FMCG isn’t just about numbers. It’s about resilience, jugaad, teamwork, and the sheer refusal to give up. So here’s to every sales professional who has fought the closing war—in rain and sun, with schemes and smiles, with chai and sheer willpower. There are no parades or national awards. Just tired smiles, high-fives, and the sweet relief of knowing you lived to fight another month. And then, in true FMCG style, the boss reminds you gently the next morning: “Good job team… Now let’s plan for next month.” And just like that, the cycle resets again in 24 hours😃.

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Mount Everest Breweries Ltd. (MEBL) has appointed Vinod Babu G as its new Chief Executive Officer. He took charge on July 2. This move signals MEBL’s renewed focus on brand building, premiumisation, and expansion into new markets. Vinod brings over 19 years of leadership experience in the FMCG and alcoholic beverages sectors, having held senior roles at Anheuser-Busch InBev India and SABMiller India. His track record includes successful brand launches, market expansions, and building high-performing teams across geographies. Commenting on the appointment, Vedant Kedia, Director at MEBL, said, “We are confident that under his leadership, MEBL will continue to scale new heights, strengthen its premium brand portfolio, and solidify its position as a leader in the Indian beer market." Read More at: https://lnkd.in/etbeWaWB

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The attached article, titled “Gupta is Highest Paid FMCG CEO”, highlights the sharp rise in executive compensation across India's FMCG sector in FY25, With Marico’s Saugata Gupta leading as the highest-paid CEO, driven largely by stock option gains. The article also covers modest hikes for CEOs at HUL, ITC, and Nestlé India, reflecting broader market challenges such as urban slowdown and rising competition from D2C and regional brands. I was quoted in the piece sharing a broader perspective on these trends: “The domestic FMCG sector has had to deal with both slowdown concerns as well as growing competition... Market leaders were not immune to these pressures, which reflected in CEO compensation.” Viveat Pinto thanks for covering my views 👍 #FMCG #Leadership #ExecutiveCompensation #upGradRekrut #MarketTrends #CEOInsights #TalentStrategy

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