Month: May 2025

Costa Coffee bets big on India’s evolving taste; targets top-five spot globally

With a clear focus on premiumisation and quality-led expansion, Costa Coffee aims to shape the next chapter of India’s café culture.

India is among Costa Coffee’s top-20 global markets. With over 200 outlets operated through its franchise partner Devyani International Ltd (DIL), the brand is expanding rapidly, opening 40 to 50 new stores annually.

Sundar Pichai to testify in Google search antitrust trial

The DOJ is seeking a court order that could require Google to divest its Chrome web browser and implement other changes. Their proposals include ending Google's payments to companies like Apple and Samsung to be the default search engine and mandating the sharing of search data with competitors.

The DOJ is seeking a court order that could require Google to divest its Chrome web browser and implement other changes. Their proposals include ending Google’s payments to companies like Apple and Samsung to be the default search engine and mandating the sharing of search data with competitors.

Remember the times when ZooZoos were all the rage?

When the ad films were released, the response was phenomenal. Vodafone, as further explained in the article, saw an increase in customer base by 3.8 percent in Q1 of 2010. (Snippets from the campaign)

Vodafone Essar’s egghead creatures with thinner limbs debuted on the screens during the second season of the Indian Premier League in 2009. Storyboard18 connected with Ogilvy’s former national creative director Rajiv Rao to know about the genesis of the ZooZoos.

DoT halts Blinkit-Airtel SIM home delivery over KYC compliance concerns

For the Blinkit tie-up, Airtel had announced Aadhaar-based KYC authentication as the mode for activation.

Last month, Bharti Airtel partnered with quick-commerce platform Blinkit to offer rapid SIM card home delivery, where customers could receive new SIM within 10 minutes for a nominal fee of Rs 49, with activation facilitated through Aadhaar-based e-KYC. ​

India’s gaming moment: From a nation of players to a global creative powerhouse

"India is poised to attract billions in global gaming investments but policy speed and clarity will determine whether that capital flows here, or to competing hubs like Vietnam or Turkey," Sridhar Muppidi, Chairperson, Game Developer Association of India (GDAI) stated. (Image Source: Unsplash)

Sridhar Muppidi, chairperson, Game Developer Association of India (GDAI), summarises that the 2020s could be the decade when India redefines its place in the global creative economy. WAVES marks the beginning of that journey- India’s declaration that it’s ready to lead, not just follow.

Digital access is a right: SC orders KYC reforms for persons with disabilities

Supreme Court instructed the central government to make digital KYC procedures accessible for persons with disabilities.

SC has asked the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to ensure that customer due diligence and onboarding processes incorporate video-based KYC methods, without requiring eye-blinking verification, in accordance with the 2016 KYC rules.