Why Pepsi apologised over its Wild Cherry flavour campaig

Global soft drinks giant Pepsi has had to issue an apology over its recent promotion of Wild Cherry flavour. The company removed a social media post which received backlash for language that many users alleged trivialised consent.

Pepsi had posted on Threads the following under a promotional campaign: “Pepsi Wild Cherry is what happens when regular cherry stops asking permission.”

The wording did not go down well with a majority of online users who argued that the message was problematic and trivialised consent.

Many social media users described the copy as insensitive, while raising questions on its approval process.

They pointed out the copy was loose enough to suggest reference to sexual consent.

The brand was accused of making light of sexual consent through the campaign, with some urging companies to be cautious when using language in advertising that had sexual connotations.

Pepsi acknowledged the criticism, removed the post and issued a public apology on social media.

“Our recent Wild Cherry post landed in a way we never intended. We hear you, we’re sorry, and the post has been deleted,” the company stated.

The incident shows the level of scrutiny brands face these days over their smallest moves, as social media intensifies the reach of messaging.

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The appointment further strengthens Flipkart’s technology leadership as the company accelerates its AI, platform and supply-chain capabilities

Bengaluru, July 02, 2026: Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, today announced the appointment of Vinay Vaidya as Senior Vice President, Technology for Supply Chain. He will lead technology and platforms across fulfilment services, seller experience, trust and safety, and marketplace, while driving innovation in logistics and AI-powered capabilities.

Vinay is a product and technology leader with over two decades of experience building and scaling digital commerce businesses. Most recently, he served as Chief Technology Officer at Tata Digital, where he led technology strategy, platform modernisation, and large-scale digital transformations. Prior to this, Vinay spent nearly 18 years at Amazon, where he helped build foundational capabilities across Marketplace, Seller Ecosystem, Payments, Search and Browse, and Amazon India. His experience spans product, engineering, customer experience, and supply chain functions across multiple categories, including grocery.

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With Electricians’ Day coming on June 10, leading sector firm Polycab India Limited has announced the launch of a digital campaign focussing on the importance of electricians in our lives. The film highlights the role played by electricians in electrical infrastructure in residential houses, commercial establishments and industrial zones.

According to Polycab, the film is part of the efforts to improve awareness around the electricians’ work and their significance in our lives. It showcases their contribution to setting up, servicing, and maintaining electrical systems.

The digital film is one of the several initiatives taken by the company for Electricians’ Day.

Many other on-ground activities have been planned including healthcare camps, recognition events and community programmes involving electricians.

Shwetal Basu, Senior Vice President and Head of Brand and Marketing at Polycab India Limited, said on the launch of the digital film, “Electricians are the backbone of our ecosystem, ensuring that every home, every business, and every dream stays connected. Through this film, we want to bring their stories into the spotlight and inspire the nation to recognise and celebrate them.”

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As India marks World Environment Day today (June 5), leading dairy brand Mother Dairy has launched a much-needed initiative to tackle plastic pollution. The company has launched the country’s first Naturally Degradable Milk Pouch starting today.

The new packaging has been rolled out in Delhi-NCR. It took Mother Dairy more than four years of research to develop the Naturally Degradable Milk Pouch which helps solve the problem of plastic waste left behind by milk packets.

The pouch has been developed using a degradable packaging technology that converts the material into a bioavailable wax. The wax is then broken down by microbes present in the soil into natural elements. The entire process takes a few years unlike centuries in the case of plastic pouches.

The company claims that the new packaging will not have any impact on the milk’s quality, taste or the shelf life. There will also be no change in the pricing due to the change in packaging.

Further, consumers can continue to store, handle and dispose off the milk packets as they used to do earlier.

It may be noted here that Mother Dairy, a public sector dairy firm, manufactures and sells dairy products including milk, curd, paneer etc.

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India, August 4, 2025 – BOOM. CRASH. That’s the sound of another boring ad campaign being buried six feet under. Why? Because Only Much Louder (OML) — the culture-shaping creative powerhouse — just dropped its latest creation: MO, a brand new advertising agency that isn’t here to follow the rules.

Sure, we could have gone with a jargon-loaded quote about “horizontal verticals” and “platform synergies”. RIP, buzzwords.

That’s definitely not the MO 

Then what is MO?

MO takes a different approach to today’s advertising, built by pop culture nerds and creatives who turn WTF ideas into ROI gold. It’s a place where boring briefs go to die, and big, bold, culture-shaking ideas are born.

“We’ve always been in the business of shaping culture for more than 20 years,” says Tusharr Kumar, CEO of OML. “With MO, we’re bringing that same energy to the world of advertising. We believe brands should behave like creators, bold, entertaining, and relentlessly original. If it doesn’t come with heart, oddity, or edge, it’s not for us. We’re not just here to sell, we’re here to spark, shake up, and seriously shift the narrative.”

And MO’s already hit the ground running. We just launched the first of 36 films for Canva’s new ‘Dil Se, Design Tak’ campaign, a full-scale brand mandate we’re leading in India. This is MO’s first official campaign, and it’s already doing what we promised: burying the boring.

So yeah, you could go with the agency that gives you a 32-slide deck and a safe idea. Or you could go with MO and we’ll make sure to Bury The Boring in full measure.

Topline: Hooked 

Bottom-line: Fun 

ROI: Win 

MO by OML

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The collaboration focuses on enhancing YAIT’s brand visibility through strategic social media management and performance marketing.

National, 9th June, 2025: Team Pumpkin, a leading full-service digital agency, has been appointed to manage the digital marketing initiatives for YAIT, an emerging sports brand specializing in high-quality sports equipment. This partnership aims to bolster YAIT’s online presence and engage the growing community of sports / fitness enthusiasts.

Under this mandate, Team Pumpkin will develop and execute comprehensive social media strategies and performance marketing campaigns tailored to highlight YAIT’s innovative products and commitment to the sport. The agency’s efforts will focus on increasing brand awareness, driving customer engagement, and ultimately boosting sales through targeted digital channels.

Puneet Goyal, Founder and Director at YAIT, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are excited to collaborate with Team Pumpkin to expand our reach in the sports equipment market. Their expertise in digital marketing aligns with our vision of promoting pickleball and providing top-notch equipment to players worldwide.”

Swati Nathani, Co-founder & Chief Business Officer of Team Pumpkin, commented on the collaboration, “Partnering with YAIT presents an exciting opportunity to apply our digital marketing expertise in the sports industry. We look forward to enhancing YAIT’s digital footprint and connecting with pickleball enthusiasts through innovative and engaging campaigns.”

With a proven track record of successful digital campaigns across various industries, Team Pumpkin continues to empower brands by leveraging the latest digital marketing strategies to achieve impactful results.

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The account will be handled from Mumbai office

Mumbai, 08^th July, 2025: ting, a leading India-based advertising agency, having presence in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi along with Global regions of UAE and UK, has bagged the digital and social media marketing mandate of Lapita, Dubai Parks & Resorts, Autograph Collection Hotels.

As part of the mandate, the agency will handle the Social and Creative Mandate for the brand in UAE.

Speaking on the new account win, Manan Vora, Partner from ting said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Lapita Dubai Parks & Resorts in Dubai, bringing Ting UAE’s creative and digital expertise to elevate their marketing efforts. Together, we’re crafting engaging brand experiences that reflect the spirit of adventure and family fun at Lapita.”

Nikhil Taneja, Senior Marketing Manager from Lapita, (Marriot) said, “Working with ting has been a seamless and inspiring experience. Their creativity, professionalism, and deep understanding of our brand brought our vision to life in the most impactful way. We truly value their partnership and look forward to more exciting collaborations ahead.”

“Winning the Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts account is a proud milestone for us, not just because of the prestige of the brand, but because of the shared belief in storytelling that connects and converts. We’re excited to shape their digital presence and look forward to unlocking larger creative opportunities together.” Dhawal Shah, Business Head-UAE, added.

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Mumbai: June 26, 2025 – Smoke Lab, India’s first premium homegrown vodka brand from the NV Group, has set the ball rolling to expand its domestic and global footprint. Too support this journey, the brand has onboarded Actimedia PR & Digital for its overall communications mandate.

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In his current role, he will help strengthen client brands through insightful strategy, innovative product solutions, and seamless digital offline experiences

National, 19th June 2025: Integrated marketing and brand communications agency Team Pumpkin is proud to announce the appointment of Vinod Khandelwal as Chief Growth Officer – Product & E-Commerce.

Mr. Vinod Khandelwal brings with him over 17 years of extensive experience in e-commerce, product development, and sourcing, having held senior leadership roles with some of India’s most respected brands. Most recently, he served as Head of Product & E-Commerce at Springwel Mattresses, where he was instrumental in developing innovative product ranges and building robust D2C and marketplace businesses. Prior to that, he played a pivotal role at Nilkamal Limited, overseeing buying, sourcing, merchandising, and e-commerce growth, and was key to the launch and scaling of the Doctor Dreams mattress brand.

Throughout his career, Vinod has demonstrated a keen ability to identify market trends, manage end-to-end product development, and drive profitability across both online and offline channels. His expertise spans annual budgeting, global trend analysis, vendor management, omni-channel strategy, and customer relationship management. His leadership has consistently delivered value, innovation, and operational excellence to every organization he has been a part of.

“We are delighted to welcome Vinod Khandelwal to the Team Pumpkin family,” said Swati Nathani, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, Team Pumpkin. “His proven track record in product innovation and e-commerce aligns perfectly with our vision to deliver cutting-edge solutions to our clients. His strategic insight and operational rigor will be invaluable as we continue to drive growth for our partners in an increasingly digital world.”

Ranjeet Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO, Team Pumpkin, added, “Vinod has been supporting us offline right since our inception, and now it’s great to have him onboard full time with us. His deep understanding of the product and e-commerce landscape, coupled with his passion for innovation, will further accelerate our journey towards delivering exceptional value to our clients.”

Commenting on his new role, Vinod Khandelwal said, “Joining Team Pumpkin is a fantastic opportunity—I’m excited by their creative energy and data-first approach. Together, we’ll strengthen client brands through insightful strategy, innovative product solutions, and seamless digital offline experiences.”

Vinod’s appointment is part of Team Pumpkin’s ongoing commitment to attracting top talent and strengthening its leadership team, ensuring the agency remains at the forefront of digital innovation and client success.

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The French lifestyle brand partners with Team Pumpkin for all digital marketing solutions – social media, website development & maintenance, performance marketing to begin with. 

National, 13th June, 2025: Kickers, the iconic French lifestyle brand known for its bold style and cultural relevance since the 1970s, has officially entered the Indian market. To lead its digital presence, Kickers has appointed Team Pumpkin as its integrated digital media agency. The mandate will be led by Team Pumpkin’s Kolkata team.

Team Pumpkin has already laid the foundation for Kickers’ India presence with the successful development and launch of the brand’s India website. The next phase will focus on building a strong brand awareness among India’s Gen Z and millennial audiences, the digital strategy will combine heritage-led storytelling with localised, culture-driven content and sharp performance campaigns.

Mr. Jinnah Rafiq, Chairman – Kothari Industrial Corporation Ltd, shared his thoughts:

“Our commitment has always been to bring iconic, meaningful brands to the Indian market. Kickers is not just a footwear label—it’s a symbol of attitude, identity, and originality. With the right digital force behind it, we’re confident it will strike a powerful chord with India’s young consumers.”

Dr. N Mohan, Director (Chief Executive, Footwear Business), commented on the collaboration:

“At Kothari Footwears, we see the entry of Kickers as more than a market expansion, it’s a cultural moment. With Team Pumpkin’s creative prowess and our shared vision for the brand, we aim to build a digital footprint that’s as bold as the Kickers legacy itself.”

Manish Ahlawat, Vice President – Kickers South Asia & Middle East, said:

“Kickers have always represented individuality and creative expression. As we enter a dynamic and diverse market like India, our approach is rooted in connecting with young audiences through digital-first narratives. We found a strong partner in Team Pumpkin—their strategic clarity and cultural insight stood out.”

Rashi Garodia, Business Head – Team Pumpkin, Kolkata, added:

“This is an exciting opportunity to shape how an iconic global brand takes root in India. Our team is focused on building a narrative that’s authentic to Kickers’ legacy while staying relevant to the  Indian consumers. We’re looking forward to crafting content and campaigns that make a lasting impact.”

With this partnership, Kickers aims to establish a meaningful digital presence in India, blending its global appeal with locally resonant storytelling.

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