Tag Archives: allied blenders & distillers

ABD launches ‘ICONiQ White Whisky’ in Metaverse

Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABD), the domestic alcobev company, has launched of its new whisky “ICONiQ White” on the metaverse, before the offering becomes available in the market.

The brand has been launched first in ABD MetaBar – the organisation’s presence in the metaverse. The brand will subsequently be launched in the physical world in markets nationally.

ABD India forayed into the metaverse with ABD MetaBar, an immersive virtual reality space providing consumers and enthusiasts with a differentiated experience of product discovery. Optimised for both mobile and desktop usage, the MetaBar taps into the growing interest in the Metaverse especially the youth and their willingness to experiment with novel digital activations.

Shekhar Ramamurthy, Executive Deputy Chairman, ABD, said, “A core belief at ABD is to ‘Think Differently’. The launch of ICONiQ White in ABD MetaBar, ahead of its physical launch, gives consumers an opportunity to immerse with the brand before they experience it in stores. We believe this is the shape of things to come and ABD would like to lead that change.”

Bikram Basu, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, ABD, said, “ICONiQ White is a contemporary whisky for blend, packaging, and positioning. It will appeal to the young adult and plays in an affordable premium segment which has the largest pool of consumers today. We are here with something very special and here to win.”

Sohini Pani, Founder and Managing Director – River, said, “Crafting the communication mix for ‘ICONiQ White’ was a delightful experience. It all started with the name. ‘ICONiQ’ is bold and trendy, while ‘White’ is a surprising twist in the world of whisky. The visual space and the idea pitch the brand as a playful companion for fun-loving younger audiences. The icing on the cake was the opportunity for us to build ground-up the ABD MetaBar a few months ago and work towards the launch of Iconiq White on the platform.”

Allied Blenders & Distillers appoints Mr. Shekhar Ramamurthy as Executive Deputy Chairman

Allied Blenders & Distillers Private Limited recently announced the appointment of Shekhar Ramamurthy as the Executive Deputy Chairman of the company with effect from the 1st of July 2021. He replaces Nick Blasquez, who has left ABD Private Limited to pursue other professional interests. Mr. Kishore Chhabria, Chairman has expressed his gratitude to Nick Blasquez for his contributions and the transformation journey that he had guided during his tenure.

Shekhar Ramamurthy, has spent over three decades with the UB Group in various leadership roles, the last of which was as the Managing Director of United Breweries Limited. He is well recognised within the alcobev industry for his leadership skills, ability to identify opportunities and drive growth and value. As the country and the industry unlocks from the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic, ABD is poised to continue its growth through building successful brands, winning with consumers and creating value for all stakeholders. Shekhar Ramamurthy will spearhead this journey.