Chinese Wok Partners with Amazon MX Player’s ‘I-POPSTAR’ as Official Food Partner

Chinese Wok Partners with Amazon MX Player’s ‘I-POPSTAR’ as Official Food Partner

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 8, 2025

Chinese Wok, India’s leading homegrown Desi Chinese quick-service restaurant brand, has announced its debut in the reality TV entertainment space with ‘I-POPSTAR,’ Amazon MX Player’s latest music reality series celebrating India’s independent music talent. As the Official Food Partner, Chinese Wok brings its bold, youthful flavour into the heart of music, culture, and creativity, strengthening its connection with the country’s vibrant Gen Z and millennial audience.

Produced by Rusk Media, I-POPSTAR features 25 emerging musicians competing across auditions, gala rounds, and the grand finale, mentored by King, Aastha Gill, Aditya Rikhari, and Parmish Verma. The show embraces diverse genres including Pop, Rap, R&B, Rock, EDM, and regional fusion, spotlighting originality and fresh voices from across India.

The collaboration reflects a shared spirit between the show and the brand. Today’s young India is ambitious, expressive, and constantly evolving, qualities that align with Chinese Wok’s “Wok Your Way” ethos, which celebrates individuality and hustle. The partnership takes shape through on-air integrations, backstage interactions, playful exchanges with mentors and contestants, and a unique challenge segment that blends flavour, creativity, and performance in true Chinese Wok style.

As part of the association, the brand will co-create an exclusive jingle with one of the I-POPSTAR contestants, infusing music and flavour into a vibrant brand experience. Beyond the screen, Chinese Wok will have a presence at key events such as the Mumbai premiere, Delhi finale festival, and youth showcases across major cities.

Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal, Founder & Director, Lenexis Foodworks, shared,

“Chinese Wok has always resonated with the ambition, pace and individuality of young India. Our partnership with I-POPSTAR is a strategic step in expanding our cultural footprint and engaging deeply with the country’s most dynamic, creative audiences. With 250+ outlets across 45+ cities, this collaboration signals the next phase of our brand evolution, where food, culture and creative energy meet.”

Adding to this, Vikas Iyer, Marketing Head, Lenexis Foodworks, said,

“I-POPSTAR is raw, expressive and unapologetically fresh and that’s exactly the spirit of Chinese Wok. We’re excited to join India’s next popstars on-screen, share fun flavour moments, and even co-create a jingle with one of the artists. It’s food, culture, music, and youth energy coming together and when cravings hit the stage, Chinese bole toh Chinese Wok!”

This marks Chinese Wok’s first-ever entry into the reality TV and talent ecosystem, a bold and strategic move that builds deeper cultural relevance with India’s young audience through music, humour, sport, and digital storytelling.


Lucofast Expands Distribution Network Across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai

Lucofast Expands Distribution Network Across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai

By Hariharan U

Published on December 14, 2025

Lucofast Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s fastest-growing hydration drink brands, has announced its official expansion into Mumbai and Navi Mumbai with the launch of a newly established distributor network. The move marks a key milestone in the brand’s growth journey and strengthens its footprint in one of the country’s most competitive FMCG markets.

With this expansion, Lucofast’s full hydration drink range Strawberry Lemonade, Peach and Passion Fruit, and Citrus Orange will now be available across retail stores, gyms, cafés, modern trade outlets, and general trade locations throughout the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Announcing the expansion, Arif Sharif, Brand Manager, Lucofast Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are thrilled to bring Lucofast to Mumbai. In a short span of time, Lucofast has built a strong consumer base across Pune city, and entering Mumbai is a natural step in our expansion strategy. Over the next two months, customers will start seeing Lucofast products widely available across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai as we scale our distribution footprint.”

Lucofast has been witnessing accelerated growth, driven by rising consumer demand for pure, functional, and refreshing hydration beverages. Its non-carbonated, non-caffeinated formulation, enriched with electrolytes and B vitamins, positions the brand as a preferred alternative for consumers seeking sustained energy without the crash associated with traditional energy drinks.

The Mumbai and Navi Mumbai rollout further strengthens Lucofast’s presence across general trade, modern trade, and on-the-go retail formats, supporting the brand’s long-term vision of becoming a hydration-first beverage brand in India.

As Lucofast continues its nationwide expansion, the company remains focused on delivering high-quality, great-tasting hydration solutions tailored to active and everyday lifestyles.

Key Highlights:

  • Launch of a dedicated distributor network across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai

  • Widespread availability expected within the next 60 days

  • Strengthened presence across general trade, modern trade, and fitness-led outlets

  • Reinforces Lucofast’s mission to lead the hydration-focused beverage category in India


Sanjay Dutt’s The Glenwalk Crosses 1.60 Lakh Cases in 2025, Targets 2.70 Lakh by March 2026

Sanjay Dutt’s The Glenwalk Crosses 1.60 Lakh Cases in 2025, Targets 2.70 Lakh by March 2026

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 14, 2025

Sanjay Dutt’s The Glenwalk has marked another major milestone in 2025, crossing 1.60 lakh cases and setting its target at 2.70 lakh cases by March 2026. After emerging as Maharashtra’s No. 1 selling Scotch whisky earlier this year, the brand has continued its rapid growth, supported by strong consumer demand, sharp category insight, and a flavour profile created for the Indian palate. This performance builds on the 60,000 cases the brand sold between April and September 2025, during a time when the global whisky industry saw shifts due to economic changes, regulations, and evolving consumption behaviour.

Entering the final quarter of the year, The Glenwalk strengthened its momentum and expanded from a state-level success to a growing national brand. Its presence across Indian states and duty-free markets has helped accelerate its reach, and the brand is also preparing to introduce a new range of contemporary expressions in the coming year.

Speaking on the brand’s rise, Mokksh Sani, Founder of Living Liquidz & Mansionz and Co-founder of Cartel Bros., said, “2025 has validated everything we believed about The Glenwalk: its craft, its distinct taste, and its resonance with today’s Indian consumer. Crossing 1.60 lakh cases by November is a testament to this momentum, but we are only getting started. With robust demand and clear market opportunities, we are confidently targeting 2.70 lakh cases by March 2026. The Glenwalk is not just growing, it is shaping the future of premium Scotch consumption in India.”

The Glenwalk’s growth has also been backed by a strong portfolio of awards. The brand was named the ‘Most Disruptive Brand of the Year’ at the 8th Talent Track Awards and has earned several global honours, including a Bronze Medal at the London Spirits Awards 2025, Gold and Silver wins at ProWine 2023 and 2024, Silver medals at the London Spirits Competition and the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2024, a Silver Medal at the IWSC 2024, and a Gold at the Spiritz Achiever Awards 2024. These recognitions highlight the contribution of co-founders Mokksh Sani, Jitin Merani, Rohan Nihalani, Manish Sani, and Chief Business Officer Vishal Rajan.

Co-founder Sanjay Dutt added, “Watching The Glenwalk win hearts across India has been incredibly fulfilling. 2025 was a landmark year, and the awards we’ve received reaffirm the passion and precision behind this brand. As we look to 2026, our vision is even stronger, greater reach, deeper consumer connections, and a commitment to delivering a world-class Scotch experience crafted for India.”

As it moves into 2026, The Glenwalk is preparing for its most ambitious growth phase. The brand is experiencing rising demand across on-trade and retail channels and is expanding production, strengthening distributor partnerships, and aiming for deeper penetration in key markets within India and internationally.


Barista Coffee Unveils Festive Hazelnut Menu Across India

Barista Coffee Unveils Festive Hazelnut Menu Across India

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 13, 2025

Barista Coffee has introduced a special festive café menu created with premium hazelnuts, bringing the warmth and flavours of winter to its outlets across India. The menu has been launched in collaboration with Hazelnuts for India, an initiative focused on promoting high-quality hazelnuts in the country. As part of the campaign titled “Go HazelNUTS with Barista,” the new offerings will be available across 150 Barista cafés in major metro cities.

The exclusive festive menu was unveiled at a special launch event held at Barista’s flagship café in Vasant Vihar, New Delhi. The event offered guests an immersive tasting experience, showcasing the entire range in a cosy café setting themed around coffee and hazelnuts. The limited-edition menu features the Hazelnut Crunchy Frappe, Hazelnut Dry Latte, Hazelnut Matcha Tea Cake, and Hazelnut Chocolate Tart, each made using premium hazelnuts known for their rich flavour and texture. The menu will be available from 1st December 2025 to 28th February 2026.

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Speaking at the launch, Mansi Ahuja, Hazelnuts India Representative, AMPRO Marketing, said, “Go HazelNUTS with Barista campaign aims to place hazelnuts at the heart of the café experience. Through Hazelnuts for India, we want guests to discover hazelnuts in multiple forms, in their coffee, in their desserts and in their everyday indulgences, offering a healthy indulgent twist to their choices. The encouraging response at the launch reinforces our belief that hazelnuts have a natural place in India’s evolving café culture.”

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Rajat Agrawal, CEO, Barista Coffee Company, added, “We’ve always enjoyed experimenting with flavours and finding new ways to make every coffee moment feel a little more special. Over the years, our menu has continuously evolved to bring fresh, exciting, and premium tastes to coffee lovers across the country. Our new hazelnut-inspired offerings are another step in surprising our customers with choices that elevate their everyday moments. At Barista, we’re committed to pushing boundaries and creating café experiences that feel both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly new.”

The collaboration highlights the versatility of hazelnuts while strengthening Barista’s role as a preferred destination for festive indulgence and gifting. With this seasonal menu, Barista adds a warm and flavourful touch to the winter months, bringing a delightful café experience to guests across India.

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