Latest news with #5Star
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Rude Food by Vir Sanghvi: No bitter memories
Chocolate is the smell of my childhood. I would wake up every morning to chocolate aromas wafting up to the top of Mumbai's Cumballa Hill where I lived. On Peddar Road, at the bottom of the hill, in a not-very-large white building, was the Cadbury factory, and the aromas it exuded defined much of my growing up. (It cannot be a coincidence that vanilla is still one of my favourite smells.) Indian chocolate brands such as Manam use beans grown on Indian soil. As I grew older, the factory moved to the suburbs and the white building became the office. But they kept the bungalow next to it, where the managing director lived. In my early years as a journalist, I was once sent to interview the British MD of Cadbury in that bungalow. He was kind enough to take an inexperienced journalist seriously and explained that one of the biggest challenges in his job was keeping the prices of such popular Cadbury brands as Fruit & Nut low because Cadbury imported chocolate, and global prices were volatile. But because he did not want to disappoint the many children who loved 'Cads', as the chocolate bar was nicknamed, the company had evolved two strategies. The first was to create bars that used less of the expensive chocolate: The 5 Star was one example. This was a familiar strategy already employed in many foreign countries: 5 Star was probably inspired by the Mars Bar. Forty years ago, Cadbury was trying to persuade Indian farmers to grow the cocoa bean. (ADOBE STOCK) The second strategy involved a higher degree of difficulty. Cadbury was trying to persuade Indian farmers to grow the cocoa bean so it was less dependent on imported chocolate. The problem, he said, was that the Indian bean just didn't taste right when you turned it into chocolate. Experts from Cadbury UK had worked with local farmers, he said, and had managed to get around that problem. He thought that Cadbury would eventually be able to depend on Indian farmers for a substantial proportion of its chocolate needs. This was forty or so years ago, so there was nothing unusual about chatting to a Brit who lived in a lovely bungalow in the shadow of Cumballa Hill, about Indian farmers. And because the gobbledygook had yet to be invented, he did not use such expressions as farm-to-table or bean-to-bar or talk about Cadbury's commitment to Indian farmers or about localisation and carbon miles. He was a practical man, and his focus was on keeping the prices of his chocolates low enough for children to be able to enjoy them. I did not know enough then to discuss the decision to grow the cocoa bean in India from a historical perspective. Most food historians regard the story of chocolate as a prime example of imperialism in action. The cocoa bean was brought to Europe by Spanish invaders, who found it in South America. And the chocolate we buy today is a European/American creation. In 1847, JS Fry, an English company, invented the chocolate bar. In 1868, Cadbury invented the chocolate box. In 1879, Nestlé invented milk chocolate. In 1900, America saw the first Hershey bar, with its distinctive spoilt-milk taste. The Mars bar appeared in England in 1932. In African countries, governments force farmers to sell cocoa beans at half the global price. (ADOBE STOCK) All of these advances were based on a South American cocoa bean. Europe did not grow chocolate. So the big Western companies got the profits, while the poor South American farmers were paid a pittance. As the demand for chocolate went up, cocoa plantations were developed in Africa and in other colonies by European powers. All of the cocoa was exported to the factories of the West. That trend has continued. When you hear of the great chocolatiers of Belgium, rarely is the source of the bean mentioned. Switzerland, a country that grows no cocoa, has a global reputation for chocolate. Valrhona, a name that chefs revere, is a French company that buys its chocolate from the Third World. Nutella comes from Italy, where no cocoa grows. So, the Cadbury initiative to help farmers cultivate the cocoa bean in India was intriguing. They were not growing it for export. They were cultivating it for Indians. I thought back to my conversation with the MD of Cadbury because of two recent developments. When Manam opened a store-restaurant in Delhi, people queued up on weekends. The first is the rise in global prices of the cocoa bean. It has tripled over the last two years and hovers at around $10,000 a tonne. In many African countries, the governments compulsorily purchase beans from farmers at half the global price. This has led to a boom in cocoa smuggling, the creation of chocolate mafias and a rise in crime. It is another of colonialism's unhappy legacies. The second development that struck me was the frenzy that accompanied the opening of the large Manam Chocolate store-restaurant in Delhi. On any weekend, there are queues of people trying to get in. This is unusual because Manam, launched only in 2021, was not a brand that anyone in Delhi knew well. Nor is there any precedent for a chocolate place becoming such a rage. The connection between Manam and my chat with the Cadbury MD decades ago is the bean. While Manam does import some beans, its real claim to fame is that it mostly uses Indian cocoa beans. As Chaitanya Muppala, the 34-year-old founder of the brand, told me, they work with 150 farmers, who cultivate the bean across 3,000 acres. Chaitanya's father ran a medium-sized mithai business in Hyderabad; when he took it over, he embarked on a massively successful expansion, opening many new outlets and branches. He was not a chocolate nerd to begin with, but saw that the chocolate market was growing at 12 to 13 per cent in India and got into it. Ruby Islam is head chef at Manam Chocolate. They have 350 products across 50 categories. His big insight was that the Indian cocoa bean, introduced originally by Cadbury, could yield world-class chocolate. He worked closely with farmers on the soil, seed genetics and cultivation. He helped introduce better drying techniques (the laborious business of turning the raw bean into chocolate is often the key to flavour) and was involved with the process long before the raw material reached the Manam 'karkhanas', as he calls them. He was also willing to take big bets. Manam has over 350 products across 50 categories, and the size of its range sometimes seems overwhelming. Its large Delhi restaurant-shop resembles something Willy Wonka would dream up, and many of the hundreds of people who throng there each day come out of sheer wonder not just out of love of chocolate. Chaitanya now has successful restaurant-shops in Hyderabad and Delhi. I imagine Mumbai and Bangalore will be next. Everyone who has tried his chocolate only has good things to say, and his PR operation is superb and formidable. While he obviously does not see Manam as an industrial operation, most of which are based on poor-quality raw material, he doesn't see it as an artisanal operation either. He makes craft chocolate, he says. And what is craft chocolate? It's chocolate that is all about the bean and its flavours. A hugely successful chocolate company based on the Indian bean? Who would have thought we would get to this stage when Cadbury first planted beans in India? It's an amazing achievement, not just because the chocolate is so good, but because it reverses colonial history. This is Indian chocolate, Chaitanya says, made for Indians, by Indians from Indian beans. From HT Brunch, August 09, 2025 Follow us on
What's On
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
World Chocolate Day: Chocolate bars from around the world you can sample in Dubai
Today marks World Chocolate Day. It's a sweet excuse to treat yourself to your favourite chocolate (not that you need one), but if you're trying to be really on-theme, Dubai has an amazing selection of some iconic international chocolate bars that you can sample to honour this day, and this one little, wholesome, sugar-laden thing that unites us all, from every corner of Planet Earth, into universal craving. Milka from Switzerland/Germany This Swiss chocolate bar is one of the most iconic, and popular for being highly resistant to not being polished off instantly. Started off in Switzerland, now being produced in Germany, you'll be able to spot that tell-tale purple packaging from a mile away on most supermarket shelves. They also make some insane flavours like XXL choco and biscuit, raspberries and cream, Oreo, Chips Ahoy, cherry cream, marzipan, toffee and whole hazelnuts, and the list goes on. Retails across Dubai markets starting from Dhs5.95 5 Star from India This is an Indian childhood classic so all the desi folks out there will recognise. Created by Cadbury, 5 Star comes as one solid bite of thick, chewy, sweet nougat topped with a layer of caramel and the whole thing encased in milk chocolate. The bar was first launched in India in 1969, and is now also available in fruit and nut, crunchy and chomp flavours. You won't miss the packaging – bright, golden, shiny, and definitely a stand-out on the shelves. If you want to complete the Indian snack experience, this is a must. Retails across all Adil stores in Dubai for Dhs2.50 Chuckles from South Africa Think Maltesers, but different. Chuckles by the South African Woolworth's brand is one of those bite-sized treats you can just keep popping in until you realise you've finished the entire bag. Malted, biscuity puffs covered in milk chocolate, sold the bag – what's not to like? They also come in a variety of flavours – milk, toffee, peanut, raisins, coconut ice, shortcake (uh, what?) and more. While Maltesers have captured the many hearts, if you grew up eating these, it'll be nice throwback for you. Retails at Hyperama for Dhs58.70 Daim from Sweden Created in Sweden in the 1950s, the Daim bar is a decidedly Swedish thing, a chocolate bar made from crunchy almond caramel covered in milk chocolate. This humble bar of chocolate has taken on many flavour profiles over the years, with limited edition cappuccino, forest fruit, Coke, white chocolate, dark chocolate, blueberry, lemon-orange, mint Daim, orange chocolate, caramel latte and strawberry variants available around the world. It's possible you may only get the basic variety here, but it's still something different. Retails at Carrefour for Dhs9.29, also available across other markets Pocky from Japan Pocky was first sold in Japan in 1966, created by a man named Yoshiaki Koma. It's a foolproof formula, really. Think crunchy biscuit sticks coated in chocolate, the perfect on-the-go snack, and the name comes from the sound of the biscuit being cracked as you bite into it. The original chocolate-coated Pocky was followed by an almond-coated variant in 1971, and a strawberry coating in 1977, and now has matcha (green tea), banana, cookies and cream, and coconut, along with some limited edition ones. Retails at 1004 Gourmet for Dhs14, also available across other Asian markets Ritter Sport from Germany Ritter Sport was founded in 1912 by Alfred and Clara Ritter – the signature square-shaped chocolate bar designed to fit easily into a sports jacket pocket without breaking. Today, they have a load of flavours to choose from, including milk, dark, and white chocolate, with fillings like nuts, biscuits, and fruit. The brand remains family-owned and continues to be one of Germany's most recognisable and popular chocolate manufacturers. You can consider this premium chocolate, made with 100% certified sustainable cocoa. Retails in Carrefour for Dhs12.99, also available across most other markets Lion from the UK First launched in the UK in 1976, Lion is a British childhood classic. A combination of crispy wafer, chewy caramel, and crunchy cereal, all coated in milk chocolate – this is still the go-to choice for many who have grown up in the UK. The bar has seen various limited editions and spin-offs over the years, including peanut and white chocolate versions. To this day, Lion bars are manufactured in Nestlé's factory in York, continuing the brand's British confectionery heritage. Retails in Carrefour at Dhs4.49, also available across other markets Images: Social Media
Mint
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
India roars at Cannes, but global creative dominance still eludes us
MUMBAI: India has never looked more confident on the global creative stage. With a rich haul of 32 Lions at this year's Cannes Lions International Festival, including a Grand Prix, nine Golds, nine Silvers, and 13 Bronzes, this was India's best outing since 2022. But behind the celebration lies a more sobering question: while Indian ad agencies are solving real-world problems and building culturally powerful narratives, are we still falling short of creating globally scaled, exportable creative intellectual property (IP)? The wins spanned newer, impact-led categories like PR, creative data, social and influencer, creative strategy and brand experience—marking a clear departure from the era when India's strength lay in print or radio. Among the most celebrated campaigns this year were FCB India's Lucky Yatra, which gamified Indian Railways' unreserved ticketing system to reward underserved travellers; Leo Burnett's Tailor Test, which used neighbourhood tailors to push men toward preventive health check-ups; and Ogilvy's Erase Valentine's Day, which continued 5Star's irreverent tone and won Gold for its culturally subversive social play. Also read: Advertising sentiment remains subdued during festive quarter 'India's performance at Cannes this year has been nothing short of inspiring, and I think it is the result of a steady evolution and not a sudden breakthrough," said Rana Barua, group chief executive officer, Havas India, SEA and North Asia (Japan and South Korea). 'We've been sharpening our strategic thinking while staying rooted in culture and elevating the craft to meet global standards. What's really working in our favour now is our ability to tell stories that are both deeply local but also hold universal relevance." Havas India picked up metals for Ink of Democracy, which turned a newspaper front page purple—the colour of India's voting ink—to nudge readers to vote. The campaign was high on cultural resonance and symbolic weight and reflected the kind of idea Cannes increasingly rewards. 'We're witnessing a definitive shift toward 'purpose with proof'. It's no longer enough for a campaign to simply say something meaningful; it also has to do with the right messaging and effective impact," Barua said. 'The work that wins today is emotionally compelling, but also measurable, actionable, and anchored in truth." Even traditional advertisers are leaning into this shift. Mondelez India's 5Star was again among the Cannes winners for its quirky, anti-Valentine's Day campaign. 'Winning Gold at Cannes is a moment of immense pride for us," said Nitin Saini, vice-president—marketing, Mondelez India. 'We aim to deliver bold, clutter-breaking work that drives both brand love and business impact." Also read: Music labels crack the whip as influencers flout copyright rules on social media Saini underlined that the brand doesn't create work just to win awards. 'Our briefs are always anchored on winning with consumers, keeping in mind our key brand objectives and with a laser focus on consumer impact," he said. 'But when the work is insightful, disruptive, and hits the right cultural nerve, it often earns recognition." He also pointed out that risk-taking is less about timing and more about internal culture. 'At Mondelez, we encourage our teams to deeply understand the consumer, the cultural context and our brands and from that foundation, we give them the freedom to experiment." But despite the optimism, some remain unconvinced that this success marks a permanent shift. Karthik Srinivasan, independent communications consultant, said, 'There is good work coming out of India, most definitely, but we could do a lot better in terms of scale and ambition." Srinivasan noted that many of the wins came from purpose-led interventions, where there's greater creative flexibility than in product-led advertising. 'Purpose-led activations have always been the well of creative thought, unshackled from the need to sell, which is the traditional bedrock of advertising. So it's no wonder that they offer better width for agencies to unleash creativity. But the real magic would be in producing such creativity in service of selling traditional products, using traditional brand storytelling." He also raised a deeper issue: India still hasn't created a globally exportable brand idea. 'We still lack the ambition to create ideas that can be scaled globally. For instance, Surf Excel's Daag Achche Hain, Snickers' You're Not You When You're Hungry, or Pepsi's No Lays, No Game were all successfully adapted in India and not originated. While we go hard on local relevance, when we create ideas that can work locally and can be successfully imported to other markets, that would signal something very different about Indian creativity." Some of this year's top winners weren't without controversy. Lucky Yatra drew criticism over execution claims, while a Britannia film raised concerns about exaggerated outcomes—rekindling debates around the line between case study storytelling and fact-based results. Also read: Former Disney India legal head Mihir Rale joins Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas 'Creativity, on its own, does matter," Srinivasan said. 'But when in advertising, there's a subsequent question: 'Did it work?' That depends on other factors—whether there was enough money and appropriate media vehicles used in service of the idea, and whether the intended audience gained from it. Awards matter when they are defined sharply." Barua believes that Indian agencies are moving in the right direction—investing in system-level change, not just in campaign flash. 'Great work doesn't happen by accident. It takes intent, collaboration, and a culture that champions both excellence and empathy," he said. 'Our Village model brings together creative, media, CX (consumer experience), design, PR, tech and health under one roof. We're not just making ads, we're solving complex business problems." This year's Cannes wins weren't dominated by any single holding company or city. FCB, Leo Burnett, Ogilvy, Havas, Dentsu Creative, Godrej Creative Lab and BBH all contributed, suggesting a broader base of ambition and capability across the ecosystem. But the question of consistency remains. 'We're absolutely capable of becoming consistent global forces," Barua said. 'What's holding us back is a mix of scale, mindset, and opportunity. We're often operating in a value-conscious, risk-averse environment, but that's changing." What's encouraging is that Indian creatives are no longer thinking in just 30-second TVCs or radio spots. They're thinking in platforms, formats and ecosystems. And this year's winners prove India can deliver culturally rooted, globally relevant storytelling. The challenge now is whether we can build on this momentum and create ideas that don't just win, but endure. India may not have had its Droga5 moment yet. But Cannes 2025 suggests we're no longer chasing others. We're finally beginning to lead.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Chilean foursome arrested in $3-million Simi Valley jewelry heist. Here's what police recovered
Security footage captured inside a strip mall showed three male suspects casing a Simi Valley jewelry store days before it was burglarized last month for more than $3 million in jewelry and other valuables. The men inspected ceiling access, potential camera angles and sat beside the shared wall separating 5 Star Jewelry & Watch Repair and a candy shop it bordered May 20, authorities allege. One of the suspects even mimicked spray-painting over a security camera, authorities allege. Five days later, the suspects broke into the adjacent sweet shop overnight through the roof, used ladders and ropes to propel down, blacked out surveillance cameras and spent hours boring a hole through a wall and into a 5,000-pound safe to make off with jewelry, bullion, cash and heirlooms belonging to the jewelry store's customers, according to a criminal complaint. That security footage was key in arresting four Chilean nationals with ties to an international theft ring, according to Simi Valley police. The suspects were charged with four felonies, Ventura County Dist. Atty. Erik Nasarenko announced at a press conference in front of the jewelry and repair shop Friday morning. Manuel Ibarra, 38, Camilo Lara, 32, Sergio Mejia-Machuca, 27, and Heidy Trujillo, 26, were charged with two counts of conspiracy to receive stolen property and two counts of conspiracy to commit commercial burglary. Read more: Burglars clean out father-son jewelers, snatch heirlooms, 'a lifetime's worth of work' Nasarenko added that the offenses carried additional enhancements since the burglary drew more than $3 million. He added that the defendants could spend between six and nine years in state prison, if found guilty on all counts. All four defendants entered not guilty pleas Thursday and are being held on $100,000 bail. The group is due back in court June 23. A representative from the Ventura County public defender's office was not available to comment on behalf of the accused. Nasarenko thanked Simi Valley police for investigating, arresting and charging the defendants within a short span. 'This happened within three weeks of the date of the alleged offenses, bringing accountability and a measure of justice to the city of Simi Valley and the independent small businesses that make it such a tight-knit and supportive community,' he said. Jewelry store owner Jonathan Youssef described the arrests as 'bittersweet.' Read more: In cinema-style heist, tunneling thieves steal millions in gold, jewels from downtown L.A. store 'It's nice that they're off the streets, but we're not getting much of anything back,' he told The Times. Simi Valley Police Chief Steve Shorts said officers recovered about $600,000 in confirmed stolen property and jewelry, including matches to 5 Star's inventory. He added that more than $20,000 in cash was also recovered. The break-in was reported on Memorial Day. Simi Valley police received a call at 6:33 a.m. from Jonathan and his father, Jacoub Youssef. At the time, Jonathan estimated his store lost between $2 million and $2.5 million in cash and inventory — gold bullion, silver bars, white gold and platinum pieces, multiple high-end watches and center-stone diamond engagement rings. Shorts confirmed that some recovered timepieces were Rolex, TAG Heuer and Omega watches that fit 5 Star's inventory. Most of the stolen inventory consisted of roughly 100 pieces of jewelry from neighborhood clients that were being repaired or restored by the Youssefs. Read more: Long Beach man who bragged about crime on Instagram pleads guilty to $2.6-million jewelry heist Jonathan said he's aware of some of what has been recovered, which includes several loose stones that were 'ripped out of" larger gold jewelry that he believes has already been scrapped. He said the thieves 'were really quick' in unloading the jewelry. 'My father and I are melancholic,' Jonathan said. 'In the end, these criminals are getting a few years of prison time for ruining the lives of so many people and forever damaging so many people. It's a slap on the wrist.' Jonathan said he was thankful for many community fundraisers and online campaigns that have helped recoup a small portion of the losses. Outside the valuables recovered, Shorts said detectives discovered commercial burglary tools and jewelry testing equipment during the arrest of the suspects. He said police also uncovered a firearm taken from a separate pawn shop burglary in Los Angeles in which a wall was similarly breached, but he declined to further discuss other burglaries that the crew may have committed. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
13-06-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Chilean foursome arrested in $3-million Simi Valley jewelry heist. Here's what police recovered
Security footage captured inside a strip mall showed three male suspects casing a Simi Valley jewelry store days before it was burglarized last month for more than $3 million in jewelry and other valuables. The men inspected ceiling access, potential camera angles and sat beside the shared wall separating 5 Star Jewelry & Watch Repair and a candy shop it bordered May 20, authorities allege. One of the suspects even mimicked spray-painting over a security camera, authorities allege. Five days later, the suspects broke into the adjacent sweet shop overnight through the roof, used ladders and ropes to propel down, blacked out surveillance cameras and spent hours boring a hole through a wall and into a 5,000-pound safe to make off with jewelry, bullion, cash and heirlooms belonging to the jewelry store's customers, according to a criminal complaint. That security footage was key in arresting four Chilean nationals with ties to an international theft ring, according to Simi Valley police. The suspects were charged with four felonies, Ventura County Dist. Atty. Erik Nasarenko announced at a press conference in front of the jewelry and repair shop Friday morning. Manuel Ibarra, 38, Camilo Lara, 32, Sergio Mejia-Machuca, 27, and Heidy Trujillo, 26, were charged with two counts of conspiracy to receive stolen property and two counts of conspiracy to commit commercial burglary. Nasarenko added that the offenses carried additional enhancements since the burglary drew more than $3 million. He added that the defendants could spend between six and nine years in state prison, if found guilty on all counts. All four defendants entered not guilty pleas Thursday and are being held on $100,000 bail. The group is due back in court June 23. A representative from the Ventura County public defender's office was not available to comment on behalf of the accused. Nasarenko thanked Simi Valley police for investigating, arresting and charging the defendants within a short span. 'This happened within three weeks of the date of the alleged offenses, bringing accountability and a measure of justice to the city of Simi Valley and the independent small businesses that make it such a tight-knit and supportive community,' he said. Jewelry store owner Jonathan Youssef described the arrests as 'bittersweet.' 'It's nice that they're off the streets, but we're not getting much of anything back,' he told The Times. Simi Valley Police Chief Steve Shorts said officers recovered about $600,000 in confirmed stolen property and jewelry, including matches to 5 Star's inventory. He added that more than $20,000 in cash was also recovered. The break-in was reported on Memorial Day. Simi Valley police received a call at 6:33 a.m. from Jonathan and his father, Jacoub Youssef. At the time, Jonathan estimated his store lost between $2 million and $2.5 million in cash and inventory — gold bullion, silver bars, white gold and platinum pieces, multiple high-end watches and center-stone diamond engagement rings. Shorts confirmed that some recovered timepieces were Rolex, TAG Heuer and Omega watches that fit 5 Star's inventory. Most of the stolen inventory consisted of roughly 100 pieces of jewelry from neighborhood clients that were being repaired or restored by the Youssefs. Jonathan said he's aware of some of what has been recovered, which includes several loose stones that were 'ripped out of' larger gold jewelry that he believes has already been scrapped. He said the thieves 'were really quick' in unloading the jewelry. 'My father and I are melancholic,' Jonathan said. 'In the end, these criminals are getting a few years of prison time for ruining the lives of so many people and forever damaging so many people. It's a slap on the wrist.' Jonathan said he was thankful for many community fundraisers and online campaigns that have helped recoup a small portion of the losses. Outside the valuables recovered, Shorts said detectives discovered commercial burglary tools and jewelry testing equipment during the arrest of the suspects. He said police also uncovered a firearm taken from a separate pawn shop burglary in Los Angeles in which a wall was similarly breached, but he declined to further discuss other burglaries that the crew may have committed.
