Tandoori June/July | Page 24

cobra news Cobra Beer re-launches most successful campaign C obra Beer has re-launched ‘Cobra Train’, the most successful advertising campaign in its history. Last year, the “A fresh take on authentic India” creative helped secure double-digit growth for Cobra as it aims to become a top 10 UK beer brand. The latest media campaign saw a 20-second version of the advert air on TV, featuring a new finale, and is being supported by a full suite of point-of-sale materials for Cobra customers.  The popular campaign features a train full of modern Indians journeying through the Indian landscape and reinforces Cobra’s smooth and full-flavoured taste and rich, vibrant heritage. Last year, it captured the imagination of consumers and helped Cobra achieve a strong rate of growth in the on-trade, with sales up 13.7% alongside a volume increase of 20.5%. Alongside the advertising campaign, Cobra completed its brand redesign in 2012. Lord Karan Bilimoria, Founder and Chairman of Cobra Beer said: “The creative was hugely successful last year, presenting the Cobra brand as a premium reflection of modern India. To realise our ambition of making Cobra a top ten beer brand in the UK, it is vital that we capitalise on our success by keeping Cobra front of mind for consumers, which is why we have invested in a campaign that is having a significant impact on the growth of the brand. “Last year was a truly unforgettable one for Cobra. Following the launch of the advert, Cobra was selected as the only beer to be served at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee picnic and concert in the gardens of Buckingham Palace. We have a beer that has won multiple awards through the years and we are making great strides to become a top ten brand in the UK.” Cobra has consistently been awarded ‘CoolBrand’ status by a panel of opinion formers and consumers, also winning 65 gold medals at the Monde Selection awards, one of the most prestigious quality awards in the world for beer. Lord Bilimoria joins Prime Minister on India trade trip L ord Bilimoria accompanied David Cameron on a trade trip to India in February. This was his fourth Prime Ministerial visit in a row, having accompanied Tony Blair and Gordon Brown on their visits, and David Cameron on his first visit. This was the largest ever delegation to leave British shores. Along with other business ambassadors, Lord Bilimoria supported the Prime Minister in his aim to boost the already strong trade links between India and the UK. The India-British relationship has enjoyed a positive growth over the last decade, with bilateral trade tripling to over £16 billion. There are so many avenues for partnership between the two countries, whether it is 24 T A N D O O R I Britain’s world class engineering firms that can help India’s enormous infrastructure needs, or the financial services sector in the UK which is still trying to enter the country. India is an emerging market and the one fact that we must realise is that Britain has to compete with others in making the most of the opportunities it has to offer. Britain needs to embrace this international competition and utilize India’s potential with confidence. As Chairman of the Cobra Beer Partnership, a British manufacturer, and as Chairman of Molson Coors Cobra India, which owns the only brewery in the state of Bihar in India, one of the country’s poorest regions, the bilateral relationship between Britain and India is of the greatest interest to Lord Bilimoria. Another important aspect of the visit pertained to British education. Many Indians have links going back generations with Britain. So many of India’s leading historical figures and even present day icons were educated in Britain. Bri \