NEW DELHI: The recently launched Brand Finale by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has attracted over 150 nominations of various brands from more than 90 companies for the annual ‘CII Brand of the Year award’.
 
 
Media giants like TV Today, The Times of India group, Ananda Bazaar Patrika group too are in the fray. Participation from FMCG, pharma, healthcare and hospitality sectors come through brands like Britannia, CavinKare, Dabur, Eveready Industries, Heinz, HLL, ITC, Reckitt Benckiser, Berger Paints, Eletrolux, Godrej, ICI, Philips, Whirlpool, Ranbaxy, Novartis, Nicholas Piramal, Dr Reddy’s, Apollo Hospitals, ITC Hotels and Taj Hotels.
 
 
The petrochemical sector is represented by big guns like Indian Oil, HPCL and Bharat Petroleum. Leading telecom brands like Bharti Telecom, Hutchison and Reliance have also sent their nominations for this award.
 
 
The auto and financial sector are represented by the likes of Hero Honda Motors, Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor, Toyota, Ford, Maruti, Tata Motors, ICICI, HDFC, SBI Life Insurance, IDBI, Life Insurance Corporation.
Considering in this era of superior branding strategies where common place products like steel, batteries, plastic and needles are being translated into unique brand experiences, companies like Tata Steel, Hi+Care Plastics, Nilkamal Plastics, Amara Raja, Exide and Needle Industries have submitted their nominations for a place under the sun. Even government organisations have pitched in with entries from the like of Department of Tourism, Tamil Nadu government.

As the selection procedure entails a detailed qualitative analysis across the country; Vertebrand Management Services has been appointed by CII to execute an innovative 360-degree evaluation process. The winner will be announced during the Brand Summit in February 2005 at Chennai.