MAM
Tops unleashes ‘Foodies Ka Choice’ campaign with Kareena Kapoor
New TVC spotlights bold flavours for modern food lovers, launched 18 February 2026 as AWL-backed push.
MUMBAI: Tops is dishing out a campaign so flavour-packed it could make even the pickiest eater say, “That’s the one!” GD Foods Mfg. (I) Pvt. Ltd., the force behind the Tops brand of sauces, pickles, and condiments, now backed by AWL Agri Business Ltd. unveiled its latest television commercial on 18 February 2026 as the kick-off to the ‘Foodies Ka Choice’ campaign. Starring brand ambassador Kareena Kapoor, the TVC dives into everyday foodie moments that hit home for home cooks, snackers, and flavour chasers who refuse to skimp on taste.
The spot builds on the insight that real food enthusiasts put flavour first no compromises, just bold, authentic hits across cooking and snacking. It positions Tops as the everyday sidekick for everything from quick bites to creative kitchen experiments, sharpening its appeal among younger, urban households where food doubles as comfort, creativity, and self-expression.
AWL Agri Business Ltd. COO of the sauces and condiments business Arvind Kumar Sharma said, “Tops has always enjoyed a strong presence in Indian kitchens. With this campaign, we are elevating that connection emotionally, positioning it as an enabler of evolving food habits. Our diverse portfolio caters to everyday-cooking as well as indulgent snacking. Kareena Kapoor’s presence amplifies this narrative by embodying confidence, modernity and the spirit of today’s foodies.”
Kareena Kapoor herself chimed in, “I am a complete foodie at heart! And if there’s one thing food lovers agree on, it’s that taste comes first. What I love about Tops is that it celebrates people who truly care about taste. ‘Foodies Ka Choice’ isn’t just a campaign, it’s a reminder that when it comes to flavour, we shouldn’t settle for anything less than the best.”
This marks one of the first big marketing moves since AWL Agri Business stepped in as strategic partner for GD Foods, blending AWL’s distribution muscle and scale with Tops’ long-standing rep for innovation and trust. The brand’s lineup pickles, tomato ketchup, culinary sauces, speciality sauces, and instant mixes gets a fresh spotlight to boost salience across segments.
A full 360-degree rollout follows, TV, cinema, digital, social media, OTT, radio, and digital audio to blanket urban and emerging markets. Whether you’re whipping up dinner or raiding the fridge at midnight, this campaign’s betting you’ll reach for Tops when taste is non-negotiable. In a world of bland options, it’s serving up a reminder, good food deserves the best backup.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
