Nandini set to sponsor 2024-25 Indian Super League football tournament
Bengaluru: Nandini, the popular dairy brand owned by Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), is gearing up to sponsor the upcoming season of the Indian Super League (ISL) for 2024-25. This move by the state’s renowned dairy cooperative is aimed to promote its brand during the six-month-long sports event.
The 11th season of the ISL, scheduled to run from September 2024 to March 2025, will feature 163 football matches, with thirteen teams competing. According to a report by Money Control, KMF has recently floated a tender for firms to manage and promote the Nandini brand throughout the tournament.
KMF Managing Director M.K. Jagadish revealed that the cooperative is aiming for central sponsorship of the ISL, incorporating brand promotions on LED boards, presentation backdrops, dugout areas, and kiosks at all match venues. Additionally, Nandini will gain 300 seconds of exposure on television and OTT platforms, along with social media management throughout the ISL season, Jagadish added.
In a bid to expand its market reach, Nandini has also launched its whey-based energy drink, ‘Nandini Splash,’ in the U.S., making it available during the World Cup. KMF's MD highlighted that this move is part of a broader strategy to establish Nandini as a global brand.
Expanding further, a senior KMF official mentioned that Nandini is set to introduce its dairy products, including milk, curd, butter, and ghee, in the Delhi market. As part of a trial, these products were transported to Delhi by road, a journey of 56 hours, with the quality remaining unaffected.
Nandini has already made headlines by sponsoring the Scotland and Ireland cricket teams during the T20 World Cup, marking a milestone as the first Indian dairy brand to sponsor international cricket teams. This achievement gained widespread attention during the Karnataka Assembly elections in 2023.
The brand's prominence in Karnataka became a talking point ahead of the state elections when Amul announced plans to sell curd in Bengaluru. Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai clarified that Amul would not replace Nandini in Karnataka, assuring that both brands would coexist in the state's market.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
