Soon after wrapping up its number scheme, Pepsi Cola has now entered into a new marketing drive in alliance with Wai Wai noodles.

Throughout September, consumers are to get a bottle of 250 ml Phuchhe Pepsi (retail price Rs. 8.0) in exchange for three empty wrappers of Wai Wai (retail price Rs. 11 per packet)

But that is only in Kathmandu valley. For outside, the offer also includes 300 ml Pepsi. However, the consumers there have to present five Wai Wai wrappers.

According to information received from Chaudhary Group (who produce and market Wai Wai), the Group has also introduced similar scheme for its other product such as Cheese balls and offers other products in places where the Pepsi drinks are not available.

Meanwhile, buyers of 1.5 litre PET bottle of Pepsi are also being offered one packet of Wai Wai.

Early September looked like a "fortnight of heart". While the government sponsored Martyr Gangalal National Heart Centre was declared open officially on September 5, private sector B&B Hospital was advertising widely about its feat of being the first private hospital of the country to successfully perform open heart surgery. The Nepali version of B&B's advertisement also claimed of five open heart surgeries performed, though this was not mentioned at all in the English version.

Meanwhile, another private sector unit - Norvic Healthcare - changed the text in its hoarding board at Thapathali crossroads calling all aged 40 plus to consult the doctor.

Perhaps, it is better for all to be prepared for any eventuality. Who knows what the Maoist - government talks are going to bring about !

So, go and mend your heart !

Avenues, an ad agency, has initiated a really innovative social advertisement campaign with a punchline "Akhir Kina ?" which can roughly be translated as "Why, after all ?"

First, the ad was issued on the name of FNCCI, the apex chamber of the country, with a message that if the country's economic structure falls apart, the one to suffer the most is an ordinary citizen.

But now, other institutions are enlisting themselves to foot the bill for the ad. And the subsequent version of the ad in the same format are coming with message that if the established structure in any sector of the economy falls apart, the one to be adversely affected is the ordinary citizen.

Nepal Bankers' Association joined FNCCI in the campaign within days. Now, Garment Association Nepal (GAN), Nepal Handicraft Association and Central Carpet Industries Association too have joined the campaign with the ad's message slightly changed to read that a collapse of the export sector will also bring an end to all creativity. The ad would be even better effective, had they also put some information about the extent of backward linkages of these export-based industries, - specially garment and carpet.

Barely two months have passed after Nepal Lever Ltd. (NLL) first issued an ad for Lux Toilet Soap with a Nepali cinestar (Karishma Manandhar) and now it has brought out similar ad with another Nepali cinestar (Niruta Singh).

Niruta missed the National Motion Picture Award this year. But the contract with NLL for Lux might have compensated that, at least to some extent.

Magazine subscription under unique scheme. That is how Kantipur Publications (P) Ltd. describes the latest subscription drive for its fortnightly magazine "Nepal".

The point is: istead of traditional schemes that offer one gift to one individual, the "Bishes Grahak Lai Bishesh Yojana" (BGBY) of Kantipur offers a basket of gifts that benefits the entire family, not only one person of the family.

The Company targets to enlist 25,000 subscribers with the scheme spending around Rs. 100,000 on the promotions. So far, it has enlisted 5,000 subscriptions, according to the company sources.

And the offers are irresistible - a bike, a flat TV, a freeze and a washing machine in one basket.

The next basket includes a bike, an airconditioner set, a microwave oven and a dinner set, while the third includes a stereo system, a dinner set and juicer.

Moreover, one lucky subscriber will be selected every month for one more prize - Rs. 10,000 worth of coupon to shop at a department store.

That is enough to make the scheme as the most lavish so far in Nepal, claims the company. Still that is not all. Every subscribers is also to get instant gifts.

Managing entertainment programs was limited so far in event management and producing entertainment programs. Now, with the establishment of House of Entertainment (HOE), a new trend has started - to take up the management contract of entertainment establishments.

Promoted by a group of professional managers, HOE has been managing X-zone Club, a discotheque, under management contract. And it recently started shooting for a half-an-hour program for NTV to be called "NTV Unplugged" and scheduled to go on air very soon.

According to the HOE sources, they are now contemplating to take up the management of some other entertainment companies as well that are facing managerial difficulties.

Nearing two years of its birth, Mayos brand of instant noodles is to enter the Indian market, according to Rabindra Shrestha, CEO of Himalayan Snax and Noodles (P) Ltd.

Shrestha further told us that his company is also all ready to enter the white noodles segment in the domestic market.

The news comes soon after the company launched Hurray brand in the snack segment in the domestic market. According to Shrestha, the target consumers are "nice and friendly" in white noodles segment and the nearest competitor is not that strong as in the brown noodles segment. It may be recalled that while Chaudhary Group, with brands like Wai Wai and Mimi, is the major player in brown noodles with Asian Thai Food and Multi Food Industries as the other competitors, Gandaki Noodles is the main player in the white noodles segment with Rara as its brand.

Shrestha envisions a fierce competition among the players in Nepal's noodles market for sometime, possibly one year or two, after which the weak players will be forced out of the market.

New Launches

Hansraj Hulaschand & Co. (P) Ltd. has introduced in Nepali market Boxer CT, a new model of Kawasaki Bajaj motorcycles from India.

Priced at Rs. 76,000, the 4-stroke bikes are being promoted as new age bikes with attractive looks and fuel efficiency (87 Km/litre).

Syakar Company Ltd. and Philips Electronics Singapore have jointly launched in Nepal a range of latest electronic products from Philips for 2001-02.

The gala launching ceremony spreading across several halls of Hyatt Regency could not be attended by delegates from Philips, Singapore due to the company curtailing flights by its executives following the terrorist attacks in the USA.

Among the products newly launched include VCD mini HI-FI systems and VCD micro systems with Philips patented wOOx technology, Real Flat Colour TVs and normal TVs in 50 Hz and 100 Hz, 42" flat wide TV (plasma TV), projection TVs (ranging 43" to 55"), CD HI-FI system and digital video products.

Dabur Nepal (P) Ltd. has launched two additional variants of 100% fruit juice under the Real brand - grape and guava priced at Rs. 108 per litre. At the same time the company has also launched Real Activ Apple and Orange, both 100% juice but with 'no added sugar" and priced at Rs. 99 per litre.

All these products are made available in 1 litre packs - grape and guava in Tetrapak while Real Activ in ALO pack.

Till now, the company had been making available the Real juice in orange, pineapple, mango, tomato and mixed fruit variants in 1 litre and 500 ml packs.

Dabur has presented Real Activ as a nutrition drink. "Real Activ Orange juice gives you a full day's supply of vitamin C equivalent to four oranges and Real Activ Apple juice is equivalent to four apples", states the company.

Radisson Hotel Kathmandu has introduced 3 Cards in the market: Radkat Corporate Card, Radkat Diplomat Card and Radkat Family Card, which the hotel calls "gateways to fantastic economic deals".

The owner of any of the Radkat Cards gets discounted benefits on dining occasions, banquet facilities, corner bar, laundry, take away board room and the Clark Hatch Fitness Center for a period of time.

While Radkat family card is priced Rs. 2000, the diplomat card and corporate cards are Rs. 8,000 each.