"Testament to Swadeshi brands," Parle Products celebrate PM Modi gifting Melody toffees to Meloni
New Delhi, May 20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's gesture of gifting Parle Melody toffees to his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday brought a moment of unexpected cheer to the company that manufactures the toffee.
Parle Products Private Limited's Vice President, Mayank Shah, told ANI, "It's a moment of immense pride for all of us at Parle Products when Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives Parle Melody to world leaders. I think it is a powerful testament of the potential of Swadeshi brands on the global stage. I think it's his nature to promote Swadeshi brands and this is an attempt to promote that....So I think while as a Prime Minister, he has done his job to give us that kind of opportunity, it is now up to us to lap it up."
The viral moment has also incentivised the company to ramp up its global ambitions.
"While we are number one here, the attempt now would be to be a significant brand globally. We are available in more than 100 countries. And going forward, I think we will be looking at scaling it up across the globe," Shah told ANI.
The viral moment however sparked unexpected activity on the domestic stock market, pushing up shares of an unrelated listed firm that shares the "Parle" name.
Mayank Shah clarified that Parle Products has no link with the BSE-listed company that gained traction.
"So there is one listed company by the name of Parle Industries. They are, I think, into construction. But we have nothing to do with them. That's a separate and different company altogether. So I think people are mistaken by the fact that they also have a name, Parle, as a part of their company name, and we are also Parle. But we have nothing to do with each other; that's a construction company," he said.
Shares of Parle Industries Limited, an infrastructure and real estate developer listed on the BSE, hit the five per cent upper circuit on Wednesday.
"I think what is happening is people are misunderstanding Parley Industries as this company having Melody, and I think that's the reason why you're seeing a lot of traction in the stock of that particular company today," Shah added.
The interest in the toffee brand peaked following PM Modi's publicised "Melody moment," when he presented a pack of Melody toffees to Giorgia Meloni. The Italian prime minister posted on X to thank Modi, amid lighthearted online reaction that used "Melodi" to underscore their camaraderie.
Responding to the attention on social media, Parle Products posted on X, "Thank You Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for taking Parle Melody to the global stage. A proud moment for all of us at Parle Products to see an Indian favourite being shared across borders."
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone who grew up in India and now lives abroad, this makes me so proud! Seeing Parle Melody get global recognition is amazing. It's not just a toffee, it's a piece of our childhood going global. 🍬
I appreciate the sentiment, but honestly - is gifting a ₹5 toffee really "global diplomacy"? I'd rather see PM Modi focus on real trade deals and infrastructure. This feels more like PR than substance.
Beta, this is exactly what we need! Every small step counts. When our PM gives Indian products to world leaders, it sends a message - "Made in India" is something to be proud of. Also, Melody is the best toffee ever! 😋
What a beautiful moment! 🎉 The way PM Modi and PM Meloni connected over this - very heartwarming. Parle has been our family's go-to brand for decades. It's nice to see such iconic Indian brands getting international attention.
I get the pride, but the stock market confusion is worrying. People are investing in the WRONG company thinking it's Parle Products. This just shows how easily markets can be misled. Hope SEBI keeps an eye on this.
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