Haagen Daz- A bitter aftertaste


There is a big uproar in the online media about Haagen Dazs brand of Ice cream committing a terrible Faux- Pas during the launch of their outlet in Delhi. They have stated it as a teaser campaign.

Have a look at this picture and things will be clear why Indians have their panties in knots.

It's a franchisee owned by an Indian Company and it's opening an outlet in India. It means they want to sell the product to Indians, Right???

The 'Access restricted only to holders of International Passports' part kuch jama nahi.

I really wonder about the advertising agency that made this poster and the people in marketing department of Haagen Daz, who approved this poster. This is a blatant insult and racial discrimination done by Indians to Indians. As if, we already do not face that in other countries.

We now say that 'India is a happening Place' then why do we feel like a second grade citizen in our own country. Does it mean that a person with a International Passport is superior and hence will get special treatment? I feel, we Indians suffer from a 'Gori Chamdi (Skin)' syndrome. We think anything made abroad is always better than 'Made in India'. Please wake up and smell the coffee. I am living in 'UK' for past two years and all I have seen is 'Made in India' tags or 'Made in some other Asian country' tag on all the stuff. Here in the 'UK' , they proudly sell their goods as 'Homegrown' or 'Made in UK'. Why are we so ashamed of 'Made in India'?

International Passport Holders have already tasted Haagen-Dazs. For them, it is how 'Amul' or 'Vadilal' is for us. I too admit Haagen Dazs is delicious. But, it's just an Ice cream for God sakes.

Haagen-Dazs came to India with a Bang. I am sure they must have done some research on Bollywood Stars on 'how to get free publicity'. This controversy has given them free publicity and free advertising.

In spite of the uproar and so many blog posts written on this insult, people will soon forget what the whole fuss was about and enjoy a delicious scoop of their 'Baileys Irish Cream'.

'We are like this only'


P.S: Photo Courtesy 'Times of India'

Comments

  1. Aare LP, this is just totally absolutely dump advertising/marketing.Nothing racial about it really.Emotionalise karneka jaroorat hi nahi hai, the advertisers were seriously too dumb to be able to insulate re :)

    Read this one for more.http://desicritics.org/2009/12/17/095956.php

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  2. Hi,LP- it seems that this was just a translation error..do see Alka's post on it.(http://alkadwivedi.com)..they wanted to say that it's an international flavour now available in India, it seems.:)

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  3. I think it's just a publicity gimmick.They want to create controversy and the more we discuss more mileage they will get out of it.

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  4. Kusum : Arre emotional nahi....just feel that sometimes we Indians just take many things too cool. But yes Publicity stunt I guess :)

    Amit :Hahaha I guess too late an apology and explanation. Time of India has a wonderful article on it. Apparently one of the Indians was barred fom entering the Dukkan. What say?

    Ashish: Totally agree with you :) Thanks for stopping by.

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  5. LP: but this one was definitely to be taken coolly, the whole TOI claiming that someone they knew was barred from entering is too stupid to be believable. and again, this was neither racism nor a publicity stunt just plain vanilla bad advertising.

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  6. Kusum: Well, whatever it was....it definitely gave Haagen Daz free publicity...see we are still taling about it :)

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  7. I prefer Swadesi Amul more than Haagen daz(I don't feel like tasting it)...dogs are loyal!

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  8. The publicity gimmick backfired for them, not us.

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  9. Kaalicharan:Thanks for your comment. Its quite tasty...yes amul is delicious too...

    Sanand: Good to see you back :) yes it did backfire...

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