8 Famous Indian Brands That Disappeared From The Market
Numerous iconic brands have reigned in their fields in India. Yet, due to the rapidly altering markets, intense competition, and a lack of strategy, many famous Indian brands blink out. Here are eight of those brands that seem to have vanished in the air over the Indian market.
How Successful Brands Can Disappear
The most dark and improbable scenarios a brand might face include some existential threats. Given today’s shifting caveats and sharp uptakes in new software, growth could cripple, while involuntary bureaucracy or mismanagement might bring down even high-flyers. One subset failed to spin winners of the PR, while the other with heightened huddles saw error after error. As follows is a collection of eight famous Indian brands that stood tall but then fell on their knees.
Brands That Disappeared From The Indian Market
1. Rexona (Deodorant)
Rexona was an Indian household name when it came to deodorant. Originating with Hindustan Unilever, it lost to contemporary deodorants like Axe, Nivea, and Dove in the league of popularity. While its soap variant still carries a few sales, no longer is its deodorant available to the public in India.
2. HM Ambassador (Automobile)
Indian automobile industry used to be held hostage by Hindustan Motors as the Ambassador was reckoned as the face of Indian cars, especially as the state car and darling of the taxicabs. However, over time, the car lost its charm due to the rise and shine of internationally manufactured cars that are more fuel-efficient. The car was last produced in the year 2014, marking the end of an era.
3. Campa Cola (Soft Drink)
During the 1970s and 1980s, Campa Cola was India’s answer to Coca-Cola and Pepsi, which were banned then. It enjoyed significant popularity until global soft drink giants re-entered the market in the 1990s. Unable to compete with their aggressive marketing and distribution networks, Campa Cola faded away. However, it has made a recent attempt at revival under the Reliance brand.
4. HMT Watches (Watches)
HMT (Hindustan Machine Tools) was once the most famous Indian watch brand, known for its affordability and reliability. The brand enjoyed immense success in the 1970s and 1980s, but with the arrival of stylish and technologically advanced watches from Titan, Casio, and Fossil, HMT watches lost their charm. Eventually, the company ceased watch production in 2016
5. Dalda (Oil)
Dalda was an Indian kitchen essential known for its hydrogenated vegetable oils, or vanaspati ghee. Over time, increasing awareness has drastically adversely affected vanaspati due to its ill effects impacting people’s health and emerging healthier alternatives, resulting in the fall of Dalda. Although the brand still survives in a limited way, it no longer has a grip over consumers as was its earlier tale.
6. Big Bazaar (Grocery Store)
Big Bazaar revolutionized Indian retail with its large-format grocery stores, offering discounts and deals on household essentials. However, financial troubles and increased competition from e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, along with the rise of Reliance Retail, led to its downfall. Eventually, its assets were taken over by Reliance in 2022, marking the end of the brand.
7. Onida (Electronics)
Onida was one of the most famous Indian electronics brands in the 1980s and 1990s, known for its televisions with the tagline “Neighbor’s Envy, Owner’s Pride.” However, as global giants like Samsung, LG, and Sony entered the Indian market with better technology and aggressive marketing, Onida lost its dominance. Though the brand still exists in a niche segment, it has lost the recognition it once had.
8. Kodak (Camera)
Once upon a time, Kodak was a superstar brand in photography worldwide and was equally popular in India, but that was before the digital age hit the industry. With smartphones and other digital cameras, conventional photography started to witness its sunset. Kodak couldn’t keep up with the trend and died out in India and everywhere else.
Final Words
In the past, many market-leading firms did not live up to the changing consumer trends, competition, and technological advancements. Only some made efforts to stage a comeback, and the former glory is just a memory. The stories of these brands shall serve as a reminder that the biggest of the famous Indian brands should always engage in continuous innovation and adaptation in a highly changing market environment.
