Brands
Dabur India forays into fizzy drinks market
MUMBAI: Dabur India announced its foray into the fizzy drinks market with the launch a range of fruit juice-based aerated drinks.
The new range, Réal Volo, has been prepared using a blend of exotic fruits like Cranberry, Blueberry, Blackberry and Grape. The range will be available in 250ml cans priced at Rs 40.
“Today’s health conscious consumers prefer healthier beverage options. We have been
witnessing an increase in consumer demand for ready-to-drink beverages that are aerated but not unhealthy. With Réal Volo, we are meeting this consumer demand with a range of fizzy fruit drinks that retain the goodness of the fruits and comes without the guilt of unhealthy consumption. Our Réal Volo range contains 20-25% fruit juice content making the fun of fizz healthier with the goodness of fruits. Consumers can now have a can of Réal Volo without the guilt of consuming carbonated drinks,”said Dabur India Fruit Juices and Beverages category head Mayank Kumar.
Réal Volo, which does not have any added preservatives, is being launched in two variants: Cranberry-Blueberry, and Grape-Blackcurrant. The company plans to extend this range in the coming months with the introduction of newer variants.
“Dabur has always been at the forefront of innovation. We pioneered the concept of packaged fruit juices in India with the launch of with Réal and were also the first to introduce 100% fruit juices and fruit-vegetable juices under with Réal Activ. We expanded the category with India’s first fruit fiber beverage – Réal Activ Fiber+ and are now expanding our range with the launch of fruit juice-based aerated drinks with with Réal Volo. With the launch of Réal Volo, we aim to not only extend brand Réal to give our consumers more choices but also make the experience of consuming aerated beverages more enjoyable and nutritious,” added Kumar.
Brands
Kwality Wall’s reports standalone losses following strategic HUL demerger
Ice cream major faces Rs 64 crore Ebitda loss amid commodity inflation and muted Q3 sales
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited (KWIL) has released its first set of financial results as a standalone entity, revealing a challenging start to its independent journey. Following its successful demerger from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on 1st December 2025 and its subsequent listing on 16th February 2026, the company is navigating a transition period marked by structural changes and high input costs.
For the quarter ended 31st December 2025, the company reported revenue of Rs 222 crores. Despite the revenue base, the bottom line was impacted by several factors, resulting in an Ebitda loss of Rs 64.2 crores. When calculated on a Pre-IND AS 116 basis, the Ebitda loss stood at Rs 83.8 crores.
Organic Sales Growth (OSG) declined by 6.5 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. Volume growth, however, saw a marginal increase of 1.2 per cent. The company reported a gross margin of 41.5 per cent. Additionally, exceptional expenses amounting to Rs 94 crores were recorded, primarily linked to non-recurring costs during the transition phase.
Performance across portfolios and channels was mixed. Within the impulse portfolio, brands such as Magnum and Cornetto recorded mid-single digit volume growth, indicating steady demand in on-the-go consumption. However, the in-home portfolio, which includes take-home packs, experienced muted consumption. The company is planning a relaunch of this category with improved offerings ahead of the 2026 season.
Quick commerce (Q-Com) continued to emerge as a strong growth driver, delivering robust double-digit growth during the quarter. Meanwhile, the company also expanded its physical distribution network by increasing the number of company-owned cabinets across markets.
Margin pressure during the quarter was driven by a combination of one-off factors and broader cost inflation. Gross margins were impacted by around 600 basis points due to trade investments made for stock liquidation. Additionally, cocoa price inflation contributed to another 400 basis points of pressure on margins.
Deputy managing director Chitrank Goel attributed the muted performance partly to prolonged monsoons and transitional challenges linked to the GST framework. Operating expenses also increased as the company invested in establishing its standalone supply chain, operational systems and corporate infrastructure following the demerger.
Looking ahead, the management remains focused on a volume-driven growth strategy. To restore profitability, the company has initiated a cost productivity programme aimed at reducing non-consumer-facing costs. It is also working on building regional manufacturing networks to optimise logistics expenses and improve operational efficiency.
The commodity outlook for the near term remains mixed. Dairy prices are expected to remain firm due to tight supply conditions and rising fodder costs. Sugar prices may also move higher following increases in the Minimum Selling Price (MSP). While cocoa prices have moderated recently, currency depreciation has offset some of the potential cost relief for the company.
