MAM
Kellanova’s Sonam Pradhan’s date with the Tata Mumbai Marathon
MUMBAI: We normally see her on stage dressed to the T like a corporate executive presenting or taking part in panel discussions around digital marketing and spends. But there’s another side to Kellanova head media & digital marketing Sonam Pradhan: she loves to run, she’s an avid marathoner.
And boy did she run at the twentieth Tata Mumbai Marathon which finished just a couple of days ago. When she crossed the finishing line, she had covered the full distance of the marathon – the full 42.195 kilometres. Kudos to her as many other media professionals ran only seven kilometers, or 10 kilometres, or the half marathon.
Which is what she had been doing so far and she expressed that on Linkedin:
“Finish the race, Never the run.Completed My First Full Marathon! 42.2 kilometres taught me discipline, resilience, and the power of consistency—lessons I carry into every aspect of life and work.She came. She ran. She conquered.”
We don’t know what her timing was like, but completing the marathon is no easy task and only a few million worldwide have managed to go the distance. For not only does it require physical strength and stamina, but it also calls for a lot of get-go spirit, the never-say-die attitude even if it feels like you are going to. Some say, the thirty fifth kilometre is when the body wants to give up and that’s when you have to draw up on your reserves – even if you have ran out of them – and go on. Once the thirty seventh kilometre is crossed, the legs tend to move forward on their own.
As they did for Sonam. And the following five kilometres were a cinch for her!
More power to this marketing & media professional!
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.
