Brands
Philips doubles ad budget for kitchen appliances; appoints chef Ranveer Brar as ambassador
NEW DELHI: Even as the advertising and promotions budget is being doubled from last year for its kitchen appliances category in India, Phillips India has taken on chef Ranveer Brar to promote its products.
In an interview with Indiantelevision.com, Philips India director marketing and business head – domestic appliances Gulbahar Taurani said that the increase in marketing budget had been done in view of the rate at which the kitchen appliances business for Philips India had been growing. “The growth at Philips India has been three to four times faster than the rate at which the kitchen appliances market is growing in India,” he said.
Philips India will be taking a 360 degree approach to marketing the kitchen appliances products. “There will be television commercials, radio and print ads, outdoor hoardings and road shows, apart from social media and the digital space with interactive features,” Taurani informed.
Speaking about taking on board Brar as the brand ambassador, Taurani said, “He is someone who knows about food and can communicate well to the women at home. His programme Thank God its Fryday season 2 presents the magic of Philips AirFryer, transforms the experience of fried food and makes it a guilt free indulgence, to consumers across India.”
Additionally Taurani was also of the opinion that Brar could encourage the Indian woman to cook easily and spend more time with the family. “Brar will help consumers draw a closer connect with the brand and its products, which enable Healthy Living. Philips India being a health and well-being company is the only brand that offers a cohesive, integrated and dedicated Healthy Living Portfolio,” he added.
Some of the popular products from its Healthy Living Portfolio range are AirFryer, SoupMaker, Pre Clean Juicer and Food Steamer.
Taurani said that the association with Brar was not just a simple endorsement agreement, “but a partnership between two like-minded entities that have joined hands together to empower consumers to get more out of their appliances. Together, we intend to provide our consumers with holistic solutions for their lifestyle nutritional needs.”
Talking about his association with Philips, Brar said, “From the time I was growing up, Philips as a brand always stood for reliability and cutting edge technology. I strongly believe that in terms of reliability, durability and being current Philips is, was and will always be the brand to look out for. Philips Kitchen Appliances offer a range of intelligent devices that are designed to help you stay healthy and eat whatever you want without the guilt and without worrying about taste. I am privileged to be representing the brand and the product range that I personally believe in.”
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.
