MAM
Renton D’Sousa calls it a day at Triton
MUMBAI: “Paani Ka Doctor” is synonymous with the leading water purifier brand. But for everyone at Triton and some outside it, the man who created such properties and many more has decided to call it a day.
Commenting the development, Ali Merchant, Director Triton said “Renton has been with us for over a decade and contributed to some solid and memorable brand building creative work for our clients. At the same time he has been responsible in the professional development of Triton especially for the people that have worked with him. His ‘never say die’ spirit will always be remembered. I will miss him at work and will remain his friend for all time to come. I wish him the very best in his next endeavour. I am sure he will do us proud”.
Echoing Ali’s sentiments, Munawar Syed, Director Triton said “ Renton, a multi talented individual has been a key contributor to Triton’s rise and stability over many years. Such talent feeds on new challenges, new experiences and Renton’s stepping out from the warmth of Triton is in keeping with his desire to explore new horizons. I wish him a smooth journey”.
Whilst the man in the hot seat very humbly stated “It’s been almost 12 years of brand building with some of the most wonderful people in the advertising industry at Triton. And that starts with Ali Merchant and Munawar Syed. Looking back, it has been over 30 years of ingenuity. And at times reinventing the game to increase market share of brands. More importantly, changing consumer behavior. It’s now time to pause and take a short sabbatical. Catch up with life!”.
Prior to joining Triton over 10 years ago, Renton was the creative head of a few units at Lintas Mumbai. He has also been associated with Contract and Mudra. Matter of time before we hear of his new endeavour.
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.
