MAM
IAA India collaborates with AFAA for IAA Olive Crown Awards
MUMBAI: The India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) has announced the organisation of IAA Olive Crown Awards in collaboration with the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA).
The event will be held on 1 April at the Shangri-la Hotel, Parel, Mumbai.
IAA president Srinivasan K Swamy said, “These are India’s first and only awards that salute excellence in communicating sustainability. They are now acquiring the stature of a cause and I am very happy with the great acceptance they have received from all sections of the industry specially advertisers.”
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of India Praful Patel will be the chief guest of the event.
IAA Olive Crown Awards Committee chairman M.G. Parameswaran said, “The number of entries have registered a very satisfying increase, and the eminent jury were more than happy with their quality. We have received entries from across the Asian region and in fact some senior professionals based abroad will be flying into Mumbai to attend this prestigious awards function.”
IAA (Asia-Pacific region) vice chairman Pradeep Guha said he was very happy that for the first time the IAA had collaborated with the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) in an event like this. “Such regional cooperation is the shape of things to come in the future and it is admirable that the Olive Crowns have gone pan- Asian in their third year itself,” he added.
It is expected that the who’s who of the advertising, marketing and media industries would be present at this function.
The event is presented by 9X Media and the Green partners for the awards are Hungama.com, Rajasthan Patrika and Panasonic India.
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.
