MAM
Life OK opens strong with 87 GRPs
MUMBAI: Star India’s latest Hindi general entertainment offering — Life OK –has opened its inning with 87 GRPs (gross rating points) and at No. 6 among the Hindi GECs, as per TAM data for week 52 of 2011 (18-24 December).
Life OK, which was launched on 18 December, has even displaced Imagine TV to No. 7.
Incidentally, Life OK has opened to double of what Star One had been averaging week-on-week. In the week 51, when Star India pulled the plug on Star One, the channel had clocked 44 GRPs.
Interestingly, the last big launch, Colors, had opened with total GRPs of 81, when it was launched in July 2008. Other Hindi GECs like Imagine TV (then NDTV Imagine) had debuted with 55 GRPs in its first week of launch (20-26 January, 2008); 9X recorded a GRP of 21 when launched while Zee Next crawled with a 6 GRP in its opening week.
Life OK was launched with an innovative full-fledged programming schedule. The array of shows included reality, soaps and mythology and movie content.
The channel got a push in its ratings with upfront shows like Rajeev Khandelwal hosted Sach Ka Saamna, UTV Television produced Saubhagyavati Bhava (highest average rating), Mahadev and Meri Maa.
Life OK lags behind market leader big brother Star Plus, Sony Entertainment Television, Colors, Zee TV and Sab.
Media observers say that the channel has pumped in big monies on distribution and promotion of the channel and the daily programming strategy is something new. If the content clicks with the audience, the channel may see further jump in ratings.
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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.
