MAM
US watchdog regulates pop-up, pop-under ads
MUMBAI: For internet surfers, the words pop-up and pop-under ads mean sheer disturbance. They are often forced to equip their computers with pop-up killers and stuff like that. Many companies who use this mode of advertising show scant respect for the surfer.
Now, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) — the association dedicated to helping online, Interactive broadcasting, email, wireless and Interactive television media companies increase their revenues — has decided to play the watchdog and enforce certain regulations on the use of such ads.
IAB has released a set of preliminary industry guidelines for the usage of pop-ups and pop-unders. “These guidelines are geared to help improve the consumer perception of pop-ups by applying consistency in their use, specifications and labeling. Furthermore, these guidelines provide advertisers and their agencies the ability to develop advertising content with consistency through uniform specifications. The purpose of this set of guidelines is to improve consumer credibility with interactive advertising and to lend efficiency to online ad creation and buying,” reads the statement in the IAB web site.
The set of guidelines prepared by the IAB’s Pop-up Task Force are as follows:
Each user should be exposed to no more than one pop-up ad for each visit to an online site.
Both pop-ups and pop-unders should be clearly labeled with the name of the Network/Advertiser-Publisher-Browser Type (if applicable).
For pop-unders, the unit size should be 720×300, file weight should be 50k images/50k flash, audio-video initiation should be user-initiated and close box should be mandatory.
For pop-ups, the unit size should be 250×250 or 300×250, file weight 30k images or 40k flash, audio-video user initiated and close box mandatory.
For pop-up large, the unit size should be 550×480, file weight 30k images or 40k flash, audio-video user initiated and close box mandatory.
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.
