MAM
BrandWidth 2005 unfolds cross-industry perspective on brands
BANGALORE: BrandWidth 2005 – a seminar on the dynamics of building successful and memorable brands – held in the city attempted to bring together a cross-industry perspective on brands and branding from their respective segments.
The key speakers participated in the seminar included MindTree Consulting COO Subroto Bagchi, Madura Garments president Hemchandra Zaveri, President, TI Cycles of India president G Ramprasad, ITC Ltd Agri-Business CEO S. Sivakumar, Lowe India president & COO Pranesh Misra.
The sessions spanned a variety of subjects including corporate branding, pubic service communication, brand experience, co-creating brands with customers and brand extension- with each session creating a new insight into branding.
In his talk on Building a Corporate Brand in the Services Industry, Bagchi introduced the concept of Memetics, a science based on ideas and how they form the DNA of any organisation. He went on to demonstrate how MindTree Consulting included its DNA – imagination, action and joy into every aspect of a corporate transaction. “A brand must communicate the essence of an organisation, while also incorporating the mission, vision & values of the company. A brand is the reflection of the company itself,” he said.
Misra spoke on the public service communication while highlighting some interesting case studies on Aids awareness and Leprosy. “Addressing a social cause through brand communication helps to build an image of an organisation which is much larger than the brand itself,” Misra said.
The seminar, hosted by the Bangalore-based advertising & PR firm Brand-comm, was attended by over a 100 senior and mid-management professionals from a cross section of industries which ranged from Media and Advertising to Information Technology.
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.
