MAM
‘HT Next’ launches with an eye on youth
NEW DELHI: In a bid to open up another segment of the market and readership, Hindustan Times on Monday launched a daily newspaper, called HT Next, aimed at the youth.
Priced at Rs 1.50, HT Next is targeted at those who are in their mid-teens and early 20s, which could also include non-working adults.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Hindustan Times vice-president
(marketing), Anand Bhardwaj, said, “The paper has been launched after research work carried out three months ago amongst youth where it was highlighted that the youth of the country want less of politics and stock reports and more of ‘their’ kind of news.”
The areas that mainstream newspapers did not cover adequately, youth felt, included news from around the world (on topics like terrorism, for instance), about the real world and those on science and technology and travel. The youth also wanted a lot of interactivity, Bhardwaj said, adding that this is also being addressed.
That’s why the two issues that have come out till now have write-ups on varied topics like planet Saturn and a history of Rolls Royce, amongst others.
Pointing out that the basic aim is to have a product “more sharply focused” at the youth, Bhardwaj said that the separately priced newspaper would not be much of a burden on a household that already gets Hindustan Times.
The new paper has been launched with a print order of 40,000-odd copies, but the target is to up the circulation to approximately 70,000 in the next couple of months.
The 16-page newspaper for the youth, launched just ahead of summer vacations, would see hectic activity once the schools reopen after the holidays. “But the initial feedback that we have received from readers on the two issues has been positive,” Bhardwaj said.
Though the HT marketing team is not willing to spell out the details of the promotional activities, but the traditional route of radio, print and outdoor advertising would be taken for publicity.
“We are not looking at the TV medium at the moment, but would have HT Next ads placed in magazines like Reader’s Digest and Competition & Success Review (journals that are read by a majority of youth, presumably),” Bhardwaj pointed out.
The advertising space in HT Next would be sold separately as also as a package with Hindustan Times, but the separate ad rates have not yet been finalized.
“We feel that all those advertisers who would want to target the youth (like the cola companies) would also be interested in HT Next,” Bhardwaj said.
But considering similar products had been launched by other media
organizations — some in the magazine format — and were unable to sustain for a long period of time, a question mark would always hang over HT Next’s long-term future.
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.
