MAM
Media execs applaud change in venue of ATF, AFMC
MUMBAI: Buyers to the Asia Television Forum (ATF) and Asia Film Market and Conference (AFMC) 2004 exhibition that is scheduled to be held soon, have welcomed the change in venue from Sentosa Island to the much larger Shangri-La Hotel in Mainland Singapore.
Reed Exhibitions, the organiser of ATF and AFMC, recently announced that it is moving the 2004 edition of ATF and AFMC from Sentosa Island to Shangri-La Singapore on Mainland Singapore, the events first re-location since its inception in 2000.
With 103 participating companies and over 2,600 participants from 35 countries attending the 3-day event at Rasa Sentosa on Sentosa Island last year, a larger and more accessible venue was necessary to facilitate the upbeat growth of the show and the introduction of new show highlights.
The flagship property for the award winning Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts group, the Shangri-La Singapore hotel houses over 20 function rooms fully equipped with communication lines and the necessary support facilities for audio-visual requirements.
The recent announcement of the setting up of Lucasfilm Animation Singapore, a digital animation studio designed to produce digital animated content, including films, television and games for global audiences, has attracted much interest from many key buyers around Asia.
The upcoming ATF and AFMC events will see an increase of 25 per cent in sellers. The 2004 edition will also experience an increase in buyer attendance from groups like India’s Sony Entertainment Television and Discovery Communications, Thailand’s Kantana Group and M.O.M. International Co. Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Media of Medias Plc and Indonesia’s PT. Broadband Multimedia Tbk.
Many buyers acknowledge the practicality of being on Mainland Singapore and appreciate the move. “We definitely welcome the move as it comes with much convenience and flexibility. With its close proximity to Orchard Road, it’ll be now much more convenient for us to organize our meetings and evening activities. We also like the fact that we need not rush to leave the island at any specific time,” said Associated Broadcasting Company vice president Victorino Vianzon.
The sellers have also recognised that efficiency will be increased with the move to Mainland Singapore. “The change in location will provide more varieties and opportunities to the event,” said CBS Broadcast International MD Yuet-Fung Ho.
It’s fantastic holding ATF in the city. It facilitates the participants to run a hectic-free schedule. I am sure both buyers and sellers will enjoy this wonderful arrangement. Agogo International Ltd director programming May To. The view from Sentosa will be sorely missed but accessibility and practicality will no doubt be considerably increased, Indigo sales manager Emma Collin, aptly sums up.
“We are much encouraged to learn that the move from Sentosa Island to Mainland Singapore has garnered such positive feedback and responses from both our buyers and sellers. We believe the move will serve our customers well. They will benefit from both the convenience of being on Mainland Singapore and the flexibility being near Orchard Road and all its facilities,” said Reed Exhibitions president Ed Ng.
Asia Television Forum and Asia Film Market and Conference, will be held from 1 – 3 December 2004, and are the anchor events for Asia Media Festival 2004. An event organised by Reed Exhibitions and hosted by MDA, the fortnight-long Festival will showcase a host of trade and public events in print, broadcasting, film, publishing, digital media and online media.
Some of the events, which will be held during the festival includes Asia Television Forum, Media Financing Forum, Asia Animation Summit and Conference, Asian Television Awards, Promax & BDA Asia, Asia Animation SuperPitch, Asia Television SuperPitch and Scriptwriting workshops. There will be also special showcases on Animation, iTV and Locations.
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.
