MAM
Amit Ray is Percept Media director – strategy
MUMBAI: Percept has officially announced that former Vibrant Advertising director Amit Ray has joined Percept Media as director, strategy.
In response to recent reports of Tapan Pal’s departure from aMap to join Percept Media as CEO, Percept Holdings vice-chairman and managing director Harindra Singh spoke of the recent news saying, “This is our first official release on Percept Media, and we have not written to anybody about this till date. So, what you must have seen or read must be speculation.”
Ray had been with Vibrant Advertising (Reliance Industries’ media AOR) for a year and has, in the past, worked with advertising agencies such as Lowe, Tara Sinha Associates (now McCann-Erickson) and Clarion (now Bates Enterprise). In 2001, he steered the formation of Mudra’s media arm, Optimum Media Solutions (OMS), and later moved to Vibrant Advertising.
He is also the vice-chairman of MRUC’s technical committee and plays a key role in IRS, India’s key readership study. He also helped the industry by guiding ORG-MARG in improving their Peoplemetre software, informs an official release.
Speaking about his new role Ray said, “I am delighted to be a part of the Percept family. The media opportunities that are existing are immense, and Percept’s vision for the Media business is truly commendable. Together, we will be able to provide committed, professional value services to our clients at optimum rates.”
Singh added, “The year 2007 is going to be a critical year for our media business, but it will mature next year. Percept Media’s immediate strategic focus is to consolidate and grow the media services business in the short term as we see an opportunity to be amongst the top 5 by our self and amongst the top-2 in partnership with a suitable strategic partner.
“Our key focus will be to provide clearly audited transactions for the clients to increase transparency and bringing a fair and level playing field in the media business. We will continue to have conventional media and will build on the various other opportunities that are able to spot and leverage in the media domain.”
Percept Holdings launched Percept Media, on the back of the ‘all cash’ deal to buy back all of Aegis Group plc shareholdings in PDM India and Posterscope India – the consolidated annual billings of which is in excess of US$ 150 million. Percept has acquired “Allied Media” for traditional media services.
Brands
Sapphire Foods FY26 revenue rises to Rs 3,125 crore, posts loss
Q4 revenue at Rs 792 crore, FY26 loss at Rs 32 crore amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: If growth is on the menu, profitability seems to have taken a brief detour. Sapphire Foods India reported a steady rise in topline for FY26, even as rising costs weighed on profitability. Revenue from operations grew to Rs 3,125 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, up from Rs 2,882 crore in FY25. However, the company swung to a loss, reporting a net loss of Rs 32 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 17 crore in the previous year. Total income for the year stood at Rs 3,153 crore, while total expenses climbed to Rs 3,167 crore, reflecting pressure across key cost heads.
In the March quarter, revenue came in at Rs 792 crore, compared to Rs 711 crore in the same period last year. The company reported a quarterly net loss of Rs 13 crore, against a profit of Rs 2 crore a year earlier.
Cost pressures remained visible across operations. Material costs rose to Rs 995 crore for FY26, while employee expenses increased to Rs 428 crore. Other expenses, the largest component, stood at Rs 1,229 crore, underscoring the impact of store operations and expansion-related spends.
Depreciation and amortisation expenses also climbed to Rs 392 crore for the year, reflecting continued investments in store infrastructure and growth.
At the operating level, the company reported a loss before tax of Rs 37 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 23 crore in FY25. Exceptional items added Rs 24 crore to the cost burden during the year.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 3,256 crore as of March 31, 2026, up from Rs 3,041 crore a year earlier, indicating ongoing expansion. Net worth stood at Rs 1,389 crore.
Despite profitability pressures, operating cash flow remained resilient at Rs 507 crore, highlighting underlying business strength and demand stability.
The numbers paint a familiar picture in the quick-service restaurant space, growth continues to be served hot, but margins are still finding their footing.
