Brands
Colgate keeps smiling as Q3 profit holds steady despite softer sales
MUMBAI: The toothpaste stayed bright, even if the shine dulled a touch on the top line. Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited reported a steady performance for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025, with net profit largely flat at Rs 327.5 crore, compared with Rs 322.8 crore in the same quarter last year.
For the December quarter, total income stood at Rs 1,525.4 crore, marginally higher than Rs 1,482.2 crore a year ago. Revenue from operations, including other operating income, came in at Rs 1,485.1 crore, reflecting a modest year-on-year increase, even as sales net of GST dipped 3.2 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.
Profit before tax for the quarter was Rs 435.7 crore, slightly lower than Rs 442.3 crore in the preceding quarter, while expenses remained tightly managed at Rs 1,092.3 crore. Advertising spend continued to be a major outlay at Rs 225.1 crore, underscoring the company’s focus on brand visibility in a competitive FMCG landscape.
For the nine months ended December 31, 2025, Colgate-Palmolive India posted a net profit of Rs 971.9 crore, down from Rs 1,081.8 crore in the same period last year. Total income for the nine-month period stood at Rs 4,511.9 crore, compared with Rs 4,697.4 crore a year earlier.
Sales performance over nine months reflected pressure on volumes, with sales net of GST declining 3.2 per cent year on year, even as disciplined cost controls helped cushion the impact on profitability. Profit before tax for the nine-month period was Rs 1,309.9 crore, versus Rs 1,452.2 crore in the previous year.
Other income provided some support during the quarter and nine months, aided by interest on income tax refunds amounting to Rs 21.8 crore for the period ended December 31, 2025.
Basic and diluted earnings per share for the December quarter stood at Rs 12.04, compared with Rs 11.87 a year ago, while nine-month EPS came in at Rs 35.74.
While demand conditions remain mixed, Colgate’s steady margins, controlled costs and continued brand investment suggest the company is prioritising resilience over aggressive growth choosing consistency over sparkle in a crowded oral care aisle.
Brands
Big Bowl appoints Lyxel & Flamingo as social and media partner
QSR brand eyes next growth phase after crossing Rs 100 crore ARR milestone
MUMBAI: Big Bowl, one of India’s largest bowl-format quick service restaurant brands from Lenexis Foodworks, has appointed Lyxel & Flamingo (L&F) as its social and media partner as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
The partnership comes after the brand crossed the Rs 100 crore annual recurring revenue milestone in 2025 and aims to help accelerate its journey towards Rs 150 crore ARR in its fifth year since launch.
Big Bowl currently operates more than 250 kitchens across 50 cities and has emerged as a major player in India’s organised bowl-format food segment. Built around hearty portions and delivery-first convenience, the brand offers a wide mix of Indian, Chinese and fusion bowls designed for quick, affordable and portable consumption.
As urban consumers increasingly gravitate towards easy-to-carry and value-driven meal formats, the company sees the bowl category as a scalable format aligned with modern eating habits.
With the appointment of Lyxel & Flamingo, Big Bowl plans to consolidate its social media and digital media operations under a single partner. The move is intended to sharpen its digital reach, strengthen youth-focused storytelling and improve performance marketing outcomes.
Lyxel & Flamingo, one of India’s largest independent digital-first agencies, manages more than 350 brands and oversees advertising spends exceeding $100 million across its network.
Under the mandate, the agency will handle Big Bowl’s social media strategy, content development, digital performance marketing, media planning and buying, as well as campaign amplification across platforms.
Commenting on the partnership, Lenexis Foodworks founder and director Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal said, “Big Bowl has scaled rapidly to cross Rs 100 crore ARR and established itself as one of the largest bowl-format brands in the country. As a delivery-first, digitally native brand, our next phase of growth will be driven by sharper performance systems and stronger brand storytelling. Consolidating social and media with Lyxel & Flamingo allows us to integrate data, creativity and media precision as we scale towards our next revenue milestone.”
Lenexis Foodworks marketing head Vikas Iyer, added that the delivery-led category requires content, media and performance marketing to work closely together.
“With Lyxel & Flamingo, we aim to build a sharper social voice, stronger acquisition systems and measurable impact, ensuring the brand scales not just in presence but also in precision,” he said.
Lyxel & Flamingo chief executive officer Dev Batra, said the agency will combine data-driven marketing with creative storytelling to support Big Bowl’s growth. “Big Bowl brings the flavour, and L&F brings the fire. Our strategy combines data-led performance with engaging storytelling to help build a strong digital brand presence while delivering measurable business results,” he said.
With this partnership, Big Bowl is looking to strengthen its position as a digitally driven QSR brand, blending brand-building with performance marketing as it scales within India’s rapidly growing organised food delivery market.
