Brands
Quarter Pounder, Not Quarter Loss Westlife bites back in Q3 scorecard
MUMBAI: When numbers are served hot, even a tough quarter can come with a twist. Westlife Foodworld Limited, which operates McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India, posted a mixed but telling set of results for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, with exceptional gains cushioning pressure on its operating performance.
For the December quarter, consolidated revenue from operations stood at Rs 667.22 crore, compared with Rs 637.48 crore in the preceding quarter and Rs 650.24 crore in the year-ago period. Including other income of Rs 7.42 crore, total income for the quarter rose to Rs 678.13 crore.
Total expenses for the quarter came in at Rs 666.43 crore, driven largely by employee benefit expenses ofRs ₹102.69 crore, cost of materials consumed at Rs 218.25 crore, depreciation and amortisation of Rs 56.24 crore, and other expenses of Rs 252.27 crore. As a result, profit before exceptional items and tax stood at Rs 11.70 crore.
However, exceptional items played a decisive role. A gain of Rs 81.11 crore from a redevelopment transaction was partly offset by an impairment of investment amounting to Rs 71.19 crore, resulting in a net exceptional impact of Rs 20.12 crore. After factoring these in, profit before tax for the quarter stood at Rs 20.12 crore.
Following a tax expense of Rs 10.20 crore, Westlife reported a profit after tax of Rs 9.92 crore for the quarter, compared with a loss in the preceding quarter. Total comprehensive income for the period stood at Rs 5.66 crore, after accounting for other comprehensive losses.
On a nine-month basis, the story was steadier. For the nine months ended December 31, 2025, revenue from operations stood at Rs 1,970.21 crore, up from Rs 1,888.05 crore in the corresponding period last year. Total income for the period came in at Rs 1,995.12 crore.
Expenses during the nine-month period rose to Rs 1,997.62 crore, resulting in a marginal loss before exceptional items and tax of Rs 2.49 crore. Exceptional items, including gains from redevelopment and the impact of new labour codes, helped swing the numbers, taking profit before tax to Rs 40.63 crore.
After accounting for a tax outgo of Rs 29.97 crore, profit after tax for the nine months stood at Rs 10.67 crore. Total comprehensive income for the period was reported at Rs 29.39 crore.
For the full year ended March 31, 2025, Westlife had reported consolidated revenue of Rs 2,491.19 crore and a profit after tax of Rs 11.55 crore, underlining the volatility that continues to mark the quick-service restaurant business amid inflationary pressures, wage costs and store-level investments.
Earnings per share for the December quarter stood at Rs 0.07, while nine-month EPS was reported at Rs 1.92.
While operating margins remain under watch, the latest numbers underline how redevelopment-led gains and balance-sheet discipline are helping cabsorb short-term pressure. In a business where consistency is hard-earned, the quarter shows the company finding ways to keep the grill warm even when the heat is on.
Brands
Uniqlo India signs Jasprit Bumrah as brand endorser
Cricketing star fronts new LifeWear campaign highlighting comfort and simplicity.
MUMBAI: Jasprit Bumrah just bowled a perfect yorker into fashion because when the fastest bowler in the world picks Uniqlo, even off-field style gets a pace attack. Uniqlo India has roped in Indian cricket icon Jasprit Bumrah as its brand endorser, kicking off the partnership with a fresh campaign that brings the brand’s LifeWear philosophy to life, clothing engineered for simplicity, quality and effortless comfort in daily routines.
The 30-second film shows Bumrah in relaxed, everyday moments away from the crease highlighting how the AIRism Oversized T-shirt slips seamlessly into his off-field life. The narrative quietly mirrors his journey as a fast bowler, built on consistency, instinct and the kind of fit that feels right from the first wear and only gets better with time.
Jasprit Bumrah said, “In my day-to-day life, I prefer clothing that feels comfortable and effortless, especially when I’m spending time off the field. That’s why I’m happy to be partnering with Uniqlo, the brand’s approach to everyday clothing feels like a natural extension to my personal style.”
Uniqlo India marketing director Nidhi Rastogi added, “We are proud to partner with cricket world champion Jasprit Bumrah and welcome him to the Uniqlo family. His focus on excellence, authenticity and quiet confidence reflects the essence of Uniqlo’s LifeWear philosophy.”
The campaign is now live across digital channels, social media, in-store displays and outdoor platforms, with the film and imagery rolling out alongside the announcement.
In a world where pace often means rushing, Bumrah and Uniqlo are reminding everyone that the best things in life and on the body come from calm, consistent comfort that simply shows up every day and gets the job done.
