Brands
Hindustan Unilever Limited posts 121 per cent profit jump in December Quarter
Earnings rise on demerger gains and steady sales growth
MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever Limited (Hul) has proved it still has the magic touch to turn soap into gold, scrubbing away the competition with a set of results that are as refreshing as a morning shower. On 12th February 2026, the consumer goods titan unveiled its performance for the quarter ending 31st December 2025, revealing a bottom line that has been buffed to a high shine.
The headline figure was enough to make even the most stoic investor do a double take, with reported Profit After Tax (PAT) skyrocketing by 121 per cent to reach Rs 6,603 crores. However, this massive jump was largely the result of some corporate spring cleaning. The company’s decision to demerge its Ice Cream business provided a one-off positive impact that sent the numbers northwards. When you peel back that particular layer, the underlying performance remained steady but less theatrical, with Profit After Tax before exceptional items (PAT bei) edging up by 1 per cent to Rs 2,562 crores.
Revenue for the quarter climbed 6 per cent, hitting a sturdy Rs 16,235 crores. This was underpinned by a 5 per cent Underlying Sales Growth and a 4 per cent rise in Underlying Volume Growth, suggesting that despite the economic climate, Indian consumers are still happy to fill their baskets with Hul’s household staples.
The company’s various divisions performed with varying degrees of vigour:
Home care: This division generated Rs 5,887 crores in revenue with a 19 per cent segment margin. It achieved 3 per cent Underlying Sales Growth (USG) and recorded mid-single digit Underlying Volume Growth (UVG).
Beauty & wellbeing: The segment’s revenue reached Rs 3,930 crores with a high 26 per cent segment margin. It delivered 6 per cent USG and low-single digit UVG. Notably, the Health & Wellbeing sub-division, including OZiva, saw high double-digit growth.
Personal care: Revenue for this segment stood at Rs 2,370 crores with an 18 per cent segment margin. It achieved 6 per cent USG, although it experienced a low-single digit decline in UVG.
Foods: This division brought in Rs 3,689 crores in revenue with a 21 per cent segment margin. It showed strong performance with 6 per cent USG and high-single digit UVG.
CEO and managing director Priya Nair noted that demand trends are showing “early signs of recovery,” aided by supportive government policies and a fourth repo rate cut in 2025. To stay ahead of the pack, Hul is setting up a dedicated organisation for quick commerce to ensure their products reach customers faster than ever.
The company is also “doubling down” on its most promising bets. It has approved the acquisition of the remaining 49 per cent stake in Health & Wellbeing brand OZiva and is moving forward with the listing process for its demerged ice cream business, Kwality Wall’s.
While Ebitda margins held firm at 23.3 per cent, the company did face some headwinds from currency depreciation and divergent commodity trends. Nevertheless, with a 3 per cent growth in Ebitda to Rs 3,788 crores, Hul remains a formidable force in the Indian market.
As Hul looks towards the future, it is clear that the company is not just resting on its laurels. By focusing on premiumisation, digital agility, and a “Unified India” strategy that streamlines its leadership, the FMCG giant is ensuring that its future remains as bright and spotless as a freshly scrubbed floor.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
