Brands
Sundrop Brands posts 80 per cent Ebitda jump in Q3
Revenue rose 10 per cent while gross margins expanded 330 basis points
GURUGRAM: The latest quarterly results from Sundrop Brands, formerly known as Agro Tech Foods, suggest the snack-maker has found its second wind. For the quarter ended 31 December 2025, consolidated revenue rose about 10 per cent on a pro forma basis, supported by strong trading performance, the company said in its earnings call.
Under the stewardship of group managing director Nitish Bajaj, the firm is aggressively pivoting from low-margin staples towards “joyful food experiences” in the premium packaged segment.
The strategy appears to be paying off in the P&L; consolidated Ebitda soared by 80 per cent during the quarter, aided by a 330-basis-point expansion in gross margins. This “profitable growth” was driven largely by the foods business, even as the company ramped up marketing spend by 22 per cent to defend its turf.
The group’s flagship popcorn brand, Act II, remains the “crown jewel”. Ready-to-eat formats grew at a blistering 36 per cent as they muscle into the wider snacks market, maintaining a “moat” through a savvy Rs 10 price point and an efficient backend that challenges newcomers like Marico’s 4700 BC.
However, it is not all smooth sailing; the spreads business remains under pressure from nimble competitors, prompting a flurry of seven new high-protein peanut butter launches to regain lost share. Despite these hurdles, the company’s innovation engine is humming, with new products launched in the last two years now accounting for 5 per cent of total sales, or some Rs 55 crore.
Integration with the Del Monte franchise is also yielding fruit, particularly in B2B channels which now account for 40 per cent of that division’s revenue. While a dip in global olive oil prices dented value growth, volumes in the Italian segment jumped by 16 per cent, with olive oil volumes alone surging by 34 per cent. This suggests that Sundrop’s appetite for market share is far from sated. The company is also betting big on digital distribution, with quick-commerce channels growing at nearly 50 per cent and sales force automation now covering over half of its vast retail network.
Looking ahead, Sundrop Brands has signaled an ambitious intent to double its top line over the next three to four years, targeting a compounded annual growth rate of roughly 15 per cent.
Management aims to squeeze further efficiencies from the business, eyeing a 3-4 per cent expansion in gross margins and a 3 per cent reduction in SG&A costs, while keeping the marketing budget steady at 6 per cent of revenue.
With a fresh five-year Esop plan tying management’s fortunes to these performance milestones, the board is betting that this racy trajectory is more than just a flash in the pan.
Brands
Indel Money appoints Vinod Panicker as CFO to steer growth plans
Veteran finance leader to drive strategy as firm targets 500 branches
MUMBAI: Indel Money has appointed Vinod Panicker as its chief financial officer, effective 29 April 2026, as the non-banking financial company sharpens its focus on expansion and long-term growth.
Panicker, a chartered accountant with over 38 years of experience across sectors, will be responsible for leading the company’s financial strategy, capital management and governance framework.
The appointment comes at a time when Indel Money is accelerating its expansion plans, with a target of reaching 500 branches across 16 states by the end of FY27. The company is looking to strengthen its operational scale while maintaining financial discipline as it grows its footprint.
With a seasoned finance professional at the helm, the firm is aiming to reinforce its financial architecture and support its next phase of growth in an increasingly competitive lending landscape.
The move signals Indel Money’s intent to align leadership capabilities with its expansion ambitions, as it continues to build scale and deepen its presence across India’s financial services sector.
