MAM
‘Weekend Unwind’ with: Krazyfox co-founder Vishal Srivastava
Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is the time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind — a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of corporate executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
In this week’s session we have Krazyfox co-founder Vishal Srivastava opening up the windows to his thoughts.
KrazyFox is one of the fastest-growing multi-channel networks, offering a smooth collaboration between brands and creators with a network of over 80,000 influencers in India, the Middle East, and Singapore.
Srivastava is an enthusiastic 24-year-old entrepreneur driving the success of the influencer marketing industry in India. In just two years since the inception of his venture into Krazyfox, the revenue has doubled from the first year.
In his previous role, Srivastava worked as a business unit head at Talenzo Media. People recognise him as a thought leader in the influencer marketing industry for his startup and investment-related expertise. He studied engineering at Sinhgad College of Engineering, Pune.
So without further ado, here it goes…
Your mantra for life:
I live by only one mantra: “Be patient in learning; results will come automatically.”
A book you are currently reading/plan to read
I am currently reading “The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More, and Change the Way You Lead Forever” by Michael Bungay Stanier. I am reading this in an attempt not to be an advice monster.
Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
I have taken fitness more seriously post-pandemic. But I feel my body will take a lot more time to recover from all the stress-eating and bad food choices I made during the pandemic. However, I am doing yoga for 40 minutes daily, which helps me stay active and focused throughout the day.
Your comfort food
Like every Indian guy, I love ‘Maa Ke Hath Ka Khana.’ So no cuisine can beat that taste for me. Apart from that, I enjoy eating chicken biryani.
When the chips are down, a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going?
“It’s not about money or connections — it’s the willingness to outwork and outlearn everyone when it comes to your business. And if it fails, you learn from what happened and do a better job next time,” says Mark Cuban.
Your guilty pleasure
I think I have a lot of guilty pleasures. The ones I am comfortable disclosing are having too much ice cream and stress-eating. So, whenever I feel the situation is not going my way, I have ice cream to chill me out, and genuinely, it works like magic.
When was the last time you tried something new?
Since the inception of Krazyfox, every new task, every recent meeting, and every client is something new I am doing. So, I can say I am trying something new every hour. Every time I meet new people, I learn new lessons and have new takeaways.
I am also thrilled to explore new business ideas and help them with investment and funding.
A Life lesson you learnt the hard way
In the initial years of your business, you meet different people; some want you to see them grow, and some take advantage of you as a tool to further their success. But it would be best if you weren’t disappointed or afraid of them because these people will teach you who to trust and who not. So, if you are ambitious and desire to make it big, be your pillar and be ready to embrace anything life throws at you.
What gets you excited about life?
Hustle! I approach life with curiosity. Life has a lot of happiness and lessons in store for us all. I am too excited to wake up every day to find out what’s in store for me.
What’s on top of your bucket list?
Climb Kilimanjaro, the tallest free-standing mountain, and get eight hours of sleep every night.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Someone’s opinion of you doesn’t have to become your reality. Never lose faith in yourself; others are not aware of your capabilities.
One thing you would most like to change about the world
Let life and relationships be the foremost priority. Every relationship you create, personally or professionally, is essential because it defines your character and personality. You will receive the same if you have ethics and respect for others.
An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
I am trying my best to be disciplined in life because I have witnessed that disciplined people are always energetic and motivated. Whenever I feel low, I try to share that feeling with family and friends who care.
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
It is often said that tomorrow is not promised. So the possibility of a new tomorrow helps me channel and navigate my mindset to get the desired outcome.
Your go-to stress buster
Stress is a constant; talking to my confidante helps me relax and motivate again, whether it is work-related or personal. Also, I never mind reading something that interests me.
Brands
Kwality Wall’s reports standalone losses following strategic HUL demerger
Ice cream major faces Rs 64 crore Ebitda loss amid commodity inflation and muted Q3 sales
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited (KWIL) has released its first set of financial results as a standalone entity, revealing a challenging start to its independent journey. Following its successful demerger from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on 1st December 2025 and its subsequent listing on 16th February 2026, the company is navigating a transition period marked by structural changes and high input costs.
For the quarter ended 31st December 2025, the company reported revenue of Rs 222 crores. Despite the revenue base, the bottom line was impacted by several factors, resulting in an Ebitda loss of Rs 64.2 crores. When calculated on a Pre-IND AS 116 basis, the Ebitda loss stood at Rs 83.8 crores.
Organic Sales Growth (OSG) declined by 6.5 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. Volume growth, however, saw a marginal increase of 1.2 per cent. The company reported a gross margin of 41.5 per cent. Additionally, exceptional expenses amounting to Rs 94 crores were recorded, primarily linked to non-recurring costs during the transition phase.
Performance across portfolios and channels was mixed. Within the impulse portfolio, brands such as Magnum and Cornetto recorded mid-single digit volume growth, indicating steady demand in on-the-go consumption. However, the in-home portfolio, which includes take-home packs, experienced muted consumption. The company is planning a relaunch of this category with improved offerings ahead of the 2026 season.
Quick commerce (Q-Com) continued to emerge as a strong growth driver, delivering robust double-digit growth during the quarter. Meanwhile, the company also expanded its physical distribution network by increasing the number of company-owned cabinets across markets.
Margin pressure during the quarter was driven by a combination of one-off factors and broader cost inflation. Gross margins were impacted by around 600 basis points due to trade investments made for stock liquidation. Additionally, cocoa price inflation contributed to another 400 basis points of pressure on margins.
Deputy managing director Chitrank Goel attributed the muted performance partly to prolonged monsoons and transitional challenges linked to the GST framework. Operating expenses also increased as the company invested in establishing its standalone supply chain, operational systems and corporate infrastructure following the demerger.
Looking ahead, the management remains focused on a volume-driven growth strategy. To restore profitability, the company has initiated a cost productivity programme aimed at reducing non-consumer-facing costs. It is also working on building regional manufacturing networks to optimise logistics expenses and improve operational efficiency.
The commodity outlook for the near term remains mixed. Dairy prices are expected to remain firm due to tight supply conditions and rising fodder costs. Sugar prices may also move higher following increases in the Minimum Selling Price (MSP). While cocoa prices have moderated recently, currency depreciation has offset some of the potential cost relief for the company.
