MAM
Grapes appoints Priyank Narain as executive creative director
Mumbai: Integrated marketing agency Grapes has appointed Priyank Narain as its new executive creative director. He will be based out of the agency’s Delhi office and will report to the agency’s chief operating officer and strategy head Shradha Agarwal.
In this role, Narain will look after the agency’s creative responsibility across all brands, nationally, the company said in a statement.
He will supervise creative teams at the company and will oversee creative, copy and design strategies. He will be responsible for driving the next phase of growth for the clients, it added.
“We are excited to welcome Priyank to the Grapes family as we look to accelerate our business and deliver ground-breaking work for our clients. He has rich creative experience on a varied section of brands and categories. His unique creative approach in designing digital experience is a perfect fit for our company. I am extremely delighted to have him on board,” Grapes COO and strategy head Shradha Agarwal said.
Previously, Narain was associated with McCann Worldgroup as a senior creative director for more than two and a half years, where he was managing some of the biggest brands. He possesses more than 18 years of advertising experience and has worked with leading agencies like Cheil India, Havas, Lowe Lintas, Grey Group, and Contract Advertising, having begun his career with Leo Burnett.
“It’s wonderful to be onboard with Grapes, an integrated agency with a great vision and several interesting brands. I look forward to creating some disruptive work that drives brands and businesses forward,” stated Priyank Narain.
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.
