MAM
Srinivasan K Swamy inducted as trustee in STACA Trust
Mumbai: RK Swamy Hansa Group chairman and a leader in the marcom industry, Srinivasan K Swamy was inducted as trustee in the Standing Committee on Advertising (STACA) Trust meeting held recently. STACA is the apex body whose operating arm is the Advertising Council of India (ACI).
ACI is well-known in the advertising world as the organisation which had organised AdAsia in Jaipur 2003 and in New Delhi in 2011. It also sponsors young industry professionals for self-development in the widely acclaimed ‘fast-track’ program of the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“Srinivasan Swamy is a well-known advertising leader who had been associated with various prestigious industry associations globally – world president of the New York-based International Advertising Association (the first Indian to hold this position), President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), President of the India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA), Chairman of Advertising Standards Council of India, Vice Chairman of Asian Federation of Advertising Agencies, to mention a few,” said STACA Trust chairman Ramesh Narayan. “Mr Swamy’s grasp of industry matters and his enthusiasm for exploring new frontiers will go a long way in promoting the cause of the marcom space through STACA Trust and ACI.”
STACA Trust was set up in 1981 as a public charitable trust. Its main objective is to impart education in advertising, marketing, and allied subjects. Besides, the trust organises various activities to promote growth & development of advertising and marketing and to promote better understanding amongst all the constituents in the field of advertising.
“It’s an honour for me to be inducted as STACA trustee. I will do my best for this position and match the stature of some of the earlier trustees – Pradeep Guha, Gautam Rakshit, Dr Ram Tarneja, etc, and guide to upgrade the skills of advertising professionals so that our young people match the best in the world and bring laurels to our industry as well as the country,” Swamy stated. “My main emphasis will be on public service communication, which is the need of the hour and I look forward to supporting from media houses for these societal issues. It is important to activate ACI as the platform for all major industry bodies, which it is.”
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.
