MAM
WK Life to open manufacturing unit in India
Mumbai: London-based Gen Z brand WK Life has announced to launch a manufacturing unit for high-end electronic goods in Northern India by the end of this year. The company intends to manufacture 30 percent of its products in India which boasts a skilled and disciplined workforce, low cost of manpower, and strong technical and engineering capabilities, it said in a statement on Monday.
“The consumer electronics industry is expected to reach Rs 1.5 lakh crore by 2025 from the present Rs one lakh crore, indicating an increase in demand for electronic items in urban as well as rural markets. So as to meet this demand we have decided to set up our own manufacturing units,” said WK Life director Rohit Sahni. “We are also tying up with prominent manufacturers in India. Our homemade, chemical-free personal care items are already in the market.”
The brand forayed in India in October 2018, and has since then opened 14 new stores in Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mohali, Hyderabad, and Guwahati. The company offers a wide range of electronic gadgets such as home theatres, bluetooth speakers, headphones, wireless chargers, bluetooth mic, charging cables, mobile accessories, power banks, mobile cases, and other items including backpacks, hand bags, kids fashion accessories, and scented candles.
As the retail sector continues to witness high margin growth in India, WK Life is planning to make its brand more visible in the market through retail chains and expanding its geographical boundaries to metros and tier-2 cities.
“The driving force in India is its vast population and with better markets and more organised retail spaces, it’s become easier to reach out to them,” said WK Life co-director Gaurav Dabas. “We believe the quality of products plays a very important role in trust-building, which is one of the many reasons why we focus on physical retail chains as compared to omnichannel presence. Our offline sales have gone up by 30 percent in the last one year. We are planning to expand to over 125 retail stores across India in the next two years,” he added.
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.
