MAM
Lustral Water launches AI & IoT-based smart water purifier
MUMBAI: Homegrown B2C model-based company, Lustral Water has launched what it claims is ‘the world’s first’ Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Internet of Things (IoT) enabled water purifier with inbuilt sensors.
The Water Purifiers remove toxins and harmful bacteria but retain the necessary minerals and vitamins, the company said. In addition, these purifiers are ingrained with new-age technology that keeps a tab on consumer’s water intake, pH level, TDS level, turbidity, mineral content, water temperature etc through smartphones.
Lustral Water CEO and founder Aditya Patnaik said, “Even today over 50% of India’s population doesn’t have access to clean drinking water. They are dependent on boiled water or simply consuming undrinkable water. We firmly believe that with cutting-edge and futuristic technology transforming even the unthinkable things into a distinct possibility, access to clean drinking water shouldn’t be a far-fetched idea.”
He further added, “Lustral Purifiers are cost-effective with great health benefits as we offer WHO recommended standards of water. We don’t offer filtered water; we offer a healthier version of clean drinking water infused with necessary minerals and vitamins. Our purifiers are equipped to provide valid water in domestic houses. On top of that, everything is absolutely automatic and requires little to no human interference. If the water quality goes down, the purifier is equipped to alert an expert technician immediately so that consumers won’t have to worry about these things.”
The purifiers are equipped to send requests to the nearest service engineer as soon as the water quality goes down, said the company. The brand believes that consumers should have access to validated data to know what is happening inside the purifier and consume water only after inspecting the quality.
Lustral Water has registered a 22 per cent month-on-month growth in traffic since its inception in Bengaluru. The brand is now planning to launch its state-of-the-art water purifiers in new tier II markets such as Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Bhubaneswar.
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.
