MAM
82.5 Communications appoints Anirban Mozumdar as chief strategy officer
Mumbai: Ad agency 82.5 Communications on Tuesday appointed Anirban Mozumdar as chief strategy officer in Mumbai. He replaces Rishabha Nayyar, who is moving on from the agency to pursue his interest in academics.
Prior to this, Mozumdar was the CEO of Mumbai-based Chlorophyll brand and communications consultancy.
82.5 Communications chairman and CCO, Sumanto Chattopadhyay said, “His vast planning experience across categories and countries, his entrepreneurial ability and his understanding of behavioural science are just a few of the assets with which, I am sure, he will enrich our people and our brands.”
An alumnus of Mudra Institute of Communications (MICA), Mozumdar has over 24 years of brand building and strategy experience, across India and the South Asian region, in agencies like Leo Burnett, Publicis, DDB, Y&R and ITSA. He has worked extensively across the b2c, b2b and d2c sectors and on brands like P&G (Tide, Rejoice, Whisper), Nestle (Maggi, Nestea), Wrigley’s, Philips, Bajaj Auto, Indian Oil, Emami, Thums Up and Maruti Suzuki said the agency on Tuesday.
Co-chairman and CEO, Kapil Arora said, “Anirban has a love for the business that reflects in an almost immediate connection over stimulating conversations, passionate idea exchanges and loud laughs. We’re lucky to have a person of his pedigree and passion join us, to partner our clients and the 82.5 family, in our growth journey.”
Talking about his new role, Mozumdar said, “It’s thrilling to be in the thick of brand-building and advertising in these fast-changing times. With a team that makes creativity potent with passion and grit. I am looking forward to working with Sumanto, Kapil and the entire team at 82.5 Communications, to build business and value for a really exciting set of brands.”
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.
