Brands
Citroën shifts gears with alterType’s fresh spin
MUMBAI: Citroën India is shifting gears, and this time, the ride feels unmistakably homegrown. The French automaker’s latest brand campaign, Shift Into The New, crafted by independent creative agency alterType, infuses a refreshing Indian flavour into Citroën’s signature design-led sophistication.
As Citroën’s lead creative agency, alterType has been tasked with steering the brand into its next chapter, repositioning models like the C3X, Aircross X, and Basalt X as smart, stylish, and family-friendly choices for Indian consumers. The campaign captures the brand’s promise of comfort, intelligence, and modern mobility, retold through the lens of contemporary Indian life, where aspiration meets everyday ease.
Adding star power to the shift is MS Dhoni, Citroën India’s brand ambassador, whose calm confidence and precision mirror the brand’s philosophy. His presence deepens Citroën’s growing emotional connect with Indian audiences, reinforcing the blend of trust and quiet strength that defines both the cricketer and the carmaker.
“Shift Into The New isn’t just a campaign; it’s how Citroën communicates who it is today,” said alterType co-founder and managing director Siddharth Loyal. “We wanted to evolve Citroën’s voice from niche and European to confident, contemporary, and distinctly human.”
The multi-platform campaign, spanning television, digital, and social media, introduces a refreshed brand language across Citroën’s lineup, celebrating motion, energy, and control. Each film brings Citroën’s hallmark comfort and design to life with an unmistakably Indian spirit, showcasing how global sophistication can meet local sensibilities without missing a beat.
“This campaign captures our commitment to innovation and a modern Indian perspective,” said Automotive Brands, Stellantis India business head and director Kumar Priyesh. “It’s about making every drive more comfortable, more enjoyable, and more Citroën.”
With Shift Into The New, Citroën and alterType have done more than just launch a campaign, they’ve created a cultural crossover, where French finesse meets Indian flair, and every drive feels like home.
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.
