Brands
Birla Opus Paints colours Diwali with love
MUMBAI: Looks like this Diwali isn’t getting cancelled, only coloured brighter! Birla Opus Paints has unwrapped the festive season with a touching new digital film that turns the spotlight from fireworks to family.
Titled Kya iss baar Diwali cancel?, the film beautifully brings alive Birla Opus Paints’ philosophy, Duniya ko rang do, reminding viewers that the true sparkle of Diwali lies not in lights or rituals, but in the warmth of togetherness.
The story follows a retired couple excitedly prepping their home for their son’s visit. When plans suddenly change and he cancels, disappointment threatens to dim their joy. But the father chooses to celebrate anyway, painting their home in his son’s favourite colour. As the couple light up their freshly painted house, they rediscover that love itself can illuminate any festival.
Birla Opus Paints head of marketing Inderpreet Singh said, “What makes festivals memorable are the emotions behind the preparations, the anticipation, and the joy of being together. Our film celebrates this essence of togetherness and the role of colours in bringing people closer.”
Echoing the sentiment, Leo South Asia chief creative officer Sachin Kamble added, “Diwali isn’t about grandeur; it’s about the relationships that colour our lives. In the Birla Opus world, colour doesn’t just beautify walls, it builds bonds.”
Launched under Aditya Birla Group’s Grasim Industries, Birla Opus Paints continues to paint the town with emotion, crafting stories that prove when it comes to celebrating love and family, no festival is ever truly cancelled.
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.
