Brands
Uber hits the road with Motorhomes in more cities
MUMBAI: Buckle up for a new kind of road trip. After cruising through Delhi NCR with a sold-out pilot, Uber is taking its Intercity Motorhomes experience to Mumbai, Bangalore, and Pune. The limited-edition offering, which lets riders book caravan-style vehicles for outstation getaways, opens bookings on 13 October, with rides starting 15 October.
Initially launched in August to promote premium outstation travel, the Delhi pilot saw 100 per cent occupancy throughout its run, prompting the expansion. Each Motorhome comes loaded with road-trip luxuries, a TV, microwave, mini-fridge, and even a lavatory, offering up to five passengers a lounge-on-wheels experience complete with a driver and helper.
“Uber Intercity has become a preferred choice for dependable and comfortable travel between cities,” said Uber India and South Asia director – consumer growth Shiva Shailendran. “With the success of Motorhomes and expansion to new cities, we’re strengthening Intercity’s position as the go-to for long-distance travel.”
The festive season, known for weddings, holidays, and spontaneous getaways, makes this expansion timely. Riders can book trips through Uber Reserve, add stops, track rides, and access 24 by 7 support, though early booking is advised given the surge in demand.
With over 3,000 intercity routes now under its belt, Uber continues to steer India’s outstation travel scene into a smoother, smarter future, one comfortable kilometre at a time.
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.
