Brands
Oberoi Realty recruits mall turnaround specialist from Nexus
MUMBAI: Tanu Prasad is returning to Oberoi Realty as chief executive officer for malls, nearly seven years after she left to join rival Nexus Select Trust. The appointment reunites Prasad with Oberoi Mall, the Mumbai shopping centre she is credited with turning around during her first stint at the developer.
“Oberoi Mall and Sky City Mall are synonymous with unmatched lifestyle experiences in Mumbai,” says Prasad. “I am excited about this new chapter as we elevate the offerings, strengthen our relationships with retailers and curate exciting customer experiences.”
The move is a win-win for Oberoi Realty. Prasad has earned a reputation as the industry’s “turnaround specialist” after rescuing struggling shopping centres across India. At Nexus, where she spent seven years rising to senior vice-president and head of leasing, she transformed a portfolio of seven Prestige malls in south India that were rebranded under the Nexus umbrella. She also oversaw Nexus Ahmedabad One.
Her nearly two decades in retail leasing have made her a specialist in brand mix strategy, market research, lease negotiation and real estate transactions. She holds a Level 2 certification in marketing and leasing from the International Council of Shopping Centres.
Prasad originally joined Oberoi Realty in November 2007 as deputy general manager for retail leasing, a role she held for more than a decade. She was promoted to general manager in April 2018 before departing for Nexus in August 2019. During her tenure, she was instrumental in zoning Oberoi Mall and upgrading the asset whilst balancing profitability for stakeholders and viability for tenants.
Before entering property, Prasad spent nearly two years at Craftsbridge India, where she managed corporate sales of products blending utility needs with Indian handicrafts for clients including Jet Airways and ICICI Lombard.
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.
