MAM
Airtel goes big on blocking fraud with OOH blitz
MUMBAI: Airtel is taking its scam-stopping game to the streets — quite literally. Partnering with dentsu India’s out-of-home (OOH) specialist Posterscope, the telecom giant has rolled out a clever and quick-fire OOH campaign to promote ‘SPAM 2.0’, the next phase in its Safe Network proposition, featuring real-time detection and blocking of fraudulent links.
The campaign’s hero message is ‘Blocking fraud links’. And that promise popped up across everything from metro stations to mall façades, transit hubs, bus shelters and even parking barricades — with witty, hyperlocal lines in regional languages that caught eyes and sparked smiles. Think: ‘Ye gate to khulega, par Airtel pe fraud link nahi khulega.’
Spread across top metro cities and key markets, the campaign cleverly hit high-traffic zones where users are most vulnerable to distraction — while reinforcing Airtel’s positioning as the nation’s digital watchdog.
Posterscope’s turnaround was just as slick, the nationwide campaign was planned, produced and executed in under four days. The strategic mix of formats and real-time contextual placements ensured that Airtel’s safety-first message landed when and where it mattered most.
Posterscope India CEO Imtiyaz Vilatra said, “This campaign perfectly balances innovation with purpose. We translated Airtel’s powerful tech solution into a creative narrative that felt personal and timely. Through hyperlocal execution and speed, we were able to capture attention and build trust, a testament to how OOH can truly drive social impact when done right.”
SPAM 2.0 isn’t just another tech update — it’s a public service with punchlines, and proof that when safety goes OOH, trust comes home.
(If you are an Anime fan and love Anime like Demon Slayer, Spy X Family, Hunter X Hunter, Tokyo Revengers, Dan Da Dan and Slime, Buy your favourite Anime merchandise on AnimeOriginals.com.)
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.
