MAM
PRCAI introduces an industry-first story telling convention
The Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) will host the inaugural edition of PRana 2024: Shaping the Story of India on 4 September 2024 at The Leela, Chanakya Puri, New Delhi, inviting 20 key opinion leaders, 100 plus C-suite leaders and top communicators to co-create the new narrative of the nation, as India marches towards the centennial independence celebrations in 2047. The convention underscores the critical importance of compelling narratives for inspiring change, fostering innovation, and contributing to the country’s growth.
The public relations industry is witnessing continued growth and upward trajectory, estimated at Rs 2500 crores in FY 2023, registering double digit growth year-on-year and employing more than 14,000 people in the organized sector. The industry is gaining increased recognition by CEO and C-Suite community. According to SPRINT 2023, the private sector, startup economy, and unicorns are fuelling PR industry’s growth, the C-suite is increasingly recognizing PR and communications as a driving function rather than just an enabler. Eight out of 10 respondents said that India Inc. leadership is working closely with their corporate communications team to devise strategies for brand communication, while 80 per cent of corporate communications head report directly to the CEOs.
“PRana 2024 is a movement aimed at harnessing the power of aspirational narratives to drive our nation’s progress with two significant stakeholders – business leaders and reputation custodians. I am certain that the insights shared amongst these stakeholders will not only shape the future of public relations in India but will also contribute to the global discourse on reputation management and storytelling.” said PRCAI CEO Deeptie Sethi.
“From our ancient epics to modern narratives of innovation, India has always been the land of storytelling. As we approach India@100, there could be no better way for the PR industry to celebrate our rich heritage and aspirational future. PRana 2024 is more than just an initiative; it’s a celebration of storytelling, our thriving tradition on a global stage. Well-crafted narratives can inspire change, transform mindsets, and drive meaningful change, and this is the power of strategic communication that we will harness through PRana 2024. As our industry continues to grow and gain strategic importance across sectors, we look forward to crafting compelling narratives that will resonate with our global ambitions,” said PRCAI VP Kunal Kishore.
Inspired by the global trend of shorter speeches which are gaining popularity reflects how people consume information in today’s fast-paced world, the convention introduced a brand-new speech format called ‘300Wise’, where speakers will deliver concise, high-impact visionary speeches in five minutes. Influential key opinion leaders will share their vision for India@100 at the public relations convention themed PRana 2024: Shaping the Story of India centred around how powerful ideas can positively impact four pivotal pillars of reputation centred around Leadership and Vision, Emotional Quotient, Country Economics and Social Elevation. Business leaders including Nadir Godrej, Chairman & MD of Godrej Industries, Ritesh Agarwal, CEO & Founder of OYO Rooms, Ashish Kumar Chauhan, MD & CEO of the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), Bhairavi Jani, Chairperson of SCA Group of Companies; Captain Indraani Singh, Founder of Literacy India; Chhavi Rajawat, First MBA Sarpanch, Devdutt Pattanaik, Author, Guneet Monga, Academy Award-Winning Filmmaker, Kapil Sibal, Lawyer & Politician, Vineet Nayar, Founder of Sampark Foundation, Licypriya Kangujam, Climate Activist, Manish Sharma, Chairman of Panasonic Life Solutions India and South Asia; and Supriya Paul, Co-Founder and CEO of Josh Talks amongst others. Each track will be facilitated by notable guests from the media to help co-curate the India narrative.
During the story convention, PRCAI will unveil a whitepaper ‘IndiaKiAshaa’ sharing India’s hopes and aspirations. The whitepaper will outline what India can achieve in the next five years which will positively impact it’s brand reputation. The insights shared are culled from over 185,000 responses from 40,000 plus unique citizens located in 394 districts of India. The research is focused on key areas such as sustainability, geopolitical influence, infrastructure, healthcare, ease of living in cities, growth and prosperity, quality education, skilling, technology and innovation and communications, giving a perspective of evolving national narrative of India’s progress and its future trajectory.
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.
