MAM
Promax India Awards 2024 wraps up with spectacular wins
Mumbai: The Promax India Awards 2024 have officially wrapped up, marking the end of an extraordinary virtual event celebrating the brightest talents in media and entertainment marketing. With an array of creative work across 57 categories, this year’s awards highlighted the industry’s leading players’ resilience, innovation, and creativity.
Despite the challenges faced by the industry in a post-pandemic landscape, the virtual format allowed Promax India to reach a global audience, showcasing the best work in entertainment marketing and promotion. This year’s winners demonstrated artistic excellence and a keen ability to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
Shemaroo Entertainment led the pack with an impressive haul, taking home 20 Gold and 13 Silver awards. Their campaigns stood out for their creativity and impact, setting new benchmarks in the industry. Disney Star/ Disney+ Hotstar/ NGC also shone brightly, securing 15 Gold and 11 Silver awards. Their innovative approaches to brand promotion and audience engagement were widely recognised and celebrated. Culver Max Entertainment claimed 9 Gold and 13 Silver awards, showcasing their versatile and dynamic work across various categories. Zee Entertainment Enterprises made its mark with 6 Gold and 6 Silver awards, reflecting its commitment to pushing the boundaries of entertainment marketing. Viacom18 earned 1 Gold and 8 Silver awards, underscoring their consistent efforts to deliver high-quality promotional content. Reporter Broadcasting Company garnered 2 Gold awards, highlighting their impactful storytelling and marketing strategies. MA+TH Entertainment Network achieved 1 Gold and 1 Silver award, showcasing their innovative contributions to the industry. White Turtle Studios – A Trailer Park Group Company and Dynamite Design each took home 1 Silver award, while Cutawayy Films and Warner Bros. Discovery celebrated their success with 1 Gold each.
Promax India event director Andy Chua reflected on the event’s success, stating, “It’s been a challenging year for the Indian entertainment media industry, with many companies still recalibrating and navigating the new market realities post-pandemic. But what really stands out to me is how this challenge has sparked even more creativity and smarter budgeting, as seen in the brilliant entries we’ve received for The Promax India Awards. As we come together virtually to celebrate these achievements, I’m excited to share that Promax India is evolving, too. Next year, we’ll be rebranding as The Global Entertainment Marketing Academy of Arts and Sciences (GEMA), and we’re planning to bring a fresh, in-person event to India. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us.”
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.
