Brands
Timex celebrates 170 years of great watchmaking
Mumbai: Celebrating its 170th anniversary, Timex honours the brand’s rich heritage and legacy of crafting durable timepieces that are made to be worn and loved for a lifetime.
Since 1854, Timex has stood out in embodying the spirit of American ingenuity, boldly shaking up a 300-year-old industry to craft quality, accessible timepieces, and carving out their place in time with a legacy of firsts in watchmaking. They challenged the status quo, taking timekeeping off the mantles of the one per cent and bringing it to the world with the innovation of brass movements and mass assembly lines. They moved the watch from the pocket to the wrist and created the “watch that made the dollar famous.”
Timex made women’s timepieces an accessory, not an heirloom and even tested their watches on live television. The brand invented the first smartwatch certified by NASA and shot it into outer space, introduced the first sports watch, and today still crosses nearly every finish line. With Indiglo, Timex changed the way the world tells time in the dark.
Timex ventured into the Indian market nearly 35 years ago in 1988 with the launch of its acclaimed watch franchises –Marlin, Waterbury, and Q Timex. Timex India added Fria, a collection created for fashion-conscious modern Indian women perfectly blending classic designs and modern interpretations to the brand’s legacy.
Timex India MD Deepak Chhabra expressed, “It’s an absolute moment of pride for us to be a part of this iconic heritage and celebrate this milestone of 170 years of global excellence. From the launch of Timex’s iconic franchise Marlin, the brand has continued to build a legacy through technological innovation and contemporary designs. A Timex does more than just tell time; it tells your story. Our 35-year-old journey in India aligns with current fashion trends, solidifying our relevance and deepening our connection with Indian consumers.”
Throughout its legacy, Timex has introduced iconic franchises like the Marlin, Waterbury, Q Timex, and Expedition North, encapsulating its rich heritage.
Marlin
The original Marlin watches first debuted in the 1950s and matured into a centerpiece of Timex’s broader collection in the 1960s. Today’s Marlin collection draws inspiration from that era, pulling both from Timex archives and 1960s culture more generally. Timeless and sophisticated, this collection draws on the best of the past while continuing to push Timex’s legacy of style, disruption, and quality into the future.
Waterbury
The Waterbury is the quintessential expression of Timex watchmaking, combining classic timepieces with design sensibility while putting value—a fundamental part of any Timex watch—at its heart. This franchise balances Timex’s rich past with its pioneering spirit, always respecting what has come before while looking boldly to the future.
Q Timex
Bold, irreverent, and confident, the Q Timex watches of today carry some of the stylistic references of the late 1970s and early 1980s and more fully the same ethos that courageously allowed Timex to embrace new technology and create precise, affordable watches with statement-making designs inspired by innovation and change.
Expedition North
The Expedition North collection offers enthusiasts watches that meet their love of exploration and the outdoors. Combining a casual outdoor/military aesthetic that fits a rugged lifestyle, high-quality components that are good for the environment, and performance features that are built for the long haul, this collection can withstand the elements of adventure after adventure.
Fria
Designed for the Indian target audience, this collection embodies versatility with vibrant colours, playful patterns, and geometric shapes. Each piece tells a unique story, elevating every occasion and adding finesse to any outfit, be it casual or elegant. What truly defines Timex extends far beyond their heritage – it’s the way their watches have gone from being simple tools to cherished companions.
Maybe your Timex was a gift, or perhaps it was passed down to you. Regardless of how you came to know and love it, your Timex does more than just tell time; it tells your story and reminds you to make time yours. For more information visit shop.timexindia.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.
