MAM
Aakash Educational Services appoints Yuvraj Singh as brand ambassador
MUMBAI: Aakash Educational Services (AESL), has appointed ace cricketer Yuvraj Singh as its brand ambassador. The cricketer will promote the company and its various brands including Aakash Institute, Aakash IIT-JEE, Aakash Digital and Meritnation. As the face of Aakash, Yuvraj Singh will lead the brand's latest omni-channel 'Success is Waiting' campaign for Aakash Digital.
The ‘Success is Waiting’ campaign, conceptualised in partnership with Cheil India, the creative agency of AESL, will be for students re-appearing for medical and engineering entrance examinations. It intends to inspire such students to give it another shot and will be visible through the digital medium.
Yuvraj was the ideal fit to drive home the message effectively as the company needed an inspiring comeback story of a sportsperson, with the core messaging of ‘come back stronger’. With Cricket being the most widely followed sports in the country, the communication has been designed around the comeback story of Yuvraj Singh. He has been an inspirational figure for many Indians, first through his successful cricketing career, then his battle with cancer and his inspirational comeback and now with his humanitarian initiatives.
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Commenting on the collaboration with Yuvraj Singh, Aakash Educational Services director and CEO Aakash Chaudhry said, “We are pleased to make Yuvraj Singh a part of the Aakash Family. We believe that every student gives their best shot during these critical examinations but we also acknowledge the fact that one does not taste success every time. We want to make the students understand that we not only stand with them in their struggle but also understand their weaknesses and are ready to work on them with the support of the aspirants. Striding on Yuvraj’s popularity amongst the youngsters and his path breaking success story and inspiring comeback, we are sure that he will inculcate the route to celebrate failure while bouncing back with all the more determination, strength and focus.”
The film unfolds as a long walk with Yuvraj Singh capturing the protagonist’s highs and lows in lives. At relevant moments, he walks past a set of cricket stumps uprooted, past trophies and medals, past pictures of his fans screaming for his autograph, newspaper headlines that speak of his not being part of the team, etc. Interspersed with the shots, we see school kids studying, looking into a mirror with determination or at times looking unsure. The film motivates the students to resume their journey on the path of success with renewed vigour.
Yuvraj Singh said, “I connect with Aakash as they train students to never give up and offer a helping hand to them in cracking such tough entrance exams. The theme of the film too in a way mirrors the journey of my life. I have faced many ups and downs. Through the film I want to tell the students that when the world calls you a failure, you call yourself a success. Find a coach who will have more faith in you than he would have in himself. And I assure you that once that happens, there is no looking back.”
Owing to the current scenario and shorter preparation cycle available to the repeaters, digital format is the most preferred medium amongst students. With the strong pedagogy of Aakash Institute in test preparation coupled with the superior digital capabilities, Aakash Digital stands out amongst the masses.
Aakash Institute aims to help students in their quest to achieve academic success. It has a centralized in-house process for curriculum and content development and faculty training and monitoring, led by its National Academic Team. Over the years, students from AESL have shown proven selection track record in various Medical & Engineering entrance exams and competitive exams such as NTSE, KVPY, and Olympiads.
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.
