MAM
Zoo Media launches DoyenOink Consulting
Zoo Media has launched DoyenOink Consulting, a transformation, and management consulting firm which leverages data intelligence, technology interventions, inventive strategic thinking and impactful communication to drive systematic solutions for business challenges across the spectrum.
DoyenOink Consulting will be led by director Priyal Sheth Kilachand who will be reporting into co-founder of Zoo Media and FoxyMoron Suveer Bajaj. Kilachand, began her journey with FoxyMoron in 2010, in the business development team and later headed the business development and strategy division.
She’s worked with over 50 brands such as Loreal, P&G, SAB Miller, Mahindra & Mahindra among others.
In 2015, Kilachand joined Sun Pharma, as a digital consultant, where she led campaigns for brands such as Volini, Revital, Suncros, and Pepfiz. Priyal has been working on building DoyenOink Consulting from the ground up since 2019.
Bajaj said “Digital Transformation today has become a necessity for business continuity or risk mitigation in today’s environment. Today, 70 per cent of Indian companies either have a digital transformation strategy or are working on one. Our goal is to empower organisations to adopt digital, deep within their DNA and help them address business challenges to achieve organisational excellence, meet customer satisfaction, and most importantly stay ahead of the competition. Our team of experts or as we like to call them ‘doyens’ are the best minds in their fields, be it technology, product customer journey planning, strategic brand communications, and business and operational strategy.”
Kilachand shared, “While we are a new consulting firm, we are thrilled with the response we've received so far. Currently, we’re working with clients across the sectors of education, consumer products, e-commerce & industrial trading. Our depth of services has spanned from brand position to operational excellence, all the way down to structuring the optimum sales channel mix. 2020 has been the year of accelerated digital adoption and we are confident that our expertise will be of immense value to our partners that are looking for deep and integrated solutions to address their unpredictable business challenges.”
DoyenOink Consulting services will be available across all Zoo Media offices pan-India i.e Mumbai, Delhi-GGN and Bangalore.
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.
