MAM
Post-lockdown perceptions, aspirations and anticipations of Indian millennials
MUMBAI: The current lockdown is a dark phase, something that the world has not witnessed in decades. But there is always a silver lining in any adverse situation. Laqshya Media Group has found a bit of that silver lining by conducting a research study to help marketeers figure out the perceptions, aspirations and anticipations of the Indian Millennial via-a-vis the ‘New Normal’ that the world faces today.
An online study was conducted reaching 1104 respondents across the primary cities in India. The target group belonged to the age group between 18 and 39, across genders and representing both NCCS A andB. Summarising all the reports and survey results has helped Laqshya assess the perceptions, aspirations and anticipations of the Indian millennials. The good news is that not only are the IMF and the RBI confident of India bouncing back – so are the Indian Millennials. A few findings of the report are excerpted below.
The research talks about customer behavior as per two primary age groups 18-25 and 26-39. Analysis shows that each cohort responded differently to some of the questions posed to them, while they were statistically similar in response to others. For example, one of the questions was whether people will wait to visit malls, restaurants or any public places right after the lockdown is lifted. 75 per cent of the entire respondent base responded that they will be back within four to five weeks. The younger people, 18-25, shared that they will hit the malls in an average of 23 days while the 25-39 cohort’s average wait time was 29 days!
But 31 per cent of the targeted group is more likely to use personal travel more frequently as compared to earlier. A sneak peak of this data can be seen in the pie chart given below that shows the time people will wait to go out post the lockdown.
It is interesting to realise that people have different mindsets towards outings, investing and traveling. Similar to the aforementioned question, a series of questions were asked to the people from different ages, genders, backgrounds and professions. Majority of people responded that they want to meet friends and family after the lockdown. It was noted that younger people and women had a major inclination towards eating out.
The millennials are optimistically cautious especially in investing money or procuring assets. 53 per cent of the respondents want to invest in fixed deposits, but more than 40 per cent of them continue to have faith in mutual funds, and more than a quarter anticipate investing in the stock market. The millennials also want to invest more in education and development of their skills, which will surely give a boost to the education sector.
In the advertising world, print and outdoor media have taken a major hit as people during the lockdown had little option but to move to digital news portals and OTT platforms. Most of the population is binge watching on all the major OTT platforms. Video calling apps have also gained great popularity thanks to official meetings and social hangouts being restricted to our laptop/mobile screen. Will these trends stay after the lockdown ends? On that note, 36 per cent of the respondents said that their online shopping will increase, and whopping 86 per cent say that they will notice OOH advertising as much or more than they did before!
References from the reports by The Reserve Bank of India, The International Monetary Fund and McKinsey and Company were also taken into account while making the report.
Laqshya Media Group CEO Atul Shrivastava believes that people in India are committed to fight and win over the current situation. He said, “There is a huge consumption of every product in India and there will be eagerness amongst the brands to become the first choice for every consumer. This is likely to fuel the demand for the advertising sooner than most nay-sayers predict.”
Laqshya Media Group MD Alok Jalan is positive of the way ahead, “Although some industries have taken a major hit, others like the e-commerce businesses have a lot of scope ahead. This is also a good opportunity for the traditional businesses to evolve their digital presence. If we are able to contain the pandemic shortly then there is a scope for the market to bounce back and show growth.”
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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.
