MAM
Paytm launches campaign ‘Scan any QR to pay using Paytm’
MUMBAI: Ahead of the upcoming festive season, digital payments leader Paytm has launched its new marketing campaign across all media vehicles to spread awareness about the ease and simplicity of making payments by scanning any QR code on the Paytm App. This new campaign “Scan Any QR Code to Pay using Paytm” is focused around the power of choice and flexibility in a preferred mode of payment. Currently, Paytm has partnered with over 14 million merchants across the country and this new offering will expand its reach to another set of 2 million retail outlets in the market.
Paytm marketing head Jaskaran Kapany said, “We have been observing the ever-evolving needs of our users & believe in providing them the flexibility to choose their preferred mode of payment. With the interoperable UPI, consumers now also get the additional flexibility to Scan any QR code through their Paytm app and make payments directly from their linked Bank A/C. With this new campaign, we aim to educate more users that now they need only the Paytm app to scan any QR code to make direct payments at the neighbourhood shops & earn Cashbacks. We are excited to introduce a new high decibel Marketing campaign across all media vehicles- TV, Digital, Radio & even BCCI India Cricket- to ensure that this ease of digital payments using Paytm reaches consumers across the length & width of the country.”
The first film of the series shows an elderly couple at a Kirana shop, behind a person who is shown scanning Paytm QR to make a payment. The husband matter-of-factly asks a rhetorical question to his wife, “Sab Paytm karte hain, toh baaki ke QR kyun rakhain hain?” Eavesdropping on the couple’s conversation, an old man comes from behind, scans a Non-Paytm QR Code using the Paytm App in a jiffy and makes payment from his account and smartly replies “Paytm karne ke liye”. The couple is in awe of the feature which they had no idea about. The films end with a humorous background score and the main message taking the centre-stage- “Scan Any QR & Pay directly from Bank A/c”
The other film revolves around a grocery shop where 3 students engage in friendly banter. One of the juniors insists on paying for the ice creams and is immediately stopped by his senior. While the senior is rummaging through his wallet for Cash, the wily junior instantly scans a Non-Paytm QR through his Paytm App and pays for the ice creams. Baffled by his swift actions, the senior asks him how he made the payment through Paytm when the Paytm QR standee was at a distance from him. The junior quickly replies, “Arre Bhaiya, Paytm se koi bhi QR code scan karo, aur seedhe apne bank account se payment kardo!” The confused senior seeks validation from the shopkeeper, who acknowledges the new way of payment through the Paytm App. The film ends with a troubled look on the senior’s face and very comical background music where Paytm sums up with the message “Scan Any QR & Pay directly from Bank A/c”
The new campaign involves many such tongue-in-cheek dialogues between characters & film plots which resonate in our day to day life. In each movie, Paytm is keen to show & enlighten its users of the simplicity of making payments directly from your bank account.
Paytm is empowering more kirana stores across the country to accept digital payments and further contributing their business growth. The company is targeting 1.5 Billion merchant payments as it focuses on educating more users to scan any payment QR code available in the market through the Paytm app.
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.
