Brands
Procter & Gamble partners WE Hub to identify and collaborate with startups
MUMBAI: Procter & Gamble (P&G) in partnership with WE Hub, the first-of-its-kind state-run platform for Women Entrepreneurs, recently concluded its first Telangana edition of vGROW Summit. vGROW is P&G’s first-of-its-kind platform to identify and collaborate with businesses and individuals offering innovative industry-leading solutions. Three startups were selected to pilot innovative digitisation and energy optimisation solutions at P&G’s Hyderabad plant that manufactures Ariel®, Tide® and Pampers®. This partnership is in line with P&G’s commitment to invest in Indian startups and inclusive growth.
More than 55 startups, from across India, applied through WE Hub. The shortlisted applicants were then given an opportunity to pitch their innovative solutions at P&G’s vGROW Summit held at WE Hub office in Hyderabad. Out of these, three startups will now be piloting their solutions at P&G’s Hyderabad manufacturing plant.
Principal secretary to IT E & C Department Jayesh Ranjan said, “It is encouraging to see organisations like P&G and initiatives like vGROW supporting the startups in the country. Partnerships like these will help create an ecosystem for inclusive growth.”
P&G India associate director – purchasing and supplier partnerships Shivangi Jain said, “As a company, innovation is an integral part of how we operate and provide superior propositions to our consumers. We firmly believe that when all stakeholders come together, it accelerates innovation that leads to inclusive growth. Our partnership with WE Hub is helping us connect and leverage external startup capabilities to strengthen our operations and drive inclusive growth in the state of Telangana. This partnership is part of P&G’s vGROW platform in line with the company’s commitment to invest and collaborate with startups, small businesses, and individuals offering innovative industry-leading solutions.”
WE Hub CEO Deepthi Ravula said, “P&G’s active participation to involve startups in their pursuit to drive automation in their manufacturing site sets a great precedent for involvement of Corporates in creating a conducive environment for startups. The success of the program was its structured approach, as all relevant stakeholders were well-prepped on working with startups, which helped the startups understand the problem statements better.”
The handpicked startups will now work in close collaboration with the P&G team to pilot their solutions at P&Gs Hyderabad plant.
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.
