Brands
Diageo named Britain’s Most Admired Company 2018
MUMBAI: British multinational alcoholic beverages company Diageo has been named as Britain’s Most Admired Company 2018 by Management Today. This is the fourth time that Diageo has won this accolade since the ranking was established in 1990.
Along with it, Diageo also scooped two individual category awards; for quality of management and corporate governance.
Commenting on the award, Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes said, “This award is recognition of the hard work and dedication of our 30,000 colleagues around the world who are all making Diageo a stronger, better performing company. We are focused on delivering consistent performance, while bringing our purpose to life at work and in our communities; by creating a positive role for alcohol in society and through our work on inclusion, diversity, skills and empowerment. While we have a lot more to do, we’re proud to be building a company for the long-term and intend to fly the flag for great British exports on the global stage for decades to come."
In addition to being named Britain’s Most Admired Company, Diageo has also been named amongst the 50 Best Places to Work UK by Glassdoor.
Commenting on its ranking in the Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work UK, Diageo Europe HR director Joan Hodgins said, “I am delighted that Diageo has been named as one of Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work in the UK. We know that the success of our business depends on the contribution of our people. We are firmly committed to creating an environment where all our employees feel included, valued and able to perform at their best and today’s announcement is recognition of the progress we have made as a company to achieve this.”
Britain’s Most Admired Company (BMAC) is compiled by asking Britain’s largest companies and leading employers across 24 sectors to peer review each other against 12 criteria. The research is carried out by third party organisation.
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.
