Brands
Vivo launches V9 with Aamir Khan
MUMBAI: Handset maker Vivo, has launched Vivo V9, its first flagship smartphone in India with the brand’s new India ambassador Aamir Khan. The phone is designed for the millennials who seek the best smartphone experience.
Priced in the mid-level segment of Rs 22,990, the smartphone will be available across all offline stores from 2nd April, 2018and can be pre-booked in all retail stores, on Vivo E-store, Flipkart, Amazon and Paytm Mall.
The company has launched 3 campaigns to promote the product with Aamir Khan. Conceptualised by media agency Ogilvy, the tv campaigns will air across all leading channels. The company will also roll out bumper ads on digital about the product. V9 will be promoted through an extensive 360-degree marketing campaign which will include television, digital, OOH and on-ground activations.
The device will be available for pre-booking from 23rd March with attractive offers across all offline stores in India and e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm Mall and Vivo’s official e-store (http://shop.vivo.com/in/).
Customers who book the phone online through Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm Mall and Vivo’s official E-store from 23rd March to 2nd April 2018are eligible for one-time screen replacement for V9, in case of any accidental damage to the display. Additionally, consumers can avail a discount of Rs 2000 if the smartphone is bought under an exchange policy. For customers buying the phone on EMI, the partner e-commerce platform will offer no-cost EMI for up to 12 months.
The smartphone sports dual rear camera of 16MP + 5MP, features such as 19:9 FullView display 2.0 and the industry’s highest screen-to-body ratio of 90 per cent, beating iPhone X which has a screen-to-body ratio of 81.49 per cent.
Vivo India CEO Kent Cheng says, “With the class-leading design and camera capabilities of Vivo V9, we have once again delivered a product that is high on innovation and quality. We are confident that our latest flagship will set new benchmarks in the smartphone industry and further solidify our leadership position in the market.”
Chinese mobile brand Vivo entered India in late 2014. With a strong focus on camera and music, Vivo has established itself as one of the top smartphone brands in India.
With a manufacturing unit in Greater Noida, the company has a robust distribution network across the country both online and offline, catering to over 400 cities, in 22 states backed by 400 service centres in India.
A youth brand, Vivo became the title sponsor of the Indian Premier League for 2016 and 2017 and recently bagged the title sponsorship for the next five years. It is also the title sponsor of Pro Kabaddi for five years since 2017 and is the official sponsor of 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.
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.
