MAM
HDFC Life targets youth in latest Comic-Con promotion
MUMBAI: HDFC Life has partnered with Comic-Con Bengaluru to reach out to the Indian millennials that still perceive insurance to be a financial product for their parents. Dentsu Webchutney, the brand’s digital agency had been contemplating for a while on how to make the product more consumable and approachable for young India and devised a concept to design comic strips that would answer the basics of insurance.
In an effort that started as a mere social campaign, was then extended by partnering with Comic-Con Bengaluru to further cement the brand’s commitment to demystify the insurance category. Captain Life, the Super Hero to all other Super Heroes was HDFC Life’s mascot. His core purpose is to be the guardian of all Super Heroes and protect them against the uncertainties of the future.
While stating that the general misconception among millennials is that insurance is their parent’s domain of financial planning, HDFC Life SVP of e-commerce and digital marketing, analytics and business insights Vishal Subharwal mentions that this couldn’t be further from the truth because life and health insurance covers are absolutely essential for any starter financial plan, especially for the youth. “To break that mould of thinking we headed over to Comic-Con Bengaluru to introduce the man with the plan; Captain Life. He was the only superhero at the venue with the power to secure a superhero’s loved ones. Through fun comic strips and activities with our very own Cosplay character, we took on this stereotype head-on,” he adds.
Dentsu Webchutney Mumbai EVP and branch Head Nishi Kant says, “The young and dynamic team at Dentsu Webchutney was determined to make this association a success and within a matter of days turned around a well-integrated offline and online campaign that was truly unconventional in many ways. Not just did they plan and manage the offline event, live amplification on digital with a cohesive sustenance plan was also implemented. This activity resulted in a rise in engagement on the brand’s social presence and conclusively positioned HDFC Life as a brand that is truly driven to change tide of the category.”
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.
