Brands
ASSOCHAM & Videocon pledge GST summit across 200 towns
MUMBAI: In a view to generate awareness and educate retail partners around GST implications, ASSOCHAM and the leading Consumer Electronics and Home Appliances Company, Videocon, organized the first-of-its-kind GST Summit for traders. The daylong ASSOCHAM Videocon GST Summit for traders witnessed deep discussions around GST, addressing retailers’ queries, and offering them a clearer understanding of the GST concept.
The seminar was inaugurated by the chief guest Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Finance, Ministry of Finance. The Seminar was also addressed by R. N Dhoot, Member of Parliament and Manish Sharma, President, CEAMA.
Being the most pro-active Chamber of Commerce, ASSOCHAM has taken a step towards imparting knowledge on immediate as well as far reaching impact of GST on the businesses through the ASSOCHAM Videocon GST Summit. Emerging as the fountainhead of Knowledge for Indian industry, ASSOCHAM has always worked towards creating a conducive environment for India business to compete globally.
Congratulating on organising the GST Summit and taking it to over 200 districts, Meghwal said, “GST will be beneficial in promoting level playing field and giving an overall boost to supply. In the context of traders, GST will bring down logistics costs massively and bring us at par with the developed nations. It will also simplify filling returns. With India’s biggest tax reforms of the 21st century, the country will be known for its leadership, and the year 2017 will be marked for bringing wholesome economic betterment. While there is an opportunity there is also a need to generate awareness and such seminars are the need of the hour. As a representative of the Government, I promise that businesses will be simplified including the MSMEs. With GST, India will rise up to paying taxes than evasion.”
Dhoot said, “Announcement of GST in the country has been a revolutionary step. Not only will it lead to lower tax burden on several commodities, but will also bring ease of doing businesses in the country. I congratulate ASSOCHAM and Videocon to take this initiative and address retailer queries related to implementation of GST.”
Sandeep Jajodia, President ASSOCHAM, said, “It’s a nationwide observation that in general, the trade (mostly MSMEs) are not in line with knowledge with GST. Therefore, ASSOCHAM & Videocon have embarked upon the process of training and awareness of GST in a big way, which will be of paramount importance in the smooth roll-out of GST. As the contours of GST law are more or less known, the purpose of such programs is to sensitize the trade across India to make them aware of the salient features of GST.”
C. M Singh, COO Videocon, said, “We plan to hold more than 200 of such seminars to raise GST awareness across the country. Videocon has always taken initiatives to ensure industry growth and welfare. Through these GST Summits, Videocon will try to ensure that all queries of consumer electronic traders with regards to GST implementation are resolved and they are GST ready. Videocon is happy to contribute in its small way in the smooth implementation of GST.”
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.
