Brands
5Star’s new ad draws flak; Ogilvy terms it as ‘unfortunate’ timing
MUMBAI: Even though Cadbury attempted to change its 5Star campaign strategy recently, it's got itself in a fix. The new ad film has drawn ire from netizens. Ogilvy India has termed the timing for the campaign as ‘unfortunate’.
Ogilvy India chief creative officer Sukesh Nayak, responding to indiantelevision.com said: “The timing has been most unfortunate. However, the campaign was conceptualised and executed way before.”
The new advertising campaign has not gone well with the netizens, especially with the youth, as many took to social media to express their objection regarding the ad film.
According to them, the ad shows today’s youth in a distasteful manner, at a time when many are voicing their concern by coming out on the streets over the passage and implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The chief creative officer explaining further said, “We did not think anyone would take a message that is meant to make you smile, in a wrong way. But yes, there are people who have not understood the point being made and there are a few who have misunderstood the message and are reading it negatively.”
Cadbury’s 5Star recently changed its television commercial (TVC) and came up with the new ad campaign with renewed tag line — Eat 5Star, Do Nothing. The agency, explaining the idea behind the new ad film, said that the earlier campaign had started to become predictable and as youth abhors predictability, it was eventually decided to change the old ad campaign — Jo Khaaye, Kho Jaaye.
The new television ad film opens with an aged woman, who is sitting on a roadside bench, asks a young boy to pick up her walking stick that's fallen on the road. The boy is seen standing a little away from her bench and eating his 5Star chocolate. He being busy enjoying his 5Star bar responds to the lady with affirmation 'Ji Maaji' but fails not to move from his position. To which, old lady gets up from the bench to pick the stick herself, and moves away from a bench. The moment she picks up her stick a grand piano falls on the bench that she was sitting on. The lady eventually thanks to the boy for not doing anything.
As many others appreciating the brand’s message, Nayak mentioned that there are also young people who have understood the message and meaning of the point being made.
“A large majority are enjoying the creative execution that comes through the humour of the campaign. What is heartening is that some are returning to watch the ad again and again,” he added.
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.
