Brands
Amazon Fresh serves up a feast across 270 cities
MUMBAI: Talk about a shopping sprint. Amazon Fresh is racing ahead this festive season, now available in more than 270 cities across India. The expansion, timed with the Amazon Great Indian Festival (AGIF), marks a 4.5 times growth in reach in just two years and a 40 per cent year-on-year surge in orders within the first two days of AGIF.
From Gorakhpur to Coimbatore, Jalandhar to Hubli, and Jamshedpur to Vellore, customers can now access over 40,000 products delivered to their doorsteps in convenient two-hour slots. The selection spans farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, staples, dairy, packaged foods, frozen items, personal care, beauty, baby and pet essentials, as well as 3,000 regionally loved favourites, including Rajdhani atta, Eastern masalas, GRB sweets, and Sri Bhagyalaxmi staples.
Amazon Fresh India director Srikant Sree Ram said, “Amazon Fresh has grown 4.5 times in reach and 10 times in selection in just two years, transforming how families across India shop for groceries online. By expanding to over 270 cities, we are bringing everyday essentials and festive favourites to more households than ever before. This has been possible thanks to the growth of our seller network and our advanced delivery capabilities, creating one of India’s largest omnichannel grocery networks.”
The initiative is powered by a robust farm-to-doorstep network, working with over 13,000 registered farmers. Every product undergoes a four-step quality process including local collection point inspections, grading and sorting, temperature-controlled storage, and final quality checks to ensure freshness and reliability.
More Retail Limited (MRL), a seller on Amazon Fresh, reported that converting more than 370 offline stores to serve Amazon Fresh customers has fueled a 65 per cent year-on-year growth in 2024, which continues to rise during AGIF.
During the festival, shoppers can snap up deals starting at just Rs 1 and claim a maximum cashback of Rs 400 on their grocery baskets. Diwali décor essentials, including lights, rangoli kits, and traditional sweets, have also been added, giving families the convenience of festive shopping alongside daily essentials. Every weekend, Amazon Fresh Super Value Days provide extra savings on weekly groceries and household products.
With over 40,000 products now on offer, a 10-fold increase from just 4,000 in 2023, Amazon Fresh is bridging the gap between farm and doorstep while celebrating regional diversity. This blend of convenience, variety, and freshness makes online grocery shopping effortless, helping families save time and focus on celebrating with loved ones.
Amazon Fresh, available across 300 cities, delivers products through a temperature-controlled supply chain, combining value, wide selection, and fast delivery. From staples to fresh produce and personal care, the service ensures customers enjoy quality and convenience with personalised features that make shopping seamless.
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.
