MAM
Aquawhite announces Tiger Shroff as brand ambassador
MUMBAI: Aquawhite one of the fastest growing oral–care brand in the kids’ category from the house of JHS Svendgaard Laboratories Limited (JHS) has announced Tiger Shroff as its brand ambassador.
Commenting on this development, JHS managing director Nikhil Nanda said, “We are extremely happy and overwhelmed to have a youth icon like Tiger Shroff to be associated with our brand aquawhite™. Making kids brush their teeth can be a difficult task for most parents, but with our product range we understand the needs of parents and make the task of brushing a fun and engaging activity without supervision. We are confident that combination of our exciting range of products and Tiger will create a strong connect with kids and their mothers.”
Tiger Shroff commented on his association with the brand by saying, “I am very excited to endorse aquawhite™ a brand which specialises & has keen focus on kids oral care products. As a child, I too found brushing to be a mundane activity, but with the aquawhite™ innovative products available in kids favorite character the narrative will change soon. It will also ease out the pain & discomfort of the parents’ who have to run behind their children every day to inculcate the habit of brushing teeth properly for two minutes twice a day. It`s very important for the new age parents to understand that for a fit body & mind of their children, oral hygiene has to be the no. 1 priority. I wish aquawhite™ a great success in future and hope they win the hearts of children & parents with their range of innovative range of toothbrushes,”
aquawhite™ under JHS Svendgaard brands (a subsidiary of JHS) is the largest licence holder of some of the most prominent kids' characters namely Chhota Bheem, Angry Birds, Peppa Pig, The Jungle Book, Pokemon, PAW Patrol, Shimmer and Shine, SpongeBob Squarepants, Shiva & many more for the kids oral care range. The company had launched concept-based innovative products like FLASHHH & BUDDY BEST toothbrush (2 minutes flashlight-auto off), MUZICA toothbrush (2 minutes music-auto off), WATCHHA toothbrush (2 minutes Sand Timer), Jiggle Wiggle toothbrush, Tiffany toothbrush, Bestie toothbrush, Zig-Zag toothbrush, Fluoride-Free toothpastes in Strawberry, Strawberry Burst, Chill-Gum, Dubble Bubble and Sweet Bubble flavors and Lollipop Tongue Cleaner for all age groups 0-3 years, 3-8 years and 8-12 years.
Brands
Lotus Chocolate FY26 profit drops sharply, Q4 slips into loss
Revenue steady at Rs 579.55 crore, Q4 loss at Rs 4.47 crore
MUMBAI: Sweet on the top line, slightly bitter on the bottom Lotus Chocolate’s FY26 numbers tell a story that’s more dark cocoa than milk. The company managed to hold its revenue steady for the year, but profitability took a visible hit, capped by a loss-making fourth quarter. Lotus Chocolate Company Limited reported revenue from operations of Rs 579.55 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, marginally up from Rs 573.75 crore in FY25. Total income rose to Rs 615.61 crore, compared with Rs 574.56 crore in the previous year, supported by a sharp jump in other income to Rs 36.06 crore from just Rs 0.81 crore.
However, the gains at the top did little to cushion profitability. Net profit for FY26 fell dramatically to Rs 0.10 crore, down from Rs 17.23 crore in FY25, reflecting significant cost pressures across the business.
The March quarter proved particularly challenging. The company reported a net loss of Rs 4.47 crore in Q4 FY26, compared with a profit of Rs 0.14 crore in the previous quarter and Rs 1.42 crore in the same quarter last year. Total income for the quarter stood at Rs 138.01 crore, down from Rs 150.21 crore in Q3 FY26 and Rs 157.52 crore in Q4 FY25.
Expenses remained elevated throughout the year. Total expenses rose to Rs 614.44 crore in FY26 from Rs 551.50 crore in FY25, eating into margins. A key swing factor was the cost of materials consumed, which stood at Rs 304.44 crore, while changes in inventories also reflected volatility, with a negative impact of Rs 62.44 crore in the previous year reversing to a positive Rs 52.93 crore this year.
Employee benefit expenses nearly doubled to Rs 34.00 crore from Rs 17.98 crore, while finance costs surged to Rs 16.31 crore from Rs 7.11 crore, indicating higher borrowing and funding costs. Depreciation and amortisation expenses also increased to Rs 3.92 crore from Rs 1.81 crore, reflecting ongoing investments.
On the balance sheet front, total assets stood at Rs 275.96 crore as of March 31, 2026, slightly higher than Rs 270.34 crore a year earlier. Borrowings remained significant, with current borrowings at Rs 89.00 crore, highlighting continued reliance on external funding.
Cash flow dynamics showed improvement in operations, with net cash generated from operating activities at Rs 93.23 crore, compared with a negative Rs 129.60 crore in FY25. However, financing outflows remained high at Rs 74.90 crore, driven largely by repayment of borrowings and interest costs.
Despite stable revenue, the sharp drop in profitability underscores the pressure of rising input costs, higher finance expenses and operational adjustments. The contrast between steady sales and squeezed margins leaves Lotus Chocolate at a crossroads proving that in business, as in confectionery, the real test isn’t just in the sweetness of sales, but in the richness of returns.
