MAM
Britannia increases ad spend 18%
MUMBAI: Biscuits and dairy products maker Britannia Industries Ltd increased its advertising spend 18 per cent to Rs 1.18 in the second quarter ended 30 September from Rs 1 billion a year earlier.
Its ratio of advertising spend to total income too rose in the second quarter to 8.33 per cent from 7.72 per cent a year earlier.
Britannia‘s revenues for the second quarter were up 9.34 per cent to Rs 14.17 billion from Rs 12.96 billion a year earlier.
Its net profit increased by 20.48 per cent to Rs 456 million from Rs 378.5 million a year earlier.
In the first half of the year ended 30 September, Britannia increased its ad spends by 18.03 per cent to Rs 2.16 billion from Rs 1.83 billion a year earlier. The ratio of ad spends to total income also went up to 8.17 per cent from 7.62 per cent a year earlier.
The company‘s revenue for the first six months was Rs 26.45 billion, up 10.07 per cent from Rs 24.03 billion a year earlier. The net profit for the first half rose 11.80 per cent to Rs 890.5 million from Rs 796.5 million a year earlier.
Britannia MD Vinita Bali said, “Despite a sharp and unexpected increase in commodity & fuel costs, we continue to drive profitable growth through focusing on three priority areas of revenue management, cost management and innovation. On a consolidated basis, the dairy & international operations are accretive and contribute positively to both revenue and profit.”
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
