MAM
Colgate moves media biz to MEC
MUMBAI: It is a catch that could be worth Rs 1 billion. Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd. has decided to shift its media planning and buying business to Mediaedge:cia (MEC), a GroupM company.
TME, the media arm of Rediffusion DY&R, will, thus, have to end a 25-year-old relationship in India that had even survived the global alignment of Colgate-Palmolive‘s media business with MEC in 2004. India, in fact, was the only country where TME had the media mandate until now.
The change will be effective 1 April. Earlier, Mindshare, part of GroupM, had retained the Unilever account.
Says Mediaedge:cia India MD T Gangadhar, “As part of its strategy to achieve better global and divisional alignment, Colgate-Palmolive (India) has reassigned its media planning and buying account to MEC India, a WPP group company, which is Colgate-Palmolive‘s globally aligned media agency.”
Rediffusion DY&R, however, will continue to handle Colgate-Palmolive‘s creative duties.
Says TME president Divya Radhakrishnan,” It has been a great journey and we are extremely proud of our association with Colgate Palmolive. To be able to retain the business for six years is a tribute to the great work that the team at TME has done over the years. Global realignments are a modern reality and it‘s a pity that a great partnership has to end due to matters beyond our control.”
Colgate-Palmolive‘s range includes toothpastes, toothpowder and toothbrushes under the Colgate brand, dental therapies under the banner of Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals and personal care products under the Palmolive brand.
Brands
Bajaj Consumer Care FY26 profit rises to Rs 193.7 crore
Revenue climbs to Rs 1,092 crore as profit grows 49 per cent YoY
MUMBAI: Hair today, growth tomorrow Bajaj Consumer Care Limited seems to have found its shine again, posting a sharp jump in profitability even as it doubled down on brand spends and expansion. The company reported a net profit of Rs 193.7 crore for FY26, marking a strong 49 per cent rise from Rs 130.1 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations also grew to Rs 1,092.2 crore, up from Rs 942.8 crore a year earlier, signalling steady demand momentum across its portfolio.
For the March quarter, profit stood at Rs 64.1 crore, compared to Rs 31.5 crore in the corresponding period last year, while revenue rose to Rs 308.3 crore from Rs 243.5 crore.
The performance came despite a notable increase in spending. Advertising and sales promotion expenses climbed to Rs 168.3 crore in FY26, up from Rs 137.8 crore in FY25, reflecting continued investment in brand building. Other expenses also rose to Rs 151.3 crore from Rs 134.2 crore, indicating a broader push towards growth.
Operating efficiency, however, held firm. Profit before tax increased to Rs 234.8 crore in FY26 from Rs 157.7 crore a year earlier, supported by disciplined cost management across materials and inventory.
On the balance sheet, the company’s total assets expanded to Rs 959.1 crore as of March 31, 2026, compared to Rs 931.9 crore a year earlier. Other equity rose to Rs 780.3 crore, reinforcing a stronger financial base.
Cash flow from operations saw a significant uptick, reaching Rs 196.9 crore in FY26, nearly three times the Rs 67.9 crore recorded in FY25, highlighting improved working capital management.
However, the year also saw aggressive capital allocation. The company spent Rs 190.2 crore on share buybacks, contributing to a net cash outflow of Rs 196.5 crore from financing activities. Cash and cash equivalents stood at Rs 6.8 crore at the end of the year, down from Rs 25.6 crore.
Even as investments in subsidiaries and assets continued, the numbers suggest a company balancing growth ambitions with shareholder returns keeping one eye on expansion and the other on efficiency.
With margins improving and revenue steadily climbing, Bajaj Consumer Care appears to be combing through the competition with renewed confidence.
