MAM
Debashis Paul to join Percept H as COO
MUMBAI: After a stint of over 12 years at McCann Erickson, Debashis Paul joining Percept H as chief operating officer.
Paul resigns as McCann Erickson India EVP and McCann Social head.
Assuming the national role at Percept H, Paul will manage agency‘s offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai and Lucknow.
Paul said, “The portfolio of clients I have handled at McCann Erickson is very enviable. I have had deep and long-term involvement with clients like Nestle, HP, Coca-Cola and earlier Reckitt & Benckiser. McCann also handles few global accounts that have helped me in getting a perspective of a global client. I have also had the experience of handling Indian appointment clients like Perfetti and Dabur. It has been a great journey where I have managed different kinds of clients and in almost all categories.”
Paul has been heading the Delhi branch since 2007. Prior to joining McCann Erickson, he was with Saatchi & Saatchi for over five years. He had worked at Saatchi & Saatchi‘s as head of Calcutta office before moving to Delhi as head.
Brands
Sapphire Foods FY26 revenue rises to Rs 3,125 crore, posts loss
Q4 revenue at Rs 792 crore, FY26 loss at Rs 32 crore amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: If growth is on the menu, profitability seems to have taken a brief detour. Sapphire Foods India reported a steady rise in topline for FY26, even as rising costs weighed on profitability. Revenue from operations grew to Rs 3,125 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, up from Rs 2,882 crore in FY25. However, the company swung to a loss, reporting a net loss of Rs 32 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 17 crore in the previous year. Total income for the year stood at Rs 3,153 crore, while total expenses climbed to Rs 3,167 crore, reflecting pressure across key cost heads.
In the March quarter, revenue came in at Rs 792 crore, compared to Rs 711 crore in the same period last year. The company reported a quarterly net loss of Rs 13 crore, against a profit of Rs 2 crore a year earlier.
Cost pressures remained visible across operations. Material costs rose to Rs 995 crore for FY26, while employee expenses increased to Rs 428 crore. Other expenses, the largest component, stood at Rs 1,229 crore, underscoring the impact of store operations and expansion-related spends.
Depreciation and amortisation expenses also climbed to Rs 392 crore for the year, reflecting continued investments in store infrastructure and growth.
At the operating level, the company reported a loss before tax of Rs 37 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 23 crore in FY25. Exceptional items added Rs 24 crore to the cost burden during the year.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 3,256 crore as of March 31, 2026, up from Rs 3,041 crore a year earlier, indicating ongoing expansion. Net worth stood at Rs 1,389 crore.
Despite profitability pressures, operating cash flow remained resilient at Rs 507 crore, highlighting underlying business strength and demand stability.
The numbers paint a familiar picture in the quick-service restaurant space, growth continues to be served hot, but margins are still finding their footing.
