Brands
Eveready’s toy truck sparks joy this Durga Puja
MUMBAI: When it comes to lighting up festivals, Eveready has gone beyond batteries and straight into hearts. This Durga Puja, the brand has built the Ultima Bahon, the largest AA battery-powered remote-controlled toy truck, to carry the idol of Goddess Durga into a celebration organised by underprivileged children in Kolkata.
The playful creation, powered by eight Eveready Ultima AA batteries, has already entered both the India Book of Records and the Asia Book of Records. But more than the feat of engineering, it has turned into a symbol of simple joy, bridging the gap between big-budget pandals and smaller, heartfelt pujas.
“Durga Puja is a festival of joy and togetherness,” said Eveready Industries India Ltd CEO Anirban Banerjee. “With Ultima Bahon, we wanted to bring smiles to children and give them a story they can cherish forever.”
The toy truck, designed with miniature depictions of Durga’s traditional bahons: the lion, owl, swan, peacock and mouse, is a nod to tradition wrapped in innovation. Actress Priyanka Sarkar, present at the unveiling, called it “a reminder that celebrations don’t need to be huge to be special, sometimes the simplest joys create the most unforgettable memories.”
Supported by the Vikramshila Education Resource Society, the initiative saw Eveready sponsor the entire puja for children up to Class 4, ensuring that their devotion shone just as brightly as the city’s glittering pandals.
Recognised as the largest toy truck of its kind, the Ultima Bahon will also be on display at the 95 Pally Puja Association during the festival. For pandal hoppers chasing lights and spectacle, it’s a gentle reminder: sometimes the most powerful celebrations run on nothing more than a few batteries and a lot of heart.
Brands
Prataap Snacks posts Rs 1.14 crore Q4 profit, EBITDA up 319 per cent
Yellow Diamond maker posts turnaround with Rs 1.14 crore profit, 10 per cent dividend proposed
NEW DELHI: Prataap Snacks Limited has staged a sharp turnaround in the fourth quarter of FY26, reporting a 319 per cent surge in operating EBITDA and a return to profitability after a challenging previous year.
The Indore-based company, known for brands such as Yellow Diamond and Avadh, posted income from operations of Rs 420.18 crore for Q4 FY26, marking a 5 per cent year-on-year rise. Operating EBITDA climbed to Rs 20.59 crore, while margins stood at 4.9 per cent.
Most notably, the company reported a profit after tax of Rs 1.14 crore for the quarter, reversing a loss of Rs 11.94 crore in the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share improved to Rs 0.48 from a negative Rs 5.00 earlier, signalling a steady recovery in performance.
For the full financial year, consolidated income rose 1 per cent to Rs 1,724.65 crore. Annual operating EBITDA grew 68 per cent to Rs 81.81 crore, while the company posted a net profit of Rs 9.72 crore, compared to a loss of Rs 34.27 crore in FY25.
Reflecting this improved performance, the board has recommended a dividend of 10 per cent, equivalent to Rs 0.50 per share on a face value of Rs 5.
Prataap Snacks Limited managing director Amit Kumat said the recovery was driven by sharper execution and data-led decision-making, including the use of Sales Force Automation analytics. The company also expanded its distribution network to over 5,000 distributors and strengthened its presence on quick commerce platforms.
Looking ahead, the company expects double-digit revenue growth in FY27, though it remains cautious about inflationary pressures on key inputs such as packaging materials and edible oil. Management plans to offset these through tighter cost controls and calibrated pricing strategies.
With profitability back on track and operations stabilising, Prataap Snacks appears to be regaining its footing in an increasingly competitive packaged foods market.
