Brands
French Essence launches men’s grooming brand MENZ
Mumbai: French Essence, a perfume brand recognised for its quality, has launched MENZ, a new entity focused on premium grooming products for men. With this expansion, French Essence Perfumes enters the men’s grooming market, offering a range of products including shaving foam, aftershave, hair spray, and other essential grooming items.
The MENZ brand is designed to meet the needs of modern men seeking high-quality grooming solutions. Each product in the MENZ range is crafted with the same commitment to excellence that French Essence is known for, ensuring a luxurious grooming experience. MENZ provides everything a man needs, from smooth shaving foam and invigorating aftershave to versatile hair spray.
French Essence founder & CMO Nidhi Gupta expressed her views, “We are thrilled to introduce MENZ as part of the French Essence family. Our goal with MENZ is to provide men with grooming products that not only meet their daily needs but also elevate their grooming routine with a touch of elegance and refinement. We believe MENZ will become a trusted name in men’s grooming, just as French Essence is in the category of fragrances.”
The MENZ grooming range is now available in stores as well as in online marketplaces. French Essence Perfumes invites every alpha male to explore this new collection and experience the perfect blend of quality, style, and care that MENZ offers.
Brands
Magnum Ice Cream Netherlands takes control of Kwality Wall’s India from Unilever
61.9 per cent stake transfer reshapes ownership as Unilever exits promoter role
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited has entered a new chapter, with The Magnum Ice Cream Company HoldCo 1 Netherlands B.V. acquiring a controlling 61.9 per cent stake from a clutch of Unilever PLC-led entities, marking a significant shift in ownership.
The transaction, completed on March 30, 2026, follows a share purchase agreement signed in June 2025. The incoming promoter picked up over 145 crore equity shares, effectively taking control of the company and being formally classified as its new promoter under regulatory norms.
As part of the deal, the outgoing promoter group, including Unilever Group Limited and its affiliated entities, has fully exited its shareholding in the company. They have now been reclassified from promoter to public shareholders, closing a long-standing association with the ice cream business in India.
The board of Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited took note of the ownership change and approved a series of leadership updates alongside it. Ritesh Tiwari stepped down as director, while Abhijit Bhattacharya was appointed as chairperson and additional non-executive director. Tahir Toloy Tanridagli also joined the board as an additional non-executive director.
The reshuffle signals a broader strategic reset as the Magnum-led entity looks to steer the brand’s next phase of growth in India. The transition has been carried out in line with regulatory requirements, including disclosures tied to the open offer and reclassification norms under market regulations.
With Unilever stepping back and Magnum stepping in, Kwality Wall’s India is effectively getting a fresh scoop of leadership and direction. The coming months will reveal how the new promoter plans to scale the brand in one of the world’s most competitive ice cream markets.
