MAM
Honda drives forward as Takashi Nakajima takes the wheel at HCIL
MUMBAI: Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) is shifting gears at the top, with Takashi Nakajima set to take over as president & CEO from 1 April 2025. Nakajima, a Honda veteran with over 30 years of global experience, succeeds Takuya Tsumura, who will return to Japan after an impactful three-year stint at the helm of HCIL.
During his tenure in India, Tsumura bolstered Honda’s premium brand positioning, enhanced customer-centric solutions, and steered the company toward profitable growth. His leadership saw the launch of several landmark models, including the Honda City e:HEV, India’s first mainstream hybrid model; the Honda Elevate, the brand’s new global SUV; and the 3rd Generation Amaze, a refreshed take on Honda’s popular compact sedan.
Under his watch, Honda’s export operations expanded, with the Made-in-India elevate hitting Japanese roads. Tsumura also focused on integrated marketing campaigns to engage a diverse audience, while implementing efficiency-driven initiatives to enhance both customer experience and dealer profitability.
Bringing decades of expertise from markets including Japan, China, Spain, Czech Republic, and Russia, Nakajima is no stranger to strategic growth. His impressive career spans business planning, product strategy, marketing, and sales promotion, with a recent role as president of Honda Motor Russia. He also led product planning and corporate communications for Honda’s domestic automobile business in Japan.
With Honda gearing up for its first Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) launch in India, Nakajima’s entry signals a bold new chapter in Honda’s journey. As he prepares to take the wheel, all eyes are on how he will steer innovation, expansion, and electrification in one of the world’s most dynamic auto markets.
As the industry shifts towards sustainable mobility, Nakajima’s leadership promises to accelerate Honda’s evolution in India. With a strong foundation laid by Tsumura, the road ahead looks primed for bigger ambitions, smarter technology, and an electrifying future.
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.
