MAM
HUL increases ad spend by 19% in Q3
MUMBAI: FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) increased its spending on advertising and promotions for the fourth consecutive quarter ended 31 December as competitive intensity continued to be high.
HUL‘s spending on advertising in the quarter ended 31 December, the third quarter of financial year 2012-13, rose 19 per cent to Rs 8.22 billion from Rs 6.90 billion a year earlier.
The increase in ad spend by HUL has served as a relief to television broadcasters in a year of slowdown. Incidentally, HUL is the largest ad spender in the country.
Broadcasters have looked at FMCG companies to rescue them from a slowdown in their ad revenues this fiscal as certain high-spending categories like financial services have pulled back spends. While certain broadcasters have admitted that ad revenue growth in the first two quarters have been muted, the third quarter has been particularly good.
For the nine months ended 31 December, HUL‘s advertising spend increased by 22 per cent to Rs 24.10 billion from Rs 19.74 billion a year earlier.
HUL said, “The operating context remained challenging during the third quarter with input costs holding firm and high competitive intensity. Advertising and promotion was stepped up and maintained at competitive levels.”
The company increased its spend on advertising for the first time in the fourth quarter of 2011-12 after a slowing economy dented ad spends for a few quarters. In the quarter ended 31 March 2012, its advertising spends were Rs 6.77 billion, up 8.67 per cent from a year earlier.
For the whole of 2011-12, HUL‘s advertising spends was down 3.58 per cent to Rs 26.97 billion from Rs 27.97 billion a year earlier.
During the third quarter of 2012-13, the domestic consumer business of HUL grew by 15 per cent with the underlying volume growth of 5 per cent. Both its home and personal care (HPC) and food & beverages (F&B) businesses registered double digit growth.
HUL said despite intense competition, its net profit increased 16 per cent to Rs 8.71 billion in the quarter ended 31 December from Rs 7.25 billion a year earlier.
HUL chairman Harish Manwani said, “In an environment that continued to be challenging, we have delivered another quarter of broad-based growth and margin expansion.”
Brands
KKR sixes to power EV charger rollout under VIDA campaign
Cricket meets clean mobility as big hits spark India’s charging growth
NEW DELHI: VIDA, the electric mobility arm of Hero MotoCorp, has teamed up with Kolkata Knight Riders to launch a campaign that turns cricketing flair into real-world impact.
Titled ‘6 for 6’, the initiative promises to install a 6kW fast EV charger for every six hit by KKR during the ongoing Indian Premier League season. The idea is simple but powerful, as each big hit on the field contributes directly to expanding India’s fast-charging infrastructure.
The campaign builds on VIDA’s growing network, which already spans over 5,300 fast-charging points across more than 430 cities. With EV adoption gaining pace, the brand is using cricket’s mass appeal to accelerate both awareness and infrastructure growth.
Explaining the thinking behind the move, Hero MotoCorp emerging mobility business unit chief business officer Kausalya Nandakumar said, “Cricket has an incredible ability to unite and inspire millions across the country. With the ‘6 for 6’ campaign, we are turning every big hit on the field into a step towards a cleaner and a more accessible mobility future.”
She added that VIDA’s expanding fast-charging network and removable battery technology are designed to make EV ownership more convenient and practical for everyday users.
From the franchise’s side, the campaign is also about giving on-field moments a larger purpose. Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive officer Venky Mysore said, “The ‘6 for 6’ campaign exemplifies the potential of sport as a platform for meaningful, real-world impact. By linking every six to the expansion of EV charging infrastructure, this partnership transforms fan excitement into tangible progress.”
As part of the rollout, VIDA has introduced co-branded charging stations in KKR’s signature colours, with a flagship installation unveiled alongside team players. The chargers are designed for quick top-ups, powering VIDA scooters from zero to 80 percent in about an hour, while also being positioned along key highways to support longer journeys.
The initiative also taps into VIDA’s removable battery system, which allows users to charge using standard household plug points, adding flexibility to the charging ecosystem.
By blending the thrill of cricket with the urgency of clean mobility, VIDA and KKR have found a neat way to make every six count twice, once on the scoreboard and again on India’s road to an electric future.
