MAM
KXIP ropes in Videocon d2h as title sponsor
NEW DELHI: Kings XI Punjab has announced that Videocon d2h has come on board as the title sponsor of the team for the upcoming season of the IPL.
The franchise earlier had a partnership with leading airlines company Emirates, which switched allegiance to Deccan Chargers this year as team sponsor.
As part of the deal, Videocon d2h logo will adorn the front of the team’s jersey. The company believes association with KXIP will provide an opportunity to further strengthen itself in North India.
KXIP COO Col Arvinder Singh said, “We are hopeful of this association as both the brands, KXIP and Videocon d2h have similar synergies as we both are young, promising and believe in keeping our fans entertained.”
Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera said, “North India is a very critical region for Videocon d2h and more so, the Punjab market. Through this association we would like to build strong long term bonds with the extremely cricket crazy & motivated people of Punjab.”
Incidentally, Videocon Group the parent company of Videocon d2h, has been in the news to buy the team. Videocon had also for the Pune franchise of the IPL but the bidding process was re-conducted, thereby putting paid to its strategy of having an IPL franchise.
Furthermore, the franchise has roped in US Polo Association, ACC cement, Valvoline Cummins, Prayag, McDowell‘s No 1 and Kingfisher Premium as official team partner.
Other partners include Luz Cozi as official comfort partner, OCM Suitings as official suiting partner, Godrej Eon as official home appliances partner, Coca-Cola as official beverage partner, Max Healthcare as official medical partner, Big 92.7 FM as radio partner, Punjab Kesari as print partner, and Book My Show as ticketing partner.
The company had recently signed-on Miroma Sport as official licensing and merchandising partner in a six-year deal worth $50 million.
Brands
Kwality Wall’s reports standalone losses following strategic HUL demerger
Ice cream major faces Rs 64 crore Ebitda loss amid commodity inflation and muted Q3 sales
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited (KWIL) has released its first set of financial results as a standalone entity, revealing a challenging start to its independent journey. Following its successful demerger from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on 1st December 2025 and its subsequent listing on 16th February 2026, the company is navigating a transition period marked by structural changes and high input costs.
For the quarter ended 31st December 2025, the company reported revenue of Rs 222 crores. Despite the revenue base, the bottom line was impacted by several factors, resulting in an Ebitda loss of Rs 64.2 crores. When calculated on a Pre-IND AS 116 basis, the Ebitda loss stood at Rs 83.8 crores.
Organic Sales Growth (OSG) declined by 6.5 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. Volume growth, however, saw a marginal increase of 1.2 per cent. The company reported a gross margin of 41.5 per cent. Additionally, exceptional expenses amounting to Rs 94 crores were recorded, primarily linked to non-recurring costs during the transition phase.
Performance across portfolios and channels was mixed. Within the impulse portfolio, brands such as Magnum and Cornetto recorded mid-single digit volume growth, indicating steady demand in on-the-go consumption. However, the in-home portfolio, which includes take-home packs, experienced muted consumption. The company is planning a relaunch of this category with improved offerings ahead of the 2026 season.
Quick commerce (Q-Com) continued to emerge as a strong growth driver, delivering robust double-digit growth during the quarter. Meanwhile, the company also expanded its physical distribution network by increasing the number of company-owned cabinets across markets.
Margin pressure during the quarter was driven by a combination of one-off factors and broader cost inflation. Gross margins were impacted by around 600 basis points due to trade investments made for stock liquidation. Additionally, cocoa price inflation contributed to another 400 basis points of pressure on margins.
Deputy managing director Chitrank Goel attributed the muted performance partly to prolonged monsoons and transitional challenges linked to the GST framework. Operating expenses also increased as the company invested in establishing its standalone supply chain, operational systems and corporate infrastructure following the demerger.
Looking ahead, the management remains focused on a volume-driven growth strategy. To restore profitability, the company has initiated a cost productivity programme aimed at reducing non-consumer-facing costs. It is also working on building regional manufacturing networks to optimise logistics expenses and improve operational efficiency.
The commodity outlook for the near term remains mixed. Dairy prices are expected to remain firm due to tight supply conditions and rising fodder costs. Sugar prices may also move higher following increases in the Minimum Selling Price (MSP). While cocoa prices have moderated recently, currency depreciation has offset some of the potential cost relief for the company.
