Brands
Lotus Chocolate turns up sweet results for FY ‘25
MUMBAI: Lotus Chocolate Co’s profits have soared, with the confectioner reporting a 240 per cent surge in annual profit to Rs 1,722.72 lakh for the financial year ended 31 March 2025.
The Hyderabad-based chocolate maker saw its revenue nearly treble to Rs 57,375.03 lakh, up from Rs 20,003.13 lakh in the previous year, according to the audited financial results approved by the company’s board on Monday.
The firm’s earnings per share jumped to Rs 13.42 from Rs 3.84 in the previous fiscal year, giving investors plenty to cheer about. The results suggest Lotus’s recipe for growth is hitting the sweet spot with consumers across India.
The company’s balance sheet reveals a substantial expansion in scale, with total assets ballooning to Rs 27,034.45 lakh from Rs 7,309.62 lakh. A significant portion of this growth appears in the company’s inventories, which jumped more than sevenfold to Rs 8,061.50 lakh, and trade receivables, which soared to Rs 13,308.49 lakh from Rs 2,689.51 lakh last year.
The chocolate maker has been on an aggressive expansion drive, with borrowings surging to Rs 14,837.71 lakh from Rs 528.80 lakh. This debt-fuelled growth strategy appears to be working, with the company’s equity rising to Rs 5,953.27 lakh from Rs 4,245.35 lakh.
The results incorporate the amalgamation of Soubhagya Confectionery Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary that was merged with Lotus following approval from the National Company Law Tribunal in August 2024.
The final quarter results tell a different story. Despite Q4 revenue more than doubling to Rs 15,745.39 lakh compared to Rs 6,581.79 lakh in the same period last year, the company’s quarterly profit plummeted by 65 per cent to Rs 141.55 lakh from Rs 400.27 lakh.
This stark contrast between revenue growth and profit decline in Q4 appears to be driven by several factors. Cost of materials consumed surged 152 per cent to Rs 13,124.71 lakh, while finance costs skyrocketed to Rs 299.62 lakh from Rs 22 lakh. The company also saw its other expenses double to Rs 1,082.85 lakh.
Adding to the quarterly squeeze, Lotus faced a tax expense of Rs 51.12 lakh, compared to a tax benefit of Rs 251.25 lakh in the same quarter last year—a swing that further eroded the bottom line.
Despite a dip in performance in the final quarter, the overall annual figures suggest Lotus Chocolate is successfully unwrapping new growth opportunities in India’s increasingly sweet-toothed market.
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
