MAM
Marketers should anticipate threats: LK Gupta
MUMBAI: Marketers should look at the new opportunities to grow themselves and should stay ahead of time, these were the thoughts of LG Electronics CMO Laxmikant Gupta, who was speaking at the World Brand Congress (WBC) that is being held in Mumbai.
He said, “The moment we start thinking that new opportunity is threatening our existing practices, we start forcing ourselves to think of new ideas. When change happens, when new things start happening in the market, our reaction is ‘can I use this technology?‘, ‘how will it help me?‘ When there is an opportunity we go from clutter to the opportunity which ends up becoming a clutter.”
“Almost all brands are present on Facebook today. Once the consumer clicks on the like button he starts getting brand messages, about products, innovations, services, developments. Everything does have a use by day and expiry date. One has to reinvent ideas. A better way to differentiate when every company has same opportunity, the questions should be how this new opportunity threatens my present practices, my existence,” Gupta added.
Gupta explained this with an example. He said, “When in early 2000s Apple invented i-pods, it changed the music industry model. I-pod alone contributed to 45 per cent revenue of Apple in first year. Later, in mobile industry, camera handset started struggling. Apple thought that will it be a threat if mobiles with camera start producing music features too. If that happens it will kill i-pod. Then i-phone was launched. Today it makes more than 50 per cent global profit of the mobile industry. With each changing scenario, see how it can affect you today or tomorrow.”
“No one thought of the demise of Orkut or My space but the launch of Facebook, its applications attracted so many that it eventually killed Orkut and MySpace.com. Spot problems before things get worst. Don‘t wait for the crisis,” he added.
“Youtube as a video channel is bigger than many of the TV channels we used to watch. Also, giving consumer a search is as important as giving her a store, to experience your product. Banner advertising can assure you visibility but does not assure that consumer will walk out with a positive perspective. You need to talk to bloggers or people who can write reviews because that can help consumers have a viewpoint about your product,” he emphasised.
On the usage of social media Gupta said, “Brands like MTV and LG, are on FB for not just talking about product. The main purpose is to engage consumer in a way that they want to come back to your page, interact with you. You should create general interaction through Facebook instead of creating impression. When we know that people are talking about the brand online one should see whether they are positive or negatives that is being talked about. The positives should be reinforced and negatives should be checked and corrected.”
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.
