MAM
#MeToo: Taproot Dentsu & iDiva pay ode to the movement
NEW DELHI: What started as an expos̩ on the predatory behaviour of Hollywood film mogul Harvey Weinstein became a global movement as women took to social media to share their experiences of being sexually harassed with the hashtag 'Me Too'. The movement took the world by storm, with the hashtag acquiring different forms and meanings in different places; but the essence of the stories being told held a common note Рof men in positions of power or trust, wielding their influence to take advantage of women and, in some cases, other men.
The movement highlighted how the culture of silence and complicity perpetuated a highly toxic and exploitative system where victims of molestation were afraid to come forward. ‘Me Too’ not only encouraged women to break this vice of silence, it also helped them heal and overcome.
Now, Taproot dentsu and women’s lifestyle community iDiva have come together to pay ode to the #MeToo movement through a powerful film that puts the spotlight on the conundrum of reporting abuse.
Read more news on Taproot Dentsu
The digital film titled Nip in the Bud shows an aspiring young woman, fresh out of college, going to meet a powerful tycoon. Her interactions with him quickly go awry as he intrudes into her personal space. The young woman initially gives him the benefit of doubt – perhaps he was treating her like his daughter. Until he crosses the line of propriety and begins to touch her inappropriately in earnest. When she puts a stop to this and attempts to leave, much to her dismay, he threatens that she would not make a career with this kind of attitude. The young woman goes into a café and tweets about the horrible experience. Here’s where the story takes a turn. Her tweet is read by a woman, who realises with horror that it was the same man who abused her years ago. In the end, the camera pans to show a photograph on the mantle where we see that the two women happen to be mother and daughter.
Taproot Dentsu Gurgaon creative head Titus Upputuru said about the film: “It wasn’t an easy subject. One had to keep in mind the sensitivities involved. What happens between a man and a woman within the confines of a professional environment is between them. There are no witnesses. There are no cameras. Nip in the Bud is a tribute to every single woman who had the courage to speak about what happened in a moment where there was no one to corroborate the story.”
Upputuru, who is also the writer and director of this riveting film, went on to say: “Unfortunately, many women took years to report and this allowed the men concerned to continue with the predatory behaviour. Hope this digital film inspires women across the world to nip it in the bud.”
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.
