MAM
MindShare promotes Amin Lakhani to head Fulcrum
MUMBAI: Here is another media professional who is getting more regional responsibility. And that gent is Amin Lakhani whom Mindshare has elevated to Leader – Team Unilever south Asia.
In his new role Amin Lakhani will be heading Fulcrum, a unit of Mindshare that manages the media planning & buying for the Unilever business in South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He will be replacing Anupriya Acharya who is moving on from the organisation.
Amin has around 15 years experience which includes a stint as a product manager with an Indian pharmaceutical company and in media agencies. During his time with GroupM India, Amin has handled various roles starting with Maxus as the training head for west region, moving on to GroupM as west trading head and then on to Mindshare where he played the architect of The Exchange function in 2008, finally leading up and becoming the trading lead for Unilever business.
Announcing the appointment, Mindshare leader south Asia Ravi Rao said, “Amin was our unanimous choice and we know he will turn a new chapter in Mindshare Fulcrum by raising media excellence in strategic planning and world class execution backed up with award winning innovations for Unilever. We wish Anupriya all the best and thank her for a short but great stint at Mindshare Fulcrum.”
Commenting on his new role Lakhani said, “It is an exciting opportunity especially in challenging times. Mindshare Fulcrum has been a centre of excellence. I am looking forward to building on our strong base and continuing to provide delight to India‘s most esteemed client, Unilever.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com Anupriya Acharya said, “I leave as new challenges beckon me! But I have thoroughly enjoyed leading Team Unilever south Asia for Mindshare, especially through the challenging review year of 2012. The significant progress made in strategic initiatives, content, experiential, awards won and many other best practices has been truly rewarding for me both personally and professionally. Both the client and my larger organisation have been very supportive. I leave with rich experience and happy memories of steering this massive ship and will miss my rock-star team! I wish all of them all the very best.”
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.
