MAM
Nihilent acquires Hypercollective, a cross-disciplinary innovations agency
MUMBAI: Nihilent, a global consulting and services company that uses human-centered approach for problem-solving and change management, has announced the acquisition of ‘Hypercollective’, a cross-disciplinary innovations agency that solves real world problems for brands, corporations, and governments.
Further to this acquisition, creative guru, KV Sridhar, popularly known as ‘Pops,’ former Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Hypercollective will continue to look after all the creative initiatives at Nihilent and Hypercollective. Nihilent’s technology stacks used for a deeper understanding of the customers, will be amplified with Hypercollective’s creative capabilities to bridge the gap between technology, digital, spatial, and creative.
Commenting on the acquisition, L.C. Singh, Director and Executive Vice-Chairman, Nihilent, said, “Nihilent is glad to have Hypercollective onboard, we look forward to providing our customers a greater degree of interaction experience by offering them in-depth insights on consumer behaviour. This will not only help them understand granular details of what the consumer wants, but also enable businesses to undergo a smooth digital transformation.”
“The customer is all-pervasive, granulating their needs, wants and aspirations is the key to any successful service. Given this backdrop, this acquisition gives us the unique capabilities that will further complement our human-centered approach. Leveraging our mutual strengths, we are well-positioned to offer brand management, UI design, digital, creative, spatial and consumer research", added Minoo Dastur, President and CEO, Nihilent.
Nihilent, KV Sridhar, Chief Creative Officer, Nihilent said, “While technology plays a vital role for any enterprise, Hypercollective’s strengths in creating an interaction experience will be amalgamated with Nihilent’s consulting, design thinking, and technology capabilities which will enhance our offerings. I have always had a keen interest in technology, specifically in Artificial Intelligence (AI). I look forward to achieving that perfect balance between technology and creativity.”
The Evolving Consumers and the Enterprise
Consumers are adopting newer digital technologies which pose additional challenges to the enterprises. Brands need to connect and provide unique experiences to omnichannel consumers. Therefore it is imperative to granulate the customers’ needs, wants, and aspirations to build successful services and products.
Enterprises of today are not only looking at service providers for development of software to run their business in this digitally driven world, they are also catering to the changing dynamics of consumer behavior – both online as well as offline.
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.
