MAM
Publicis acquires German communications agency CNC
MUMBAI: Soon after buying out BBBH, Publicis Groupe has acquired Germany‘s strategic communications consultancy Communications & Network Consulting AG (CNC).
The acquired company will become a part of Publicis’ flagship strategic communications network, MSLGROUP.
CNC will, however, continue to be led by current CEO Dr. Christoph Walther. The CNC supervisory board will see the addition of MSLGROUP CEO Olivier Fleurot and MSLGROUP president for the EMEA region Anders Kempe with the latter taking the mantle of chairman.
CNC is group headquartered in Munich and has offices in 14 other cities including one at New Delhi. Started in 2002, the agency employs close to 100 professionals across its offices in Europe, Asia, North and South America.
The German clients will be offered the services of two consultancies. On the one hand, clients can avail of the services of CNC with its particular focus on strategic, financial and corporate communications as well as public affairs and on the other, they also can use the services of MSL Germany, with its broad capabilities across the communications spectrum including social media, corporate communications and reputation management.
CNC advises large corporations, mid-cap companies, institutions and individuals on all aspects of strategic communications within their specific markets providing services like strategic communications and reputation management, financial communications, crisis counseling including litigation advisory, branding and public affairs.
In the IPO market, CNC has been the market leader in Germany since 2005. The consultancy has been involved in more than 100 transactions with a total volume of more than 180 billion Euro and has a particularly strong focus on cross-border mandates.
Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Maurice Levy said, “CNC is one of the premier strategic and financial public relations firms in Europe, with a client base that is outstanding. I have followed CNC‘s success story with interest and I am impressed by the company‘s entrepreneurial spirit. The skill set will fit perfectly into our group and our strategy to make Germany one of our key hubs.”
Fleurot said, “Bringing CNC into MSLGROUP makes us one of the top three networks in Germany, and at the same time gives us very valuable additional strategic capabilities in other key markets. We see considerable potential in matching and leveraging our collective competencies and relationships.”
Walther added, “We are very excited to team up with Publicis Groupe‘s strategic communications network MSLGROUP as it provides us with a truly global footprint. While our current clients will enjoy continued high-class service by the existing CNC offices, we will be able to tap into the significant benefits offered by being part of MSLGROUP.”
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.
