Brands
Rays to riches as Sunfeast Marie Light adds a dose of vitamin D
MUMBAI: In Odisha, the Sun has always risen as more than just a star, it’s sentiment, ritual and reassurance. From the Konark Sun Temple to everyday morning prayers, sunlight carries cultural weight across the state. But while reverence for the Sun remains strong, modern lifestyles have quietly dimmed one of its biggest health benefits. Limited outdoor time and few natural dietary sources have pushed Vitamin D deficiency into the spotlight, with studies indicating that nearly 39 percent of East India faces low Vitamin D levels.
Against this backdrop, ITC has rolled out Sunfeast Marie Light with Vitamin D, extending its popular biscuit portfolio with a nutritional upgrade. The brand retains its familiar, light taste while offering consumers an added source of Vitamin D through an everyday food habit without asking them to change routines.
The launch is rooted in regional insight. By linking the product to Odisha’s enduring relationship with sunlight, Sunfeast positions the biscuit as both culturally resonant and functionally relevant, responding to evolving health needs without straying from familiarity.
Supporting the launch is a new television commercial conceptualised by FCB, built around a simple, evocative family moment. The film shows a child playfully trying to “catch” sunlight in a glass jar, before gently revealing that Sunfeast Marie Light now carries Vitamin D too while keeping its much-loved taste intact. The storytelling leans on warmth and relatability rather than overt health claims.
Commenting on the launch, ITC vice president and head of marketing for biscuits, foods division Suraj Kathuria said the brand has long drawn inspiration from the Sun’s symbolism. “We’re strengthening that connection by bringing essential nutrition into a format people already enjoy every day,” he noted, adding that the move aligns with ITC’s broader Help India Eat Better vision.
Sunfeast Marie Light with Vitamin D is currently available across Odisha and will be expanded across other eastern markets in phases. As food brands increasingly blend nutrition with cultural storytelling, ITC’s latest launch shows how a daily biscuit is being positioned to deliver a little more sunshine, one bite at a time.
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.
