Brands
RB expands its e-commerce product portfolio in India
MUMBAI: Reckitt Benckiser has expanded its e-commerce product portfolio by introducing Calgon 3-in-1 power gel water softener for washing machines and Airwick car fresheners to the Indian market. Calgon has been trusted to protect washing machines from limescale and dirt build-up for over 50 years. It is the only water softener recommended by global leading washing machine manufacturers like Bosch, Siemens and Whirlpool. With Airwick car fresheners, RB is marking its entry in the car freshener category for the first time.
Findings show that hard water is prevalent in multiple parts of the country, leading to formation of lime scale in household equipment including washing machines resulting in long term damage of the machine. Calgon works through the neutralization of the hard water mineral ions and creates a protective shield with every wash. It increases the lifespan of the washing machine. In addition, Calgon is safe to be used on all kinds of garments and prevents malodour in the machine; just one cap with every wash.
Airwick car fresheners are easy to use with a superior spill proof technology with 100% fragrance that lasts for upto 60 days giving the feeling of freshness with every drive. The product addresses the problem of malodour within the vehicle leaving the car smelling fresher and fragrant for longer.
Commenting on the launch, RB Hygiene Home, South Asia CMO & Marketing Director Sukhleen Aneja said, “As Reckitt Benckiser Hygiene Home, we are committed to bringing in superior – technologically advanced products to serve and add value to the growing consumer needs. E-commerce today allows us to test and incubate ideas before scaling them for the more traditional ‘Go to Market’ channels. With the introduction of Calgon and Airwick car fresheners, we are bringing products that are easy to use and address some key concerns that have been identified in our research.”
Growing at an annual rate of 31%, India is the fastest growing market for e-commerce in the world. E-commerce platforms have managed to build their own identity by providing solutions to the needs of Indian consumers. Both, Calgon and Airwick car fresheners are imported products and in their first phase will be sold exclusively on e-commerce platforms.
Calgon 3-in-1 power gel will be available in 750 ml pack at an introductory price of Rs 350. Airwick car fresheners will be available in two formats – vent clip and multi-surface clip, which will last upto 60 days and will be launched at an introductory price of Rs 199.
Brands
Domino’s Q1 profit falls 6.6 per cent, announces $1 billion buyback
Sales rise 3.4 per cent as pizza giant balances growth and shareholder returns
NEW YORK: Domino’s reported a mixed start to 2026, with first-quarter net income slipping even as global sales and store expansion held steady. The company also announced a fresh $1 billion share buyback, underlining its continued focus on shareholder returns.
Global retail sales rose 3.4 per cent on a constant-currency basis to $4.74 billion. The US remained a key growth engine, with same-store sales inching up 0.9 per cent, supported by a 1.5 per cent rise at company-owned outlets.
International markets, however, painted a more uneven picture. While Domino’s added 161 net new stores overseas during the quarter, international same-store sales declined 0.4 per cent. Overall revenues still climbed 3.5 per cent to $1.15 billion, driven by higher supply chain revenues and a 2.6 per cent increase in food basket pricing for franchisees.
On the profitability front, net income fell 6.6 per cent to $139.8 million, compared to $149.7 million a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share dropped to $4.13 from $4.33. The decline was largely attributed to a $30 million unfavourable swing in unrealised gains linked to its investment in DPC Dash Ltd.
Despite this, operational performance showed resilience. Income from operations rose 9.6 per cent to $230.4 million, supported in part by a $7.8 million pre-tax gain from the sale of a corporate aircraft.
Domino’s footprint continued to expand, with the company ending the quarter at 22,322 stores across more than 90 markets. In the US, digital orders remained dominant, accounting for over 85 per cent of retail sales in 2025.
The company also maintained its dividend payout, declaring $1.99 per share, payable on 30 June 2026. After repurchasing $75.1 million worth of stock during the quarter, the new authorisation lifts the total available for buybacks to $1.29 billion.
Domino’s chief executive officer Russell Weiner said the company’s scale and store-level economics position it well to capture further market share in 2026, even as competition intensifies.
As Domino’s leans into expansion and capital returns, the latest results show a business managing short-term pressures while keeping its long-term growth strategy firmly in play.
