Brands
Rohit Sharma launches ‘RS by True Elements’ with True Elements
Mumbai: After a successful cricket career, captain Rohit Sharma is expanding his impact off the field. He has partnered with True Elements to launch a licensed brand, RS by True Elements, to co-build a product line in the Indian food industry.
Exclusively managed by RISE Worldwide, Rohit Sharma will be the ambassador for True Elements while leading the RS by True Elements brand. True Elements, a homegrown brand specialising in healthy breakfast and snacks like oats, muesli, seeds, and regional snacks, will co-create and market products under the RS brand, with RISE Worldwide managing the partnership.
True Elements’ philosophy is to make “Food That Does Not Lie.” They encourage consumers to read ingredients and understand what they are consuming.
Rohit Sharma, as a partner and ambassador said, “This is a good time and opportunity to launch RS by True Elements, where, today, the focus for consumers is to know what they are eating. I have been a fan of True Elements, as they have stayed committed to their values and business philosophy. The partnership is aimed at building an alternative product line for consumers to make their preferred choice and be more aware of what is being offered to them.”
True Elements was founded in 2016 by Puru Gupta & Sreejith Moolayil. After 10 years, the brand has scaled to a level where it is available on all major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, Swiggy, Instamart, Zepto etc, servicing 24829 pin codes along with a presence in 25000+ offline stores nationally. Major ones are Lulu, Metro, Nature’s Basket, Vijetha Supermarket, Haiko Supermarket, Dorabjee’s, Village Hypermarket, Pothys, Rajakumari, Society stores, etc.
“This is the first time a cricketer is licensing a health food brand in India – a first for the ecosystem. Given the authenticity that Rohit has in cricket, we believe it would help us reinforce our commitment to being ‘True’ and honest with our customers and help us scale rapidly. With Rohit starting a brand with us, it reiterates his confidence in us as a brand and our principles, which is a big motivation for the entire team. Am sure the joint effort will be a good benchmark for the rest of the industry” said True Elements co-founder and CEO Puru Gupta.
RS by True Elements products are likely to hit the market by the end of August 2024.
Rohit Sharma brings authenticity to RS by True Elements, and the cricketing legend will simplify packaged food for Indian consumers and hopes to bring about a change in people’s food habits and the way young minds think about food & health.
In the coming months, there will be a campaign launch with a brand film featuring Rohit followed by product-led videos but for now, it is refreshing to see a one-of-a-kind licensing being pioneered in the food industry of India.
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.
