MAM
Scarecrow bags Joy Cosmetics’ creative mandate
MUMBAI: Kolkata-based Joy Cosmetics has appointed Scarecrow Communications as its creative agency. The agency‘s Mumbai office will be in charge of the account.
The company‘s last campaign featuring leading Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma was released two years ago. The company that has grown to be a major player, especially in the Hindi heartland states, will retain Anushka as its brand ambassador and will release its new campaign soon.
Joy Cosmetics director Sunil Agarwal said, “I personally know all the three founders of Scarecrow and have seen them evolving over the last few years. I am very sure that they would do a perfect job not only in developing the communication strategy for the brand but also in the execution and supervision of every communication element across all mediums.”
Scarecrow founder director Arunava (Joy) Sengupta said, “Skincare and haircare are not only high growth categories but are also highly competitive. According to us, competition will get even more intense in the near future. In this scenario we hope our work not only cuts through the clutter but also catapults brand Joy Cosmetics to the next level.”
Scarecrow founder director Raghu Bhat added, “Some years ago, we had done a one-off project for Joy Cosmetics while working for a network agency. It is destiny that has given us this opportunity to associate once again on a professional basis and we look forward to making it count.”
Scarecrow founder director Manish Bhatt said, “We have extensive experience in the beauty category having worked on Lakme, L‘Oreal, Parachute, Vaseline and Dabur Vatika. We hope to convert that into compelling creative work that builds market share.”
Joy Cosmetics was started in 1988 and consists of a wide range of personal care products, focused on skincare and haircare segments, with Skin Fruits, Honey & Almonds, 24K Gold and Pure Aloe as the focused brands. The products are enriched with the goodness of active natural ingredients.
Scarecrow has fully functional offices in Mumbai and Delhi and is currently working with brands such as Reliance Digital, Danone, Anchor Panasonic, Emami, Kohinoor McCormick, Eristoff, Viacom 18, Nestle, Quikr and Rupa. Recently, Scarecrow started its full-fledged design outfit, Scarecrow Designs.
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.
