MAM
Stashfin appoints Havas Media Group India as media AOR
Mumbai: Following the launch of its latest brand film conceptualised by Havas Worldwide India (Creative), neo-banking company Stashfin has further consolidated its relationship with Havas Group India by appointing the agency as its media AOR.
Havas Creative India MD Manas Lahiri and Havas Media Group India president and chief client officer Uday Mohan will jointly lead the mandate, said the company in a statement.
“At Stashfin, we have always followed a customer-centric approach to provide unique and relevant services leading to greater financial freedom and inclusion, and we strongly believe in the power of integration,” said Stashfin co-founder Shruti Aggarwal. “We found Havas Group India to be in sync with our vision and growth plans. Their integrated capabilities coupled with market expertise made them the right choice for us to drive the brand. We look forward to their contributions in this critical phase of our growth journey.”
“We’re building a unique brand, a brand that has a strong purpose of driving financial inclusion as well as financial freedom,” commented Stashfin VP – marketing Gaurav Nijhawan. “I also feel fintech needs to be seen as an easy and accessible place. Havas Group India can certainly help us deliver on that front.”
“It is indeed a delight for us to win the integrated mandate of Stashfin, as it not only showcases our prowess as an integrated village in India but also enables us to deliver on the client/customer-centric model seamlessly,” stated Havas Media Group India CEO Mohit Joshi. “Using Havas Media’s Meaningful Media Experience (Mx) approach and Converged tool, we will be able to connect the brand with the right audiences at the right time whilst securing a strong brand presence in the market for them.”
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.
