Brands
Sundrop enters cereal market with Choco Pops
MUMBAI: Sundrop, one of India’s most trusted food brands has launced a new cereal, Choco Popz. The product which can be had either as a breakfast cereal or a snack has a crunchy multigrain shell and a dark chocolatey centre ideal for snacking all during the day.
Increased health consciousness, especially in the metros and tier I cities, has led to consumers having smaller portions through the day and more frequently. Seeing the rise in food consumption among professional, youngsters and kids during the day, the product is a perfect option for a sweet healthy indulgence. It can be eaten as quick breakfast, mid-morning snack, tea break or late night snack craving
While breakfast, lunch and dinner are still prevalent, new occasions like a pre-breakfast, pre-lunch, pre-evening, pre-dinner and an after-dinner are becoming a trend. As per a study conducted, pre-lunch snack is said to be the preferred meal among youngsters, on-the-go professionals and kids.
Speaking about the launch, Agro tech foods vice president of marketing Asheesh Sharma says, “Capitalising on the trends and prevailing consumption patterns, the idea was to launch a product that can satisfy the Indian sweet palette and is yet healthy for a guilt free bite. We are excited to launch this product and we are certain it will soon emerge as a preferred snacking choice across age groups.”
Agro Tech Foods is amongst India’s leading food companies with a portfolio which includes Ready to Cook Popcorn, Tortilla Chips, Ready to Eat Popcorn, Extruded Snacks, Peanut Butter and Edible Oils.
The launch of Choco Popz is the first step towards having a broader portfolio in both Breakfast Cereals and the Chocolates categories in India.
The product is available initially in a 25gm packaging priced at Rs 10 and 140gm priced at Rs 60 and is being rolled out nationally.
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.
