MAM
Superbrands Council evaluating over 700 brands
NEW DELHI: The Brand Council, a part of Superbrands India is currently evaluating over 700 brands in the country in 95 different categories to identify the strongest among the lot and award them the Superbrands status.
The Superbrands status is internationally recognised as the Oscar in the world of Branding.
Says Superbrands India CEO Anmol Dar, “The Superbrands concept is a winner in 18 countries worldwide. The discipline of branding has matured in India today and it is time to pay tribute to exceptional brands.”
Only the strongest brands will be shortlisted in this evaluation process and will be offered the opportunity to be a part of the first edition of Superbrands the book, a chronicle of India’s strongest brands for this year. The first edition of the book will be dedicated to the late ad guru Shunu Sen. The council members have decided to retain his name on the Council even after his demise as he was deeply involved with the Superbrands project in India since its inception.
The brand council includes executive director (New Ventures), HLL Dalip Sehgal, CEO, J Walter Thompson Mike Khanna, group president & national creative director, O&M, Piyush Pandey, business editor CNBC and MD TV 18 Raghav Bahl.
The members, each of whom is known to have an instinctive “feel” for brands, have been given a list of product categories and brands under each. These brands are being rated on a scale of 1 to 10. To ensure unbiased results, representatives of a brand are advised not to rate the brands in that particular category and the average mean score of the rest of the brand council members is taken as theirs.
The brand council is scheduled to meet later this month to discuss the findings. Once the brand council reaches a consensus that a particular brand in a category deserves to be invited for participation in the Superbrands Book, invitations will be sent out to them. Without the approval of the Brand Council members, no brand will find place in the publication.
An official release informs that in each of the countries that Superbrands operates in, it has an independent Superbrands Council. Comprehensive research is undertaken to identify the brands in various categories and that offer the consumer significant emotional and/or physical advantages over its competitors, which (consciously or sub-consciously) customers want, recognise and are willing to pay a premium for. The Brand Council, composed typically of doyens of business, industry, advertising, marketing and media – then reviews each of these brands and pronounce judgement.
Launched in the year 1993, Superbrands is a concept developed by UK marketing guru Marcel Knobil, the founder of the Superbrands Organisation and the chairman of the Superbrands Council, UK. Over the years, Superbrands has evolved into being a recognised, independent authority and arbiter of branding – it exists to promote the discipline of branding and to pay tribute to exceptional brands. It has been tracking the branding phenomenon for the past nine years and maintains councils in 18 different countries .
Brands
Nestlé India posts 14.9 per cent sales growth, profit rises in FY26
FMCG major sweetens returns with dividend as strong domestic demand leads
NEW DELHI: Nestlé India has reported a strong financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2026, with sales and profits rising steadily on the back of robust domestic demand.
The company posted total income of Rs 231,949.5 million for FY26, up from Rs 202,645.5 million in the previous year, marking a growth of 14.9 per cent. Domestic sales remained the key driver, increasing 14.6 per cent to Rs 221,187.0 million, while exports contributed Rs 9,527.6 million to the overall tally.
The final quarter of the financial year added extra momentum, with total sales rising 23.4 per cent compared to the same period last year. This helped lift the company’s annual profit to Rs 35,446.0 million, up from Rs 33,145.0 million in FY25.
Shareholders are set to benefit as the board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 5.00 per equity share. This comes on top of the interim dividend of Rs 7.00 per share paid in February 2026. The record date for the final dividend has been fixed as 10 July 2026, subject to shareholder approval at the 67th Annual General Meeting scheduled for 3 July 2026. If approved, the payout will begin from 30 July 2026.
During the year, the company’s paid-up equity share capital doubled to Rs 1,928.3 million following a 1:1 bonus share issue, strengthening its capital base. The results were also supported by a Rs 1,207.8 million credit from exceptional items, including a Rs 2,023.2 million writeback from resolved income tax litigation, partially offset by restructuring costs and expenses related to new labour codes.
On the cost front, material costs rose to 44.8 per cent of sales for the full year, compared to 43.6 per cent in the previous year, reflecting ongoing input cost pressures. Despite this, the company maintained solid profitability, with EBITDA coming in at Rs 53,060.6 million.
Overall, Nestlé India’s performance underscores its ability to balance growth and margins in a challenging environment. With steady demand, disciplined cost management and consistent shareholder returns, the company appears well placed to carry its momentum into the next financial year.
