MAM
Wimbledon ad spots sold out: ESPN Star
MUMBAI: As top tennis players in the world get ready to vie for the esteemed Wimbledon title, sports broadcaster ESPN Star is wide smiled as it has managed to sell out all the ad spots.
Brands like Rolex, Thai Airways, Nokia and IBM are among the nine sponsors on board. Six others, including Red Bull, Pernod Ricard and Renault India, have also booked spots.
“In the past 7-8 years, Wimbledon ad spots have always been sold out and this year the story is the same,” ESPN Software India executive VP Sanjay Kailash, told PTI.
Asked about the ad revenue, he declined to comment but said the rates have gone up between five per cent and 10 per cent as against last year.
According to media planners, the broadcaster is charging about Rs 20,000-Rs 25,000 for a 10-second spot.
Kailash said the championship, which will be held from 24 June to 7 July this year, will be telecast on three channels, Star Sports 2, ESPN and ESPN HD in India.
“There will be 150 hours of live matches, which is more than 25 per cent from last year. The number of different live matches will also increase,” he said, adding, viewership would also increase considerably.
According to industry estimates, Wimbledon viewership in India last year was about 20-25 million.
In an attempt to promote the event, the broadcaster has already rolled out campaigns on its different channels, and also during the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, clearly leaving no stone unturned to make the grand slam event a grand success.
Brands
Sapphire Foods FY26 revenue rises to Rs 3,125 crore, posts loss
Q4 revenue at Rs 792 crore, FY26 loss at Rs 32 crore amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: If growth is on the menu, profitability seems to have taken a brief detour. Sapphire Foods India reported a steady rise in topline for FY26, even as rising costs weighed on profitability. Revenue from operations grew to Rs 3,125 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, up from Rs 2,882 crore in FY25. However, the company swung to a loss, reporting a net loss of Rs 32 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 17 crore in the previous year. Total income for the year stood at Rs 3,153 crore, while total expenses climbed to Rs 3,167 crore, reflecting pressure across key cost heads.
In the March quarter, revenue came in at Rs 792 crore, compared to Rs 711 crore in the same period last year. The company reported a quarterly net loss of Rs 13 crore, against a profit of Rs 2 crore a year earlier.
Cost pressures remained visible across operations. Material costs rose to Rs 995 crore for FY26, while employee expenses increased to Rs 428 crore. Other expenses, the largest component, stood at Rs 1,229 crore, underscoring the impact of store operations and expansion-related spends.
Depreciation and amortisation expenses also climbed to Rs 392 crore for the year, reflecting continued investments in store infrastructure and growth.
At the operating level, the company reported a loss before tax of Rs 37 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 23 crore in FY25. Exceptional items added Rs 24 crore to the cost burden during the year.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 3,256 crore as of March 31, 2026, up from Rs 3,041 crore a year earlier, indicating ongoing expansion. Net worth stood at Rs 1,389 crore.
Despite profitability pressures, operating cash flow remained resilient at Rs 507 crore, highlighting underlying business strength and demand stability.
The numbers paint a familiar picture in the quick-service restaurant space, growth continues to be served hot, but margins are still finding their footing.
