MAM
Xapads Media appoints Gagan Uppal as country head for Mena region
MUMBAI: Programmatic adtech platform Xapads Media has announced the appointment of Gagan Uppal as the country head for the Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region to give them a local leadership boost in the region. Xapads Media with the onboarding of Uppal, will now focus on its strategic growth strengthening the local team, partnerships, and innovation in the MENA region.
Associated with brands like Bath and Body Works, H&M, Aldar, Abu Dhabi Tourism, DTCM (Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing), Samsung, IQOptions, Starbucks and McDonalds in the Mena region, Xapads is now looking to increase its footprint further in the region. With the expansion of its offerings, Xapads’s UAE office will serve as the hub for the company’s business development in the Middle East market and will explore new opportunities in the fast-growing Mena region.
Prior to Xapads, Gagan was spearheading Advertising and Emerging Tech Partnerships at The TechVantage and was responsible for onboarding global AdTech/MarTech partners. In 14 years of work experience, Uppal has managed several popular campaigns for well-known clients including Nestle, Expo 2020, Neom, Dubai Holdings, Address Hotels and ENOC to name a few.
Xapads Media founder, CEO Nitin Gupta said, “With a focused approach to further expand our horizons, Xapads will strengthen its position in the Mena region with a new country head. We are delighted to have Gagan on board, with his leadership skills and work experience he would contribute to further strengthen our footprints in the MENA region”.
Xapads through its AdTech platform Xerxes- empowered with AI/ML, aims to generate performance programmatically with data layering and brand safety. Currently, with a market reach of over 850 million users globally, it aims to help and bring high-end results for their partners.
Xapads Media COO Ramneek Chadha said, “Gagan is a seasoned veteran in the industry with a vast experience and insights of the ad-tech field and I am sure that he will successfully implement his growth strategies in the market and help Xapads Media be one of the top Adtech Platform in the region.”
Uppal said, “It is a great opportunity for me to join Xapads Media at such a pivotal time and lead its Mena office which is rapidly growing and creating a niche in the region. As the company is already catering to well-known brands and agencies with its advanced ad tech services, I’m confident in bringing a positive revolution to the business and the company’s growth.”
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.
