Gaming
Scoop, score, chill repeat as Mother Dairy drops into esports arena
MUMBAI: When the heat is on and the stakes are high, a scoop of calm can go a long way. And this summer, it came with sprinkles of glory and a side of gaming grit. Mother Dairy has officially levelled up. In a sizzling first, the iconic dairy brand dipped into the world of esports with the Mother Dairy Chillz Cup, a high-octane gaming tournament hosted in partnership with Rooter, India’s largest game streaming and commerce platform. With 64 top teams and over 2,000 gamers facing off in an epic Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) showdown, it wasn’t just about victory, it was about staying cool while doing it.
And that’s where the magic happened. As players braved virtual crossfire and tactical pressure, Mother Dairy’s ice creams emerged as the real MVPs, cooling the nerves with indulgent favourites like Banoffee Pie, Pina Colada, Filter Coffee Cone, and the ever-quirky Choconado. It was a gaming-meets-gastronomy experience like no other.
The final clash on May 11, 2025, wasn’t just a gaming finale, it was a festival of fandom. Crowds cheered, creators scooped up frozen delights, and elite teams like iqoo Soul, Godlike, and Revenant X Spark brought their A-game in front of roaring fans.
Speaking about the collaboration, Mother Dairy Spokesperson said, “Ice creams are all about excitement and fun. We are thrilled to partner with Rooter for the Mother Dairy Chillz Cup, marking our entry into the dynamic and fast-growing world of esports. This association enables us to connect with a younger audience through a platform that thrives on energy, engagement, and innovation. The Chillz Cup truly embodies our brand’s youthful spirit and commitment to delivering the coolest experiences.”
Rooter founder and CEO Piyush said “We’ve always believed in creating meaningful partnerships that bring value to both the gaming community and our brand partners. The Chillz Cup was a great example of how a legacy brand like Mother Dairy could connect with a digital-first audience in their native environment, making it a fun, and memorable experience. The Chillz Cup captured the cool spirit of gaming staying calm under pressure and outplaying rivals with a cool head just like enjoying a scoop of ice-cold Mother Dairy Ice Cream on a hot day. We are proud to collaborate on a campaign that celebrates high-performance gaming while adding an element of summer joy to the esports experience”
From frosty cones to fiery comebacks, the Chillz Cup didn’t just serve scoops, it served up a new era of brand storytelling in gaming. And with esports now firmly on Mother Dairy’s menu, the summer just got a whole lot cooler.
Gaming
Bluestone FY26 revenue rises to Rs 2,436 crore, turns profitable
Q4 profit at Rs 31 crore, full-year profit at Rs 13 crore vs loss last year.
MUMBAI: From sparkle to numbers, Bluestone seems to be polishing more than just jewellery this year. Bluestone Jewellery and Lifestyle Limited reported a sharp turnaround in FY26, with revenue from operations rising to Rs 2,436 crore (Rs 24,364 million), up from Rs 1,770 crore (Rs 17,700 million) in FY25. The company posted a full-year profit of Rs 13 crore (Rs 131.79 million), a significant recovery from a loss of Rs 222 crore (Rs 2,218 million) a year ago.
Total income for the year stood at Rs 2,486 crore (Rs 24,860 million), compared to Rs 1,830 crore (Rs 18,300 million) in the previous year, reflecting both topline growth and improved operational momentum.
The March quarter, however, told a more nuanced story. Revenue from operations came in at Rs 681 crore (Rs 6,814 million), down from Rs 748 crore (Rs 7,486 million) in the year-ago period, though higher than Rs 461 crore (Rs 4,613 million) in the preceding December quarter. Net profit for Q4 stood at Rs 31 crore (Rs 311.81 million), compared to Rs 68 crore (Rs 688 million) a year earlier, but a clear reversal from a loss of Rs 51 crore (Rs 512 million) in Q3.
Margins were shaped by higher input costs, with raw material consumption rising to Rs 2,204 crore (Rs 22,043 million) for the full year, alongside employee benefit expenses of Rs 282 crore (Rs 2,824 million) and finance costs of Rs 210 crore (Rs 2,104 million). Other expenses came in at Rs 371 crore (Rs 3,715 million), slightly lower than Rs 393 crore (Rs 3,938 million) in FY25.
On the balance sheet front, total assets expanded to Rs 4,961 crore (Rs 49,610 million) as of March 31, 2026, from Rs 3,532 crore (Rs 35,322 million) a year earlier, driven largely by a surge in inventories to Rs 2,672 crore (Rs 26,718 million). Equity also strengthened to Rs 1,803 crore (Rs 18,030 million), nearly doubling from Rs 911 crore (Rs 9,107 million).
Cash flows reflected the cost of growth. Net cash used in operating activities stood at Rs 199 crore (Rs 1,990 million), while investing activities saw an outflow of Rs 239 crore (Rs 2,392 million). Financing activities, however, generated Rs 497 crore (Rs 4,971 million), helping the company end the year with cash and cash equivalents of Rs 108 crore (Rs 1,075 million), up from Rs 49 crore (Rs 487 million).
Earnings per share for FY26 came in at Rs 1.10, a sharp improvement from a negative Rs 79.74 in FY25, underlining the shift from losses to profitability.
With revenue scaling up, costs still glittering on the higher side, and profitability finally back in the black, BlueStone’s FY26 performance suggests a business mid-transition less about shine alone, and more about sustaining it.
