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Cinepolis India FY25 Results: ₹61 Crore Loss, Revenue Down 7.5% on Sluggish Film Slate

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Cinepolis India slipped into losses in FY25 as a sluggish film slate and delayed global releases weighed heavily on the country’s multiplex business. The operator reported a net loss of ₹61 crore for the year ended March 2025, compared with a profit of ₹32 crore in the previous fiscal, according to regulatory filings accessed from Tofler.

Revenue from operations dropped 7.5 percent to ₹1,284 crore, down from ₹1,388 crore a year earlier. The company’s other income also saw a sharp decline, falling nearly threefold to ₹16 crore from ₹43 crore in FY24, reflecting a broader slowdown in ancillary earnings. Operating expenses, meanwhile, remained steady at ₹1,345 crore, suggesting that muted revenue growth, rather than rising costs, was the main drag on profitability.

Industry insiders say FY25 proved challenging for most multiplex operators as Hindi films failed to perform consistently at the box office. The year saw only a handful of major hits driving footfalls, while a large number of mid-budget releases underwhelmed. As a result, several production houses postponed new projects, leading to fewer theatrical releases and thinner content pipelines.

Cinepolis, like its peers, also felt the impact of global disruptions. Prolonged strikes by Hollywood writers and actors pushed several international releases to later dates, cutting into multiplex footfalls across urban centers. While regional cinema, particularly films from the South, continued to attract audiences, their performance was not enough to fully compensate for the shortfall in Hindi and English titles.

Cinepolis India, part of Mexico’s Cinepolis Group, operates one of the largest multiplex networks in the country. The company is now betting on a stronger content lineup in FY26 and improving consumer sentiment to help the business rebound after a year marked by weak box office trends and delayed international releases.

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FMCG Giants Hit Pause on TV Ads: HUL, P&G, Dabur Slash Spends Amid Weak Demand

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India’s television advertising market has seen a slowdown in 2025, with ad volumes falling notably as fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies tighten their spending. According to industry data, the first three quarters of 2025 recorded a 10% drop in TV ad expenditure compared to the same period last year, signaling cautious sentiment among major advertisers.

The decline is largely driven by leading FMCG players trimming their marketing budgets amid tepid consumer demand and inflationary pressures that have dented rural purchasing power. As input costs and distribution expenses remain elevated, companies are prioritizing profitability over aggressive promotional campaigns.

Experts note that while television continues to command a strong share of total ad spends, brands are increasingly diverting budgets toward digital platforms to achieve more targeted and measurable reach. Streaming services, short-form video apps, and influencer marketing have collectively gained traction as FMCG marketers seek higher engagement among younger consumers.

Despite the cutbacks, the FMCG and household goods sectors continue to dominate TV ad space, maintaining their position as the largest category of advertisers. Categories such as personal care, packaged foods, and home cleaning products still account for a significant portion of prime-time commercials.

Industry watchers expect ad volumes to stabilize in the final quarter of the fiscal year, driven by festive demand and potential recovery in rural consumption. However, the overall sentiment remains cautious, with companies closely monitoring market conditions before ramping up media spends again.

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Yum Brands Mulls Pizza Hut Sale After U.S. Sales Drop 6%: While KFC and Taco Bell Thrive

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Yum Brands Inc., the parent company of Pizza Hut, is reportedly exploring the possibility of selling the iconic pizza chain as it struggles to maintain its foothold in an increasingly competitive global pizza market. According to reports, the Louisville-based company is reviewing strategic options for Pizza Hut amid a notable slowdown in its U.S. business.

While Pizza Hut remains one of the world’s largest pizza chains with thousands of outlets worldwide, its performance in the United States has lagged behind competitors like Domino’s and Papa John’s. Analysts attribute this to shifting consumer preferences toward faster delivery models and digital-first operations—areas where Pizza Hut has struggled to keep pace.

In contrast, Yum Brands’ other major chains—KFC and Taco Bell—have been performing strongly, contributing significantly to the company’s overall revenue. Internationally, Pizza Hut has managed to show modest growth, especially in emerging markets like India and Southeast Asia, but this hasn’t been enough to offset the decline in U.S. sales.

If Yum Brands proceeds with the sale, it would mark a major shake-up in the global fast-food industry. The move could attract interest from private equity firms or international restaurant groups seeking to revive the Pizza Hut brand.

Founded in 1958, Pizza Hut has long been synonymous with family dining and classic pan pizzas. However, changing dining habits and the rapid rise of app-based food delivery have forced even legacy brands to rethink their strategies. Whether a potential sale will help Pizza Hut regain its lost market share or signal a new chapter under different ownership remains to be seen.

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Zepto Gears Up for a $500 Million IPO: Aadit Palicha’s Quick Commerce Rocket Targets July–September 2026 Listing

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Quick commerce startup Zepto is gearing up to take a major step toward going public, with plans to file its draft IPO papers later this month. The Mumbai-based firm aims to raise $450–500 million through a public market listing, according to sources cited in a recent report by The Economic Times.

The company is expected to confidentially file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) within the next few weeks. Zepto, which became one of India’s fastest-growing quick commerce players, is targeting a stock market debut between July and September next year.

This move follows Zepto’s recent $450 million funding round, which valued the company at around $3.6 billion. The fresh capital injection helped strengthen its balance sheet ahead of its IPO ambitions.

However, Zepto is also tightening its belt by implementing cost-optimization measures to manage cash burn. This includes layoffs and reduced customer acquisition spending, as the company focuses on achieving operational efficiency and long-term profitability.

Founded in 2021 by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto disrupted India’s grocery delivery market with its promise of ultra-fast deliveries. Competing against Swiggy’s Instamart, Zomato’s Blinkit, and BigBasket’s BB Now, Zepto’s upcoming IPO will mark a significant milestone for the country’s quick commerce industry.

If successful, the listing could make Zepto one of the youngest Indian startups to tap the public markets, signaling growing investor confidence in the quick commerce model despite the sector’s ongoing struggle with high costs and thin margins.

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Beauty and Personal Care Brand Protouch Bags ₹17.7 Crore to Fuel Expansion in India and Overseas

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Beauty and personal care appliance startup Protouch has secured ₹17.7 crore ($2 million) in a pre-Series A funding round led by venture capital firm GVFL, with participation from Enrission India Capital and Anicut Capital. The round values the company at around $10 million post-money.

The Bengaluru-based startup plans to use the fresh funds to broaden its product lineup, strengthen its research and development capabilities, and scale both online and offline distribution across India and international markets. Protouch also aims to set up its own manufacturing unit over the next few years as part of its long-term expansion strategy.

Founded in 2022 by entrepreneur Tanisha Lakhani, Protouch focuses on technology-driven beauty and grooming appliances designed for Indian consumers. Its portfolio includes LED-based skincare and haircare devices, automatic multi-stylers powered by airflow technology, ceramic trimmers, and a growing range of grooming tools, serums, and personal care products.

In just two and a half years, the company claims to have served more than two lakh customers in India and entered the Middle East market. Over the same period, it has achieved a 15-fold increase in revenue while remaining profitable. Prior to this round, Protouch had raised around ₹8 crore in funding. The brand’s products are available through its own direct-to-consumer website and major ecommerce marketplaces, including Amazon, Flipkart, and Myntra.

Mihir Joshi, Managing Director of GVFL, said the investment reflects confidence in Protouch’s ability to lead the growing beauty-tech segment in India. He added that the company’s focus on innovation and consumer insight brings salon-quality experiences into homes.

Founder Tanisha Lakhani said the funding will help accelerate the brand’s mission to make professional-grade beauty devices accessible to households, adding that consumers today seek faster and more efficient solutions powered by smart technology.

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Swiggy Instamart Launches Protein Category with Food Pharmer’s ‘Only What’s Needed’ Brand

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Instamart, the quick commerce arm of Swiggy, has launched a dedicated protein category to meet the growing consumer appetite for health and nutrition-focused foods. The move marks a strategic expansion into functional foods, a segment gaining strong momentum among urban consumers.

The launch coincides with the debut of Only What’s Needed (OWN), a protein brand founded by health influencer Revant Himatsingka, popularly known as Food Pharmer. OWN joins Instamart’s platform as part of its curated health portfolio, designed to make protein-rich products more discoverable and accessible to a wider audience.

The newly introduced section will feature an assortment of products catering to various dietary preferences and price points, allowing consumers to explore convenient, high-quality protein options without compromising on transparency or taste. The initiative reflects Instamart’s growing focus on health-conscious assortments, following rising demand for nutrition-led foods, supplements, and beverages across Indian metros.

“Making protein more accessible to India took time, transparency, and a shared vision,” said Phani Kishan Addepalli, co-founder and chief growth officer of Swiggy. “Convenience helped us reach here, but it’s trust that will take us further,” he added, emphasizing the company’s focus on maintaining quality while expanding its product range.

Industry experts say the entry of platforms like Instamart into specialized nutrition categories signals a shift in consumer behaviour, as urban households increasingly look for quick yet mindful food choices. By integrating brands like OWN, Instamart aims to strengthen its position as a one-stop destination for everyday essentials and wellness products alike.

With health and convenience continuing to shape food consumption trends, Instamart’s protein push reflects how quick commerce players are evolving beyond impulse-driven grocery deliveries toward more value-led, lifestyle-oriented offerings for India’s growing health-conscious audience.

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Swiggy Q2 FY26 Loss Widens to ₹1,092 Crore as Revenue Surges 54% to ₹5,561 Crore

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Swiggy’s revenue soared 54% year-on-year to ₹5,561 crore in the second quarter of FY26, even as the food delivery major widened its losses amid higher spending on advertising and promotions. The company posted a consolidated loss of ₹1,092 crore for the quarter ended September 2025, compared with ₹626 crore a year earlier, according to its latest regulatory filing.

The Bengaluru-based firm, which competes with Zomato, saw its total expenses climb 56% to ₹6,711 crore. Advertising and sales promotion costs nearly doubled to ₹1,039 crore, while delivery-related expenses rose 30% to ₹1,426 crore. Employee costs stood at ₹690 crore and finance costs more than doubled to ₹48 crore.

Despite the loss, Swiggy’s food delivery vertical maintained profitability at the adjusted EBITDA level, supported by a 19% jump in gross order value (GOV) to ₹8,542 crore. Monthly transacting users rose 34% year-on-year to 22.9 million, with more than one-third availing multiple services. Adjusted EBITDA margin for food delivery improved to 2.8% of GOV, up 125 basis points from a year ago.

Instamart, Swiggy’s quick-commerce business, posted robust growth with GOV up 108% year-on-year and 24% sequentially to ₹7,022 crore. Average order value climbed 40% to ₹697 as the network expanded to 1,102 dark stores across 128 cities. Contribution margin improved 200 basis points quarter-on-quarter to -2.6%, and adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed to ₹849 crore.

Swiggy’s out-of-home consumption segment also remained profitable, with GOV up 52% year-on-year and an EBITDA margin of 0.5% of GOV.

Managing Director and Group CEO Sriharsha Majety said Swiggy delivered its strongest order growth in two years, driven by innovations like Bolt, 99 Store, Deskeats, and health-focused offerings. The board will meet on November 7 to consider raising up to ₹10,000 crore through public or private offerings, including QIPs.

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Tata Consumer’s New-Age Brands Drive 32% of India Business in Q2 FY26

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Tata Consumer Products Ltd (TCPL) reported strong earnings for the September quarter, driven by a surge in demand for its portfolio of emerging food brands that are rapidly reshaping the company’s India business.

The company said its ‘Growth’ segment—which includes Tata Sampann, Tata Soulfull, Capital Foods, and Organic India—expanded 27 per cent year-on-year and now contributes 32 per cent to its domestic revenue mix. Tata Sampann remained the standout performer, posting a 40 per cent sales jump on the back of growing demand for packaged pulses, spices, and ready-to-cook foods.

Tata Soulfull continued to build on the consumer shift toward millet-based snacking and breakfast options, while Capital Foods, which owns Ching’s Secret and Smith & Jones, maintained steady growth despite temporary disruptions linked to the GST transition. Organic India also saw stable momentum in its health and wellness offerings.

For the quarter ended September 30, consolidated revenue from operations rose 18 per cent to ₹4,966 crore. Group net profit increased 11 per cent to ₹407 crore, while EBITDA grew 7 per cent to ₹675 crore. The company said both its branded and non-branded international businesses registered healthy performances, growing 9 per cent and 26 per cent respectively in constant currency terms.

Tata Consumer’s Ready-to-Drink beverages division clocked 25 per cent growth despite unseasonal rains that impacted consumption in several markets. The company also introduced 25 new products across its portfolio, focusing on health, convenience, and premium categories.

Chief Executive Sunil D’Souza said the company delivered its second consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in its core tea and salt categories, while Tata Starbucks expanded its footprint to 492 outlets across 80 cities, strengthening its presence beyond metro markets.

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Vintage Coffee & Beverages Reports 137% Profit Surge in Q2 FY26; Revenue Climbs 90%

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Vintage Coffee & Beverages Ltd delivered a strong performance in the September quarter, reporting a 137% year-on-year jump in profit after tax to Rs 17.83 crore, backed by robust demand and improved operational efficiency. The company’s revenue for the quarter surged 90% to Rs 135.61 crore, while operating profit rose 120% to Rs 21.38 crore, according to a regulatory filing on Monday.

For the first half of FY26, the coffee manufacturer posted a profit of Rs 32.07 crore, a 166% increase over the same period last year. Revenue for the six-month period climbed 106% to Rs 237.22 crore, with operating profit up 138% at Rs 38.61 crore.

Chairman and managing director Balakrishna Tati said the company’s growth was driven by strong demand across product categories and better capacity utilization. “Despite a challenging business environment, we achieved significant progress in scaling our operations and improving profitability,” he said, adding that the company remains confident of maintaining its growth momentum in the second half of the fiscal.

Vintage Coffee is also ramping up its production capacity. It expects to commission an additional 4,500 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of spray-dried and agglomerated coffee capacity by the end of FY26, which will raise its total installed capacity to 11,000 MTPA.

In a major step toward product diversification, the company plans to establish a greenfield freeze-dried coffee plant with a capacity of 5,000 MTPA by FY28. The project will be funded through proceeds from a recent preferential equity issue.

Tati added that equipment orders for the new plant have already been placed with a leading European manufacturer, covering about 70% of the total project cost, paving the way for future growth and premium product expansion.

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Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Foods Reports Best-Ever Quarter, Yet Shares Fall 5% — Here’s Why the Street Isn’t Happy

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Patanjali Foods Ltd. witnessed a sharp 5% fall in its share price on Monday after the company’s Q2 results failed to impress the Street, even though the FMCG major reported robust growth across key parameters. The stock reaction came as a surprise, considering the firm’s standalone net profit surged 67.2% year-on-year, marking its best-ever quarterly performance.

According to the company’s financial report, revenue from operations rose 20.9% compared to the same quarter last year, driven by higher sales in edible oils and packaged food segments. The Baba Ramdev-led company said profitability metrics improved substantially, supported by better operating efficiency and cost control measures.

Despite the impressive numbers, analysts noted that the results fell short of market expectations, as investors were anticipating even stronger volume growth and margin expansion. This mismatch between high expectations and reported figures triggered short-term profit-taking in the counter.

Brokerage firm ICICI Securities retained an ‘Add’ rating on Patanjali Foods, setting a target price of ₹650 per share, indicating potential upside from current levels. The brokerage highlighted the company’s strong fundamentals, expanding distribution network, and growing presence in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) space as key positives.

Experts believe that the recent correction may offer a buying opportunity for long-term investors, given the company’s consistent revenue growth and profitability trajectory. However, they caution that near-term volatility could persist as the market recalibrates its expectations.

Patanjali Foods continues to be one of the most watched stocks in India’s FMCG sector — blending traditional wellness appeal with modern business growth ambitions.

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