Bata India Limited

FY2024 Q3

2024-02-06 Transcript PDF
Moderator

Thank you very much. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. The first question is from the line of Videesha Sheth from Ambit Capital. Please go ahead.

Ambit Capital

Yes, hi. Thank you for the opportunity. My first question was on the Freshness that you mentioned on slide four. You said the Freshness is at highest levels of 34%. I wanted to know how do you define the new products that are coming under this definition of the product launched 30, 60, 90 days back? How was this number a year back? And what is the aspiration for this number for the coming two to three odd years? That would be my first question.

Gunjan Shah

Okay. No, that's good. Actually, it's been a journey, Videesha, on this front. Let's give you a little perspective. We were let's say going back about six quarters. We were in the range of about mid-20s or so in terms of Freshness. The way we define Freshness is anything that is new to store and therefore that consumer cohort that the store services in this season. It's a season-to-season measure and therefore gets reset every season which is Jan to June as well as July to December. And therefore, a percentage means out of the total offerings that we have in a store how much of it is fresh. Now there is further rigor that we apply to this and we will want to make sure that this becomes a key proposition because that's what we are trying to promise to consumers in terms of trendy and fashion. And we will want to dovetail this similar measure at a store and category level but that mid-20s was still about a couple of seasons back at about 30 and has now moved to 34%. So that's the journey. I hope that answers your question.

Ambit Capital

Yes, very much so. And what would the aspiration be for this number for the coming 2 to 3 year?

Gunjan Shah

I think we will actually want to now dovetail this even further into category cluster kind of a freshness. So, the overall 34% I think we will not want to go beyond 40 for a season Freshness but within that are we making sure that the entire 2,000 EBO network are we replicating this entire 34% or 40% is going to be the prime driver going forward. So, it will go up but the big driver will be making sure that it's democratically spread all across. The minimum threshold that we want to make sure is that it's not only at a certain cluster of stores and a certain category but all categories and all clusters of stores is where the endeavour would be on this front.

Ambit Capital

Got it. Got it. And second question was on HBM. How are you tracking the benefits from the implementation of this software? So, one is of course the low contribution from discounted sales but just trying to understand when can the benefits from using this software when are they likely to peak in terms of better throughput?

Gunjan Shah

So, I cannot share the business case Videesha but we do have a business case. It is a financial business case and we are beholden and obviously want to make sure that the team is tracked against it. There are 3 or 4 levers where the benefits are anticipated to come through. First is obviously better inventory management. So far more linked data and therefore much better visibility of information while making decisions. Making decisions much faster on inventory management and therefore placing the orders in the right articles in the right locations is going to be one big lever. The second one is much better availability against what we promised to a store therefore adherence to basically what they require while maintaining better inventory management. The third piece and that should result into better conversions and therefore sales. The third piece is in terms of better financial planning and better control from a merchandiser's perspective in terms of the right mix of articles and the margin blended profile that the person is wanting to deliver on. The last one is control on obsolescence and therefore making sure that we are agile in terms of moving the stocks to the right places where we can push it out before it results into an inventory hit on us. So, these are the 4 levers that should in terms of timing of impact they will pan out but the sense is that within about 12 months we should have them into a steady state run rate of impact that have been built into the business case.

Ambit Capital

What is the mix of sub 1000p products for us during the current quarter? I recall that during 4Q FY'23 the mix was somewhere around 30% to 40%. So just wanted to know the mix for the current quarter? And also, if the [3-week] consumption were to pick up and consumer wallets were to revise would we look to monetize that trend by refocusing on the mass end of our portfolio for the retail operations?

Gunjan Shah

Okay, that's a long question but a quick data point now less than 1000 is being basically for the last quarter wallet about 30%. Cumulative for the year it was at 34% so it is lower but however the pace of reduction has come down so I am assuming that if things stay right we will want to see this fire as I said that goes in conjunction with the mass market business channel of us which is MBOs. We continue to invest in it. We are hoping that that's where we will get this entire thing repo back so while we want to focus on premiumization with the right brands as well as the right offerings we will not want to lose sight and in fact where required we will take aggressive steps to capture this revival in demand as we see it. An introduction of article is at this point.

Ambit Capital

Thank you very much for answering my question. I will get back in the queue.

Moderator

Thank you very much. The next question is from the line of Girish Pai from Nirmal Bang Equities Private Limited. Please go ahead.

Nirmal Bang Equities Private Limited

Yes, thanks for the opportunity. Gunjan, in the flat revenue growth picture that we have for the quarter what is the volume and ASP expansion that you see?

Gunjan Shah

Both is mid-single digits both ways, Girish. So yes, that's how it is. In addition is that we have as I mentioned now for almost six quarters, we have stopped price increases so it's largely the premiumization that is driving this mid-single digit kind of a premium or ASP increase and we are hoping that the stability on pricing, etcetera, will as I commented just in the previous question will eventually help us turn around the mass market demand perspective from consumers. But yes, mid-single digit on the pricing and therefore mid-single digit on volume de-growth.

Nirmal Bang Equities Private Limited

Okay. The other expense part has jumped up on a Y-o-Y basis to almost like 410 basis points. Can you provide a bridge to that? What are the elements, what are the account heads which have kind of expanded on a Y-o-Y basis?

Gunjan Shah

I will request the CFO to answer on this.

Anil Somani

So as Gunjan talked about it during his presentation, especially investment on technology investment on marketing, these are the two big ticket items. Rest of the places we have leveraged versus last quarter and obviously we have certain rental benefits which would have flown last year on account of rent concessions resulting from COVID-19. All put together if we do it, rest all as you would have seen gross margins has gone up by 120 basis points. So, these are -- obviously out of this, marketing IT we would getting into the normalized phase starting next quarter and rental obviously one piece where we are able to leverage on other costs and that would be something which we would not be able to recoup.

Nirmal Bang Equities Private Limited

So, on a normalized basis, how much would the other expenses be as percentage of sales? Would this come off by 200-300 basis points?

Anil Somani

To give you a slightly simplistic answer, Girish, while we don't have giving you forecast but the point is that on a YTD basis, except for the expensing out that we did of the cumulative ERP implementation, rest of it on a YTD basis is reasonably reflective of trend lines.

Nirmal Bang Equities Private Limited

Okay. My last question is on fixed costs in the manufacturing, I think on the supply chain side. Are we done with our pruning there or is there more to come?

Gunjan Shah

Okay. So, South Can was the large structural one that we did which is the factory that I mentioned in Bangalore and that obviously had a business case behind the VRS and that will flow through, and we are confident signs are good on that front and we will see those benefits. But that is I would say less than a quarter of the entire fixed cost from a manufacturing perspective. So, there are other levers, both operational as well as structural, and we will keep evaluating and working on all of those in terms of making sure that that helps us become -- that helps us allow for investments on the consumer and the marketing front. There is need left.

Nirmal Bang Equities Private Limited

Thank you.

Gunjan Shah

Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you very much. The next question is from the line of Nihal Mahesh Jham from Nuvama Wealth Management Limited. Please go ahead.

Nuvama Wealth Management Limited

Yes, thank you so much and good evening. Sir, my first question was on the marketing bit. You have taken a decent step up and I think we spent around 4% of our top line versus our historical run rate of around 2%-2.5%. So, the first question was that is this a reset you plan to continue over the course of the years ahead? And second is while you did mention about the slowdown, was it that we saw a higher increase in footfalls or maybe an increase in online clicks, any of those metrics which maybe at least got more customers aware of our brand and maybe the convergence did not happen maybe because of slowdown. Just your thoughts on how effective were the marketing spend from that perspective.

Gunjan Shah

Okay. On the first piece, it is the direction that we want to take on the front that I mentioned in my chart which is digital influencer-led focus towards style trendiness and bringing in a certain amount of confidence. That is the direction that we want to take. Obviously, campaign to campaign the way we want to communicate, the kind of collection that we are bringing. But the core of it will be on these pivots and we will want to sustain because it takes time for a large enough consumer base and newer consumers to register the entire message that we want to give. It has to be backed up as I said in the question that I answered a few minutes back, which was on making sure that we have got the right kind of store experience as well as the freshness in stores, and that I had detailed out a little earlier. So, we will want to sustain and continue with that, with obviously a flavour campaign by campaign. But the core message and the medium we would like to sustain. On the second piece in terms of impact, while yes as I said that we would have desired much better impact in terms of the business results. But as I mentioned all signs of brand metrics, in fact while in absolute I don't think we were happy with the kind of footfall impact, but it was sequentially better versus what we saw in the previous quarter. And brand health metrics I mentioned right from the entire consumer funnel from awareness to consideration towards [inaudible] as well as in terms of style and modernity, we hit ever higher peaks on that. So good signs on that front and therefore, we are encouraged to continue investing on it on a phasing basis.

Nuvama Wealth Management Limited

Understood. Just one more question. We do specifically highlight how the growth for Red Label, Comfit and Floatz has been keeping Hush Puppies out here. What would be the ballpark contribution of these three brands as of now to our total revenue?

Gunjan Shah

Should be in the range of about 15%

Nuvama Wealth Management Limited

And Hush Puppies is approximately 20%?

Gunjan Shah

Yes.

Gunjan Shah

That broadly correlates to our price point which is greater than 2,000.

Nuvama Wealth Management Limited

Yes. Thank you so much. I'm done.

Gunjan Shah

Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you very much. The next question is from the line of Gaurav Jogani from Axis Capital. Please go ahead.

Axis Capital

Thank you. This is a my question you know again follow up to the previous question that you know why we see please speak.

Gunjan Shah

Please speak a little louder Gaurav.

Axis Capital

Yes so is this better, can you hear me now?

Axis Capital

So, my question is a follow-up to the previous question, where you know, the 15% to 20% contribution coming from the fast-growing brands. So, would that mean, that the other, the rest of the 60%-65% odd brands are declining in high single-digits, because of which we are seeing a flattish kind of growth there? And so, that is one part of the question and the other being, what possibly you see could lead to a revival that could tell in future lead to a double-digit growth for the overall portfolio?

Gunjan Shah

Okay, the first question is mathematics Gaurav. So, whatever I say, I'm sure you've got mathematics to make sure that the average works out. So obviously, yes. But that doesn't mean that it's all dependent on only, while a large part of it is also correlated to price point and the segment that is relatively sluggish, I would say, so some turnaround from a consumer perspective will help. But as I mentioned, there are a few things that we are working on. One is to make sure that across price points and categories, we want to make sure that we present on the front foot freshness. We did invest in marketing. We want to make sure that it's backed up with basically enough new range coming through and a proposition to consumers. And there will be a lot of work, and I talked about it in reasonable detail a little while earlier. The second piece that is there is we continue to invest in accessibility to consumers, whether it's through the franchise route, in terms of EBOs, whether it is in the e-commerce space, as well as in the MBO space. And I've talked about it in the presentation. Last but not the least, in certain pockets where we sense that we have got some flexibility, in a selective manner we will take aggressive affordability calls to bring about value for money back to consumers. We have not taken price increases, so we are assuming that consumers are slowly stabilizing to prices. But in certain cases, we might want to even selectively take price reversals. I do not think the weightage will be large, but yes, we will take those actions also where required. So, combination of these three from our perspective should help us as the momentum turns.

Axis Capital

And sir my second and the last question is with regards to the BIS, you know whatever we can understand from the BIS implementation is that it is largely to you know help to curb the cheap quality imports that are coming from China and other countries and you know given approximately 25% to 30% contribution for us comes from the INR500 and below segment. So how do you see the benefits from the BIS implementation helping Bata given that you know again that particular segment is I think declining higher versus the other portfolio?

Gunjan Shah

Yes. There are actually multiple questions in this question that you have asked. Our first priority was to ensure that we secure our own manufacturing across categories as well as obviously expanding as well as a very large sourcing base that we have of our suppliers. We are simultaneously looking at consolidation of suppliers towards larger guys, but either way the entire universe has been brought under the BIS fold and is compliant and therefore our priority was to make sure that we don't have any disruption whatsoever in terms of supplies. How does it pan out from a perspective of other players getting impacted etc. I have mentioned this even last quarter when I talked about this, is that relative to what we have seen in the past to some other industries going through BIS which is toys for example, the industry in footwear in India is relatively well developed, specifically in certain segments, right, in terms of construction type as well as price points. So, there will be certain pockets where I'm assuming that there will be turbulence, provided we are seeing what is the kind of implementation the government goes through. So, we'll have to wait and watch on that front, but our priority was to first make sure our house is right and we are ready for the transition. That we are good on.

Axis Capital

Sir, just a follow up on this. Would it be a right understanding that a bulk of a large part of the imports does happen in the INR500 and below segment and that in a sense impacts the competitive ability of the organized players and probably that could be better once BIS is implemented?

Gunjan Shah

I would say it cuts both ways, Gaurav. We have also analysed the import data etcetera. We do get access to it. So, it is not only that but yes, it is mirroring the ratio that we have in India. So, a similar ratio reflects even in terms of imports. There is a lot of high-end imports that also happen. As even in our case there were a few of them. So, I think we'll have to see how that reflects all across, but it's evenly, you know, proportionate all across price points.

Axis Capital

Sure sir. Thank you. Thank you. That's all for me.

Moderator

Thank you very much the next question is from the line of Jay Gandhi from HDFC Securities Please go ahead

HDFC Securities

Hi, thank you for the opportunity. The first one is could you help me with the channel mix for the first 9 months in terms of retail distribution and online?

Gunjan Shah

And can you just complete the second question also Jay.

HDFC Securities

Yes, so in general, just wanted to kind of, you know, understand the gross margin movement a little better from a nine-month perspective. So, once you have pre-revised over the course of, you know, the past nine months or past one year, there would be a counterbalancing, you know, lever also, right? If, basically, if your distribution is growing faster or the online piece is growing faster or even if the gross, if the franchising piece is growing faster, this will be a counterbalancing factor to your premiumization story, right? I'm only talking from a gross margin perspective?

Gunjan Shah

Okay, all right. While we remove the data point for the mix, I think let me answer the second one. The piece is that you are right. See basically the point is that as I mentioned we have not taken price increases for almost several quarters now, more than a year. So effectively whatever we are seeing is ASP increase is just because of the mix. Now the mix is because of two plays. One is because of product mix primarily and some amount of channel mix. So, if the multi-brand outlet does not grow as fast, effectively the mass market is also relatively not growing as fast and therefore it is reflecting the overall ASP increase. So, you are right in a way. The gross margin will not have too much of an impact. Some of it is coming through because of the premiumization per se. Some of it is coming off because we have managed to be a little more efficient on leakages, promotions, etcetera and markdowns, but a combination of that is what is giving you basically the gross-margin impact, but premiumization is largely coming through mix. As I mentioned a couple of questions back, is that we are wanting to make sure we get the mass market going also wherever relevant without compromising on margins and the action that I talked about at that point in time. On the ratio of mix etcetera largely I would say that we have got I&D at roughly around, so basically I&D has been a little lower. Normally we are at a YTD level basically at about 15% but for the quarter was at about 12%. E-commerce is steady state at 10% consistently and that continues. Franchise is now in realized turnover because it is basically discounted when you sell it to a franchise partner, but that now is steady state at about 7%, 7.5% and the rest about 70% is in COCO which is EBOs, Company Owned Company Operated. Does that answer the question?

HDFC Securities

Well, yes, it does. See, I understand this. The only thing is that, I was wondering that you've gone from about 390-odd franchises to about 500-plus. I'm sure all of these channels, franchises or distribution or e-commerce, they've only grown relative to the COCO part Y-o-Y. The only thing is, yes, I understand that certain amount of premiumization would have helped gross margins. But the limited point is that each of these channels, franchises, anything which is non-COCO is likely to be gross margin dilutive?

Gunjan Shah

Yes, you're right. So, there will be some amount of dilution that will happen. So, let's say, for example, if 150 basis points, 120 basis points is overall gross margin expansion, then the mix impact would be a little larger from a product perspective because the channel mix would have taken away a little. You're right.

HDFC Securities

Correct. Fair enough. And the other question I had was on the rental, on the base year. So, you mentioned that you had about 100 bps of savings last year, right? Now, I was looking at the annual report and based on the annual report, the rentals is about INR420 crores, INR430 odd crores, which accounts to about 12 and a half odd percent of sales. And this is only in stock. Even if I look at it from a rent per square foot perspective, based on the area that you report, from FY '22 to '23, rent as a percentage of sales has actually come, it's about 12 and a half percent. Even if I look at FY '19, it was about 12.9 percent. So the point is you are already firing at a similar rent per square foot as what you have been pre-pandemic times. So is it that when FY '23, this rental bill that you are seeing in FY '23, is that going to be a meaningful bump? Is this rent per square foot going to continue?

Gunjan Shah

Okay. So my comment and that Anil then expanded upon was for the quarter, Jai. What you are talking about is annual figures and we need to check them also. But my comment was for the quarter, there was a certain amount of rental concession post-COVID that got back-ended, that got exhausted obviously in this quarter last year and therefore on a year-on-year basis, there is about 100 basis points impact. That's what we commented, limited to the quarter. For the full year, I am sure your numbers are correct, but we can separately clarify to you exactly, how does it reconcile.

HDFC Securities

No, sir. Point set. Thank you so much for this.

Gunjan Shah

Okay, Jay. Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you very much. The next question is from the line of Ankit Kedia from Phillip Capital. Please go ahead.

Phillip Capital

Thank you. So my first question is on the KRO counters, they are less than one per town, which seems a very odd number. So can you define how do you define this KRO in terms of revenue per counter and what could be the opportunity size in terms of say two, three per city or per town? So over the next two years, you would want to leverage these key retail outlets?

Gunjan Shah

Okay, Ankit. So obviously, you know, I mean, the ideal situation is in a very mature and evolved scenario is the way an FMCG would go about doing this, right? But there are two parallel tracks that are running, right? One is access to towns and therefore making sure that Bata is accessible where the consumers would like to be. And obviously, we don't have, enough and more reach that we've got. Therefore, the entire town expansion, the pieces that where we've got some kind of a control and understanding and therefore stability in terms of distribution expansion, therefore towns that we have gone, pick out the larger outlets on those where we see basically so throughputs that give us outlets that give us throughputs of more than about 25 to 40,000 per month, right? How do we make sure that we are able to present, not only make ourselves present, but present it to consumers in a controlled fashion, make sure that the range comes alive, we've got a certain critical mass of the kind of offering that we want, whether it's in men's dress in Bata Rebook, or whether it's let's say in power open, or the EVA range that we are coming out with, etc. So making sure that we've got a certain critical mass and the presentability coming through is what the KRO action plan is. It will always follow with a lag, but your expectation is right. And that's where we would like to desire to move towards. And that's what the curve is trying to show you. It's a journey that's relatively nascent. And I would say that, it's got long legs to go. Right now, the contribution of KRO to a distribution business is in the range of about early double digits. But we are expecting that even now, despite the overall muted scenario, it does grow much faster. And that should continue irrespective of how the environment changes.

Phillip Capital

And sir, when you say when the demand comes back, you could take a reverse price action, typically for the MBO market, this 15% revenue contribution from IND over the next three years, where do you see this contribution go if the town coverage, KRO count, everything falls in place right for you?

Gunjan Shah

About 20% plus minimum.

Phillip Capital

Sure. And my last question is on the April, this presentation, we haven't spoken about April. So how has been the progress on the April front in our stores? Last quarter, you gave us some good signs on the April growth.

Gunjan Shah

Yes, yes. So, we are still at, so I think I mentioned it last quarter, we have launched it in about 60 stores, we are at the 60 stores, we have got feedback in terms of what's working, what's not working, even in certain stores, what is the kind of, location within the store that works. Certain stores where we have actually removed and put into some other stores, we are still in active 60 stores, we want to make sure that it gives me a same store growth, delta on apparel alone of 3% plus before we collectively want to expand it beyond that. We will want to our expectation is that by let's say, mid of next quarter, we should hit that and then I will be able to tell you about the expansion plan on it. Simultaneously, a whole bunch of learnings on merchandise itself, the colours that are working, some of the fits that we are looking at, as well as materials, all of that is obviously underway. But it's going to be something that we'll want to learn before we expand.

Phillip Capital

Thank you. Thank you so much.

Gunjan Shah

Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you very much. The next question is from the line of Shirish Pardeshi from Centrum Broking. Please go ahead.

Centrum Broking

Hi, good evening team. Thanks for the opportunity. Sir, my first question on slide nine, you have given a number 4.1 million pairs shipped YTD '24. So, can you strip out the quarter number for the digital part and the overall part for quarter and the nine months?

Gunjan Shah

What I do have handy is a million pairs for the quarter. So, a little less than million pairs, but yes, just about rounded off to a million pairs for the quarter.

Gunjan Shah

We don't share that. Maybe at the end of the annual report, we will. Yes.

Centrum Broking

Okay. Okay. Thanks. On the Nine West, I think you mentioned that it's on the way, but what is holding on and any point you can say that how fast it will roll out or it will be a marketing which will be done on the select and then you will expand or any some colour if you can share?

Gunjan Shah

Yes. Yes. So, it takes some time to make sure that we operationalize it. Obviously, the deal was signed last quarter and it is working at a furious pace. We should see it entering stores during this quarter. We will want to start off with about 50 stores within the Bata banner. We will learn how it works. It is a price point that's going to be very, very different. It will be higher than even Hush Puppies in terms of price point and average level. We want to make sure it gets presented well in terms of brand stories coming through not only pieces of fashionable footwear, but also the kind of accessories that we are making sure that it comes along with. As I said, it will start getting into stores with the launch going through in this quarter and towards the end of this year is when we will be able to collect thoughts. As I said, subsequent plan is to make sure that we then reinforce it with an exclusive branded outlet, a banner store of its own. That's the broad plan.

Centrum Broking

Thank you. And my last question on the margin part. If I look back, I think you did mention the mix change and channel mix, but I just want to pick up your candid thought. What are the margin drivers at this time and if there is an inflationary pressure? And if you look at medium term, I'm not saying guidance, but what aspiration sees that whether we go back to 58-59 or we will still remain in the similar range?

Gunjan Shah

This is gross margin. I believe we are at levels which are pretty healthy and reasonably comfortable with Shirish. There are margin drivers. There are ways, levels in which we can do margin drivers. Obviously, premiumization is one big lever, but also in terms of making sure, as I said, there is about 7% to 8% blended that we do in terms of consumer spends. About half of it, a little less than half of it goes into above the line, but there is more than 50% that goes below the line in terms of markdowns and promotions. How do we do them more scientifically, etcetera? And the entire piece on merchandise management, which is going to be digitized through HPM, which will also give us levers, which I responded to a question earlier. So, there are drivers for it. As I said, we don't see inflation from a cost perspective. Consumer inflation, demand, yes, there might be an impact, but right now from a cost perspective, we have stayed away and we have managed to make sure that the costs are relatively stable. And therefore, that is not a big driver in terms of margin dilution going forward right now.

Varun Singh

Thank you, Shirish.

Moderator

Thank you very much. The next question is from the line of Akshen from Fidelity Investment. Please go ahead.

Akshen

Okay. So, thank you for the presentation. And, we have been discussing last few quarters on initiatives that you are doing on portfolio and distribution to get the top line growing. I just wanted to ask you a question that, with the mix that you are envisaging, both in terms of products and in terms of distribution, when we look at the business three to five years out, what is the right margin for a business like that? Historically, the margins have been very volatile, but we hit pre-COVID EBITDA margins of 16%, 17%, gone as high as 18%, 19% in quarters. And last year, we were at about, 30%- odd and then we've seen everything in between. So, as the business, hits the kind of strategic changes that you're trying to do. Do you go back to 15%, 16%? Those are healthy levels? So, you think a brand like yours, which is doing as much, should maybe earn a little more?

Gunjan Shah

We are as greedy as you, but we have to, on a lighter note, Akshen, but the point is that our endeavour is to make sure that very clearly, we want sustainable, profitable growth and both go hand in hand. So, it's not just a question of percentage EBITDA margins, but also making sure that we are able to invest enough in terms of driving growth, both current as well as future. So, we would like to make sure that, we don't give you guidance, Akshen, but we want to make sure that it's sustainable, profitable growth from all the benchmarks that you have mentioned.

Akshen

Sure. Let me try to sort of ask this in another way. Your ANP spends for the longest time has been between 1.5% to 2.5%. As you start doing, more premium portfolio within Bata, is there like a sense that this needs to maybe go to 4%, 5%? Or do you think spend levels are appropriate? Basically, what I'm trying to understand is that there's a lot of, optimization of costs, etcetera, which is going on. Is it necessary to do that to just reinvest in the business or some of that will flow through EBITDA?

Gunjan Shah

There was latter. So, some of it, I mean, as we implement it successfully, we will want to invest some of it into our brands as well as the business, as well as, in terms of technology, etcetera, which we have done and we'll continue to do. But some of it, obviously, will make sure that we flow into the EBITDA also.

Akshen

Okay. Great. And a last housekeeping question. As far as the last annual report, you had totally 9,400 employees. I think 4,400 were on roles and 5,000 were on contracts. When you're saying the Southcan VRS is sort of successful, could you help us understand how large the workforce over there would have been? I mean, is it like 10% of workforce, 20% of workforce? Any just rough idea would be fine.

Gunjan Shah

No, it's nowhere near the scale of 10% of workforce. A large part of this workforce is in the stores as well as including in terms of the supply chain. But combined together with the 3PL outsourcing of warehouses, each warehouse is about 300 manpower. Let's say, for example, Southcan was about 140 odd people. So, I think cumulatively, it does have its own impact. I don't have the handy numbers right now, but I'm sure that the team can follow through on that piece with you separately.

Akshen

Okay. That would be great. Thank you and all the best.

Gunjan Shah

Thank you, Akshen.

Ashish Kanodia

Thank you for the opportunity, sir. On the volume growth part, I mean, when you say mid- single-digit decline this quarter, and if you look at this quarter, it basically had the benefit of delayed festive season. And in the base quarter, which was your Q3 FY'23, there was, again, a volume decline of around 5%. And when I looked through the call transcript of two, last quarter you talked about festive season seeing some growth. And had there been no delay in festive, Q2 should have actually reported revenue growth, right? So, on that background, what led to this slightly underwhelming performance on the top line, on the volumes?

Gunjan Shah

Yes. No, I can't agree on that front. In fact, we went in with the same robust philosophy that I talked to you all last quarter with the festive spillover, etc. And we did back it up with money where the horse's mouth is on marketing investments, etc. with consumers. The impact was below par and therefore muted, as you're saying. I think the volume piece is obviously also traded off with the fact that there is a lower price point that is causing bulk of the sluggishness. And that has a disproportionate impact on volumes. At an overall level, higher price points, etcetera, we have seen not only value growths but also volume growths. Because then the mixed impact gets neutralized at the same price point and it's all driven through basically growths of volumes.

Ashish Kanodia

Sure, sir. And just the last bit on marketing, I think you touched upon that. While this quarter, marketing spends are slightly elevated, but on a YTD basis, this spend is mostly normalized. So, if you can just share what that YTD normalized marketing spends are? And do you expect this spend to kind of continue over the next two years? From a percentage perspective, is that the trajectory which you will continue?

Gunjan Shah

So, slightly less than 300 basis points is the pure ATL spend, which is marketing spend. We would ideally want in a normal scenario, we would like this to inch towards 300 basis points and slightly higher over a period of time, as we see response and the business impact coming through on that front.

Ashish Kanodia

Sure, sir. That's very helpful. Thank you.

Gunjan Shah

Thank you, Ashish.

Moderator

Thank you very much. In the interest of time, that was the last question. I would now like to hand the conference over to management for closing comments.

Nitin Bagaria

So, thank you everyone for joining us. Looking forward to interacting with you again. Thanks. Thank you, ICICI.

Moderator

On behalf of ICICI Securities, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us and you may now disconnect your lines. Thank you.

Disclaimer

While we have made our best attempt to prepare a verbatim transcript of the proceedings of the Earnings’ Call, however, this may not be a word-to-word reproduction.