Brands
Sterling Holiday Resorts sales promo spends down 24 per cent in Q4-2014
BENGALURU: Sterling Holiday Resorts (India) Limited (Sterling Holidays) sales promotion spend (Sales Promo) Q4-2014 at Rs 2.194 crore (5.91 per cent of net sales) was (-23.99) per cent less than the Rs 2.8866 crore (8.40 per cent of net sales) in the immediate trailing quarter Q3-2014 and (-17.04) per cent less than the Rs 2.6448 crore (9.39 per cent of net sales) of the year ago quarter Q4-2013.
Note: Rs 100 lakh = Rs100,00,000 = Rs 1 crore = Rs 10 million
Over nine quarters starting from Q4-2012 until Q4-2014, Sterling Holiday’s sales promo spend shows a slight downward trend in terms on absolute rupee value, but the drop is much steeper in terms of sales promo as percentage of net sales.
Overall, the company’s net sales show an upward trend and in Q4-2014 at Rs 37.11 crore was 7.98 per cent more than the Rs 34.37 crore in Q3-2014 and was 31.70 per cent more than the Rs 28.18 crore in Q4-2013. Please refer to Fig 1 below.
Over three years starting FY-2012 until FY-2014, Sterling Holidays sales promo spend at Rs 16.48 crore and 12.50 per cent of net sales was 32.90 per cent more than the Rs 12.40 crore (11.40 per cent of net sales) in FY-2013. The company’s net sales in FY-2014 at Rs 131.89 crore was 21.28 per cent more than the Rs 108.75 crore in FY-2013. Please refer to Fig 1A below
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The company has in general been a loss making company. Please refer to Fig 2 below. With a new tie up with Thomas Cook International Limited expected to be completed by the end of this year, the company expects to turn the corner.
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Sterling Holidays says that the significant improvement in the company’s performance in the year is an indicator of the strong resurgence of brand Sterling, a result of the strategic turnaround initiatives over the last couple of years.
It says further that the substantial investments the company made in enhancing the overall customer holiday experience through refurbishment of its resorts and an expanded menu of recreational and culinary experiences have resulted in a healthy rise in the number of Vacation Ownership members and non-members holidaying at the company’s resorts, leading to an increase in resort occupancy to 49 per cent from 41 per cent in the previous year.
Sterling Holidays managing director Ramesh Ramanathan said, “The company’s performance has been improving consistently over the last couple of years. The synergies with Thomas Cook with their wide reach and distribution in the travel space will help us strengthen our market position, increase our occupancy levels and allow expansion to new destinations and markets.”
completed by the end of this year, the company expects to turn the corner.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
