MAM
Herbalife renews association with Saina Nehwal
BANGALORE: Buoyed by her impressive performance at the recently concluded London Olympics, Herbalife, the global nutrition, weight management and skin-care brand, has renewed its association with star badminton player and Olympics medalist Saina Nehwal for another year till 2013.
The nutrition brand also felicitated Nehwal along with boxer Mary Kom for winning bronze medals at London Olympics with cash awards of Rs 500,000 each. The company announced a lifetime supply of Herbalife inner nutrition products for both the athletes.
Nehwal has been associated with Herbalife since 2009, while Kom came on board in 2010. Kom’s association with the brand runs till 2013.
“Our sports sponsorship program aims to strengthen the link between Herbalife nutrition and sports, which exemplify the healthy lifestyle that we promote,” said Herbalife India country head Ajay Khanna.
Apart from Nehwal and Kom, cricketer Virat Kohli, squash player Dipika Pallikal and tennis player Somdev Devvarman also endorse Herbalife.
Overall Herbalife sponsors about 150 sportspersons, teams and events globally including soccer teams LA Galaxy, FC Barcelona, and soccer player Leo Messi.
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.
