Brands
Zepto rings in new year with a culture-led party in Delhi
NEW DELHI: Zepto is welcoming 2026 with a celebration that promises to be anything but predictable. Following the buzz around The Great Indian Fake Shaadi, the quick commerce brand is expanding its cultural playbook with Not Another New Year Party, an immersive New Year’s Eve experience that taps into how young Indians really come together to celebrate.
Set to take place in Delhi, the event reworks the familiar New Year party through a contemporary, youth-first lens. Blending nostalgia, music and shared joy, the celebration is designed as a lively cultural gathering with the playful spirit of an Indian mela. Carnival-style games, live dance performances and music-led moments come together to create an atmosphere that feels equal parts familiar and fresh.
The event adds another milestone to Zepto’s growing slate of cultural properties, reinforcing its focus on relevance-led brand building. The celebration is supported by a strong lineup of partners, with Google Pay as the title sponsor, alongside Mondelez India, CeraVe, Park Avenue, Blue Heaven and Unilever brands including Hellmann’s, Knorr and Kissan. Each brand integration is woven seamlessly into the experience, enhancing the event without breaking its flow.
“Celebrations are deeply ingrained in how young Indians connect and express themselves,” said Zepto chief brand officer Chandan Mendiratta. “Not Another New Year Party reflects that spirit. For us, this is less about scale and more about showing up meaningfully in moments that matter, in ways that feel intuitive and authentic rather than transactional.”
Building on the success of earlier cultural initiatives such as Fake Shaadi, the new platform reflects Zepto’s philosophy of relevance over reach. By investing in experiences that live both on-ground and online, the brand continues to move beyond transactions, meeting consumers where culture, community and celebration naturally intersect.
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.
