Brands
Cumin Co rises to the occasion with new bakeware and Pooja Dhingra
MUMBAI: Baking in India just got its biggest rise yet and this time, it’s not coming out of an oven but from a homegrown brand betting big on design, science and a dash of star power. Cumin Co, India’s first patented, 100 per cent toxin-free enamel cast iron kitchenware brand, has officially stepped into the bakeware arena, whisking in Pooja Dhingra as the face of its porcelain-grade ceramic and enamel cast iron collection.
For a country where home baking has exploded into a full-blown cultural movement, the category has long lacked products built specifically for Indian kitchens. Cumin Co’s new launch attempts to plug that gap and power a major growth leap. The company is targeting a Rs 100 crore ARR by next year, backed by material innovation, category expansion and rising consumer demand for toxin-free, high-performance kitchenware. With India’s bakeware market currently pegged at $100 million, the brand is aiming to capture 10 per cent of the segment within 2–3 years.
At the heart of the launch is a collection engineered for the pressures and peculiarities of Indian cooking. The porcelain-grade ceramic bakeware promises exceptional heat distribution, easy release, and resistance to stains, oils and lingering aromas, all pain points for Indian bakers battling compact ovens and flavour-heavy recipes. Meanwhile, the four-layer enamel cast iron range, which includes a Braiser and Bread Oven, is crafted for superior heat retention, even crusts and consistent baking outcomes, whether you’re tackling gratins or trying your hand at artisanal sourdough.
But the most flavourful ingredient in the mix is Pooja Dhingra. As India’s most influential baking voice, her presence lends emotional heft and industry credibility to a category that is equal parts technical craft and nostalgic comfort. For millions who learnt to bake with her recipes, reels or cafés, she represents both aspiration and authenticity, a cultural shorthand for everything warm, sweet and home-made.
Co-founders Niharika Joshi and Udit Lekhi say the expansion was born out of necessity. “Indian homes have embraced baking like never before, yet the tools have not kept pace. Most bakeware today isn’t designed for Indian ovens, Indian ingredients or the intensity of Indian cooking routines,” they said. “This collection is our answer to that gap. And having Pooja on board deepens this mission, she embodies the emotional connection, creativity and cultural evolution that baking now holds in Indian households.”
With its patented materials, toxin-free promise and design built around real Indian cooking behaviour, Cumin Co is positioning itself not just as a bakeware challenger but as a full-stack, innovation-led kitchenware ecosystem. If all goes to plan, the brand won’t just rise, it might help India’s entire baking culture rise along with it.
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.
