MAM
PepsiCo takes Parle Agro to court over ‘For the Bold’ tagline
Mumbai: PepsiCo India has filed a trademark violation case against Mumbai-based beverages major Parle Agro over the use of the tagline- ‘For The Bold’ by the latter for the beverage B Fizz launched last year.
The US beverage and packaged food company moved the Delhi high court earlier this month claiming a trademark infringement with the multinational, arguing in its petition that ‘For The Bold’ was a registered trademark of its Doritos chips brand globally, which Parle Agro used for its ‘B-Fizz’ beverage.
PepsiCo pleaded with the court to restrain the Mumbai-based beverages company from “infringement, passing-off, dilution, and unfair trade competition”. The court directed Parle Agro to file a written response in a month while fixing the next date of hearing on 16 July.
PepsiCo India has also sought Rs two crore in damages and a permanent injunction against the Frooti & Appy Fizz brands from using the cited tagline, alleging it would result in a “violation of the statutory and exclusive proprietary rights of the PepsiCo”. It has also sought an order for delivery of “destruction of all products including bottles, cans, packing material, stationery, carry bags, price stickers, visiting cards, billboards, brochures, promotional material, point of sale material, letterheads, cash memos, signboards, signposts, leaflets, cartons or any other items of whatsoever description and nature, bearing the expression/ tagline ‘For The Bold’”.
The maker of Frooti & Appy Fizz had launched the malt-based B-Fizz carbonated soft drink last October, in a fresh attempt to grab a larger market share in the fizzy beverages category. The fizzy drink is being promoted by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Jr NTR in South Indian markets. Cans and bottles of the beverage come with taglines “Be the Fizz! For the Bold!” and “Positioned as a drink for the Bold, B-Fizz presents a unique, bold, and invigorating taste profile,” the company had stated at the time.
On the other hand, the New York-based giant has used “For The Bold’ as a tagline for its tortilla chips brand Doritos since 2013. According to PepsiCo, Doritos is a $1-billion-plus flagship brand that is one of the fastest-growing snack brands in the snacks and beverage major’s portfolio. In 2017, the company announced that it is producing Doritos in India at its snacks manufacturing facility in Kolkata.
Meanwhile, both the parties involved declined to comment on the matter saying the case was sub judice.
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.
