Brands
PepsiCo India appoints Saakshi Verma Menon as chief marketing officer for foods
Mumbai: PepsiCo India has named Saakshi Verma Menon as its new chief marketing officer (CMO) for the foods division, as outgoing CMO Anshul Khanna moves into a new role within the company. The announcement comes amid heightened competition and renewed strategic focus on the Indian packaged foods segment.
Menon, a key member of PepsiCo’s India leadership team, will lead the marketing strategy for the company’s foods portfolio, which includes household brands such as Lay’s, Kurkure, Uncle Chipps, Quaker, Cheetos, and Doritos.
“Super pumped to work on some of the most iconic and beloved brands from the house of PepsiCo,” Menon wrote in a LinkedIn post. “These brands have been part of everyday moments for millions, and I’m excited to shape the next chapter of their journey.”
Menon steps into the new role after leading regional brand initiatives for PepsiCo’s AMESA (Africa, Middle East and South Asia) business, where she managed cross-market campaigns for core beverages including Pepsi, 7Up, and Mountain Dew. With over 20 years of marketing experience, she has also held senior roles at Colgate-Palmolive, Uber, and Kimberly-Clark, bringing a blend of global insight and local consumer acumen.
PepsiCo India reported revenues of Rs 8,877 crore and profit after tax of Rs 883.4 crore for the financial year ended 31 December 2024. The company’s snacks segment contributed over Rs 6,800 crore, underscoring the strength of its packaged foods portfolio.
India’s packaged foods market is currently valued at Rs 3.6 trillion, while the carbonated beverages segment stood at $18.25 billion in 2022, according to ICRIER. PepsiCo faces strong competition from both multinational and domestic players, including Coca-Cola, ITC, Bikaji, and Haldiram’s, with bottling operations managed by its partner, Varun Beverages.
To bolster local manufacturing and supply chain capabilities, PepsiCo India last year announced a Rs 1,266 crore investment to set up a flavour manufacturing facility in Ujjain, MadhyaPradesh, expected to be operational in Q1 2026. A second facility is also being developed in Tamil Nadu, reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to the Indian market.
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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.
