MAM
Group M-owned MediaCom India wins Rs 200 crore media mandate for Parle Agro
MUMBAI: Parle Agro, one of India’s largest beverage company with iconic brands like – Frooti, Appy & Appy Fizz, has awarded its media mandate worth Rs 200 crores to Group M owned media agency MediaCom India, following a multi-agency pitch that lasted well over three months.
As the full form AOR for Parle Agro in India, MediaCom will be responsible for the media strategy, planning, buying and implementation for all media in Indian sub-continent. Atahe account will be supervised by the MediaCom Mumbai office starting December 2019.
Announcing the deal, Nadia Chauhan, Joint Managing Director and CMO, Parle Agro said, “We are happy to have MediaCom on board. As Parle Agro gears up for the next level of growth, our strategic partnership with MediaCom will help drive our aggressive targets through innovative and disruptive media strategies.“
Commenting on the win, Prasanth Kumar, CEO, Group M South Asia, said, "First, massive congratulations to Mediacom on the Parle Agro business win. It’s a very special moment for us. It is a fantastic opportunity to work on the portfolio of iconic brands across the Parle Agro group. And am confident Navin and his team will continue to bring in their collective experience and leverage our network’s strengths to deliver the best for Parle Agro’s portfolio of brands."
Navin Khemka, CEO, MediaCom South Asia, added, "Parle Agro has a long and illustrious history – it has established leading household beverage brands by creating innovative and iconic products for over 34 years. We are completely in sync with their philosophy – and what makes this partnership even more exciting is that pursuing growth is our primary target, which calls for an extremely dynamic association. We are looking forward to creating an unmatched brand experience for our consumers. "
A pioneer in the beverage industry, Parle Agro Pvt. Ltd. is the largest Indian beverage company with a brand turnover of Rs 5000 crore.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â 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.
