Brands
A fresh twist in Powai as Freshpik spices up Brookfield’s retail mix
MUMBAI: From aisle to style, Powai just got tastier. Brookfield Properties has rolled out the red carpet quite literally for Reliance’s premium gourmet grocery store, Freshpik, now open at Spectra in Downtown Powai. Think artisanal cheeses, global delicacies, and fresh produce and toss in a coffee bar and live culinary counters for good measure.
It’s not your regular supermarket run. Freshpik’s sleek layout invites shoppers to linger, browse, and indulge in what can only be described as a wellness-forward, sensory delight. With a focus on interactive experiences and conscious consumption, this marks Freshpik’s second store and its very first foray into Mumbai’s eastern suburbs.
And if that’s not enough star power, wellness icon Malaika Arora added her sparkle to the store’s launch, elevating the glamour quotient and reinforcing the brand’s lifestyle ethos.
For Brookfield Properties, which manages over 55 million sq. ft. of real estate across India, this is more than just retail therapy. Downtown Powai, already buzzing with workspaces, eateries, and shopping, now has another reason to draw in discerning Mumbaikars.
With this new addition, Brookfield continues to blend commerce with culture, offering not just places to shop or work, but places to truly live. And for Powai’s residents and visitors? Grocery runs may never be the same again.
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.
