Brands
BARC week 36: Patanjali tops individually, HUL brands top in overall in ad insertions
BENGALURU: Personal care, confectionary, food and beverage, oral-care, automobile brands were among the top ten advertisers during BARC week 36 in terms of ad insertions. Though Patanjali Ayurved Limited brand Patanjali led in terms of the maximum number of ad insertions, six of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) brands were also a part of the top ten brands list – and the combined ad insertions of 79,767 by the six HUL brands was a little more than triple of Patanjali’s insertions
Patanjali led the top ten brands across genres all India (U+R): 4+ individuals in terms of ad insertions with 26,579 insertions in BARC week 36. Far behind at second place was HUL’s Fair & Lovely (personal care) brand with 15,640 insertions, followed by another HUL brand Lakme (personal care) at number three with 14,765 insertions.
Mondelez International’s confectionary brand Cadbury was at fourth place with 13,532 insertions, while Colgate-Palmolive Company oral care brand Colgate was at fifth with 13,189 insertions. Three of HUL’s brands – Surf (home care), Dove (personal care) and Pond’s (personal care) were at sixth, seventh and eighth places with 12,982, 12,711 and 12,479 insertions each respectively. Automobile brand Honda followed at ninth place with 11,199 closely followed at tenth place by HUL’s beverage or food and drink brand Brooke Bond with 11,190 ad insertions.
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.
