MAM
BPCL empanels Law & Kenneth in new team of 4
MUMBAI: Law & Kenneth (L&K), an independent brand communications agency, has bagged the creative duties of state-run oil firm, Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), along with the three incumbent agencies — Lowe Lintas, Saatchi & Saatchi and Euro RSCG.
The account size is pegged at Rs 500 million a year. This amount will be divided amongst the four agencies. The size of the share, however, is not fixed.
BPCL, one of the oldest public sector petroleum and refining organisations in India, calls for a creative pitch every three years. This year, 14 agencies participated in the pitch process.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, L&K CEO Anil Sadasivan Nair said, “We are extremely pleased to be selected among such a tough competition.”
The four agencies are expected to provide the Fortune 500 company with comprehensive support in the areas of advertising and communication.
The company that is engaged in downstream petroleum sector, which consists of refining and marketing activities, is endorsed by Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Formula One driver for Hispania racing team Narain Karthikeyan.
Dhoni promotes premium petrol brand Speed and lubricants brand Mak Lubricants. Narain also endorses premium petrol brand Speed.
Recently, UK creative agency L&K was hired by Hero Honda to create a brand identity for the company, after it parted ways with the 27-year-old partner Honda Motor. Also, Sanjiv Goenka, younger son of Rama Prasad Goenka, is creating a new corporate identity for his share of the RPG Group and has assigned the rebranding job to the agency.
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.
