MAM
Cannes Lions: Starcom MediaVest Group grabs ‘Media Network of the Year’ award
MUMBAI: Starcom MediaVest Group has bagged the ‘Media Network of the Year’ award at the ongoing Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Three days into the annual festival, SMG’s total across all categories includes 34 wins and 120 shortlists.
‘The Media Network of the Year’ win comes as a result of SMG’s three Silvers, nine Bronzes and 14 shortlists in the Media Lions category. Winning campaigns have come from clients including Bank of America, Esurance, Heineken and Samsung, among others.
The win has come less than two weeks after SMG was named the Most Effective Agency and Most Effective Agency Network by the Effie Index at the North American Effie Awards Gala in New York, where Publicis Groupe also took top honours as Most Effective Holding Company. In April, SMG was awarded Agency Network of the Year at the Festival of Media Global Awards in Rome for the second year in a row.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the work SMG is producing for its clients around the globe,” said Starcom MediaVest Group Global CEO Laura Desmond.
“Winning Media Network of the Year after our previous wins is truly incredible and proves that we’re at the top of our game. The work we’re producing for our clients is inspired by creativity and informed by converged data, a combination that is clearly resonating with the industry. We’re thrilled to be able to create these campaigns for our clients and have that hard work and dedication recognised here at Cannes,” added Desmond.
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.
