MAM
Carat to handle media duties of ABC Consultants
MUMBAI: Carat Media has won the media planning and buying duties of recruitment services brand ABC Consultants.
ABC will conduct an identity revival exercise and plans to execute a high voltage mass media campaign through Carat by investing close to Rs 100 million. The company aims to further strengthen its brand recall in the premier executive search and selection business.
Carat would be providing solutions for ABC Consultants through all its Aegis media partner agencies — Isobar, Posterscope, Carat Fresh and iProspect.
The campaign that is expected to break soon will be a combination of both ATL and BTL activities. The company is looking at print and online activities, along with direct B2B communication with clients, while the electronic medium, too, might be taken forward.
ABC Consultants CEO Shiv Agrawal said, “We are undergoing a major strategic renewal. In a growth-oriented scenario, we want to be the mind leader as far as quality manpower recruitment is concerned. We are delighted to have Carat Media as our partner in this endeavour of ours.”
Carat Media senior VP Vidhu Sagar added, “We feel privileged to be chosen for this exercise as ABC Consultants already has a significant draw in the marketplace as far as its brand equity is concerned. We would look to partner ABC Consultants through our integrated communication planning process and help them achieve their objectives.”
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.
