MAM
Grapes appoints Akshay Bhatla as VP of growth
Mumbai: Grapes, one of the leading integrated communication agency has appointed Akshay Bhatla as vice president of growth for SEO and organic verticals.
At Grapes, he will take the helm of the organic vertical, where he will oversee a diverse array of functions including SEO, ASO, ORM, CRM, and advanced analytics across multiple geographies. His leadership will be pivotal in driving the exponential growth of Grapes organic department growth.
Akshay has more than a decade of experience and in his previous stint, he served as vice president of growth & marketing at EQL Fintech where he led digital marketing, user growth and retention, product marketing, etc. Prior to this, he worked with some renowned brands like Times Internet, Meesho, Zee Media, Dainik Bhaskar and Augnito, to name a few. As a VP of growth, he will oversee the SEO and organic strategy, will align various initiatives and enable his digital capabilities to support growth at Grapes.
Grapes founder and CEO Shradha Agarwal commented, “In today’s landscape, digital offers multiple services bringing from Tech, SEO, Growth, Creative, PR and it’s challenging to streamline the process in same growth. Whereas, clients seek a one-stop solution that comprehensively understands these services and seamlessly integrates them to develop a robust long-term strategy. With Akshay Bhatla on board, we aim to establish multiple strong verticals capable of leading each client’s specific priorities, while being connected to the overall brand and business objective, remaining aligned with the overarching strategic marketing approach that grapes offer.”
Grapes’ VP – growth Akshay Bhatla commented, “I am honored to be a part of such a great organization. Grapes has been integral in blazing the digital marketing trail for the industry on a large scale, and it’s incredibly exciting to be a part of this team. As I take this opportunity to deliver winning growth strategies that enrich the customer experience across the board, I look forward to cherishing this industry-leading work as head of SEO and other organic channels.”
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.
