MAM
Havas Media bags the integrated mandate for Valvoline
MUMBAI: Following a multi-agency pitch, Havas Media India has secured the integrated mandate of lubricant company Valvoline – ‘the Original Engine Oil’. The mandate includes offline, online and OOH duties. Havas Media Group India president & chief client officer Uday Mohan led the pitch, and the business will be handled by his Delhi team.
“At Valvoline, we firmly believe in the quality of execution and power of innovation to remain a step ahead of market demands,” Valvoline Cummins chief marketing officer Ipshita Chowdhury said. “As a brand, the 3 key values we stand by are – being Humble, being Hungry and being Smart. We wanted an agency that could emulate these values and Havas Media made the right cultural fit. I’m confident of Havas Media’s capabilities, and their strategic, audience-centric, meaningful media approach, in strengthening the effectiveness of our marketing initiatives, with a focus on building the upper funnel awareness and brand equity.”
“We are proud to have secured the integrated media mandate of Valvoline, a leading global brand in the lubricant category,” said Havas Media Group India CEO Mohit Joshi. “In India, Valvoline Cummins’ long-term, sustainable and ambitious plans, coupled with its 25-year-old legacy, is set to carve a niche for itself, making it a market leader in the segment. We look forward to driving the next phase of growth for the brand using Havas’ proprietary tools and by creating meaningful media experiences.”
Valvoline Cummins Private Limited (VCPL) manufactures a wide range of fluids, viz., engine oils, gear oils, radiator coolants, brake fluids etc. for engines made by various OEMs. The company has a team of over 400 employees across the country, more than 450 distributors, 50,000 resellers and 2,000 direct customers, according to the company, and serves varied audiences, ranging from a mechanic, truck driver, farmer, and the end consumer.
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.
