MAM
HUL’s Vikas Gupta joins Flipkart as head of marketing
MUMBAI: Former Hindustan Unilever general manager Vikas Gupta has reportedly joined Flipkart as head of marketing.
A media report quoted Flipkart group chief corporate affairs officer Rajneesh Kumar saying, “Vikas is joining Flipkart after a long, successful stint in Unilever where he has worked in multiple countries and in various functions. He is relocating from Indonesia.”
Gupta had been working with Hindustan Unilever for the past two decades and was working as the general manager at the home care division and VP digital transformation when he resigned.
Gupta penned down an emotional note on his LinkedIn profile as he bid adieu to HUL. He wrote, “I joined this great company in 1998. Over the last 20 years, it has been my home, my school, my playground, my family and my office. Not only did I get the opportunity to work on some of the biggest and most diverse challenges across multiple functions and product categories, I also got to experience living in 5 different countries cross 3 continents. Deep gratitude for everything I experienced, lived and learnt and most of all the wonderful friends I made in this time. Everything I am today, I owe to this beautiful place we call Unilever and the most talented, caring people that make it so. They say you can take a man out of Unilever but never take out Unilever from the man, so I leave with Unilever beating in my heart, always wishing for its success. New adventures beckon, new challenges await. So long Unilever. Farewell for now…till we meet again!”
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.
