MAM
Hyundai to spend Rs 2 bn over 5 years on cricket ads
NEW DELHI: Hyundai expects to spend around Rs 2 billion over the next five years on promoting cricket, which works out to around 25 to 30 per cent of its total ad spend.
Hyundai Motor India general manager for advertising G Sanjay told indiantelevision.com that around 70 per cent of this would go into television and rest into print, online and other advertising. He also said his company promoted only cricket among sports as Indians were passionate about this game.
Sanjay said Hyundai had worked out several ways to market the ICC Cricket World Cup including merchandising and free offers. People taking test drives on the Hyundai i10 would be eligible to two tickets, and those buying a car will get the tickets and other merchandise including a cricket set and T-shirts. There will also be lucky draw for those purchasing tickets.
Speaking on the sidelines of a meet where Hyundai announced its tie-up with ICC Cricket World Cup as the official car partner for five years till 2015, he said one decked-up car in the three metros of Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai will go around the city from 10 to 16 February with two white cricket balls on top to promote the Cup. These balls will then be flown to Dhaka prior to the opening match. Each car has been specially painted with all the National colours of the participating teams and emblem of the Cup.
He said the special Hyundai ICC Cricket anthem rendered by Shaan on the theme ‘We’re Game’ and released today will be part of the television advertising.
He said in reply to a question that ten brands were involved in the ground advertising. These included Hyundai, LG, Hero Honda, Reliance, Pepsi, Castrol, Reebok, Yahoo and Moneygram. The two on air sponsors were Nokia and Sony with six associate sponsors that included LG and Hero Honda.
He said Hyundai had still not decided its programme with regard to the Indian Premier League. The ICC was an India-led phenomenon while IPL was more domestic.
He said Hyundai preferred to promote its products through business and news channels rather than general entertainment channels.
Addressing the press meet earlier, Marketing and Sales Director Arvind Saksena said the amount to be spent on cricket year to year could vary and would be decided at the time of the event.
This also depended on the format – one-dayers, T-20 etc. Women’s World Cup, and the number of teams playing each year.
Hyundai will also set up Hyundai Fan Parks with large TV sets where customers could gather to see the matches, enjoy refreshments and win tickets.
The press meet was also addressed by Hyundai MD and CEO H W Park, and International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat.
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.
