MAM
India’s online retail market to hit $100 bn by 2020: Kantar IMRB report
MUMBAI: Kantar IMRB has launched a report on India’s shopping scenario in 2017 that provides comprehensive insights on buying behaviour of India’s online shoppers. The study is conducted among active internet users in urban India covering a vast range of categories.
Dubbed as the fastest growing e-tail market in the world and with the online retail market in India expected to touch $100 billion by 2020, the space accommodates a vast array of players and complex market dynamics.
It is an end-to-end environment scan of Indian e-tail landscape, with insights on consumer behaviour across demographic groups, market dynamics, online vs brick and mortar and other emerging trends. Furthermore, the report also offers a bird’s eye view of the changing landscape due to policy developments, lays down special focus on festive season and sector specific trends.
Kantar IMRB head of digital Akhil Almeida says, “This comprehensive study will serve as a critical decision-making tool for both marketers as well as e-tail players. 2017, by all accounts, has been a landmark year for the Indian e-tail market with 4G-led mobile internet usage galloping and with an increasing presence of digital wallets. Despite the demonetisation shock, the whopping numbers recorded in the space both in terms of buyers and spends, stand testimony to the still-to-be-unleashed potential of e-tail in India’’.
The report aims to answer critical questions about mapping the e-tail landscape, size of e-tail market, who is the buyer, how different are the buying pattern in large cities vs. small cities, how often do these consumers buy? And how much are they ready to spend, etc.
The report gives nuances of the online shopping space by slicing out shoppers for different categories, festival versus non-festival months, ticket size and frequency that can help brand formulate blueprint to craft their e-tail strategies.
Insights for the report were derived from an exhaustive study of 50,000 online shoppers across urban India. Respondents across different age-groups, locations, socio-economic backgrounds and gender participated in this study.
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.
