MAM
Kaizzen appoints Ashish Gupta to lead its new research wing, Kaizzen Insights
New Delhi: Public Relations and digital media agency Kaizzen on Tuesday appointed Ashish Gupta as director to lead its new research wing Kaizzen Insights.
He will be working closely with Kaizzen founder Vineet Handa. Gupta brings with him over three decades of experience in business journalism and has worked with The Times of India, Indian Express, Outlook Business, Business Today and Fortune India in the past. He will do a deep dive into issues of contemporary importance and try to figure out solutions to these complex challenges affecting the country, said the agency.
“Ashish is a highly experienced and respected business journalist with over three decades of experience in mainstream media and I welcome him to our India leadership team. His deep understanding and insights of varied sectors and industries will be a great asset for Kaizzen,” said Kaizzen, founder and CEO, Vineet Handa. “I believe that with the launch of Kaizzen Insights we will be able to transform Kaizzen into a knowledge-based and data-led communications consultancy. This will also help our existing clients in getting more informed communication and policy advocacy services.”
Prior to joining Kaizzen, Gupta was working with Fortune India as deputy editor and chief of bureau. He has written extensively on the Indian economic reforms, national budgets and monetary policies over the years, gyrations of the stock market, infrastructure challenges and the rise of new-age technologies. He has also tracked the rise and fall of various corporations in different sectors. Before Fortune India, he was the deputy editor at Outlook Business magazine and prior to that worked as an associate editor at Business Today.
“I am excited to join Kaizzen as director, Insights, and hope to work with Vineet in his new endeavor to make the transformational journey a success. I hope to bring all my journalistic and other experiences to work for further growth of the company,” said Gupta.
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.
