Brands
Lifebuoy’s automated hand sanitiser dispenser for festive season
MUMBAI: India,is a land of millions of gods and festivals with each occasion seeing a vast number of people in a perfect melting pot of devotion, celebration and food.
From the warm khichudi as bhog in pandals to the street stalls set up to serve delectable dishes, food is an important and indispensable part of the festive fervour. More often than not, food is eaten with unwashed hands due to lack of hand-washing facilities like soap and water. A simple act of cleaning hands before eating food can help protect people from these disease-causing germs.
Lifebuoy, a germ protection soap – noticed this need and decided to address it in form of a “blessing gesture” weaved into an innovative design – the Lifebuoy Germ Nashini conceptualised by Lowe Lintas.
The device dispenses Lifebuoy Hand Sanitizer quickly and conveniently for devotees, killing 99.99 per cent of the germs on hands without water. It is easy-to-use and has been prominently placed in pandals so that the devotees can proceed to eat with clean hands.
This activity to build importance of hand hygiene among devotees has been supported by brand ambassador and Bollywood icon Kajol as well. Lifebuoy #GermNashini has been installed in three cities and being used to amplify awareness of hand hygiene through multiple social media platform.
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.
