Brands
Parle Products brings back consumer favourite Rol.a.Cola
MUMBAI: Parle Products, India’s leading biscuits and confectionery manufacturer, today announced the relaunch of its most popular confectionery product Rol.a.Cola on the back of popular demand led by the social media buzz earlier this year. Priced at Rs 5 and Rs 20, Rol.a.Cola will not only make its way back into Parle's other iconic product line-up but also mark one of the biggest brands moves in Indian FMCG in the recent past.
Rol.a.Cola, the hard-boiled candy with the Cola flavour is a rolled format which was discontinued by Parle in 2006. 13 years hence in February 2019, after a social media user tweeted requesting Parle to bring back his favourite cola candy, Parle Products sought 10,000 retweets to bring back Rol.a.Cola. In response, consumer driven #BringRolaColaBack campaign went viral and secured more than 711k impressions on Twitter. Soon, Parle Products initiated the #RolaColaIsComingBack campaign to assure the consumers that their wish was granted. This is the first time in India that a product was making a comeback because of a digital movement run completely organically by users. The entire campaign on social media garnered a whopping 5M digital footprints.
Speaking on the launch, Krishnarao S Buddha, Sr. Category Head – Marketing at Parle Products commented, “While a tweet created a disruption in the market for a comeback of the iconic Rol.a.Cola candy, we connected with the emotions to honour consumers demand. Earlier, consumers had no platform in which they could voice their opinions and concerns. Now, they can simply reach out to a brand they like and let them know what they think. Today, each user is an influencer who played an essential role in our marketing efforts. The love received by people led us to accelerate the manufacturing of the candy and we are extremely thrilled to give back the Rol.a.Cola to our consumers.”
He further added that, “Our classic Rol.a.Cola candies were made to be shared with others. By maintaining its rolled candy format, we hope that adults as well as kids are inspired to share a candy and make new connections with people.”
Parle is changing how it does business, thereby transforming the way brands interact with consumers, making it personalized and adopting a pro-consumer approach. As a pioneer in the FMCG space, the company has begun its robust distribution for the confectionary and is expected to be available in every market within this month. With a modernised packaging and fresh approach to connect with consumers, the company has assured consumers that the candy will retain its original taste and will be priced at Rs 5 for same roll candy format. For the modern trade channel, Parle is looking to launch a bigger multiple pack offering priced at Rs 20 a unit.
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.
