Brands
Parle rules the roost as Britannia bags snack crown in Brand Footprint 2025
MUMBAI: Looks like Parle still has India eating out of its hand. The biscuit-to-snack giant has once again topped the charts as the most chosen in-home FMCG brand, retaining its #1 spot for the 13th year running with a whopping 8,605 million Consumer Reach Points (CRPs), according to Worldpanel by Numerator’s Brand Footprint India 2025. Right on its heels was Britannia at 8,241m CRPs, while dairy heavyweight Amul secured third place with 6,517m CRPs. Clinic Plus held steady at #4, but the real climber was Surf Excel, which finally scrubbed its way into the Top 5 in-home brands with 3,438m CRPs, rising from #8 in 2023 to #5 this year.
Haldiram’s pulled off a masala move, breaking into the Top 10 in-home list for the first time, climbing from #19 in 2023 to #10 this year with 2,513m CRPs. Other standout performers included Balaji, which expanded its rural snack pack reach adding 10 million shoppers ( plus 22 per cent CRP growth), and Godrej Expert Crème, which boosted its shopper base by 15 million (plus 37 per cent CRP growth).
When it comes to out-of-home (OOH) snacking, Britannia kept its crown with 655m CRPs, but it was Balaji that made the biggest crunch, jumping to #2 with 510m CRPs, followed by Haldiram’s (460m), Cadbury (458m), and Parle (299m). Amul also rose to #6, riding a creamy plus 19 per cent CRP growth.
While FMCG brand choices in India grew in 2024, the pace was slower, dragged by a food and beverage sector slowdown. Yet, India continues to outpace global averages: 60:40 odds of growth here, compared to 50:50 worldwide. Interestingly, smaller brands are punching above their weight, showing higher CRP growth, while big players slow down.
“Growth comes from expanding the shopper base, whether through innovation, new formats or deeper rural reach. India remains a vibrant market with challenger brands steadily gaining ground,” said Worldpanel by Numerator MD for South Asia K. Ramakrishnan.
With 414 brands across foods, home care, beauty, beverages and dairy in the study, the 2025 report confirms what Indians have always known whether at home or out, their brand loyalties are built bite by bite.
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.
