Brands
PepsiCo launches Cheetos Ocean Safari in line with global nutrition guidelines
MUMBAI: In line with its global sustainability agenda of Performance with Purpose 2025, PepsiCo India has launched Cheetos Ocean Safari that meets its global nutrition guidelines to encourage the consumption of healthier food and beverage products for children.
Cheetos Ocean Safari with the goodness of three grains – whole wheat flour, corn, rice and with the benefits of rice bran oil having lower saturated fat, will cater to the growing need of consumers for healthier snacking option for kids. It provides approximately 15 per cent of daily wholegrain requirement per serving.
This is as part of PepsiCo’s commitment on a global basis to advertise to children under 12 only those products that meets PepsiCo’s Global Nutrition Criteria for advertising to children.
PepsiCo India vice president of snacks category Jagrut Kotecha says, “The new Cheetos – Ocean Safari, made with the goodness of wholegrain and less than 10 per cent RDA for sodium and energy, driven from saturated fat for kids is in line with our global Performance with Purpose (PwP) goals 2025 for reducing sodium and saturated fat levels in our snacks products. Till date we have been successful in reducing 5 per cent to 25 per cent sodium across various variants of our snacks master brands, Lay’s and Kurkure and reduced 15 per cent saturated fat in the entire Lay’s potato chips range.”
Cheetos, the puffed snack brand is available in Cheetos Cheese Puffs, Masala Balls and the newly launched variant Ocean Safari variants. Cheetos Ocean Safari will be available in four exciting 3D animation shapes of Dolphin, Shark, Starfish & Octopus, a first in the puffed snacks category. It will be available in Rs 5 and Rs 10 packs distributed through traditional trade in the cities across South and West India.
PepsiCo entered India in 1989 and has grown to become one of the largest MNC food and beverage businesses in India. PepsiCo India has been consistently investing in the country and has built an expansive beverage and snack food business supported by 62 plants across the country. PepsiCo India’s diverse portfolio includes iconic brands like Pepsi, Lay’s, Kurkure, Tropicana, Gatorade and Quaker.
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.
