MAM
Wonderla Holdiays to up media spends, in expansion mode
BANGALORE: Regional amusement park player Wonderla Holidays plans to increase its mass media communication spends to Rs 90 million this year, up from the Rs 50 million plus that it spent last year.
Wonderla also announced two new amusement park projects in Hyderabad and Chennai by 2014 and its advent into the ‘three star’ category hospitality segment by way of resorts at the location of its amusement parks.
The amusement park major has plans to invest around Rs 3 billion towards these new ventures. Wonderla also announced two new rides at its facility near Bangalore – The ‘Equinox’ ride and ‘Cine Magic 3D’.
Currently, Wonderla has two amusement parks – one each near Bangalore and Kochi. It has been using the regional media – print, television, radio, OOH, and outdoor on a need basis.
“We have been using two or three television spots per day on most of the regional channels in Karnataka and Kerala as and when the need arises. We typically spend around 10 per cent of our revenues on mass media communications, and based on our higher revenues we plan to spend around Rs 90 million this year. Some of these funds will go towards mass media communications for the new properties. Once we start operations in Hyderabad and Chennai, our media spends will also go up proportionately,” revealed Wonderla spokesperson.
Besides within Bangalore and Kochi, the company also uses radio in the major towns around these cities. Typically, this would be 3 or 4 stations per town, and the spend would be anything between Rs.150,000 to Rs. 300,000 per station per year.
Kerala-based Media Mate handles the creative work and part of the media buying, while Wonderla handles most of the media buying including television media buying directly.
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.
