MAM
Wpp Media bags integrated media mandate for Leeford Healthcare
MUMBAI: Wpp Media has won the integrated media mandate for five of Leeford Healthcare Limited’s strategic consumer brands, covering atl, full-funnel digital, e-commerce, q-commerce, performance marketing, and seo. The win marks a significant expansion of Wpp Media’s footprint in India’s healthcare and personal care sector.
Under the mandate, Wpp Media will oversee end-to-end planning and buying across key platforms, leveraging data-led strategies to deliver scale, efficiency, and measurable impact. For Leeford, one of India’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical and healthcare companies and the second-largest player in general medicine, the partnership aims to strengthen brand visibility, optimise consumer journeys, and drive sustainable business growth.
“Leeford Healthcare’s journey is rooted in trust while rapidly scaling into personal care and orthopedics,” said Wpp Media South Asia president- client solutions Navin Khemka. “This mandate goes beyond media, it’s about shaping how a brand of scale connects with millions in a digital-first world. By fusing data intelligence, commerce expertise, and creative storytelling, we aim to craft seamless consumer experiences across platforms.”
Echoing the sentiment, Leeford Healthcare founder & managing director Amit Gupta said, “Our vision is to build Leeford into a diversified consumer powerhouse that blends healthcare credibility with lifestyle relevance. To scale this vision, we needed a partner who could combine strategy with execution and Wpp Media is best equipped to help fuel the next chapter of our growth story.”
Founded with the purpose of making quality healthcare more accessible, Leeford Healthcare continues to evolve into a broad-based health, wellness, and personal care brand. With this partnership, both companies are set to craft a media strategy that’s equal parts precision, performance, and purpose, a formula fit for India’s fast-changing healthcare landscape.
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.
