MAM
Zodiak Kids launches international research department
MUMBAI: Zodiak Kids, Zodiak Media‘s children‘s division, has set up an international research department and promoted François Vallerian to VP, marketing research, Zodiak Kids from his previous position as Marathon Media‘s research manager.
The research lab will provide market information to all Zodiak Kids production companies including Marathon Media (Totally Spies, Redakai), Tele Images Productions (The Basketeers, Extreme Football), The Foundation (Waybuloo, Mister Maker), Zodiak Active (The Qpiz), as well as to its international sales and licensing teams.
The surveys, conducted by independent institutes, will assess Zodiak Kids‘ new developments in order to help creative teams adhere to kids‘ expectations, and also assess the sales potential of its current productions in key territories.
The research unit will focus on three different areas: Commission qualitative and quantitative studies with kids in Europe and North America; Track the performance of Zodiak‘s shows worldwide for its sales team; and monitor key market trends worldwide.
It will look into international property launches, audience hits, changes in kids‘ expectations, developing themes, emerging genres, and changes in interactivity as well as taking a broader look at the evolving relationship between kids & families and media & leisure activities.
One of the first surveys commissioned by the new research lab was an online panel conducted in the USA on the animated series The Basketeers, produced by Tele Images Productions for M6, by Harris Interactive and Aloa Consulting.
The panel revealed excellent results among children 6-11: 77 per cent of them liked the show, and 85 per cent of them judged The Basketeers to be “very different from what they know”. They appreciated the mix of action, adventure, basketball and comedy that, according to 65 per cent of them. It appeals to girls just as much as boys. These results are very encouraging for sales of the programme in the US.
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.
