Brands
MRF Tyres launches Biking community for passionate bikers
MUMBAI: Leading Indian Tyre manufacturer MRF Tyres on Friday announced the launch of a one of a kind riding community ‘Ride Along with MRF.’
During the ICC Cricket World T20, MRF launched an initiative to add Thrill to the lives of two-wheeler owners across India. With over three lakh riders participating, it was a highly successful campaign. It also gave MRF an insight into the latent needs of bikers across India. So MRF decided to cater to these needs and fuel the passion of the riders.
This fan run portal launched by MRF aims at making group riding a more accepted phenomenon. Two-wheeler owners across India have the passion for riding, but most feel that it is a very daunting task. MRF aims at not only catering to the rising need but also making ‘going on rides’ a safe, enjoyable activity that any two wheeler owner can set out to do. The idea is to create a place where a rider, with any bike or biking experience, can come and fuel his/her passion for riding.
Additionally, MRF will also galvanise fellow riders to join the monthly ‘Ride for a Cause’ promoting a social cause or celebrating an occasion. These will be special rides which aim to raise awareness about cause across India.
Commenting on the eve of the launch of this unique initiative, MRF Tyres marketing- EVP Koshy Varghese said, “Most biking communities in India are for hard-core bikers. They are either started by Bike Brands or a set of enthusiastic riders of a particular kind of bike. Our vision is to get every bike owner in India to explore India on two-wheels. All they need is a passion for riding. So we have created a platform that helps organise and plan weekend trips that anyone can do. We want 3 or 4 friends with bikes to set simply out on rides, armed with information, support and fun ideas while being fully prepared and safe. And above all, we want to create ride stories for everyone to remember and share with their friends and family.“
While the community will start off with MRF Ride Ambassadors in 9 cities across India namely – Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Pune, Nagpur, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Dharmashala.
Some of the key features of the community are – find exclusive Ride ideas, curate ride stories across the country for the larger public, meet and network with fellow bikers, etc.
Brands
Jubilant Foodworks to end Dunkin’ franchise in India
Pizza chain operator will not renew agreement when it expires at end of 2026.
MUMBAI: When the doughnuts stop turning and the coffee goes cold, even a global giant like Dunkin’ can find the Indian market a tough brew to crack. Jubilant Foodworks has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with Dunkin’ when the pact expires on 31 December 2026, according to a Reuters report. The operator, best known for running Domino’s outlets in India, said it would evaluate options for its existing Dunkin’ stores, including a potential sale or transfer of franchise rights, in consultation with the US-based brand.
The decision follows years of underperformance in a market where local tastes and intense competition have made it difficult for international coffee-and-doughnut formats to gain traction. Jubilant, which has increasingly focused on its core pizza business and newer bets like Popeyes, indicated that the exit would not materially affect its financial or operational position.
Dunkin’ accounted for just 0.61 per cent of Jubilant’s revenue in the fiscal year ending 2025 and recorded a loss of approximately Rs 191 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company operated 27 outlets as of December 2025, having shuttered seven stores over the preceding year.
The retreat comes even as Jubilant’s broader business shows signs of momentum. The company reported a 65 per cent rise in quarterly profit for the October to December period, reaching Rs 70.9 crore, up from Rs 42.91 crore a year earlier.
For Jubilant, the exit reflects a sharpening strategic focus. For Dunkin’, it marks another setback in a market that has proven resistant to imported café concepts without significant localisation.
In the cut-throat world of Indian quick-service restaurants, sometimes the sweetest deals are the ones you quietly walk away from leaving more room for the brands that truly rise to the occasion.
