MAM
Aircel to launch PocketBuddies campaign
BENGALURU: Telcom player Aircel announced the all India launch of a new product ‘PocketBuddies- Srf n txt‘ in Bengaluru. The company plans to back this product with what would probably be its biggest mass media and BTL campaign this year, according to industry sources.
Since PocketBuddies is a value unlimited surfing and texting plan, the thrust would be on digital, online and social networks combined with television and other mass media communications including radio. The main TG of the campaign will be the youth of India. The campaign will go on for over a 4 to 6 week period and will be rolled out within the next 2-3 weeks.
Aircel has been spending big money towards branding. It had signed the most expensive sponsorship deal in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2011 to renew its sponsorship contract with the Chennai Super Kings- Rs 850 million for three years. It had signed on M S Dhoni, the captain of the Indian cricket team, as brand ambassador for a reported Rs 270 million for a three year period, also in 2011.
Speaking at the launch of PocketBuddies Aircel regional business head Hamir Bakshi said, “Youth has always been the primary focus at Aircel. They are a generation that has seen it all – from television to computers and now smart phones. The youth of today is digital savvy who likes to stay connected with their friends and family and peer groups on a second to second basis, PockeBudies will be received well by them.”
Aircel also announced registrations for the Aircel College Brand Ambassador – Harvard Business Certification Program which will enable youth to hone their sales and marketing skills. Selected candidates will have to undergo on the job training at Aircel with the successful candidates having the opportunity to qualify for a special Harvard Business Certification Program.
Aircel also announced the launch of a series of inspirational lectures by eminent speakers representing various industries called ‘Aircel -The Power of Inspiration‘. The series is planned to run over a period of 25 weeks targeting educational institutions present in 25 different cities in India.
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.
