Brands
Authenticity in the chaos: Taj Cement’s bold call for trust
MUMBAI: In a world overwhelmed by countless choices, where authenticity often gets lost in the noise, who do you trust? The Indian marketplace has long relied on a singular compass: trusted brands. They are the beacon in the chaos, offering not just products but promises of quality, integrity, and dependability.
Amidst this landscape, Taj Cement—a name synonymous with reliability in construction—has launched a stirring new campaign, ‘The Honest Cement’, during its Annual Dealer’s Conference 2023-24 at Mayfair Resort, Sonapur. With its powerful message of trust and ethical practices, the campaign cuts through the noise, reminding us that true strength lies not just in the structures we build but in the principles that lay their foundation.
Rooted in the enduring values of authenticity and quality, Taj Cement calls on the construction industry to embrace transparency and integrity, elevating its role as more than just a supplier of materials, but a trusted partner in building India’s future.
The conference, attended by 300 dealers, served as a platform for Taj Cement to reaffirm its commitment to delivering reliable and durable products. Through this initiative, the company aims to empower builders, dealers, and consumers to make choices rooted in honesty, building not just stronger structures but also stronger communities.
“At Taj Cement, we believe that honesty is the cornerstone of trust and lasting relationships. With The Honest Cement campaign, we aim to inspire everyone to uphold integrity and transparency at all levels. Just as our cement strengthens structures, our commitment to honesty strengthens communities and the bonds we share with our customers,” said Taj Cement, Group CFO, Sanjeev Surekha.
As part of its refreshed positioning, Taj Cement unveiled redesigned packaging for its flagship products: Taj Dhalai Cement and Taj Premium Cement. The modernised design symbolises the company’s focus on innovation and enhancing customer experience, aligning with its broader vision of fostering trust and transparency.
The Annual Dealer’s Conference featured interactive sessions on market trends, growth strategies, and the challenges facing the construction industry. These discussions reflected a collaborative approach, bringing together dealers and the top management to identify opportunities for collective success.
The event also celebrated excellence within its dealer network, with top-performing dealers recognised for their invaluable contributions to the company’s growth.
Brands
Dunkin’ Donuts to exit India as Jubilant FoodWorks ends 15-year franchise deal
The quick service restaurant giant is ending a 15-year franchise partnership with the American doughnut chain, even as it renews its Domino’s agreement for another 15 years
NOIDA: Dunkin’ is done in India. Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd, the country’s leading quick service restaurant operator, has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with the American coffee and doughnut chain, and will wind down its Indian stores in a phased manner before December 31, 2026, bringing a 15-year partnership to a quiet, loss-laden close.
The decision, approved by JFL’s board on March 30, 2026, ends a relationship that began with a Multiple Unit Development Franchise Agreement signed on February 24, 2011. JFL will now evaluate and undertake what it described in a regulatory filing as the “rationalisation and/or cessation of certain operations and/or sale, transfer or disposal of assets and/or assignment or transfer of franchise rights,” all in consultation with Dunkin’s brand owners and strictly within the terms of the original agreement.
The numbers tell the story bluntly. In the financial year 2024-25, Dunkin’ India posted a revenue of Rs 37 crore against a loss of Rs 19 crore — a haemorrhage that was always going to test the patience of a parent company recording revenues of Rs 6,104 crore and a profit of Rs 194 crore in the same period. Doughnuts, it turns out, were never going to move the needle.
The contrast with JFL’s handling of its other marquee franchise could hardly be sharper. Even as it walks away from Dunkin’, the company has just doubled down on Domino’s, signing a fresh Master Franchise Agreement on March 31, 2026, granting it exclusive rights to develop and operate Domino’s Pizza stores in India for 15 years, with an option to renew for a further 10.
JFL, incorporated in 1995 and promoted by the Bharatia family, operates a network of more than 3,500 stores across six markets — India, Turkey, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Its portfolio includes Domino’s and Popeyes on the global side, and two home-grown brands: Hong’s Kitchen and COFFY, a café brand in Turkey.
For Dunkin’, India was always a stretch. The brand never quite cracked the cultural code in a market where filter coffee and chai command fierce loyalty and where the doughnut remains, at best, an occasional indulgence rather than a daily habit. Fifteen years, mounting losses and a parent with better things to spend its capital on was always going to be a difficult equation to solve.
The doughnut has had its last day. The pizza, however, is staying.
