MAM
BharatPe brings Shilpi Kapoor on board
MUMBAI: BharatPe has roped in seasoned marketer Shilpi Kapoor as its new head of marketing, marking a strategic move as the fintech player sharpens its brand play and digital growth strategy.
With over two decades of experience across powerhouse brands, Kapoor joins BharatPe from Airtel Payments Bank, where she served as chief marketing officer and helped position it as one of India’s leading digital financial institutions. Her standout contributions included creating the ‘Safe second account’ category and scaling the bank’s active user base to over 100 million.
Before Airtel, Kapoor made her mark at American Express, Renault, Godfrey Phillips, Bharti Airtel, and Coca-Cola, driving some of the most memorable brand stories in recent years. From leading Amex’s ‘Don’t Live Life Without It’ campaign to launching Renault KWID into India’s fast lane, her track record reflects a flair for insight-led, high-impact marketing.
At BharatPe, Kapoor will oversee brand strategy, integrated marketing, and digital engagement across the company’s growing portfolio.
BharatPe CEO Nalin Negi said, “We are building a digital-first financial ecosystem that merchants and consumers can trust. Shilpi’s expertise in scaling iconic brands will help us deepen engagement and drive our next phase of growth.”
Sharing her excitement, Kapoor said, “BharatPe has been a game-changer for digital commerce in India. My goal is to strengthen its brand trust and cultural relevance while empowering millions of merchants and consumers nationwide.”
Her appointment underscores BharatPe’s focus on consumer-centric storytelling and brand-led growth, as the fintech firm gears up to expand its footprint in India’s rapidly evolving digital finance landscape.
With Kapoor at the helm of marketing, BharatPe seems ready to add a fresh coat of brand brilliance to its growth story.
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.
