Brands
B’wood supports Times’ ‘Remonetise India’
MUMBAI: The demonetisation drive has taken the nation by storm and Bollywood is not less impacted. In an act of solidarity, B-town celebrities such as — Anil Kapoor, R Madhavan, Shilpa Shetty, Kabir Bedi, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi and Manoj Bajpayee have come together to be the agents of change to help bring India’s economy back on track.
Today, when our economy needs us more than ever, ‘Remonetise India – A Citizen’s Pledge’, Times Network’s nationwide campaign, is a call to rise and protect the world’s fastest growing economy. In a pledge to spend more in order to revive demand, aid the needy and help farmers sell their produce, the celebrities promote going cashless to make it available for those in need.
The celebrities pledge as the soldiers of the economy to help the economy grow, to help fellow citizens participate in our new economy and to teach and educate people about digitization.
Also participating in this nationwide movement are actors Sonam Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Raveen Tandon, Manoj Bajpayee, Neha Dhupia, Tisca Chopra, and Sonali Bendre along with socialite Shaina NC, ace photographer Atul Kasbekar and Bollywood’s favourite designer Manish Malhotra.
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.
