MAM
Cannes Lions scraps on-ground event, goes the digital route
NEW DELHI: Organisers of the annual gala celebrating the advertising, marketing, and communications network, Cannes Lions (International Festival of Creativity), have announced that the on-ground event will not be conducted in 2021. The prestigious affair will now run as an online event from 21-25 June.
The decision to scrap the on-ground festival comes at a time when France is witnessing a rise in Covid2019 cases. With a new round of restrictions in place, the organisers of Cannes Lions decided to call off the physical event.
"Over the last year, we’ve been consulting with our customers and working on our plans, including the development of Cannes Lions Live as part of the new Lions Membership platform. We are now able to move fully to this format for 2021 – which will have all the celebration, inspiration, and participation of Cannes Lions – to unite the global community virtually during Cannes Lions Live this June," said Lions chairman Philip Thomas.
Lions managing director Simon Cook revealed that Cannes Lions Live will also signal the return of the Lions awards.
"After the benchmark of the awards was paused last year, we want to be able to give our community the chance to immerse themselves in the creative work once again. We’ll be championing the work on a huge scale – tracking progress throughout the week, analysing the winners, delivering insights, identifying new talent – it’s the return of the benchmark and a moment for the industry to reflect but also look forward," added Cook.
Further information regarding the Cannes Lions will be unveiled in the coming weeks. It is expected that all Lions members will get complimentary access to Cannes Lions as part of their membership. Annual Lions membership is priced at €249.
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.
