MAM
Dr. Oetker India appoints Publicis India as its creative agency
MUMBAI: Dr. Oetker India, leading purveyor of western comfort food to India,has appointed Publicis India to handle its creative mandate and bolster its branding & communication efforts in India.The agency would play a key role in taking forward the brand’s ambition and growing its business. The decision was made post a multi-agency pitch and a 360 degree evaluation. The mandate will be led by the Delhi office of Publicis India.
Commenting on the partnership, Devarshy R. Ganguly, Vice President – Marketing, Dr. OetkerIndiasaid “As Dr. OetkerIndia continues to expand and build scale for the western comfort food category, we needed a team that would bring instrategic mindset, disruptive ideas and deliver on the ask with passion.We found a perfect fit in the team at Publicis India and are confident that they will be instrumental in driving ourbusiness.”
Commenting on the win, Ravpreet Ganesh, Executive Director, Publicis India said: “We are definitely very excited to partner a brand that is an iconic global brand that has created winning categories within a decade in India with its superlative quality offerings. Consumers are evolving and so are their preferences and Dr. Oetker has truly been exemplary in understanding the needs of the Indian consumer.Now with their plans on strengthening and growing their portfolio, we are very proud to be associated with Dr. Oetker and hope to create some path-breaking work."
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.
