MAM
Eveready ropes in Akshay Kumar as its brand ambassador
MUMBAI: Marketer of dry cell batteries, Eveready Industries, has signed up Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar as its brand ambassador.
Eveready VP Deepak Khaitan said, “We are happy to have Mr. Akshay Kumar as the brand ambassador for Eveready. He is a great youth icon who has a very power-packed persona. It is a very natural association between him and the brand and we are sure that this relationship will be mutually rewarding one.”
In the mid-nineties, Eveready launched its first major advertisement campaign with the slogan “Give me Red”. The advertising byline of the popular Red series of batteries is symbolic of the urban lifestyle that the brand reflects.
Kumar added, “As a child whenever I would get a toy, I would ask my dad – ‘Where is the Eveready?‘ since Eveready was equal to battery in my mind. It is a pleasure to be associated and promote a brand that is so needed and important in everybody‘s lives. I believe in it. I thank Eveready for always bringing me and my toys to life.”
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.
