MAM
Get set for a chess match with the champion
MUMBAI: The fans of Chess player Viswanathan Anand may now get a chance to meet their icon as Crocin Cold & Flu Max is organising a ‘Chess Challenge’ on its Facebook page.
10 lucky winners will get a chance to meet Viswanathan Anand and one winner amongst them gets the opportunity to play a game of chess with him. While others stand a chance to win exciting prizes.
To participate in the game, consumers can log on to https://www.facebook.com/GSKCrocin. The contest commenced on 7 November and will be on till 28 November. Players can register on the Crocin Chess Challenge Facebook app and can earn points by playing against the computer. All the games against the computer are timed; hence it would be a real test of skill and technique.
The pecking order of the players on the game’s leader board is interestingly constructed classifying players as: Brilliant Bishops, Relentless Rooks, Knowledgeable Knights and the Chess Champion based on increasing order of their performance and points. While five ‘Relentless Rooks’ have a chance to win Viswanathan Anand merchandise every day, top 10 Knowledgeable Knights will get a chance to meet the legend himself. One ‘Chess Champion’ will be crowned from amongst the top 10 performers who will get to play a game of chess with the chess master.
Speaking about the contest, GlaxoSmithKline India EVP-marketing Jayant Singh said, “Over the years, Crocin has been trusted by millions of consumers in India to get effective relief from pain. Backed by the strong heritage of Crocin, New Crocin Cold & Flu Max not only provides effective relief from five signs of Cold and Flu but also helps bring back your focus. Chess is one such game that epitomizes focus and concentration. We are glad to host the ‘Chess Challenge’ with the brand ambassador for Crocin Cold & Flu Max Vishwanathan Anand. We wish him a great championship ahead!”
Delighted at being associated with the contest, Viswanathan Anand said, “Chess is a unique game that truly tests the player’s ability to strategise and foresee. I am glad to be a part of the Crocin Cold & Flu Max ‘Chess Challenge’; the contest provides a platform for chess lovers to enjoy the game and also showcase their knowledge about the game through the quiz. What is interesting is that the game can also be enjoyed by inviting friends to join. I am looking forward to being challenged by the contest winner; it will certainly be an exciting game of chess!”
The ‘Chess Challenge’ is supported by an extensive campaign consisting of display banners, YouTube video pre-rolls and stamp ads. Viswanathan Anand and Crocin have a long-standing association and the ‘Chess Challenge’ takes this association forward.
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.
