Brands
Nestlé India Launches CRUNCHILICIOUS MUNCH Campaign
MUMBAI: Nestlé India’s latest advertising and marketing campaign CRUNCHILICIOUS MUNCH, marks the celebration of renovation of the popular MUNCH wafer brand. While retaining its signature crunch, MUNCH has undergone a product renovation in recipe and process. To mark this renovation a new brand campaign has been launched which features the multi-talented youth icon Shruti Haasan and the legendary musical trio of Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy.
The New CRUNCHILICIOUS MUNCH is an indulgent combination of Crunchy Wafer, Creamy Filling and a Delicious Coating which is available at a competitive price point of Rs.10, both in-stores as well as on e-commerce platforms.
With the launch of the New CRUNCHILICIOUS MUNCH, Nikhil Chand, General Manager, Chocolates and Confectionery, Nestlé India Ltd. said, “India is a growing chocolate and confectionery market, and the market needs some excitement and innovation. This product is a result of such innovation. We are also extremely happy to introduce the new campaign CRUNCHILICIOUS MUNCH in association with Shruti Haasan and Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy. The campaign captures how Shruti, who, though confident, experience a rare moment of doubt when faced with a tough challenge. The TVC captures the ‘Crunching of the doubt with MUNCH’, when Shruti takes on the challenge, leading to the creation of foot thumping music.” “The irresistible combination of a CRUNCHILICIOUS MUNCH and campaign’s groovy music, will make the youth sing Crunch Macha MUNCH Macha.” Mr. Chand added.
Speaking on the occasion, Shankar Mahadevan said, “We are excited to be associated with MUNCH, a brand that has always leveraged music that appeals to everybody. The new song will definitely make you groove.” Shruti Haasan, actress and singer also shared her experience saying “I am thrilled on being associated with an iconic brand like MUNCH and thoroughly enjoyed shooting the TVC and relishing the delicious new MUNCH.”
The TVC featuring Shruti Haasan and Shankar Mahadevan talking about the New CRUNCHILICIOUS MUNCH is on air from 29th August onwards.
Brands
Dunkin’ Donuts to exit India as Jubilant FoodWorks ends 15-year franchise deal
The quick service restaurant giant is ending a 15-year franchise partnership with the American doughnut chain, even as it renews its Domino’s agreement for another 15 years
NOIDA: Dunkin’ is done in India. Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd, the country’s leading quick service restaurant operator, has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with the American coffee and doughnut chain, and will wind down its Indian stores in a phased manner before December 31, 2026, bringing a 15-year partnership to a quiet, loss-laden close.
The decision, approved by JFL’s board on March 30, 2026, ends a relationship that began with a Multiple Unit Development Franchise Agreement signed on February 24, 2011. JFL will now evaluate and undertake what it described in a regulatory filing as the “rationalisation and/or cessation of certain operations and/or sale, transfer or disposal of assets and/or assignment or transfer of franchise rights,” all in consultation with Dunkin’s brand owners and strictly within the terms of the original agreement.
The numbers tell the story bluntly. In the financial year 2024-25, Dunkin’ India posted a revenue of Rs 37 crore against a loss of Rs 19 crore — a haemorrhage that was always going to test the patience of a parent company recording revenues of Rs 6,104 crore and a profit of Rs 194 crore in the same period. Doughnuts, it turns out, were never going to move the needle.
The contrast with JFL’s handling of its other marquee franchise could hardly be sharper. Even as it walks away from Dunkin’, the company has just doubled down on Domino’s, signing a fresh Master Franchise Agreement on March 31, 2026, granting it exclusive rights to develop and operate Domino’s Pizza stores in India for 15 years, with an option to renew for a further 10.
JFL, incorporated in 1995 and promoted by the Bharatia family, operates a network of more than 3,500 stores across six markets — India, Turkey, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Its portfolio includes Domino’s and Popeyes on the global side, and two home-grown brands: Hong’s Kitchen and COFFY, a café brand in Turkey.
For Dunkin’, India was always a stretch. The brand never quite cracked the cultural code in a market where filter coffee and chai command fierce loyalty and where the doughnut remains, at best, an occasional indulgence rather than a daily habit. Fifteen years, mounting losses and a parent with better things to spend its capital on was always going to be a difficult equation to solve.
The doughnut has had its last day. The pizza, however, is staying.
