Brands
Nivea India gets new sales director in Srikanth Iyer
MUMBAI: He loves reading and sharing his thoughts about leadership. Former Kimberly-Clarke sales director Srikanth Iyer has hopped over to Nivea India with the same title. With a career of more than 16 years spent in sales, Iyer has had tenures with various multinational and Indian companies.
The BE in computer science Mumbai university and IMT Ghaziabad PGDM in marketing joined Patni Computer System out of college, and then got into selling beer while at Sab Miller as area manager. He then spent a good six years at Pepsico looking after the Mumbai territory’s sales and customer marketing before developing a sweet tooth and joining Mondelez handling Eclairs, Halls, Bournvita and Tang for a year and some months before being given charge of the largest territory for the company.
Opportunity came his way from Himalayan Wellness Co to take over as business head for Bangladesh. He gladly took it up and led a team of 500 across functions and developed the market for Himalaya face care , body care, hair care, baby care and animal care products. A position he held for two years.
A short stint of less than a year followed at Metro Wholesale India which he joined as senior vice-president head of sales and marketing. He then joined Kimberly Clark India as sales director leading the company’s sales strategy and its execution.
“Srikanth has led route-to-market transformations, implemented alternate distribution models, and partnered on product innovation. Over his career, he has built high-performing teams that drove profitability and achieved significant market share gains across categories such as personal care, baby care, wellness, and retail, establishing himself as a results-driven FMCG leader,” said Nivea India in a post on linkedin. “ At Nivea India, Srikanth will lead our sales strategies, strengthen distribution networks, and enhance market presence, supporting our mission to provide trusted skincare solutions to consumers across the country.”
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.
