MAM
RCB unveils Royal Challenge packaged drinking water as an official partner
Mumbai: Royal Challenge packaged drinking water, announced its association with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, as an official partner during this T20 season. Following a successful collaboration with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru women’s T20 team, the reigning champions this season, the brand continues its longstanding partnership with the men’s team for the 2024 T20 season. This year, Royal Challenge Packaged Drinking Water will bring the festive spirit to town alongside the cricket season, inspiring every player to #ChooseBold.
Speaking about this association, Diageo India VP and portfolio head, marketing Varun Koorichh said, “Cricket is a sporting extravaganza that brings the entire country together with inspiring sporting action that’s a feast for Indians across the country. We are excited to be associated with Royal Challengers Bengaluru as an official partner. It is exciting to see the Naya Shers #ChooseBold because they truly embody the spirit of the brand and we wish them all the luck for the ongoing season!”
Royal Challengers Bengaluru VP & head Rajesh Menon said, “Taking on the challenge and celebrating boldness has always been the spirit of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. We are thrilled to join forces with Royal Challenge Packaged Drinking Water, a brand that shares our ethos by choosing bold in all their endeavours.”
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.
