Mahanth S. Joishy is Editor

One of my areas of dual fascination is the modern ever-changing state of American food in India, and Indian food in the United States. Among the interesting business trends to follow is how US fast food and quick dining franchises have been doing in their ambitious expansion into India. A successful foray can lead to a jackpot for multinational corporations; on the other hand, a failed rollout of new types of food can result in a dead and financial woes. Plus, the price points have to be calibrated correctly to drive up demand. Inevitably, the menus have to be changed for discernible local tastes with an already rich heritage of coffee and sweets spanning back centuries- but how? Tough nut to crack. No beef or pork, please. To help us keep up, the Food Insider YouTube channel has a Food Wars series that compares the items available in each country that cannot be found in the other.

In this installment of Food Wars, the hosts explore the DUNKIN brand with a deep dive of consumption, comparing the many different and exotic offerings in both the United States and India. On the surface it should be obvious that donuts and coffee would do well in India, which has a deep rooted culture of caffeinated beverages and snacks served at different times of day at home, on the street, or in casual cafe settings. However, the data will show that DUNKIN is not having an easy time of it in India. Much of the story is yet to be written as new menu items, flavors, sizes, and prices can still be played around with. For example, could DUNKIN successfully incorporate a beloved Indian fruit staple such as Alphonso mangoes? Watch on to learn more about what DUNKIN has to offer, and laugh at the Food Wars quirky sense of humor if it tickles your fancy: