Building Palates for

Chirag Wadhwa is the Founder and CEO of CNN Foods Pvt. Ltd., a Delhi-based FMCG company focused on building differentiated food and beverage brands for India’s evolving consumer market. His approach combines entrepreneurial thinking with a strong focus on product innovation, accessible pricing and modern distribution.
Under his leadership, CNN Foods has developed brands including Papanata, a nata de coco-based fruit drink, and Phirki, a traditional-inspired fizzy beverage. The company has positioned itself around the idea of taking familiar Indian flavours and presenting them in contemporary formats.
Wadhwa has been closely involved in the company’s product development, distribution and quick-commerce strategy. His recent focus has included Phirki Zero, a zero-calorie, zero-sugar and zero-caffeine jeera masala soda with real lemon, reflecting his ambition to create differentiated products for increasingly health-conscious consumers.
His entrepreneurial journey has also involved navigating the practical challenges of building a young FMCG business—from co-packing and distribution issues to working-capital pressures and scaling through quick commerce. CNN Foods was incorporated in April 2024, with Wadhwa serving as a director.
Wadhwa’s vision is centred on building bold Indian consumer brands that can achieve scale through a combination of product-market fit, strong unit economics, focused city-by-city expansion and consumer-led innovation.

Sudeep Goenka is a business leader and Director at Goldiee Group, where he has been instrumental in modernising the organisation and driving its growth across domestic and international markets. With more than 16 years of leadership experience spanning business administration, manufacturing, marketing, engineering and strategic management, he has played a key role in strengthening Goldiee’s position as a diversified FMCG and food business.
Goenka holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, and has also pursued studies at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Before joining the family business in 2006, he gained international corporate experience with The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, where he worked as a CSD Business Analyst.
At Goldiee, he has spearheaded initiatives across distribution expansion, technology adoption, manufacturing and product innovation. He was instrumental in strengthening the company’s distributor and retailer network, implementing ERP systems, developing state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities and expanding the Ready-to-Eat and value-added food businesses. He has also driven growth across modern trade, institutional sales, HoReCa and export channels.
Known for his analytical and entrepreneurial approach, Goenka focuses on innovation, operational excellence, brand building and sustainable business growth. He continues to contribute to the evolution of Goldiee Group as it expands its product portfolio and international footprint.

You can never grow a single crop organically,” is a line often delivered with certainty. Shashi Kumar has spent the last two decades proving why that certainty is misplaced.
Born into a farming family, Shashi was advised by his father to stay away from agriculture, a livelihood seen as uncertain and unforgiving. He instead pursued engineering and built a successful 17-year career in the IT industry. Yet the pull of the soil never faded.

In 2004, while still working full-time in the technology sector, Shashi began experimenting with organic farming on a small plot in Ramanagara, exploring what exactly is organic. This led to the realization that chemical fertilizers and pesticides, while providing immediate nutrition to crops, end up killing all the microorganisms in the soil, including beneficial ones, and over time deplete the soil’s ability to support vegetation, rendering it unfit for farming.

With this learning emerged a regenerative farming practice that transformed his barren land into a thriving ecosystem of crops, microbes, and living soil. During this phase, his wife Shilpa was instrumental in turning theory into practice by managing the day-to-day operations. Their farm became living proof that organic farming could be both sustainable and regenerative.

In 2009, Shashi partnered with veterinary scientist Dr. G. N. S. Reddy, connecting the dots between soil health, cow well-being, and milk quality – laying the foundation for the farmer-first ecosystem model that defines Akshayakalpa Organic today. For Shashi, regenerative farming is about restoring dignity to agriculture, preserving soil for future generations, and proving that caring for the land is not a compromise, but the only way forward.

Manish Gupta is a seasoned hospitality leader with more than 3 decades of experience, currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of TajSATS Air Catering Limited. Renowned for his strategic vision and operational expertise, he has driven a remarkable post-pandemic turnaround, whilst expanding into institutional catering through Nekta Food Solutions.
Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Indian Hotels Company Limited, including Area Director for the East region and General Manager of Taj Bengal Kolkata, as well as at iconic properties like Rambagh Palace and Taj Lands’ End.
Passionate about people, travel and customer experience, Manish continues to set new benchmarks in the hospitality and in-flight catering industry.

Dr. A. K. Tyagi, also known as Ashok Kumar Tyagi, is the Executive Director of Haldiram Snacks Pvt. Ltd. and a veteran leader in India’s food and snack industry. He has been associated with the Haldiram Group since 2006, serving as Executive President before taking on the role of Executive Director in March 2014. In this capacity, he has been responsible for a broad spectrum of the business, including production, sales and marketing, R&D, product innovation, finance, diversification and expansion.
Dr. Tyagi began his career in 1984 with Wimpy International, a division of United Biscuits, and subsequently spent more than a decade with Uncle Chipps Company, where he held senior positions including CEO and President. In 2000, he joined Amrit Banaspati Company as CEO before moving to Haldiram.
At Haldiram, Dr. Tyagi has played a significant role in shaping the company’s growth strategy, overseeing greenfield projects, expanding the distribution network and driving product innovation. His leadership has helped strengthen Haldiram’s position in India’s highly competitive snacks and packaged-food market.
A strong advocate of consumer-centric innovation, food safety and quality, Tyagi has emphasised the importance of understanding changing consumer preferences while maintaining affordability. He has also spoken extensively on food processing, innovation and the future of India’s food industry.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Tyagi has received several industry honours, including the Food Industry Icon Award, Lifetime Achievement Award at the India Food Forum, Business Leader of the Year by ET NOW, and CEO – Food Company of the Year at the India Food Safety Summit & Awards.

Sandeep Varaganti is the Chief Executive Officer of JioMart at Reliance Retail, where he leads the growth and evolution of one of India’s prominent digital commerce and omnichannel platforms. He is focused on building JioMart as a trusted, large-scale marketplace that connects consumers with an extensive network of brands, sellers and small and medium businesses.
An experienced business leader with a background in e-commerce, technology and marketplace businesses, Varaganti has previously worked with organisations including Cognizant, Amazon and Prione. His experience spans business scaling, cross-functional leadership, digital commerce and enabling SMBs to participate in the rapidly expanding e-commerce ecosystem.
At JioMart, he has been closely associated with the platform’s transition from a primarily grocery-focused destination into a broader e-commerce marketplace, while advancing its omnichannel capabilities and digital-first customer proposition. He has also championed initiatives such as JioMart on WhatsApp, aimed at making digital commerce more accessible to consumers and businesses across India.
Varaganti holds an MBA from INSEAD and a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad.

Rohit Varma is a seasoned retail professional serving as Director – Buying & Merchandising at Q-Mart, where he plays a key role in shaping the retailer’s product assortment, category strategy and merchandising initiatives. With a strong understanding of consumer preferences and retail dynamics, he is involved in driving buying decisions that balance customer needs with commercial objectives.
In his role, Varma oversees critical aspects of category management, product selection, sourcing, vendor relationships and merchandise planning, helping Q-Mart build a relevant and competitive assortment across categories. His work sits at the intersection of consumer trends, brand partnerships and retail performance, with a focus on identifying products and categories that can strengthen customer engagement and business growth.
His experience in buying and merchandising gives him valuable insights into how changing consumer behaviour, premiumisation, emerging brands and evolving retail formats are reshaping the modern retail landscape.

Amrut Mehta is the Managing Director of Little Italy, carrying forward the legacy of the restaurant brand with a history spanning more than 35 years. With a strong focus on building consumer brands in India, he is driving the next phase of growth for the business while exploring opportunities across the evolving food and gourmet retail landscape.
Under his leadership, the group is also developing Acasa by Little Italy, a gourmet grocery brand and India’s first specialty pasta brand, expanding the company’s presence beyond restaurants and into the growing packaged food and gourmet consumption space.
Amrut is passionate about building brands that can grow with India’s rapidly evolving consumer market. He believes the future is being shaped by entrepreneurs who can combine strong legacy businesses with innovation and new-age consumer opportunities. Through his work, he aims to contribute to India’s growth story as the country moves towards becoming one of the world’s largest economies and consumer markets.

Jasmit Tibb is the Managing Director of Tibb’s Frankie, the iconic Indian quick-service restaurant brand founded by his parents, Amarjit Singh Tibb and Surinder Kaur Tibb, in 1969. A graduate of the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Mumbai, Jasmit joined the family business in 1992 and has played a pivotal role in transforming Tibb’s Frankie from a Mumbai street-food concept into a recognised QSR brand.
Under his leadership, the brand has expanded its menu, strengthened its operational and franchise network, and pursued an omnichannel approach while retaining the signature taste and authenticity that have defined Tibb’s Frankie for decades. He has also been instrumental in taking the brand beyond India, with a presence in international markets including the UAE and UK.
Jasmit is particularly focused on balancing legacy with innovation—protecting the brand’s core recipes and identity while adapting to changing consumer preferences and modern QSR formats. His vision includes significantly expanding Tibb’s Frankie’s footprint across India and taking the homegrown brand to a wider global audience.
He has been recognised with honours including Times QSR Icon of the Year 2019 and Times Iconic Legendary Rolls 2021

Smerth Khanna is a senior business and sales leader at Dabur India Limited, currently serving as Business Head – South Region and Organised Trade. In this role, he oversees Dabur’s business across South India while driving growth through organised retail, modern trade and e-commerce channels. His experience spans sales, e-commerce, modern trade, international business, business development and strategic partnerships.
Khanna has been associated with Dabur since 2018 and has held several leadership positions across the organisation. Before taking charge of South India and Organised Trade, he served as Business Head – Organised Trade, covering e-commerce and modern trade, as well as Head of Innovations. Earlier, he led Dabur’s e-commerce business across India and SAARC and was involved in establishing the company’s global e-commerce business.
Prior to Dabur, Khanna worked with Dabur International, Snapdeal, Microsoft and HCL Infosystems, gaining experience across international e-commerce, brand partnerships, strategic initiatives and business development. He holds an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis – Olin Business School and a BCA.
A recognised voice in the evolving retail and e-commerce ecosystem, Khanna brings strong expertise in omnichannel growth, organised trade, digital commerce, consumer engagement and business transformation.

Rahul Khandelwal is a seasoned consumer goods professional with extensive experience across business operations, strategy, marketing, supply chain and business development. As Chief Operating Officer at WeiKFiELD Foods, he brings a strong cross-functional perspective to driving business growth, operational excellence and organisational performance.
Over the course of his career, Khandelwal has developed expertise in business planning, marketing management, supply chain operations, FMCG and consumer products, along with experience in managing distributed teams and driving execution across diverse business functions. His ability to connect strategic priorities with operational outcomes has been central to his leadership approach.
Khandelwal was recognised as an Economic Times Young Leader in 2016, acknowledging his leadership potential and contribution to the business landscape. In 2021, he was also certified as a “Great People Manager” by the Great Manager Institute, reflecting his focus on people leadership and team development.
At WeiKFiELD Foods, Khandelwal continues to leverage his broad industry experience to strengthen operations, build scalable business processes and contribute to the company’s growth in the evolving consumer foods sector.

Sid Marchant is a first-generation entrepreneur with a Bachelor of Management Studies degree from the prestigious St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai (2004). He is a certified Q Grader (Coffee) and a Specialty Coffee Association Trainer.
Sid started his career in Retail Real Estate and progressed to the Food & Beverage industry. Driven by sheer passion and business acumen, he identified premium Burgers QSR chain business as a niche with immense growth potential and started GOOD FLIPPIN’ BURGERS®️ along with his Co-founders Sijo and Viren.
Sid also co-founded KC Roasters (Formerly – Koinonia Coffee Roasters) and successfully ran a Tibbs Frankie Franchise. He also played a key role in conceptualising and launching Starbucks’ First “Diwali Blend” Coffee. The former Category Head (Food & Beverage) at Tata Starbucks has an overall 20 years of combined experience in the Retail Real Estate and Food & Beverages Industry.

Hemant Malik is Executive Director and Whole-time Director of ITC Limited, and serves as the Divisional Chief Executive of ITC’s Foods Business. He also oversees the company’s Personal Care Products Business. He joined ITC in June 1989 after completing a B.A. (Hons.) in Economics from the University of Delhi and an MBA from IIM Calcutta, and has built more than 36 years of experience across ITC’s Tobacco, Foods, Lifestyle Retailing and Trade Marketing & Distribution businesses.
Malik took charge as Divisional Chief Executive of ITC Foods in October 2016, following leadership roles in Trade Marketing & Distribution and ITC’s Tobacco business. Earlier, as Head of Marketing for ITC Foods from 2002, he played a key role in building and developing several of the company’s flagship brands, including Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Bingo!, YiPPee! and Kitchens of India. He subsequently helped establish ITC’s FMCG Trade Marketing & Distribution vertical and served in senior leadership roles spanning sales, supply chain and business operations.
He currently serves as Chairman of FICCI’s Food Processing Committee and is also a Member of the Board of Governors of the Advertising Standards Council of India.

Saurabh Munjal is a entrepreneur with a sharp eye for scalable ideas rooted in cultural relevance. With a background in commerce and an MBA from the Management Development Institute of Singapore, he combines solid financial acumen with global business exposure.

His entrepreneurial DNA was evident early—while still pursuing his MBA, he founded Zeus Trading Enterprise Pte Ltd, a trade finance company that scaled rapidly to $18.7 million in revenue. This venture gave him critical insight into capital movement, operational efficiency, and international markets.

After returning to India, Saurabh entered the hospitality industry with Shaurya Suites & Inn LLP, co-founding Heritage Haveli, a cultural-meets-premium lodging concept along with franchises like KFC, Burger King, and Baskin Robbins under one roof. Once established and professionally managed, he shifted his focus to an untapped consumer space with massive potential: non-alcoholic Indian beverages.

In 2017, he co-founded Archian Foods Pvt. Ltd., introducing Lahori Zeera, a spiced drink inspired by Indian kitchens. Despite the crowded beverage market, Lahori Zeera cut through the noise with its nostalgic flavor, bold branding, and mass appeal. What began as a niche product became a national brand. Today, Archian Foods produces over 5 million bottles daily, with a robust distribution network and an expanding product line (Nimbu, Masala Cola, Shikanji) that captures regional tastes at scale.

Under Saurabh’s leadership as Co-Founder and CEO, the company is not just selling beverages—it’s building a homegrown FMCG powerhouse. The brand resonates deeply with Indian consumers seeking authentic taste and high value proposition.

Saurabh’s strength lies in visionary execution: identifying overlooked demand, acting early, and building operational systems that scale sustainably. Awards like Entrepreneur 35 Under 35, Times 40 Under 40 and ET Edge 40 Under 40 reflect industry recognition, but his focus remains on long-term value creation.

He’s not building for exits—he’s building for impact. With a proven track record across trade finance, hospitality, and F&B, Saurabh Munjal is shaping a modern Indian brand story with deep roots and global potential.

Sohrab Sitaram is a prominent hospitality entrepreneur and the Co-Founder & Director of Keventers, the iconic Indian milkshake and beverage brand. He has played a pivotal role in reviving Keventers and scaling it into a widely recognised QSR brand, with a presence across India and international markets.
An industry veteran with more than two decades of experience, Sitaram began his career with The Taj Group of Hotels after graduating from the Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad. He subsequently moved into entrepreneurship, building and investing in a diverse portfolio of restaurants, bars and hospitality concepts. His ventures have included brands and establishments such as Shalom, Tabula Rasa, Chi Kitchen & Bar, Hungry Monkey and Zingo Star.
Known for his entrepreneurial approach and ability to develop differentiated food and beverage concepts, Sitaram has contributed significantly to the evolution of India’s modern restaurant and QSR landscape. He has also been a speaker at several industry forums and TEDx events, sharing insights on entrepreneurship, hospitality and business growth.

Rajneet Kohli is a seasoned business leader with more than 28 years of experience across the FMCG, food, beverage and retail sectors. He currently serves as Executive Director – Foods at Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), where he leads the company’s Foods business and is part of its Management Committee. He assumed the role in April 2025.
Prior to joining HUL, Rajneet was CEO & Executive Director of Britannia Industries, where he played a key role in strengthening the company’s food and bakery portfolio through product innovation, brand building and digital capabilities. Before Britannia, he was President & Chief Business Officer at Jubilant FoodWorks, where he led the Domino’s India business and drove significant transformation through data, technology and digitalisation.
Earlier in his career, Rajneet spent around 14 years with The Coca-Cola Company in senior leadership positions spanning sales, marketing, commercial operations and plant operations, with responsibility for large businesses and P&Ls. His experience also includes a stint with Asian Paints.
An MBA from the University of Wales, UK, Rajneet has also completed executive leadership programmes at Columbia Business School and the Indian School of Business. His career has been marked by a strong focus on business transformation, consumer-led innovation, digitalisation and building high-performance organisations.

Gaurave Naarang is the Founder of Coffee Culture, a café lounge brand that he conceptualised in the early 2000s with the vision of creating a distinctive café experience rooted in food, community and local culture. Starting with its first outlet in Surat, Naarang developed Coffee Culture around a differentiated format that combines coffee and beverages with an extensive food offering, lively ambience and locally inspired experiences.
Under his leadership, Coffee Culture expanded through a franchise-led model, establishing a presence across multiple Indian cities. Naarang has focused on creating cafés that function as lifestyle and community spaces, with each outlet designed to reflect elements of its local environment rather than follow a standardised format.
Beyond Coffee Culture, Naarang has also been associated with restaurant consulting and other food and beverage ventures, bringing expertise in business strategy, franchising, restaurant operations and brand development. His entrepreneurial approach has centred on identifying evolving consumer preferences and creating differentiated F&B concepts for the Indian market.

With over 15 years of experience across international trade, market development and regulatory policy, Shiven Khanna (BBA, LL.B.) works at the intersection of global food and agriculture businesses and the rapidly evolving Indian market.
He advises and represents several leading international trade organizations in India, including USA Poultry& Egg Export Council, California Walnuts, Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA), Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA), California Figs, USA Hops, and others. His work spans market-entry strategy, policy advocacy, business development, consumer and foodservice promotions, and building long-term opportunities for international food and agricultural products in India.
Through these programs, Shiven works closely with leading retailers, e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, foodservice operators, importers, distributors, chefs, processors and major hospitality groups across India, giving him a strong understanding of how food trends move from global markets to Indian consumers.
He has also been actively involved in the development of India’s cold-chain and food distribution ecosystem, including engagement with the Ministry of Agriculture and other government stakeholders.
Over the years, he has developed strong working relationships across key government ministries, regulatory bodies and domestic industry associations, enabling effective industry-government engagement and helping address market-access and regulatory challenges.
Earlier in his career, Shiven practised law with a leading law firm, specialising in Customs, Central Excise, Service Tax and Foreign Trade Policy. He represented prominent Indian and multinational companies before the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts and regulatory authorities.
His combined experience in law, policy, international trade and on-ground market development gives him a unique perspective on how global food businesses can successfully navigate, enter and grow in one of the world’s most dynamic food markets.

Manoj Gupta is a seasoned FMCG and food industry professional with more than three decades of leadership experience across sales, distribution, brand growth and strategic business development. He currently serves as Sales Head at Gaia, the health and wellness brand of Cosmic Nutracos, where he leads the company’s go-to-market strategy and sales operations across India and international markets.
Throughout his career, Gupta has developed deep expertise in building and scaling distribution networks across modern trade, general trade and digital commerce. At Gaia, he has been instrumental in strengthening the brand’s market presence and expanding its health and wellness portfolio through effective route-to-market strategies and innovative sales models.
Gupta has also focused extensively on sales capability building, having led product and sales training initiatives designed to enhance team performance and execution. His leadership approach combines strategic thinking with strong people management and a practical understanding of evolving consumer and retail dynamics.
His core areas of expertise include sales strategy, route-to-market planning, distribution development, modern trade, general trade, digital platforms, strategic partnerships and team leadership. He brings valuable cross-domain experience to discussions around the changing FMCG, food, health and wellness landscape.

Mansoor Ali is Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Hamdard Foods India. He has led businesses across categories in the consumer goods space, with organisations such as P&G, Reckitt, Amway, Sony and Olam. In his leadership role, he focuses on strengthening brand presence, expanding distribution and building sustainable growth across markets. His expertise spans strategic planning, channel development, consumer engagement and revenue growth, with a strong understanding of India’s evolving food and consumer landscape.

Driving transformation, while formulating and executing mid-to-long term strategy has been key to his roles. People have always been pivotal to every success, with an unwavering belief that a business breathes only through the energies that its people bring in.

Dheeraj Gupta is an Indian businessman who has pioneered the establishment of Indian QSRs as a category by themselves in the restaurant industry. He’s the force behind India’s largest vegetarian burger chain- JUMBOKING. The growth trajectory of JUMBOKING stands testimony to Gupta’s belief in the large-scale acceptance of franchising as a framework for doing business and focus as an approach.
Gupta’s business philosophy is based on building strong, symbiotic partnerships with individual entrepreneurs who want to benefit from the ‘10X advantages’ of a well-developed franchising system. His belief that such a model potentially creates a very inclusive and resilient growth engine, when coupled with a cohesive, focused and disciplined team of professionals, have made him a young business icon.
Gupta is a clockwork crusader; a member of the 5 am club, he believes that Indian texts such as the Ashta Vaktra Geeta, Narad Bhakti Sutras etc, possess copious business wisdom. Gupta is a marathoner, yoga practitioner and avid reader of business biographies.

Satish Sharma is the Chief Executive Officer of Aadhaar Retailing Limited, an emerging organised grocery retail company focused on taking modern retail deeper into India’s rural and semi-urban markets.
With extensive experience in the retail sector, Satish has been instrumental in shaping Aadhaar’s growth strategy and expansion across India. Under his leadership, Aadhaar has crossed the milestone of 100 stores across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
Aadhaar operates through a Company-Owned, Company-Operated (COCO) model, with a strong focus on customer value, operational excellence, assortment localisation and sustainable store economics.
His areas of interest include the evolution of the Indian value-conscious consumer, the growth of organised retail beyond metros, building profitable retail formats for Bharat, and creating long-term value for consumers, employees and brand partners.

Gulshan Kriplani is a veteran retail entrepreneur and the Founder of Namaste Ventures Pvt. Ltd., the company behind GBAZAR, a supermarket chain based in Akola, Maharashtra. With around 28 years of experience in retail, Kriplani has built GBAZAR into a growing regional supermarket business, with the chain’s third store – a 28,000 sq. ft. outlet – opening in Akola in October 2025.
Beyond operating GBAZAR, Kriplani has developed extensive expertise in helping traditional retailers transition to modern supermarket formats. He says he has worked with 2,000+ retailers across India and guided more than 500 supermarket launches, sharing practical insights on store operations, SOPs, merchandising, inventory, pricing and customer behaviour.
His retail philosophy is built around the belief that successful supermarkets are driven not simply by location, but by systems, disciplined execution, data-led decision-making and customer-focused merchandising. This approach has also led him to establish Namaste Business Advisory, through which he works with retailers on improving store performance and scaling their businesses.
Kriplani is also associated with industry and community initiatives, including the Akolawala Food Processing Association and other organisations. His experience at the ground level gives him a distinctive perspective on the evolution of India’s regional grocery sector and the challenges local retailers face amid the rise of modern trade, e-commerce and quick commerce.

Rohan Pewekar is the Chief Executive Officer of Gourmet Investments Hospitality Group (GIHG), the Bharti Family Office-backed hospitality and dining platform that operates a portfolio of leading international restaurant brands in India, including PizzaExpress, Chili’s, P.F. Chang’s and Olive Garden. He took on the CEO role in 2026, bringing nearly two decades of experience across strategy, finance, operations and consumer businesses.
Prior to joining GIHG, Rohan served as Managing Director, Pizza Hut – Indian Subcontinent at Yum! Brands, where he led the brand’s operations, growth and expansion across the region. He had earlier held senior strategy and finance responsibilities with Pizza Hut India, contributing to business performance, new-channel development and growth initiatives.
In his current role, Rohan is focused on strengthening GIHG’s portfolio of global dining brands, accelerating expansion, enhancing guest experiences and building high-performing teams. Under his leadership, the group is targeting significant growth, with plans to expand from around 55 restaurants to 100–125 outlets over the next three years, including the rollout of Olive Garden across major Indian markets.
An alumnus of The Wharton School, Rohan combines strategic thinking with extensive operational experience in the restaurant and consumer sectors. His leadership focus spans brand building, customer experience, profitable growth, market expansion and the localisation of global dining concepts for Indian consumers.

Avinash Tripathi is the Senior Vice President & Business Head – Freshpik & Fresh Signature at Reliance Retail, where he is driving the evolution of premium and experiential food retail in India. He has been closely associated with the development of Reliance Retail’s premium grocery formats, including Freshpik, which was launched in 2021 as an experiential gourmet food destination.
Under his leadership, Freshpik has evolved through a focus on curated gourmet assortments, immersive customer experiences, innovation and trend-led retail concepts. The brand has expanded its experiential format, including the launch of Freshpik 3.0 in Powai, Mumbai, featuring interactive experiences, personalised service and curated product selections.
Avinash has also championed collaborations and new concepts around emerging consumer trends, including Korean cuisine and accessible nutrition offerings. His work has helped Freshpik earn industry recognition, including the Experiential Retailer of the Year and Speciality Gourmet Retailer of the Year awards in 2025.

Vikrant Batra is the Co-Founder of Café Delhi Heights and a seasoned entrepreneur who has spent more than three decades in the hospitality and food-service industry. He comes from the Batra family’s established catering and banqueting business, where he gained hands-on experience in food, operations, people management and large-scale hospitality.
A graduate of Hindu College, University of Delhi, Batra also completed a Restaurant Management course from the University of California and an MBA from FORE School of Management. He began his entrepreneurial journey with Delhi Heights in 2009 before launching Café Delhi Heights in 2011 with his brother Sharad Batra.
Batra’s vision was to create an all-day, three-generational café where families and friends could enjoy diverse cuisines in a relaxed, informal environment. This differentiated positioning helped Café Delhi Heights establish a strong presence in India’s casual-dining landscape. From its first outlet at Cross Point Mall, Gurugram, the brand has grown into a pan-India chain with 50+ outlets across 17 cities, according to Batra’s recent updates.
Beyond Café Delhi Heights, Batra has been involved in concepts including Dhansoo Café, Juicy Lucy Burgers and Bakehouse Comfort, reflecting his focus on creating differentiated formats within the food-service sector.
Known for his hands-on approach and emphasis on consistency, Batra continues to focus on scaling Café Delhi Heights while retaining its core proposition of comfort food, warmth, accessibility and a sense of belonging.

Sandeep Ghosh is a senior FMCG and food industry leader with extensive experience in sales, marketing, business strategy and brand development. He currently serves as Business Head – Spice Division at DS Group, where he leads the business for the group’s flagship Catch Salt & Spices portfolio. His role encompasses business growth, brand strategy, distribution expansion and strengthening Catch’s presence across India and international markets.
Ghosh has been closely involved in driving Catch’s evolution in a highly competitive spices and seasonings market, with a focus on understanding changing consumer preferences, expanding product offerings and strengthening distribution across urban and emerging markets. He has also been vocal about the growing importance of e-commerce, quick commerce and modern trade in reaching today’s consumers.
With deep expertise in the FMCG ecosystem, Ghosh brings a strong understanding of consumer behaviour, category development, route-to-market strategy, brand building and market expansion. His industry perspective extends to the broader Indian spice economy, including quality, traceability, innovation, sustainability and value-led growth. In 2026, he participated in the Bharat Spices Conclave, sharing his views on building a stronger and more sustainable Indian spice industry.
Ghosh is also actively engaged with the retail and food industry community and has been associated with India Food Forum as a Business Head – DS Group speaker.

Robinder Singh is a seasoned business leader with strong expertise across operations, strategy, marketing, and P&L management. As CEO of Costa Coffee India, he brings a comprehensive approach to driving business growth, operational excellence, and long-term profitability.
His expertise spans operations management, with a focus on optimizing processes, resources, and overall efficiency and strategic planning, where he aligns long-term business objectives with operational priorities to build sustainable growth. A strong people leader, Singh is experienced in team management, mentoring, and creating high-performance cultures.
He also brings a consumer-focused approach to marketing, leveraging consumer insights, promotional initiatives, customer acquisition strategies, and brand development. His well-rounded P&L approach encompasses cost management, revenue generation, financial analysis, and profitability optimization.
Robinder Singh is equally adept at process improvement, cross-functional collaboration, and problem-solving, working closely with teams across marketing, finance, HR, and supply chain to identify opportunities, address challenges, and deliver measurable business outcomes.

Pathik Shah serves as Executive Director, leading the company’s international operations and driving its global expansion strategy. He holds a Master’s degree in International Business from Regent Business School, London, and plays a key role in strengthening the brand’s presence across international markets while fostering sustainable business growth.

Deeply involved in maintaining the brand’s quality standards, Mr. Shah personally conducts daily tea tastings to ensure consistency in taste, aroma, and overall product excellence. His hands-on approach, combined with his strategic vision, has been instrumental in strengthening the brand’s reputation both in India and across global markets.

Vinayak Joshi is a distinguished entrepreneur and business consultant with over 30 years of multidisciplinary experience across IT services, retail operations, and business consultancy. He has successfully guided retail chains, FMCG brands, and SMEs in achieving operational excellence, market expansion and brand transformation.

Having worked closely with pioneers like Mr. R.K. Damani (D-Mart) and Mr. Damodar Mall (Reliance Retail) and mentored by the late Shri S.K. Misra, Mr. Joshi brings a rare blend of strategic insight and practical ground-level experience.

Today, through Ealtitude Retails Pvt. Ltd., he specializes in helping Limited Companies and SMEs build sustainable business models, strong brand identities, and profitable expansion strategies. His Business Consultancy for Branding and Expansion focuses on creating scalable and sustainable growth strategies across multiple verticals.

Dhanjibhai Patel is the Chairman and Managing Director of Patel Retail Ltd., the company behind Patel’s R Mart, a prominent value-focused supermarket chain in Maharashtra. He has been instrumental in building the business from a single neighbourhood grocery outlet established in 1990 into a sizeable regional supermarket network.
Under Patel’s leadership, the company has followed a cluster-led expansion strategy, developing a strong presence across Maharashtra while focusing on value pricing, customer convenience and efficient supply-chain operations. Patel Retail has grown to around 43 stores, reflecting its steady expansion over more than three decades.
Patel’s approach to retail has centred on understanding local consumer needs and building a scalable neighbourhood supermarket model rather than pursuing expansion purely for scale. The business has developed a strong regional identity and is now looking to leverage its operating platform for the next phase of growth.
As the company moves into a new phase of its journey, Patel has overseen its transition from a family-led regional retailer towards a more structured corporate enterprise. Patel Retail’s public-market journey and IPO plans represent an important milestone for the business, with the proposed capital intended to support expansion, strengthen working capital and reduce leverage.
With more than three decades of experience in food and grocery retail, Dhanjibhai Patel represents a generation of Indian entrepreneurs who have built regional retail businesses by combining local market knowledge, value-led merchandising and disciplined expansion.

Sahil Juneja is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Chai Kaapi, a homegrown café chain founded in 2016 with a vision to create welcoming spaces that bring together food, beverages, creativity and community. Headquartered in Indore, Chai Kaapi has grown from its early outlets in Central India into a growing café brand with an expanding presence across multiple Indian markets.
As CEO, Sahil has been instrumental in shaping the brand’s growth strategy, franchise expansion, product innovation and customer experience. His approach combines entrepreneurial ambition with a strong focus on operational discipline, standardisation and building a distinctive café culture. His public leadership insights also highlight the importance he places on systems, people and consistency as the business scales.
Sahil brings an entrepreneurial background spanning e-commerce and digital marketing, including experience in search-engine optimisation. He has used this digital-first perspective to build Chai Kaapi as more than a café business, positioning it as a community-led brand with a focus on accessible, quality tea, coffee and food experiences.
Under his leadership, Chai Kaapi continues to explore new formats, markets and menu innovations while strengthening its franchise-led expansion across India.

Dharmendra R. S. is the Chief Operating Officer of Icon Hotels, Bhagini Hospitality, where he leads operations, business expansion and organisational growth as the group scales its hospitality portfolio across India. He brings nearly three decades of experience spanning hospitality, F&B, retail, entertainment and multi-format operations.
Prior to joining Icon Hotels, Dharmendra served as Senior Vice President – Hospitality, Health & Tourism at Sona Valliappa Group and held leadership positions at Gillys Chain of Restobars, where he oversaw multi-outlet operations, pre-openings, marketing and revenue growth. He also spent over 17 years with HM Group, managing Bangalore operations, P&L, expansion and multi-brand businesses across entertainment, gaming, retail and F&B.
In his current role, he is focused on operational excellence and supporting Bhagini Hospitality’s plans to expand its hotel portfolio to 100+ properties. He also contributes to the growth of the group’s F&B brands and upcoming hospitality concepts.

Siddhant Kamath is the Director of Kamaths Ourtimes Icecreams Pvt. Ltd., the company behind Naturals Ice Cream, one of India’s best-known homegrown ice-cream brands. He represents the next generation of the Kamath family and is involved in taking forward the legacy established by the late Raghunandan Kamath, whose philosophy of using fresh fruits and natural ingredients became the foundation of the Naturals brand.
A hospitality professional by training, Siddhant studied at École Hôtelière Lavasa and has built his career within the family’s ice-cream business. He has been associated with Kamaths Ourtimes Icecreams since 2013 and has held the position of Director since 2018. His experience combines hospitality training with hands-on exposure to retail, operations and the evolving consumer landscape.
At Naturals, Siddhant is part of the leadership team driving the brand’s next phase of growth while preserving its core proposition of fresh ingredients, distinctive fruit-based flavours and a strong connection with nature. Naturals, founded in Mumbai in 1984, has grown from a single outlet into a widely recognised ice-cream chain with a national presence.
Siddhant has also been involved in strengthening the brand’s contemporary communication and sustainability initiatives. Recent initiatives include Project Natural Forest, aimed at restoring 25 acres of degraded land, reflecting the brand’s long-standing connection between trees, fruit and ice cream. He also co-directed Naturals’ Tree to Treat campaign, which celebrates Raghunandan Kamath’s philosophy and legacy.
Today, Siddhant is focused on balancing legacy with innovation, helping Naturals expand its footprint while remaining true to the principles that have made the brand synonymous with authentic, fruit-led ice cream.

Sannjeev Rao is a seasoned retail and consumer-business leader with more than 25 years of experience across fashion, retail, consumer brands and business transformation. He is the Co-Founder of Kathy’s Beverages Pvt. Ltd., the company behind Bobakat, an experience-led bubble tea and beverage brand founded in 2024 alongside Dr. Rupali Ambegaonkar.
Rao brings extensive expertise in business development, P&L management, retail strategy, market expansion, operational transformation and brand building. Over the course of his career, he has held leadership positions across organisations including Future Group, Aditya Birla Retail, Raymond and Being Human, building a strong track record in scaling businesses, strengthening brand equity and delivering profitable growth.
At Kathy’s Beverages, Rao is focused on building Bobakat into a scalable, youth-focused beverage retail brand. The company operates compact-format outlets across food courts and premium high streets, combining global beverage trends with local consumer preferences. In 2026, Kathy’s Beverages raised ₹6 crore in a Pre-Series A round to accelerate product innovation, team expansion, marketing and nationwide retail expansion.
Rao also serves as Director – International Trade Relations at the Indian Economic Trade Organization and is actively involved in advising and supporting emerging businesses.

Sahib Singh is the Chief Executive Officer of SLN Coffee Private Limited, the company behind Levista Coffee, one of India's fastest-growing coffee brands. He leads the company's integrated coffee business spanning plantations, global coffee exports, instant coffee manufacturing, and consumer brands, with a strong focus on premiumization, innovation, and sustainable growth. Before joining SLN Coffee, Sahib spent several years with Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), where he worked across sales and business leadership roles, gaining extensive experience in building brands, driving commercial excellence, and leading high-performance teams.

He holds an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi, one of India's premier business schools, and brings over 15 years of leadership experience across strategy, operations, and business transformation. A passionate advocate for Indian coffee, Sahib is committed to showcasing the rich coffee heritage of Coorg to consumers in India and around the world.

He believes that exceptional coffee is the result of combining agricultural heritage, world-class manufacturing, and meaningful consumer experiences. Through Levista, he is leading the mission to build a globally respected coffee brand rooted in authenticity, quality, and innovation.

Born in Hamburg, Germany, a city known as the “door to the world” for its port and history of international trade, Daniel pursued higher education in Australia, earning a master’s degree from the University of Melbourne.
He began his professional journey with Infor, the third-largest ERP cloud software company under KOCH Industries, one of the largest privately held firms in the U.S., employing over 120,000 people globally. As Chief of Staff, Daniel gained valuable insights from Charles Koch’s Market Based Management philosophy.
A key learning that shapes his leadership today is a strong belief in people—a shift from top-down management to empowering individuals through bottom-up solutions, fostering inclusivity and unlocking potential.
At the core of Daniel’s journey is a commitment to helping people realise their potential, build strong teams, grow businesses, and pursue their aspirations.

Chayan H. Shah is the Managing Director of Premier’s Tea Limited, an Indian tea company established in 1988, engaged in the manufacturing, processing, packaging and export of conventional, gourmet, specialty and wellness tea products. He has been instrumental in steering Premier’s and its flagship brand PREMIER’S, Teamoods , which has maintained a presence in Japan and South Korea for more than three decades. His professional focus is built around the company’s longstanding commitment to the purity, authenticity and quality of Indian teas, with particular expertise in Darjeeling and Assam teas and value-added gourmet and wellness infusions.
Chayan Shah leads the company’s international tea business, with responsibilities spanning international business development, key account management, export operations, product development and strategic partnerships. Under his leadership, Premier’s has developed a strong export-oriented manufacturing and processing platform, combining Indian tea expertise with Japanese-inspired precision processing technology to address impurities and quality parameters that may enter tea during cultivation, harvesting, transportation and handling. His role includes driving growth across established and emerging markets, particularly Japan, South Korea and other international destinations, while developing value-added gourmet teas, specialty teas and herbal wellness infusions.
Shah also oversees customized product formulations, packaging and private-label solutions, and works closely with international importers, distributors and strategic partners to strengthen the company’s global presence. A strong focus of his work is innovation across the tea portfolio, ranging from premium and luxury propositions to affordable mass-market offerings, while upholding the company’s commitment to origin-specific, non-blended and authentic Indian teas where required.
Shah is also an FSMS & QMS Auditor and Tea Sommelier, with expertise in financial analysis and data analytics. Beyond his professional pursuits, he is a Technical and Master Scuba Diver, reflecting his diverse interests and multidisciplinary approach.

Anil Kankariya is a veteran retailer and the Owner of Navjeevan Super Shop, one of North Maharashtra’s prominent food and grocery retail businesses. A Commerce graduate from Pune University, Kankariya joined his family’s traditional provision business in 1978–79 and has since played a pivotal role in transforming it into a modern supermarket operation.
In 1993, Navjeevan launched its first supermarket in the North Maharashtra region, marking a significant transition from the traditional Navjeevan Provision format. Under Kankariya’s leadership, the business expanded to four stores across the Khandesh region, with further expansion plans in the pipeline.
Recognised as one of the leading retailers in North Maharashtra, Kankariya has received several industry honours, including the Khandesh Icons Award (2014–15) and the Retail Leadership Award by Lokmat (2016) in Mumbai. Navjeevan Plus has also been recognised among the Top 50 Most Admired Food & Grocery Retailers in India by Images Group, while the business has featured in national publications such as Progressive Grocer.
A strong advocate of modern retail practices, Kankariya has provided consultancy and guidance to 50+ retailers seeking to transition from traditional retail practices to modern trade. He is a core member of the Retailers Association of India and has also served as a Chartered Member and Past President of Rotary Club Jalgaon West. Passionate about learning, networking and social development, he continues to contribute actively to the retail community and society at large.

Rahul Sharma is a business leader associated with DMB Sweets, the Jaipur-based food and sweets business with roots dating back to 1955. Coming from a family with deep connections to agriculture and the food business, Rahul has played an important role in taking the family enterprise forward and strengthening its presence in the modern food and retail landscape.
An MBA from Amity University, Noida, Rahul combines his understanding of business management with a strong passion for the food industry. His focus has been on expanding DMB beyond its traditional sweets and savouries heritage while building a more contemporary, scalable and consumer-focused business.
Under the leadership of the Sharma family, DMB has expanded its portfolio across Indian sweets, namkeen and savouries, packaged foods, dairy products, QSR and restaurant offerings, with a growing presence across multiple cities. The company has also pursued an omnichannel growth strategy, strengthening its distribution, modern trade and digital presence.
Rahul’s business interests centre on food retail, brand expansion, customer experience, product innovation and building a sustainable food business rooted in traditional Indian culinary heritage. He has also participated in leading industry platforms including India Food Forum, sharing perspectives on food retail, innovation and growth.

Harpreet Singh Tibb is a Promoter, Director and Board Member of Tibb’s Frankie, where he has played a key role in driving the evolution and growth of the family-owned QSR brand. With a focus on innovation, technology and changing consumer preferences, he has helped steer the brand’s digital and omnichannel strategy.
Under his leadership, Tibb’s Frankie has expanded its product portfolio with innovations such as ProtiRoti, a 100% plant-protein-based roll positioned as a first-of-its-kind offering in the Indian QSR space. He has also championed the use of data analytics and digital channels to strengthen customer engagement and business performance.
Harpreet has been instrumental in building on the legacy of Tibb’s Frankie while adapting the brand to contemporary retail and food-service trends. His contributions have helped the brand gain industry recognition, including the IMAGES Most Admired Marketing Campaign of the Year for the ProtiRoti launch.
Beyond his work at Tibb’s Frankie, Harpreet has an educational background spanning BITS Pilani, IIM Calcutta and Cambridge, combining academic depth with entrepreneurial and business leadership experience.

Kabir is a seasoned FMCG leader with over two decades of experience driving commercial excellence, customer development, and business transformation across India’s evolving landscape.As Vice President and Head of Sales at Mondelez India, he leads the company’s sales strategy and customer development agenda across channels and customers.
Prior to Mondelez, he spent nearly two decades at Hindustan Unilever, building extensive experience across sales and customer leadership.Over the years, Kabir has developed deep expertise in forging strategic customer partnerships across Modern Retail and E-Commerce and key channel partners in Traditional Trade.
He has worked closely to navigate evolving business models, unlock category growth, and create value through omnichannel collaboration and shopper-centric innovation across Distributor RTM and E Commerce.

Dr. Rupali Ambegaonkar is the Founder & CEO of Tea Culture of the World (TCW), a premium tea brand established in 2010 with a vision to bring exquisite, globally sourced teas and innovative blends to Indian consumers. A qualified medical professional and certified tea sommelier, she transformed her passion for tea into an entrepreneurial venture that has built a distinctive position in India’s premium tea market.
Her journey into tea began after discovering Chinese oolong tea, which sparked a deeper interest in the art, science and culture of tea. She subsequently trained as a tea sommelier and spent time at tea estates in China, studying tea cultivation, brewing and blending techniques. Her experience led her to develop a portfolio of herbal, flavoured and speciality teas sourced from different parts of the world.
Under her leadership, TCW expanded beyond retail to serve hotels, airlines, corporates and individual consumers, while building a presence across India. Her entrepreneurial focus has centred on premiumisation, product innovation, tea education and creating a more immersive tea experience for consumers.
Ambegaonkar has also been recognised for her contribution to India’s evolving tea culture and continues to bring together her medical background, tea expertise and entrepreneurial perspective to build differentiated beverage experiences.

Anand Baldawa brings a practical, well-rounded perspective to business, strategy and leadership with 28 years of experience across global finance and entrepreneurship. His career has allowed him to view businesses from several vantage points – as an auditor, financial adviser, investment banker, entrepreneur and operator. His experience spans mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy, capital markets and IPOs, family-business transformation, manufacturing, exports, distribution, retail and digital commerce.

Anand spent the first 15 years of his career in auditing, transaction advisory and investment banking. He worked with Arthur Andersen, Ernst & Young, Lehman Brothers and Robert W. Baird across the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. A rank-holder Chartered Accountant with an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business, he developed a strong grounding in finance and an understanding of how businesses are evaluated, financed, acquired, restructured and prepared for their next stage of growth.

After returning to India, Anand joined the family business and has spent the past 13 years helping it evolve across manufacturing, exports, brand distribution and retail. As CEO of thinKitchen®, he has helped build a curated platform for premium kitchenware and home brands, serving customers through online marketplaces, modern trade, general trade, hospitality projects and direct-to-consumer channels, while also leading the group’s OEM, white-label and international brand partnerships.

Tarak Bhattacharya is a seasoned F&B and QSR professional with three decades of experience across food service, restaurant operations and retail. He currently serves as Executive Director & CEO of Mad Over Donuts (MOD), where he has played a key role in scaling the brand from its early operations to 150+ stores across India.

Tarak joined Mad Over Donuts in 2011 as COO and was elevated to Executive Director & CEO in 2019. Under his leadership, MOD has expanded its footprint while broadening its product portfolio and strengthening its operating model.

Before MOD, Tarak headed Operations at Barista Coffee Company, where he spent nearly a decade, and subsequently served as COO of MGH Restaurants, overseeing the Nando’s and Barista businesses across Bangladesh and Nepal. His cross-market experience has given him strong expertise in operations, business planning, people management and adapting F&B concepts to local consumer preferences.

A graduate with a Diploma in Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Tarak continues to be an active voice in India’s evolving food and restaurant ecosystem, participating in industry discussions on retail, brand building, growth and the future of food businesses.

Bharti Shandilya is the VP – Franchise & Business Development at New Shop, with over two decades of professional experience spanning specializing in franchise sales, strategic partnerships, market expansion, entrepreneurship, and sustainable business growth.
At New Shop, she plays a key role in driving the company’s franchise growth strategy, building partnerships with prospective franchisees, and supporting expansion across India’s rapidly growing convenience retail market.
Her career reflects extensive expertise in franchise development and sales leadership. Before joining New Shop in 2021, she held senior franchise sales and marketing roles at Franchise India Brands Limited, FALIS, and VLCC, where she gained significant experience in business development, franchise operations, partner relationship management and market expansion.
With an MBA in Sales and Marketing and a background that combines business leadership with nutrition and dietetics education, Bharti brings a diverse professional perspective to retail entrepreneurship and franchise-led business growth. She is actively involved in representing New Shop at franchise exhibitions and industry platforms while contributing to the brand’s expansion into new markets.

Amir is from Jordan and came to India in March 2020 to start Tru Falafel. After riding out the pandemic in the years 2020 and 2021, he was finally able to open his first outlet and central kitchen in October ’21 in Marol, Andheri East. By focusing on the authenticity of the recipes he grew up with, maintaining the quality and consistency with every order, he has managed to grow Tru Falafel into Mumbai’s best selling Lebanese QSR. Since inception, Tru Falafel has now become a household name for everything Middle Eastern, from Falafels, Shawarmas, various Hummus and Mezzes strategically spread across their 8 outlets across the city.
Majali co-founded the business with his wife, Sandra Pommier, who serves as COO. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the UK and brings an international perspective to building a modern Indian food-service business around authentic Middle Eastern cuisine.
Today, Majali is focused on scaling TruFalafel while retaining the authenticity and accessibility that have been central to the brand since its inception. Karak Enterprises was incorporated in 2020 and remains an active private company.

Manish Marwaha is a global expert in biofuels, sustainable energy, and commodity supply chains, with over two decades of experience across Asia, Europe, Americas. He is the Founder & CEO of Byufuel, a climate-tech venture building India’s largest traceable used cooking oil (UCO) supply chain — a vital feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and biodiesel.
Byufuel is helping unlock India’s untapped UCO ecosystem to serve global biofuel markets, with a target of 100,000+ tons annually by 2029, while ensuring full traceability, safety, and compliance.
Previously a Partner at Global Strategy Consulting firm, Manish led global work in energy, commodities, and infrastructure. He advised Fortune 500 companies, governments, and multilaterals on $20B+ in investments, with direct impact on food & resource security, energy transition, and resilient supply chains.
A widely followed voice on LinkedIn and international forums, Manish brings deep insight into the intersection of waste, energy, and trade.

Abhinav Mathur is the Managing Director & CEO of Kaapi Machines and the Founder of Something’s Brewing, with over two decades of experience spanning business leadership, consumer products, retail and the coffee industry. An MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur, he has held leadership roles across organisations including Wipro, Philips, Stanley Black & Decker and Stovekraft before building his career in the coffee ecosystem.
Since joining Kaapi Machines, Abhinav has helped transform the company from a coffee equipment supplier into a comprehensive coffee solutions and consulting platform, combining technology, training, technical support and community building. He has also driven strategic partnerships and introduced innovative global coffee technologies to the Indian market.
Through Something’s Brewing, he is focused on nurturing India’s growing home-brewing culture through coffee equipment, accessories, education and community. His broader vision is centred on strengthening India’s coffee ecosystem and building a vibrant community around quality coffee experiences.

Seshu Kumar Tirumala is the Chief Operating Officer of bigbasket, where he leads operations and plays a key role in driving execution as the company scales its quick-commerce business. He has been associated with bigbasket since 2014, making him one of the company’s longest-serving senior leaders.
He began his journey with bigbasket as National Head – Buying & Merchandising and later became Chief Buying & Merchandising Officer. Over the years, he has been instrumental in building the company’s merchandising, sourcing and category-management capabilities. Under his leadership, bigbasket’s private-label business grew to account for nearly 40% of its sales, while he also spearheaded the company’s direct farmer-sourcing network, strengthening its farm-to-customer ecosystem.
In his expanded role as COO, Tirumala is focused on strengthening operational systems, improving execution across the supply and agri ecosystem, and enabling a seamless and dependable customer experience as bigbasket continues to scale. His deep understanding of sourcing, merchandising, supply-chain operations and customer needs positions him to play a significant role in the company’s next phase of growth.

Ankit Patel is the Managing Director & CEO of The Belgian Waffle Co., where he has been instrumental in scaling the brand into one of India’s prominent homegrown QSR chains. He brings more than two decades of cross-functional experience spanning consumer businesses, technology and financial services, with expertise in business strategy, business development, strategic alliances and financial management.
Patel joined The Belgian Waffle Co. in 2018 and has focused on building sustainable growth through disciplined expansion, strong unit economics, product consistency and operational excellence. The brand, founded in 2015 and operated by Bloombay Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., has expanded to more than 700 stores across 200+ cities.
Before joining The Belgian Waffle Co., Patel held leadership and investment roles including Head – Corporate Development at Housing.com, Investment Advisor at Asia Growth Capital Advisors, Investment Professional at Peepul Capital and VP – Corporate Finance at Prime Securities. He is an alumnus of the Indian School of Business and has also earned CA and CFA qualifications.
His leadership philosophy centres on long-term brand building, disciplined growth and maintaining consistency across product, process and customer experience.

Varun is a first-generation entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of Pro Nature Organic Foods, one of India’s established organic food brands. With over 30 years of professional experience, including more than 20 years in the organic food industry, Varun has built Pro Nature from the ground up into a widely distributed and steadily growing brand in India. Founded in 2006, Pro Nature Organic Foods was built as a bootstrapped venture with a focus on delivering consistent quality, reliable service, and strong distribution. Under Varun’s leadership, the company has grown from its roots in Bengaluru to a presence across major cities in India, with its products reaching consumers through leading modern retail, e-commerce and general trade channels. Its customers include Reliance, Metro Cash & Carry, Amazon, More, Walmart and Spar, alongside a wide network of distributors and retailers.

Varun’s entrepreneurial approach combines long-term business thinking with a strong focus on operational excellence. He has developed systems and processes aimed at achieving high standards in quality, service, sales and distribution, while maintaining disciplined inventory management, cash-flow efficiency and sustainable business growth. His approach balances financial performance with social and environmental considerations.

Before founding Pro Nature, Varun gained experience across diverse sectors and leading organisations, including Johnson & Johnson, Tata International, The Global Green Company (Thapar Group) and EKA Software Solutions. During his tenure at The Global Green Company, he was involved in exports of spices and pioneered certified organic exports for the company. Varun holds a master’s degree in international business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics & Power from Nagpur University. At the heart of his journey is a commitment to building a sustainable, consumer- focused business in the evolving organic food sector. His areas of interest include lean business management, investing, human behaviour and motivation, sustainability, teaching and long-term business strategy.

C. Gopalakrishnan is a veteran entrepreneur and food-retail professional, and the Founder & Managing Director of N Dairy Farm and N Supermarkets. He comes from the founding family of Nilgiris 1905, one of India’s pioneering organised food and grocery businesses.
A qualified refrigeration engineer from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, Gopalakrishnan began his career in 1974 as a maintenance engineer in the family business. In 1994, he was instrumental in conceptualising and establishing Nilgiris’ supermarket franchise network, helping pioneer the organised franchising model in Indian food and grocery retail.
Following the sale of the family business in 2008, he launched N Dairy Farm, leveraging his extensive experience across food retail, dairy, manufacturing and distribution. The group operates a mechanised bakery and staples-processing facility in Krishnagiri, producing bakery and confectionery products and processed staples for markets in South India, with some products distributed nationally and internationally.
He also heads Yeti Refrigeration, a South India-focused business specialising in refrigeration and retail-display solutions. His entrepreneurial journey reflects a strong focus on innovation, organised retail, food manufacturing and rural employment generation.

Suprio Bose is the Founder of The Nomad Foodie, a food-focused platform through which he has built a reputation as a food writer, curator, traveller and culinary explorer. Often described as a globetrotting food explorer, Bose has spent years documenting food cultures, discovering culinary experiences and engaging with the evolving food and hospitality ecosystem in India.
Beyond The Nomad Foodie, Bose is recognised for his work across the food, travel and hospitality space. He has participated in industry platforms and culinary forums as a moderator, curator and food commentator, including sessions at the India Food Forum focused on emerging food trends and the evolving HoReCa landscape.
Bose has also explored the intersection of food, travel and entrepreneurship, and has been associated with culinary experiences and food-led initiatives. His profile combines food discovery with storytelling, photography and travel, making him a distinctive voice within India’s growing food and lifestyle ecosystem. He has also appeared as a guest jury on MasterChef India and on Fox Life’s Grilled.

Rahul Nayak is the Chief Operating Officer of SPAR India (Max Hypermarket India Pvt. Ltd.), bringing more than two decades of experience across retail, supply chain, merchandising and business operations. He has held senior leadership positions with leading retail organisations including Spencer’s Retail, Trent Hypermarket (Star Bazaar), Tesco Sourcing and Trent Ltd.
Before joining SPAR India in 2024, Nayak served as Executive Director and Board Member at Spencer’s Retail, following his tenure as Director of Operations at Trent Hypermarket, where he was associated with the Star Bazaar business. Earlier, he held leadership responsibilities across supply chain, distribution, sourcing and non-food merchandising at Tesco and Trent.
At SPAR India, Nayak is responsible for driving operational performance and supporting the retailer’s growth in India’s competitive hypermarket sector. His experience spans retail operations, commercial strategy, supply chain, merchandising and business transformation, giving him a broad perspective on the evolving needs of modern Indian consumers.
Nayak has also been vocal about the changing role of hypermarkets, highlighting the need for retailers to move beyond legacy approaches and respond faster to changing consumer behaviour. He has emphasised that relevance, rather than simply location, is becoming increasingly important as consumers shop across multiple channels.
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Nayak is recognised as a seasoned retail business leader with extensive commercial and operational expertise.

Vijay Vashisht is a senior logistics and supply chain professional with extensive experience spanning business strategy, marketing, transportation, distribution and supply chain solutions. He currently serves as Vice President – Business & Marketing Strategy at Safexpress, where he works on strengthening the company’s business proposition, market engagement and strategic growth initiatives.
Vashisht has been associated with Safexpress for several decades and has held multiple leadership responsibilities across business and marketing. His earlier roles include Head of FSM and AVP – Business & Marketing, as well as CEO of Safexpress B2C.
With deep knowledge of India’s logistics ecosystem, Vashisht’s expertise covers supply chain transformation, last-mile and urban logistics, distribution networks, technology-led logistics solutions and evolving customer requirements. He has also been a prominent industry voice on areas such as digital transformation, route optimisation, sustainability and the future of automotive, retail and e-commerce logistics.
His academic background includes qualifications in business management, marketing, HR, CRM, public relations and psychology.

Abhik Mitra is the Managing Director – Operations Group at Samara Capital, where he works closely with portfolio-company leadership teams to drive operational excellence, business transformation and accelerated value creation. He joined Samara Capital in April 2023, bringing extensive experience in building, scaling and transforming businesses.
Prior to Samara Capital, Abhik served as Managing Director of Spoton Logistics for over a decade, transforming the company into one of India’s leading road-express logistics businesses. He was also instrumental in turning around CEAT’s Sri Lanka business following an acquisition, helping it achieve a market-leading position with more than 50% market share.
His career spans senior leadership roles across Hindustan Unilever, RPG Group, TNT India, Spoton Logistics and Delhivery. He also served as Managing Director & CEO of Paradise Food Court, where he led operational transformation and expansion of the legacy food brand.
Abhik holds a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Varanasi and brings a strong track record in operational leadership, business transformation and scaling organisations.

Anil Thontepu is the Co-Founder of SuperK, a tech-enabled grocery retail company focused on transforming modern retail in India’s Tier-2, Tier-3, Tier-4 and Tier-5 towns. Founded in 2019 with Neeraj Menta, SuperK combines physical supermarkets, technology and a franchise-led model to bring greater convenience, value and assortment to small-town consumers.
A product and growth specialist, Anil has built his career at the intersection of technology, consumer behaviour and business growth. Before co-founding SuperK, he headed product at Kaodim in Malaysia and held product and growth roles at Hike, BYJU’S and PhonePe. His experience spans product management, growth strategy, analytics and technology-led consumer businesses.
At SuperK, Anil has been instrumental in developing a technology-led retail model designed around the realities of Bharat. The company has built its own retail technology stack, including POS systems, a consumer app and partner tools, while its membership programme has become a significant driver of sales. In 2025, SuperK announced plans to expand into 300 additional towns across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.
An alumnus of BITS Pilani, Anil brings a strong product mindset to retail, with a focus on using technology, local entrepreneurship and operational discipline to build scalable retail businesses beyond India’s major metros.

Keshav Dutta is a seasoned retail professional with over 19 years of experience across buying, merchandising, category management and retail strategy in India. He currently leads Buying & Merchandising for Omni and FMCG Foods at More Retail Private Limited, where he focuses on strengthening product assortments, category performance and consumer-led merchandising across retail channels.
Over the course of his career with More Retail, Keshav has held several category leadership roles, including Category Head – FMCG, National Category Manager for Home Care and Personal Care, and Circle Category Head for the East region. His experience also includes roles with Future Group and Walmart, where he worked across fresh, membership, marketing and departmental retail functions. Earlier in his career, he worked with Club Mahindra Holidays in sales and marketing.
Keshav brings a strong understanding of consumer behaviour, product positioning, assortment planning and price-pack architecture. His approach to merchandising combines consumer insight with commercial discipline, with a focus on creating relevant assortments and improving the overall shopping experience.
He has also been associated with several retailer-brand partnerships and category initiatives, reflecting his expertise in building strong supplier relationships and driving retail growth through effective merchandising.

Chef Kamlesh A. Salve is an accomplished Executive Chef currently serving at the prestigious "Sir HN Reliance Foundation,Hospital and Research Centre" Mumbai . With a degree in Hotel Management from Dadar Catering College, IHM Mumbai, he brings over 23 years of extensive culinary experience in the hospitality industry. His culinary journey began at the prestigious "Taj Group of Hotels," where he honed his skills and developed a deep passion for creating exceptional dining experiences. Throughout his career, he has worked with renowned brands such as the "Accor Group of Hotels," "Sarovar Group," ,"The Mirador," and “ The Lalit” gaining exposure to Indian and International cuisines. Chef Kamlesh's remarkable contributions to the culinary field have earned him recognition and accolades.

He was nominated for the prestigious "Visionary Executive Chef of the Year" at the Hospitality Leaders Industry Choice Awards 19-20. Additionally, he is associated with the esteemed Western Indian Culinary Association (WICA) and Internationally “Chaine De Rotisseurs” France. CMO Asia “Executive Chef of the Year-2024” His expertise extends beyond the kitchen as he had the opportunity to serve as a judge on "Masterchef India 6," a renowned cooking competition. He has also been featured in the web series "Khane ke Deewane" on the platform "Gemplex" and appeared on "Food XP" channel UK's show "Meethe Mein Kya Hain." Chef Kamlesh has also hosted cookery shows on Marathi channels, showcasing his culinary skills and expertise. Chef Kamlesh is no stranger to breaking records and pushing boundaries. He holds a record in the Limca Book for "Largest number of chefs cooking through a virtual platform," highlighting his innovative approach to culinary art.

Chef Kamlesh firmly believes that change is a constant phenomenon in the culinary world. He embraces change as a catalyst for creativity, recognizing that without creativity, there can be no improvement. His dedication to his craft, combined with his passion for culinary excellence, has established him as a highly respected and sought-after chef in the industry.

K. Devendra Kumar is a seasoned retail and consumer-business leader with over 29 years of experience across India and the GCC, spanning retail operations, P&L management, business transformation, growth strategy and consumer businesses. He currently serves as Head – Retail at Kaleesuwari Refinery Private Limited, where he brings his extensive experience in building and scaling retail businesses.
Earlier, Devendra Kumar served as CEO of Fresh2day, a Chennai-based food and grocery retailer, where he played a key role in driving the company’s expansion, strengthening operational processes, enhancing fresh-produce quality and developing its omnichannel retail proposition. Under his leadership, Fresh2day pursued an ambitious expansion strategy and adopted technology-led approaches to demand forecasting, customer engagement and operational efficiency.
His international retail experience includes serving as Head of Retail at SPAR Oman, where he was involved in the retailer’s growth and transformation across supermarket and convenience formats. His career reflects strong expertise in retail strategy, store operations, consumer insights, P&L management, business transformation, omnichannel retail and team leadership. He has also pursued executive education at IIM Ahmedabad, Cornell and XLRI.

Chirag Chhajer is the Co-Founder of Burma Burma Restaurant & Tea Room, which he started with his childhood friend Ankit Gupta in 2014. The brand began with its first outlet in Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda and has since grown into one of India’s leading specialty Burmese restaurant chains.
A food enthusiast and avid traveller, Chhajer came into the venture with a background in business and family entrepreneurship. He holds a degree in International Business from Swinburne University, Melbourne, and completed the Family Managed Business Programme at SP Jain Institute of Management & Research. Before entering the food and hospitality sector, he worked in his family’s textile trading business, Chhajer Synthetics, gaining hands-on experience in business management.
Chhajer joined Gupta in transforming the latter’s idea of bringing authentic Burmese cuisine to India into a scalable restaurant concept. Together, they built Burma Burma around Burmese food, culture and storytelling, creating an experience that extends beyond cuisine to interiors, art and hospitality.
Under Chhajer’s leadership, Burma Burma has expanded across multiple Indian cities while retaining its distinctive positioning. He was also recognised in Forbes India’s 30 Under 30 list in 2018 and has spoken at platforms including TEDx Youth Summit.

Prasoon Gupta is a serial entrepreneur and the Co-Founder and CEO of Sattviko, a food and wellness brand built around the principles of traditional Indian nutrition and yogic living. An alumnus of IIT Roorkee and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Gupta began his entrepreneurial journey while still a student, co-founding TechBuddy Consulting, an education-focused technology venture that he successfully exited in 2013.
Gupta entered the food and hospitality sector in 2013–14 with Sattviko, initially developing a restaurant concept centred on sattvic and vegetarian cuisine. The brand subsequently evolved into a packaged-food business, enabling it to reach consumers beyond physical restaurant locations. Gupta has described this transition as a pivotal step in building a more scalable food business.
A long-time practitioner of yoga, Gupta’s entrepreneurial philosophy is deeply influenced by the connection between food, nutrition and holistic wellness. His work at Sattviko led to the development of FoodYoga, a platform focused on creating plant-based nutrition products inspired by yogic nutrition science.
Recognised for his entrepreneurial achievements, Gupta has received honours including the National Entrepreneurship Award, TiE Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and BusinessWorld 40 Under 40. He continues to focus on building Indian food and wellness brands with global potential.

Bhavesh Solanki is the Founder and CEO of iFreightBox Technologies, a technology company focused on building intelligent digital solutions for the logistics and supply chain industry. With extensive experience across supply chain technology, transportation management, warehouse management and logistics operations, he has been instrumental in developing technology platforms that help businesses simplify complex processes and improve operational efficiency.
Solanki brings deep hands-on expertise in implementing technology-led supply chain solutions across diverse industries. His experience includes designing and implementing Warehouse Management Systems, Transportation Management Systems, freight-forwarding solutions, shipment tracking platforms and integrated logistics applications. His project portfolio includes implementations for organisations such as Sanofi, Godrej Consumer Products, Johnson & Johnson, Hitachi and BDP India, covering areas including warehouse automation, barcoding, inventory management, shipment documentation and supply chain visibility.
At iFreightBox, Solanki is focused on using automation, data and digital technologies to make logistics operations more connected, scalable and efficient. He is particularly passionate about digital transformation, logistics automation, WMS, TMS, e-commerce fulfillment and building technology around the real-world needs of supply chain operators.

Samir Kuckreja is the Founder and CEO of Tasanaya Hospitality, a boutique consulting firm focused on restaurants, hotels, hospitality technology, FMCG and retail. With over three decades of experience in the food service and hospitality industry, he has worked across business development, operations, expansion, strategy and brand building.
Samir began his career with Four Seasons in the US before joining Yum Restaurants, where he was involved in expanding Pizza Hut and KFC across the Indian subcontinent. He later served as Joint Managing Director at Mars Hotels & Restaurants and as CEO & Managing Director of Nirula’s, where he helped expand the brand from 35 outlets in two cities to 85 outlets across eight cities.
He founded Tasanaya Hospitality in 2012, advising businesses on market entry, concept creation, operational optimisation, growth strategy, franchising, fundraising and investment advisory. Samir is also a past President and Trustee of the National Restaurant Association of India.

Neeraj Menta is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of SuperK, a tech-enabled grocery retail company focused on bringing modern retail to India’s Tier-2, Tier-3 and smaller towns. Founded in 2019 with Anil Thontepu, SuperK combines technology, procurement, supply-chain capabilities and a franchise-led model to empower local entrepreneurs to operate modern supermarkets.
A second-time entrepreneur, Neeraj brings a strong technology and product background to the business. Before SuperK, he co-founded HungerBox, a technology platform for corporate food services, and worked in software and product roles at Flipkart and Zeta (Directi). He is also an alumnus of BITS Pilani, where he studied Computer Science and met co-founder Anil Thontepu.
At SuperK, Neeraj has been closely involved in building a scalable retail model for Bharat, using data and technology to address the structural challenges of traditional grocery retail. The company works with local entrepreneurs and kirana operators, providing procurement, technology, intelligence and marketing support to create a consistent modern-store experience.
Under Neeraj’s leadership, SuperK has grown from its first store in Anantapur into a rapidly expanding supermarket network across smaller towns. His experience across technology, product management and entrepreneurship continues to shape SuperK’s approach to building a scalable, asset-light retail ecosystem for the next generation of Indian consumers.

Prashant Peres is a seasoned consumer goods leader with over two decades of experience across FMCG, food and snacking, with a strong track record of driving business growth, category transformation and organisational leadership. He currently serves as General Manager, India – Mars Snacking, where he leads the combined Mars and Kellanova businesses in India. In this role, he is focused on integrating the businesses, accelerating category growth and creating enduring value for consumers, customers and partners.
Prior to joining Mars, Prashant was Managing Director, South Asia at Kellanova, having previously served as Managing Director, South Asia at Kellogg Company. His career also includes significant leadership roles at Mondelēz International, including President & Managing Director, Indonesia, and Senior Director – Growth for Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa. Earlier, he held leadership positions at Unilever, including Regional Vice President – Foods for South Asia.
Prashant brings deep expertise in business strategy, brand building, category development, commercial leadership, innovation and market expansion. He holds an MBA in Marketing and Strategy from IIM Calcutta and a Bachelor of Engineering from K J Somaiya College of Engineering, Mumbai University.

Prashant Issar is the Founder of Ishaara and Managing Director of Bellona Hospitality, the FnB arm of Phoenix Mills Ltd. Prashant began his career with The Indian Hotels Company, training at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, where he spent five years and rose to manage the Apollo Bar and Rendezvous. He then spent over 11 years in London, working on restaurant openings across Soho, Piccadilly and Chelsea. His experience includes managing the Michelin-starred Amaya in Knightsbridge for over five years, as well as managing Chutney Mary and Veeraswamy and launching the first Masala Zone in Soho. He later earned an MBA from Henley Business School on a scholarship, specialising in entrepreneurship. On returning to India, Prashant worked with leading hospitality brands including Hakkasan and Yauatcha before pioneering an inclusive hospitality model through Mirchi & Mime and Madeira & Mime.

He subsequently founded Ishaara in 2019 on the belief that inclusion should create sustainable careers, not simply employment. The brand integrates people with Speech and Hearing Impairment (SHI) into mainstream hospitality roles, enabling them to build long-term careers across operations, training, supervision and management. Ishaara has since grown into a nine-outlet, multi-city restaurant brand across Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, demonstrating that social inclusion and commercial performance can coexist at scale. As Managing Director of Bellona Hospitality, Prashant has conceptualised, created and led the expansion of distinctive dining concepts including Dobaara, Eight, Allora Milano, Cha Hong Kong Eating House and Legume.

Chetan Damji Sangoi is the Chief Executive Officer of Sarvodaya Supermarket, a Mumbai-based grocery retail business with roots dating back to 1972. He played a key role in transforming the family’s traditional kirana operation into a modern supermarket format in 2003, following extensive research into evolving retail models and consumer needs.
With more than two decades of experience in organised grocery retail, Sangoi has developed deep expertise in store operations, merchandising, inventory and stock control, FMCG pricing and margins, vendor negotiations, retail analytics and customer behaviour. He has also been associated with retail consulting and has shared his expertise through lectures at management institutions, including VAMNICOM.
His experience extends beyond Sarvodaya: he has served as a director at OSIA Hyper Retail Ltd., which operates a network of hypermarkets, and has worked as a retail consultant for businesses in India and overseas.
Sangoi is a regular participant in industry forums and has been featured as a speaker and panellist at the India Food Forum and Phygital Retail Convention, where he brings the perspective of an independent supermarket operator to discussions on grocery retail, consumer trends, innovation and competition.

Vishal Mahajan is the Founder & Managing Director of Epic Angles Retail & Entertainment, a business focused on developing differentiated concepts across retail, food and hospitality. Under his leadership, the company is associated with concepts including Necessity Supermarket Cafe and Ltd Edition Hotels, reflecting an approach that brings together retail, foodservice, hospitality and experiential consumption.
As an entrepreneur, Mahajan is focused on creating distinctive consumer-facing formats that go beyond conventional retail and hospitality models. His work spans concept development, business strategy, brand building and the creation of customer-centric experiences across multiple consumption occasions.
Through Epic Angles Retail & Entertainment, Mahajan is building a portfolio of businesses that sits at the intersection of retail, food and beverage, entertainment and hospitality, with an emphasis on differentiated formats and experiential propositions. His entrepreneurial approach reflects the growing convergence of retail and hospitality, where consumers increasingly seek convenience, discovery and experiences within the same physical environment.

Dhiren Kanwar is an accomplished F&B industry leader, entrepreneur, angel investor and business advisor with more than three decades of experience across food, hospitality, ingredients and consumer businesses. He is the Founder of Zaad Ventures, an advisory and growth platform that works with early-stage and growth companies on strategy, go-to-market, innovation, people, technology, branding and fundraising.
Kanwar began his career as a chef with ITC Hotels and later the Taj Group before moving into entrepreneurship. He founded and successfully exited Gourmet Street/Sweet Talk, a venture spanning commissary operations, cafés and events. He subsequently held senior leadership roles at Future Capital/Kshitij and Puratos, where he led the establishment and expansion of the company’s India and South Asia operations.

Rakesh Kumar Gupta is a business leader and Chairman of Sun Organic Industries Pvt Ltd, a Delhi-based company operating in the food and organic products sector. He has been associated with the company’s leadership and governance for several years and is currently a member of its board.
Established in 1985, Sun Organic Industries has built a presence in the food and consumer products space, with its portfolio including dry fruits, nuts and other food products. The company has continued to operate as an active private enterprise, with Rakesh Kumar Gupta among its current directors.
Beyond Sun Organic Industries, Gupta is associated with several businesses across food, agriculture and related sectors, including Wonderland Foods, Wonderland Farms and Sawaraj Agricultures Traders. His experience reflects a broad entrepreneurial and business leadership perspective spanning food products, agriculture and allied enterprises.
At Sun Organic Industries, Gupta’s leadership is focused on strengthening the company’s growth and positioning in India’s evolving food and organic products market.

Mayank Gupta is the Co-Founder of Food Square and LandCraft Agro, where he is building businesses at the intersection of sustainable agriculture, food retail and technology. An IIT Bombay alumnus, Mayank began his career in finance and risk analysis before moving into entrepreneurship, with experience spanning technology, operations and business building.

As Co-Founder & CTO of LandCraft Agro, he has been instrumental in developing sustainable farming initiatives, including large-scale aquaponic and soil-based farms. The business subsequently expanded into supplying fresh produce to more than 200 supermarkets and gourmet stores across Western and Southern India.

Building on this farm-to-market experience, Mayank co-founded Food Square, a premium gourmet food retail destination designed to bring global ingredients and curated food experiences to Indian consumers. As Co-Founder & Managing Director, he is focused on creating a world-class food retail experience inspired by global benchmarks while maintaining strong emphasis on quality, traceability and customer experience.

His entrepreneurial journey reflects a broader vision of connecting sustainable agriculture with modern food consumption and retail.

Anshumman V Pandita is the Senior Vice President – Sales at Unibic Foods India, where he leads the company’s sales strategy and market expansion across channels. With more than two decades of experience spanning FMCG, consumer healthcare, e-commerce and modern trade, he brings extensive expertise in sales, distribution, channel development and customer management.
Pandita joined Unibic in 2018 and has held several leadership roles across modern trade, sales, e-commerce, international business and new-generation channels. Prior to his current role, he served as Vice President – E-commerce, International Business & New GT Channels and Associate Vice President – E-commerce & Customer Development. He has also held sales and distribution roles at Flipkart, Sun Pharma, Abbott, Wipro Consumer Care and Hindustan Unilever.
At Unibic, Pandita has been closely involved in strengthening the brand’s presence across general trade, modern trade, e-commerce and quick commerce. He has also played a role in expanding the company’s portfolio beyond its core cookies business into categories such as bakery biscuits, wafers and cakes, while maintaining a focus on premium urban consumers.
An alumnus of IIM Calcutta and the Indian School of Business Management & Administration, Pandita combines strong sales leadership with a deep understanding of evolving consumer and channel dynamics. His experience positions him to contribute significantly to Unibic’s next phase of growth, distribution expansion and category development.

Vivek Sharma is a seasoned business and marketing professional with 16 years of experience across sales, product management, brand management, activations and digital marketing. Currently serving as B2C Business Head at Jayanti Herbs & Spices, he brings a strong track record of building businesses, launching new products and scaling brands across diverse categories.
Known for his entrepreneurial and problem-solving approach, Vivek thrives on taking complex challenges head-on and turning them into opportunities for growth. His cross-functional experience has enabled him to develop a comprehensive understanding of consumer behaviour, brand building, go-to-market strategy, channel expansion and business development.
Over the course of his career, he has been instrumental in conceptualising and executing successful product launches, marketing campaigns and channel expansion initiatives. His ability to combine market understanding with strong execution has helped deliver successful product lines across the organisations he has worked with.
Vivek’s expertise spans consumer marketing, business strategy, product development, brand management, sales, digital marketing and new business creation. He is particularly passionate about creating scalable businesses, improving what works and continuously learning to solve complex market challenges.

Sanjay Sharma is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Orkla India, the food company behind iconic brands including MTR, Eastern and Rasoi Magic. An FMCG veteran with more than 34 years of experience, Sharma has built his career across marketing, sales and business leadership with organisations including IFFCO, Dabur India, Colgate-Palmolive, Hindustan Ciba-Geigy, Voltas Foods & Beverages and Voltas. He joined the MTR Foods business in 2009 and has since played a central role in its evolution into the broader Orkla India business.
Sharma holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from the University of Bombay and an MBA from the University of Poona. He was appointed CEO of Orkla India following the consolidation of MTR, Eastern and the International Business into a single India entity in 2023, and was appointed Managing Director & CEO with effect from April 2025.
Under his leadership, Orkla India is pursuing a strategy centred on premiumisation, convenience foods, innovation, stronger distribution and selective acquisitions, while strengthening the company’s presence across modern trade, e-commerce and quick commerce. Sharma has also emphasised the growth potential of MTR and Eastern in their core markets while expanding their reach nationally and internationally.
In 2026, Sharma outlined an ambition to return Orkla India to double-digit growth, with greater emphasis on convenience foods and strategic acquisitions. He is also focused on responding to changing consumer preferences through healthier, more nutritious products and increased innovation as competition intensifies across the Indian food and FMCG landscape

Anand Rathi is a second-generation business leader and Director at Empire Spices & Foods Ltd., a Nashik-based food manufacturing company known for its popular brands Ram Bandhu and Temptin.
An alumnus of Elphinstone College, Mumbai, Anand holds an MBA from the Management Development Institute of Singapore and has also completed a growth strategy programme at IIM Ahmedabad. He has been associated with Empire Spices & Foods for more than 15 years, having worked across multiple functions before taking on his current leadership role.
At Empire Spices & Foods, Anand focuses on business strategy, market expansion, brand development, innovation and route-to-market execution. His experience spans the evolving packaged food and culinary products landscape, with a particular understanding of consumer preferences, distribution and regional market dynamics.
Beyond the business, Anand is associated with platforms including Young Indians, ASCENT and Nashik Round Table 107, reflecting his interest in entrepreneurship, community development and nation-building.

Ramakrishnan Lakshmanan is a second-generation entrepreneur and management professional with experience spanning food, consumer products, manufacturing and business operations. He is a Director at Mambalam Iyers, the traditional South Indian food brand that is part of the wider Clarion Group, where he is involved in strengthening the business and building its next phase of growth.
Under his leadership, Mambalam Iyers has been focused on strengthening manufacturing processes, quality systems and operational capabilities while expanding the reach of traditional South Indian foods. The brand, along with Clarion’s food portfolio, is increasingly positioned to serve both Indian consumers and global markets seeking authentic regional food products.
Lakshmanan also has experience across other businesses within the group and is associated with companies spanning packaging, cosmetics and food. He serves as a designated partner of Clarion Health Food LLP and has held directorships across several group companies.
He holds a B.Com from Loyola College and a PGDM from Welingkar Institute of Management, and has also pursued CA Final and Company Secretary studies.

Avik Chatterjee is the Chief Executive Officer and Whole-Time Director of Speciality Restaurants Limited, the company behind brands including Mainland China, Asia Kitchen by Mainland China, Gong and Episode. A graduate of Kingston University, London, he joined Speciality Restaurants in 2015 as Head of Innovation and New Formats and was inducted onto the Board in 2020.
Over the years, Chatterjee has played a pivotal role in strengthening the company’s brand portfolio and driving innovation across formats. He has spearheaded the launch of new concepts including Gong, Episode One, Siciliana, Walters and Powder Room, while also leading the rebranding and evolution of flagship brands such as Mainland China and Asia Kitchen by Mainland China.
Appointed CEO with effect from June 1, 2026, Chatterjee is now focused on accelerating Speciality Restaurants’ growth, strengthening its brand equity and expanding its presence across key markets. His expertise spans new-format development, consumer trends, food and beverage innovation, brand transformation and market expansion.

Prateek Mishra is a food and grocery industry professional serving as Export & Modern Trade Head at Rajesh Masala Udyog Pvt. Ltd. He focuses on driving the company’s modern trade, e-commerce and export initiatives, with a strong emphasis on identifying new market opportunities and building strategic business partnerships.
Mishra has played a key role in developing Rajesh Masala Udyog’s modern trade and e-commerce operations while contributing to the company’s expansion into international markets. One of his notable professional achievements has been leading the launch of modern trade and e-commerce operations and supporting the organisation’s export-market expansion through strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration.
His approach to business is strongly informed by data and market intelligence. He actively uses primary and secondary research to understand consumer behaviour, identify emerging opportunities and shape business strategies. He also places considerable importance on building lasting relationships with customers, prospects and business partners.
With expertise spanning exports, modern trade, e-commerce, business development, consumer engagement and market expansion, Mishra brings a practical perspective on the evolving food and grocery retail landscape in India and international markets.

Anjan Chatterjee is the Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Speciality Restaurants Limited, and one of India’s prominent entrepreneurs in the fine and casual dining space. With over 35 years of experience across advertising and hospitality, he has played a pivotal role in creating and scaling some of India’s most recognised restaurant brands.

Anjan began his career with the Taj Group of Hotels in Mumbai and later worked with Anand Bazar Patrika before establishing his own advertising agency, Situations Advertising, in 1985. In 1992, he entered the restaurant business with Only Fish in Mumbai, which later evolved into Oh! Calcutta. He subsequently launched Mainland China, laying the foundation for Speciality Restaurants.

Under his leadership, Speciality Restaurants has developed a diverse portfolio spanning fine dining, casual dining, bars, lounges, bakery and confectionery concepts. His approach combines culinary innovation, strong brand building and a focus on consistent food and hospitality experiences.

Anjan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science and a Diploma in Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition.

Anand Bharadwaj is the Co-Founder of Sweet Karam Coffee, the Chennai-based food brand built around authentic South Indian recipes and the culinary traditions of Anand’s grandmother, Janaki Paati. Founded in 2015, the brand aims to take the “taste and tales” of South India to consumers across India and global markets.
An operator at heart, Anand brings more than a decade of experience at Unilever, where he worked across supply chain, demand planning and availability management in South India. This experience has shaped his execution-focused approach, combining operational discipline, systems thinking and a strong understanding of retail. At Sweet Karam Coffee, Anand has played a key role in building a consumer-first business spanning traditional snacks, sweets, pickles, coffee, masalas and other South Indian staples
Anand is an alumnus of the College of Engineering, Guindy and holds a Master’s degree in Retail Management. His leadership combines FMCG experience, entrepreneurial ambition and a deep commitment to taking authentic South Indian food to a global audience.

Swathi Varun is an entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of Yellow Spoon, a Bengaluru-based clean-label food brand focused on preservative-free, nutritious foods made with simple, natural ingredients. Yellow Spoon’s portfolio includes dry-fruit powders, millet-based spreads, roasted nuts, snacks and jaggery-sweetened products.
Her entrepreneurial journey began with a personal mission to provide wholesome food for her family. What started as homemade food prepared for her children evolved into Yellow Spoon, which she has since developed into a growing consumer food brand. Her approach is rooted in purity, mindful nutrition and transparent ingredients, with the brand serving health-conscious families as well as corporate and gifting customers.

Dr. Rupinder Singh Sodhi is a veteran of India’s dairy industry and the former Managing Director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the organisation behind the Amul brand. He served as President of the Indian Dairy Association (IDA) from 2022 to 2025.
Sodhi joined GCMMF in 1982 and spent more than four decades in the cooperative dairy sector, including nearly three decades working under the mentorship of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the architect of India’s White Revolution. He served as Managing Director of GCMMF from 2010 to 2023, playing a key role in strengthening Amul’s cooperative model, farmer network, procurement systems and national growth.
An agricultural engineer and first-batch alumnus of the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Sodhi has been a strong advocate of farmer-centric cooperative models and inclusive growth. His philosophy centres on creating value for both milk producers and consumers, while strengthening rural livelihoods and the broader dairy ecosystem.
Beyond the IDA, Sodhi serves as Chairperson of NIFTEM and has held independent directorships and advisory roles across the food and agricultural sectors. He has also served on the Board of the International Dairy Federation. His contributions to Indian dairying have been recognised through honours including honorary doctorates and his election as a Fellow of the National Academy of Dairy Science.

R Shankaran is an accomplished food-industry professional with over three decades of experience in food processing, cold-chain management, post-harvest technology, sustainable agriculture and international market development. He currently serves as the Managing Director of Frigoscan Post Harvest Technologies and has worked closely with organisations such as MoFPI, APEDA, NHM, NHB and ASSOCHAM.

His experience also includes developing global markets for processed foods, snack products and agricultural commodities across Asia-Pacific, Japan, the Gulf, Australia, Europe and North America.

Kuunal Maiti is a seasoned business and hospitality leader with extensive experience across the QSR and casual-dining industry. As CEO & Director of TGI Fridays India, he is spearheading the brand’s renewed growth and expansion strategy in the Indian market, with a focus on premium locations, experiential dining, operational excellence and a scalable franchise-led model.
Under Maiti’s leadership, TGI Fridays has accelerated its India expansion, strengthening its presence across key markets including Kolkata, Hyderabad, Gurugram, Lucknow and Delhi NCR. In 2026, the brand doubled its restaurant footprint from three to six outlets within 12 months, while also introducing differentiated formats such as the world’s first TGI Fridays microbrewery at Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.
Maiti’s approach combines data-led decision-making with a strong emphasis on brand experience, menu engineering, site selection, community engagement and disciplined capital deployment. He has described the India business as being built with a “portfolio mindset,” balancing growth with long-term brand relevance and sustainable economics.
With a background in business leadership and management education from the Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad, Maiti continues to play a key role in repositioning TGI Fridays for India’s evolving premium casual-dining consumer.