Mr. Rahul Sharma comes from the heritage “The Pink City” of Jaipur, India, and holds an MBA from Amity University, Noida. He develops his innate intelligence and abilities to improve and elevate his family’s business into the retail market because he comes from a farming family with deep roots in the community. Since he is truly passionate about the food industry, customer satisfaction and delight are his major motivators and the key to his success.
Aditya Bagri is a Director at Bagrrys India Private Limited since April 2015. He joined Bagrry’s in 2011 as a Manager, Brand & Communications and gradually rose to the position of VP – Marketing wherein he has been responsible for Marketing & Strategy functions within the organization.
Additionally, he was actively involved in Corporate & Finance departments and played a significant role in developing new business for the Bagrry’s Group. He has been driving the family run business to new heights with his exceptional skills in Business Development, Strategic Planning and Marketing Management.
He has been instrumental in launching new product introductions, expanding and consolidation of the supply chain and brand building. He is also an active part of the CII National Committee for Food Processing and actively represents Bagrry’s at various Industry forums. Aditya comes on board with a diverse set of experience after working with various renowned organizations. Prior to this he was associated with international organization AIESEC, wherein he was leading the corporate team in Delhi. He has also worked with Goldman Sachs in UK in their Foreign Exchange Operations. He holds a bachelor degree in Statistics from Delhi University and a postgraduate MSc. in Management from the London School of Economics (LSE).
Chef Suresh Shetty’s illustrious career spans over four decades, during which he has honed his craft in some of India’s most prestigious five-star hotels, international cruise lines, and flight catering operations. His journey culminated with his current role as the Executive Chef at the renowned Mumbai Cricket Association, where he spearheaded the launch of the esteemed ‘MCA’s very own Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana.’ Prior to his tenure at MCA, Chef Shetty’s experience includes leading four pre-opening teams of major hospitality ventures, such as:
• The Regent Mumbai (now Taj Land’s End) – Pre-opening
• Grand Hyatt Mumbai – Pre-opening
• Four Points by Sheraton (Starwood Hotels and Resorts) – Pre-opening
• Saudi Catering, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)
• Carnival Cruise Lines Inc., USA
• Ramee Group of Hotels
• The Ambassador Group of Hotels (Ambassador Sky Chef, Mumbai & Delhi)
Beyond these significant contributions, Chef Shetty has had the privilege of catering to an elite clientele, including prominent figures from Hollywood and Indian Film Industry, business magnates, world class athletes, entrepreneurs, and even royal dignitaries.
As a culinary virtuoso, Chef Shetty is more of a guiding force than a physical presence in MCA’s kitchens, overseeing nine diverse F&B outlets and orchestrating seamless banquet operations for up to 1,700 guests. Under his expert leadership, a team of talented chefs brings to life an array of fascinating global cuisines, incorporating locally sourced ingredients and modernist cooking techniques. Every dish, though seemingly simple on the plate, is a masterful creation, showcasing the precision and craftsmanship of contemporary gastronomy, meticulously executed by his team across four kitchens.
Chef Shetty’s repertoire extends far beyond the kitchen; he is a consummate hotelier, known for his exceptional culinary artistry. His skills in ice carving, fruit and vegetable carving, and elaborate buffet displays are legendary, alongside his expertise in preparing exquisite pre-plated hors d’oeuvres in both hot and cold western cuisine. His ability to blend artistry with culinary precision has earned him a distinguished reputation within the hospitality industry.
A charismatic leader, Chef Shetty is revered for his dynamic nature and his fervent commitment to culinary education. His approachable demeanour and wealth of experience have made him a popular figure among hotel and catering professionals. He frequently participates in culinary events as a judge, imparting his extensive knowledge and experience to aspiring chefs and students from culinary institutes.
It would be fitting to regard Chef Shetty as a celebrity chef, as he has appeared on the OTT food show “Khane Ke Deewane” on the Gemplex platform, further cementing his status within the gastronomic community. He is also highly active on social media, where he shares his culinary insights and engages with a wider audience through Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
A family-oriented man, Chef Shetty relishes the time he spends in the kitchen with his exceptional team, continuously crafting innovative seasonal dishes and designing new menus. He is also actively involved in conducting weekly training workshops for cooking enthusiasts, passing on his passion for culinary excellence. Outside the kitchen, Chef Shetty enjoys quality time with his family, often introducing new culinary experiences to his wife Rashmi. He balances his life with fitness routines at the gym, a love for golden classic music, indulging in culinary literature, watching superhero and sci-fi movies, and following his favourite sport, cricket, with his son Sahas.
At the intersection of technology and consumer brands, Gyanendra Bharti stands as a pioneering force that aims to strengthen India’s General Trade ecosystem. An alumnus of IIT Dhanbad, Gyanendra combines his strong technical foundation with over 8+ years of hands-on experience in the consumer brands industry to drive innovation in how brands reach and serve their markets.
Before co-founding Badho, Gyanendra’s tenure at FieldAssist gave him deep insights into the dynamics between 200+ consumer brands and their channel distribution partners – from enterprise giants like Haldiram’s to emerging D2C startups across food, apparel, and cosmetics sectors. This diverse exposure shaped his vision on the industry’s digital needs for a unified B2B marketplace that enables seamless trade between brands, distributors, and GT retailers.
“The industry isn’t just transforming – it’s evolving,” Gyanendra often emphasizes. “When brands and retailers have the right platform to connect and grow together, everyone wins.”
At Badho, Gyanendra has built India’s fastest-growing B2B marketplace for secondary orders, where more than 5 Lac+ GT retailers and 7000+ distributors actively trade. Under his leadership, the platform has processed over ₹1000 Cr+ in GMV (∼₹100 Cr monthly GTV), enabling efficient trade between retailers and distributors for products from over 1000+ Brands.
His approach to innovation is deeply rooted in practical industry experience: “Technology shouldn’t disrupt traditional trade – it should enhance it. Our role is to build a marketplace that strengthens existing GT relationships while opening new growth opportunities for both brands and retailers.”
A strong advocate for holistic growth, Gyanendra extends his leadership beyond business metrics. His passion for fitness and health reflects in his approach to business – focusing on sustainable growth and nurturing talent. He actively mentors emerging professionals in the CPG space, sharing insights on leveraging technology to align with new industry trends and best practices.
Gyanendra’s work at Badho is reshaping how consumer brands approach GT market expansion and operations. His vision of tech-enabled growth has helped numerous brands reduce operational costs, while significantly expanding their market presence.
“The future of retail is not about choosing between GT and digital – it’s about creating a seamless platform that empowers every stakeholder in the ecosystem,” he states, embodying the transformative approach that has become Badho’s hallmark.
Sudeep Goenka is the Director of the Goldiee Group, a leader in the spice industry with a rich legacy. He began his education in Kanpur, India, before earning a degree in industrial and systems engineering from the prestigious Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, USA. After gaining valuable experience as a CSD business analyst at Coca-Cola’s headquarters, Sudeep returned to India in 2006 to join his family business. Under his visionary leadership, Goldiee has experienced significant growth, expanding both domestically and internationally. Sudeep spearheaded key initiatives such as the installation of a cutting-edge noodle plant and the company’s entry into the ready-to-eat segment. He has also driven internal automation, introducing ERP, DMS, SFA, and cloud computing. A skilled marketer, Sudeep expanded Goldiee across diverse sales channels, including modern trade, institutional sales, and HoReCa. In addition to his professional success, Sudeep is a philanthropist, sports enthusiast, and active member of several professional organizations.
Ankit Patel, Managing Director & CEO is currently steering the ship at the Belgian Waffle Co to spread the waffle revolution in India, one waff-wich at a time. A seasoned business professional with over two decades of extensive cross-functional experience in the technology, consumer, and financial services industries. Demonstrates strong expertise in business development, strategic alliances, business strategy, and financial management.
Dr. Nitin Nagrale has over 30 years of experience in the Indian Hospitality Industry, managing supply chain procedures. He has received multiple prestigious awards for his contributions to hospitality standards. He is the first global recipient of the Certified Hotel Purchase Manager (CHPM) certification from AHLEI and has authored numerous articles on materials and supply chain management.
In 2010, Nitin founded the Hospitality Purchasing Managers’ Forum (HPMF), India’s first platform for hospitality procurement professionals, now with over 6,000 members across several countries. He also established the LinkedIn group “Materials Management,” with over 48,000 global members.
Nitin is actively involved with FSSAI as a FOSTAC Trainer and Advisor, and was recently appointed National President – Policy Development and Research Cell by the Human Rights & Social Justice Committee, New Delhi. In October 2019, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Supply Chain Management from National American University.
He is a well know leader in the FMCG Food & Beverage industry with expertise across a spectrum of areas, roles and brands. He is a regular in the industry meets as well as a speaker in expert panels across the spectrum of food and consumer start-ups in India and abroad.
He is presently the CEO of WoW Sales Pvt Limited, Makers of WoW Momo brand which has FMCG and QSR verticals. WoW Momos, wow China , wow chicken and wow kulfi are the brands that belong to the group.
He is regarded among the top FMCG start up leaders who has built companies like ID Foods, Sumeru and now WoW FMCG business. He has worked with top MNC and Indian brands like Nestle, Britannia, UB Spirits , ID foods and Sumeru in leadership roles.
Mithun has published several articles and insights in top publications like entrepreneur Asia , F&b insights , Middle east journals , CEO insights , Economic times etc. He has also been featured on CNBC, CNN IBN , yourstory.com and several podcasts and features. He has also won awards like topper in marketing awards at IFIM business school, Sales awards in Nestle, Innovation award at UB group, CEO /MD award at Britannia, Emerging leader award, top 50 leaders, ASL Luminaire award as the Game changer CEO -2024 awards to name a few.
Mithun is also in the international panel of judges for the Gama innovation awards for the last 5 years which is held in Manchester UK every year on branding, packaging, positioning and products across the globe.
He has been in the boards of companies and an advisor to consumer brand start-ups. Today he wears the hat of an angle investor with Mumbai angel network as well a few other.
Mithun in most of his roles has displayed an ability to turnaround and rapidly accelerate business coupled by optimising process and systems thereby extracting positives across the value chain. He has been instrumental in creating innovative business ideas, building sharp strategies , new investment opportunities entering into new categories and execution specializations in various roles that he has handled.
He has managed various businesses from start-ups to large firms driving positive change and growth. He is also a mentor to budding business management professionals as well as a key influencer to various emerging start-ups. He was also an advisory member to start ups at the Wadhwani foundation and part of the board of studies panel for IFIM business school. Possess strong investor relations as well as industry connects.
Mohit Khattar is Director and CEO, for Graviss Foods Pvt Ltd (GFPL), the master franchisee for Baskin Robbins in India and the SAARC region. He is responsible for growing and managing the business and the brand in this geography. Mohit has earned his spurs building several successful programs and customer centric initiatives for leading organisations, including Titan Watches, Reckitt Benckiser, T.I Cycles of India, Subhiksha and Godrej. He is actively involved as an advisor to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), to help New-Zealand based businesses enter India and scale their business here. He is also on the board of several food start-ups in the healthy eating as well as in the gourmet food space apart from being a mentor to budding entrepreneurs in the food retail space.
Horse-riding enthusiast , TEDx speaker who joined as Management Trainee & became CEO in 8 years, one of youngest executive in fmcg food industry.
appreciate the learning & experience earned in the journey of organization growth.
Person with a demonstrated history in consumer products, FMCG- food & beverages industry like biscuits, biscuit wafers, chocolates, confectionery, all fruit-based products , snacks, namkeens, wafer chips.
A technocrat while being an alumnus of NIT Warangal, ISB Hyderabad & Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Chicago.
Professional with hands-on experience, Passionate to drive business growth through system driven. process, automation & people orientation.
Working to ensure assigned products & services consistently resonate with current and potential customers.
As young multidisciplinary always enthusiastic to learn & achieve more. Grateful to have good exposure in life, born in small village of Haryana to various geographies and cultures.
Born in a family of industrialists, Aastha is a true-born entrepreneur. She was a student of Economics from the prestigious Hindu College of Delhi University after which she studied PGDM in Fashion Marketing from Pearl Academy of Fashion to pursue her passion in retail and branding. She is also an alumni of Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. She is a serial entrepreneur, who is always looking for solutions to simplify businesses – making them more productive and efficient. Prior to launching The New Shop, Aastha spearheaded a series of startups across diverse industries such as mobile gaming, online reputation management and consumer retail. While studying for a Bachelor’s, she joined her father’s stock broking firm making her one of the youngest certified stock-brokers from National Stock Exchange. She has lived an adventurous life and has amassed 12 years of diversified experience in entertainment, finance, branding, and retail. Her interests and pursuits are also reflected in her well-rounded personality. Aastha has the capability of turning everything she touches into a profitable venture. Much like the Virgin Group of UK, Aastha enters every domain afresh but quickly disrupts & evolves the landscape of the chosen industry.
Sameer holds an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and is a serial entrepreneur with profitable ventures in multiple geographies in the US, Central Asia & India in diverse businesses such as commodities trading, oil & gas service & real estate.
“Dr. A.K. Tyagi is heading Haldiram Group of Companies as Executive Director since March 2014 and as Executive President since July 2006. He is responsible for all matters of the Company including Production, Sales & Marketing, R&D, Product Innovation, Finance, Diversification, and expansion. He has directed the company's global strategy for more than a decade and helped the Group to increase its market share through expansion / putting various green field projects, development of new innovative products and expanding network. Under Dr. Tyagi’s leadership, the Company has grown 30 times over the past 17 years and established itself as a market leader in Salty Snacks with 46% market share and in Traditional Snacks with 60% Market Share and a leading brand within FMCG Sector inspite of stiff competition from Multinational and Indian Companies.
He started his career in 1984 with Multinational Company Wimpy International (A Div. of United Biscuit Empire, UK). Later, he was associated with Uncle Chipps Company Ltd from 1988 to 2000 in different capacities including CEO and President of the Company. In the year 2000, Dr. Tyagi joined Amrit Banaspati Company Ltd. as CEO. Dr. Tyagi has received various Awards on behalf of the Company as well as at individual capacity in Uncle Chipps and Haldiram. Recently, he has received Food Industry Icon Award, Lifetime Achievement Award in India Food Forum, Business Leader of the Year Award from ET NOW and CEO – Food Company of the Year Award from India Food Safety Summit & Awards by Synnex Group etc. Dr. Tyagi’s Interview was published in prestigious “The CEO Magazine” of Singapore multiple times viz. in May 2019, January 2022, and June 2023 (Editorial).
