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.