Brands
DSM Fresh Foods steps into ready foods with Avyom acquisition
MUMBAI: DSM Fresh Foods Limited has cooked up its next phase of growth. The ZappFresh parent has approved the acquisition of a 51 per cent controlling stake in Avyom Foodtech Private Limited, marking its formal entry into the fast-growing ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook foods space.
The move signals a clear shift from being a fresh foods specialist to becoming a broader food solutions player. Through this acquisition, DSM Fresh Foods gains immediate access to processed foods, export-ready infrastructure and a running manufacturing operation, without the long wait or heavy costs of building from scratch.
The deal involves a cash infusion of around Rs 7.5 crore by DSM Fresh Foods through a preferential allotment of shares in Avyom Foodtech. The structure allows room for future strategic investors at the Avyom level, ensuring long-term alignment while keeping growth capital flexible and disciplined.
As part of the transaction, Avyom Foodtech has entered into a binding agreement to acquire the operating business of Ambrozia Frozen Foods through a slump sale. The acquisition brings with it about five acres of land, a fully functional food processing facility and plant and machinery, along with identified liabilities such as bank borrowings and trade payables. Funds will be deployed in phases in line with the business transfer plan.
The strategic appeal is straightforward. DSM Fresh Foods steps straight into high-demand RTE and RTC categories, gains access to FSSAI-approved manufacturing and taps into export markets from day one. The acquired business has historically clocked peak annual revenues of about Rs 16 crore, offering a ready base for scaling up.
Commenting on the development, DSM Fresh Foods managing director Deepanshu Manchanda, said the acquisition marks a turning point for the company. He noted that buying a running, compliant and export-ready operation sharply reduces execution time while strengthening unit economics and long-term value creation.
Avyom Foodtech, incorporated in 2022, is engaged in manufacturing and exporting a wide range of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products including frozen foods, snacks, gravies and sauces. Ambrozia Frozen Foods, whose business is being acquired, operates an export-compliant facility with a capacity of around 15 tonnes per day and a portfolio of over 150 SKUs. Its customer list spans institutional buyers and QSR players, with exports to Canada, the UK and the UAE.
For DSM Fresh Foods, best known for its technology-led approach to sourcing and delivering quality meat and food products under the ZappFresh brand, the deal adds a new layer to its story. Fresh may still be its foundation, but ready food is now firmly on the menu.
Brands
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran named executive director at Gillette India
P&G veteran with two decades of experience steps into leadership role
NEW DELHI: Rohini Laya Venkateswaran has been appointed executive director at Gillette India Pvt. Ltd., bringing with her more than two decades of experience across sales, strategy and brand leadership within the consumer goods sector. In her new role, she will help steer the company’s strategic direction and growth while strengthening its footprint in the grooming and personal care category.
Venkateswaran joins the board after a long career at Procter & Gamble, where she spent nearly 21 years shaping sales strategy, building brands and driving market expansion across India and international markets.
Most recently, she served as chief sales officer for India at P&G. Prior to that, she was vice president and country manager for east gulf markets, overseeing operations in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar while also guiding sales strategy across the Gulf region, including the UAE.
Earlier in her career, she led sales strategy and planning for India while serving as marketing leader for brands such as Olay and Old Spice. During this stint, she focused on reshaping go-to-market channels and building awareness through digital, social and influencer-led campaigns to drive growth.
Her journey at P&G also included roles such as director sales strategy and planning leader India, associate director modern retail and ecommerce, regional manager for Delhi and Rajasthan, and several key account and trade marketing roles across the country. She also spent time in the United States working on the P&G Walmart international team, collaborating on global retail initiatives.
Venkateswaran holds an MBA in marketing from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from RV College of Engineering.
With her mix of sales acumen, brand-building experience and global exposure, Venkateswaran’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on growth and market leadership for Gillette India.
