ITV News
Animesh Gupta joins Varun Beverages as vice president – procurement
Seasoned multi-sector leader to steer sourcing, scale ops and growth
MUMBAI: In a move that blends experience with ambition, Varun Beverages Limited has appointed Animesh Gupta as vice president, tapping into his two decades of cross-industry expertise to power its next phase of growth.
Based in Gurugram, Gupta steps into a role that goes beyond titles and into transformation. He will lead strategic sourcing and procurement for non-raw materials across group companies, spanning India, South Asia and Africa. The mandate is clear: sharpen efficiency, strengthen operations and keep pace with the company’s expanding footprint.
Gupta’s career reads like a playbook in scale and strategy. Most recently with The Middleby Corporation, he served as associate vice president and business head for east asia, where he managed a complex portfolio across 15 markets. From owning profit and loss to driving solution-led growth and refining regional operating models, his tenure was marked by both expansion and discipline.
Before that, as assistant vice president and business head for india and south asia, he doubled topline revenue while significantly improving margins, all while building strong cxo-level partnerships with major quick service restaurant chains. His ability to blend commercial sharpness with supply chain resilience stood out, especially during challenging periods like the covid years.
Earlier stints at Jubilant FoodWorks, Escorts, John Deere, Bharti Infratel and Honda Cars India helped shape his foundation in procurement, manufacturing and telecom infrastructure. Across roles, a consistent thread emerges: a focus on cost leadership, operational continuity and scalable systems.
At Varun Beverages, that experience now finds a broader canvas. As the company continues to grow across geographies, Gupta’s mix of global perspective and on-ground execution could prove to be just the right ingredient in its growth recipe.
ITV News
DSM Fresh Foods wins CII IPO Trailblazer 2025 recognition
Zappfresh honoured at CII Unicorn Summit 2026 for governance and growth
MUMBAI: From farm-fresh cuts to boardroom credibility, Zappfresh is clearly slicing its way into the big league. DSM Fresh Foods Limited, which operates Zappfresh, has been recognised as an “IPO Trailblazer 2025” at the CII Unicorn Summit 2026, an initiative by the Confederation of Indian Industry to spotlight high-growth companies demonstrating strong governance and long-term value creation. The recognition was awarded at a ceremony held at the Taj Mahal Hotel, attended by industry leaders, policymakers and business stakeholders. The honour was accepted by Prreya Manchanda, Director at DSM Fresh Foods.
The award category highlights startups and growth-stage firms that are not just scaling fast but are also building robust, compliant and future-ready businesses. For DSM Fresh Foods, it signals growing institutional confidence in its operating model within the fresh and processed food segment.
The company has been expanding its footprint through a customer-focused approach, strengthening quality-led operations and building an omni-channel distribution network to reach consumers more efficiently.
The recognition comes at a time when companies in the food-tech and fresh produce space are increasingly being evaluated not just on growth, but on governance standards and sustainability of operations key factors for any future public market journey.
For DSM Fresh Foods, the nod from CII adds another layer to its growth story, positioning it as a business that is not only scaling up but also shaping up for the long run.
