MAM
ITC forays into new category with pasta
MUMBAI: ITC Limited – Foods Division today announced the launch of its new Sunfeast Pasta Treat, which is India’s first instant pasta with sauce maker inside. This earmarks the division’s foray into the ready to cook instant snacks category. Made from Durum Hi-Protein Wheat, Sunfeast Pasta Treat is a ready-to-cook healthy snack option for the evolving tastes of the Indian consumers.
Speaking on the occasion, ITC Limited – Foods Business divisional chief executive Ravi Naware said, “Consumers today are open to experimenting with their cuisines and looking for options that suit their changing lifestyles. Convenience foods are hence gaining popularity amongst the urban population. With attributes like convenient, healthy and instant – Sunfeast Pasta Treat aims to leverage this opportunity and provide the Indian consumers with a product that meets their requirements.”
Research conducted by ITC showed that mothers nowadays are looking for newer and innovative evening snack options for their children. Pasta is gaining popularity in the Indian market. Research also indicated that women are aware about Pasta but find the cooking process of Pasta tedious and cumbersome. ITC’s Sunfeast Pasta Treat, on the other hand, offers a unique solution for the Indian palates.
The Sunfeast Pasta Treat will be available in four flavours – masala, tomato and cheese, sour cream onion and cheese.
During initial launch phase, Sunfeast Pasta Treat will be available at 28 FoodWorld outlets across Bangalore and will similarly be extended to other leading stores across the city. It will be subsequently launched in key centers across India.
Brands
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail reshuffles top deck; Nikhil Modha to take over as CFO
Phased transition sees Marco Agnolin head OWND!, Nikhil Modha lined up as CFO as company readies next growth leg
MUMBAI: Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail is redrawing its leadership map, lining up a new generation of executives across key roles as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
The company has named Suraj Bahirwani as chief executive (designate) of Pantaloons, effective April 1, 2026, with a full transition to the top role slated for October 1, 2026. He will also be designated as senior managerial personnel.
A two-decade veteran of the Aditya Birla Group, Bahirwani joined as a group management trainee in 2002 and has since held a string of leadership roles across retail and manufacturing. His resume spans stints at Aditya Birla Retail, a tenure as chief operating officer of Pantaloons, and most recently, head of global sales at the group’s cellulosic fibres business, where he drove international expansion and strengthened value-added portfolios.
Academically, he holds a PhD from the University of Mumbai, a postgraduate management diploma from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, and is a chartered accountant. Over the years, he has picked up multiple chairman’s awards, including distinguished achiever, exceptional contributor and accomplished leader.
The transition at Pantaloons will be staged. Incumbent chief executive Sangeeta Tanwani will continue until September 30, 2026, steering the handover before moving into an advisory role to the managing director from October 1, 2026. She is set to retire on January 31, 2027, at which point she will step down as whole-time director and key managerial personnel.
Alongside, the company has brought in Marco Agnolin as chief executive of OWND! and senior managerial personnel, effective April 6, 2026. Agnolin arrives with over three decades of global experience, having held senior roles at Inditex, where he helped expand Zara in Italy, and later served as chief executive of Bershka and Diesel. His track record spans fast fashion, brand turnarounds and youth-focused retail.
On the finance side, Nikhil Modha has been appointed chief financial officer (designate) and senior managerial personnel from April 1, 2026. He will assume full charge as chief financial officer and key managerial personnel from January 1, 2027.
Current chief financial officer Jagdish Bajaj will oversee a phased transition until December 31, 2026, before retiring and stepping down from his roles.
The reshuffle signals a calibrated succession plan rather than a sudden overhaul, with the company staggering exits and appointments to ensure continuity even as it refreshes leadership across verticals.
As Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail juggles legacy brands and new-age formats, the message is clear: steady hands for the present, sharper ones for the future—and no pause in the push for scale.
