Brands
Polycab names Gyan Pandey executive president and chief digital & information office
Veteran tech leader joins to steer next phase of data-led growth
MUMBAI: Polycab India has named Gyan Pandey as executive president and chief digital and information officer, effective 16 February 2026, as the cables and wires major sharpens its focus on digital transformation.
Pandey joins the company after leading large-scale technology and data initiatives across manufacturing, pharma and engineering sectors. At Voltas, a Tata enterprise, he served as chief digital officer and head digital, where he drove enterprise-wide transformation programmes, promoted a “digital first” culture and built roadmaps for AI adoption across business processes.
Before that, he spent more than seven years as global and group CIO at Aurobindo Pharma, overseeing IT teams across 16 countries and supporting operations in over 150 markets. There, he led the shift from traditional processes to digital platforms, set up global shared services, and steered integration for acquisitions while managing core infrastructure and governance.
His earlier roles include leadership positions at Enrich, Qatar Petrochemical Company, Oracle, Genpact and Panasonic, where he worked across ERP, enterprise applications and global IT operations. Over a career spanning more than two decades, Pandey has handled everything from finance systems to large-scale digital transformation projects.
At Polycab, he will be responsible for advancing the company’s digital agenda, strengthening data capabilities and aligning technology with business growth. His appointment signals the company’s intent to wire its next phase of expansion through smarter systems, sharper insights and a stronger digital backbone.
Brands
Zydus Wellness expands Ritebite Max Protein into new formats
RTD shakes, ghee jaggery bars and Korean chips target $10–12 bn protein market.
MUMBAI: Protein is no longer just gym talk, it’s making a full-course entry into everyday India. Zydus Wellness Ltd. is stretching its Ritebite Max Protein portfolio across three new formats, signalling a sharper push to turn protein from a niche supplement into a daily habit. The expansion brings ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, culturally rooted ghee jaggery bars, and Korean-inspired protein chips under one umbrella, an attempt to build what the company calls a “multi-format protein ecosystem”. The move targets India’s rapidly expanding protein market, currently estimated at $10–12 billion and growing at a mid-teen CAGR.
The numbers suggest the strategy already has legs. In Q3 FY26, Ritebite Max Protein posted near double-digit EBITDA margins following its acquisition, driven by distribution expansion, product innovation and broader category tailwinds.
At the centre of the rollout is convenience. The newly launched RTD shakes available in Choco Burst and Berry Blush deliver 26 grams of protein per 250 ml serving, designed for on-the-go consumption. Meanwhile, the “Roots” Ghee Jaggery Protein Bars blend traditional Indian ingredients with whey and casein, offering 10 grams of protein and 4 grams of fibre per serving.
But the play isn’t just about nostalgia. On the other end of the spectrum, Korean-flavoured protein chips featuring variants like Hot Chilli, Barbeque and Gochujang tap into global snacking trends. Each 60-gram serving delivers 10 grams of protein and 4 grams of fibre, alongside claims such as no palm oil and gluten-free formulation.
The broader insight is clear: the protein category is fragmenting along lifestyle lines. One cohort is leaning into familiarity and traditional formats, while another is chasing novelty and international flavours. Zydus is betting it can straddle both worlds.
With a nationwide rollout planned across e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms, the company is positioning Ritebite Max Protein not just as a product line, but as a day-long consumption habit, one shake, bar, or chip at a time.
