Epigamia, the Deepika Padukone-backed dairy and healthy snacks brand, has appointed FMCG veteran Ritesh Gauba as its Chief Executive Officer. This leadership induction comes alongside the elevation of Ankur Goel to the role of Co-founder, as the company seeks to stabilize and scale following a period of significant internal transition.
The move marks a definitive shift for the Mumbai-based startup, which has been navigating a complex operational phase since late last year. Gauba steps into the role with a professional pedigree spanning over 24 years in the consumer goods sector, having previously served as the General Manager for India at Pladis.
Strategic Leadership Reset
Gauba’s track record includes senior stints at heavyweights like Mars, Britannia Industries, and Tata Motors. His expertise in multi-channel distribution and premium brand positioning is expected to be the engine for Epigamia’s next leg of expansion. The startup, founded in 2015, began as a niche Greek yogurt player but has since branched out into artisanal curd, smoothies, and traditional desserts like mishti doi.
Epigamia is one of India’s most loved new-age food brands, and I am excited to join at such a meaningful juncture.— Ritesh Gauba, CEO, Epigamia
After appointment he emphasized that the startup’s fundamentals and its long-term partnership with Belgian investment giant Verlinvest provide a "powerful platform for category-defining growth."
The internal elevation of Ankur Goel to Co-founder is seen as a move to ensure continuity. Goel, who remains the Chief Operating Officer, has been the acting head of the business since December 2024. This followed the unfortunate demise of co-founder Rohan Mirchandani, a loss that forced the remaining leadership—including co-founder Uday Thakker and growth head Ajinkya Poundrik—to tighten operations and maintain the brand's upward trajectory.
During this interim period, the team focused on narrowing the cash leak and improving the bottom line. The startup has raised approximately $60 million to date, backed by a high-profile cap table featuring Verlinvest, Danone Manifesto Ventures, DSG Consumer Partners, and Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone.
Scaling Retail Footprint
The brand’s distribution mettle is currently tested across more than 25,000 outlets in over 30 cities. While its Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) platform remains a core pillar, the steep climb in revenue is increasingly driven by quick commerce and traditional offline retail networks. The challenge for the new leadership will be to maintain this premium positioning while competing with legacy dairy giants who are now entering the functional foods space.
“The founding family’s commitment and our investor backing create a unique opportunity. I look forward to working closely with the leadership team to take the brand to its next horizon,” Gauba added, signaling a focus on long-term value over short-term spikes.
As Epigamia moves forward, the combination of Gauba’s institutional FMCG knowledge and Goel’s deep-rooted operational experience suggests a strategy focused on sustainable margins. With the healthy snacking market in India witnessing a shift toward clean labels and high-protein alternatives, Epigamia's ability to hold its ground will depend on how effectively it can leverage this new executive muscle to dominate the refrigerator shelves of urban India.
