Epigamia, the healthy snacking and protein-focused brand backed by Verlinvest, has made key leadership changes as it gears up for its next phase of growth. Ritesh Gauba has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, while existing COO Ankur Goel has been elevated to Co-Founder & COO.
Goel had been steering the company as acting head since December 2024, alongside co-founder Uday Thakker and Growth Head Ajinkya Poundrik, following the passing of co-founder Rohan Mirchandani. During this period, Epigamia delivered its strongest performance yet in FY2025–26, with robust growth and improved profitability.
The leadership reshuffle comes as the brand looks to build on this momentum and expand further in India’s FMCG space. Today, Epigamia is available at over 25,000 retail touchpoints across 30+ cities, spanning modern trade, general trade, and quick commerce platforms like Blinkit, Instamart, Amazon, and Zepto. The company recorded over 50% growth in FY2025–26, driven by strong demand and continued innovation across categories such as Greek yogurt, smoothies, and high-protein snacks.
Commenting on the development, Arjun Anand, MD & Head of Asia, Verlinvest said, “Epigamia has delivered an excellent FY26 of solid growth, driven by strong execution by Ankur, Uday, Ajinkya & the company’s leadership team. The brand’s strong performance is a result of focusing on the core and leveraging Epigamia’s brand equity. Securing over 50% growth in 2025-26 is a direct result of this strategic approach and hard work, and sets the brand on strong footing for 2026-27. We are certain that the appointment of Ritesh Gauba as CEO and the elevation of Ankur to Co-Founder & COO will help them continue this momentum in the years to come, and build Epigamia into a cornerstone of India’s new age F&B segment.”
Swaraj Mirchandani, Director on the board and representative of the Mirchandani family, added,“We are very proud & happy with the team’s resilience and strength in delivering a wonderful FY26. Ankur’s elevation to co-founder & COO and the appointment of Ritesh as CEO is a sign of recognition of a great year and the commitment of shareholders to grow the brand & business over the many years to come.”
Commenting on his appointment, Gauba said, “Epigamia is one of India’s most loved new-age food brands, and I am excited to join at such a meaningful juncture. The company’s strong fundamentals, the founding family’s commitment, and Verlinvest’s long-term partnership create a powerful platform for category-defining growth. I look forward to working closely with the leadership team to take the brand to its next horizon.”
The leadership changes come as the company aims to maintain its growth momentum and expand its footprint in India’s FMCG market. Gauba brings deep experience in building premium consumer brands and driving omnichannel growth. He has previously worked with Pladis (home to McVitie’s and Godiva), as well as Mars and Britannia.
Operated by Drums Food International, Epigamia offers a range of products including Greek yogurt, protein milkshakes, smoothies, lactose-free curd, and almond milk.
