The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the brand, as it re-aligns leadership, capital and execution capabilities to accelerate expansion, beginning with South India and extending into global markets. Backed by Bharat Sanjaya Ventures, its investor and strategic partner, Cuppa is sharpening its focus on building a scalable and operationally consistent café business.

As part of this transition, Sharath Ravikumar brings over 15 years of leadership experience across hospitality, event management and food and beverage, with a strong track record in brand-led execution and operational scale.Cuppa will focus on expanding its footprint, starting with Southern India and then moving into global markets, while building the systems, processes and outlet-level consistency required for franchise-led growth. The emphasis will remain on creating a format that can scale without compromising brand experience, operational discipline, or customer connect.

Over the past few years, under the leadership of Visakh Viswambharan and partners, Cuppa has evolved in line with changing consumer preferences, focusing on accessibility, everyday relevance, and consistency in experience. As the brand enters its next chapter, the emphasis is firmly on scale: expansion through a structured franchise-led model while further strengthening operational systems and customer experience.

“Cuppa has built a strong foundation over the years, and the opportunity ahead lies in taking that foundation forward with a more structured, scalable expansion model,” said Sharath Ravikumar, Chief Executive Officer, Cuppa. “My focus will be on driving growth with discipline, strengthening consistency across the brand, and building the operating cadence required for Cuppa to expand across South India and beyond. The aim is to scale the brand thoughtfully while preserving what has made Cuppa relevant and distinctive.”

Commenting on the transition, Visakh Viswambharan, Director, Cuppa, said, “Cuppa has always had strong brand recall, and the next phase is about translating that into a more scalable and execution-led growth platform. With Sharath stepping in to lead the business, and with Bharat Sanjaya Ventures as both an investor and strategic partner, we are focused on building the right structure for expansion across locations. As I continue to focus on my broader ventures across AI, technology, and sports, I will remain involved at a strategic level while Sharath leads the business forward.”

With leadership, capital support and a clearly defined expansion agenda now aligned, Cuppa is positioning itself for the next stage of growth. The brand’s franchise-led approach, combined with its consumer-facing identity and operational model, is expected to support its journey toward broader market expansion and long-term scale.

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In his role, Shaikh is driving efforts to expand the company’s presence across key retail, institutional, and export channels, while building long-term partnerships with distributors and global stakeholders. His mandate centres on strengthening distribution, enhancing brand visibility, and delivering sustainable revenue growth.

At the core of this strategy is Dobra, an Oxbow Brands venture founded in 2022. Headquartered in Bengaluru, Dobra is a new-age food and beverage brand reimagining traditional Indian favourites such as goli soda, cotton candy, and tapioca crisps with a modern, premium twist. Backed by the legacy of the 75-year-old Johars Group, the brand has quickly carved a niche with its playful, nostalgic, and experiential product portfolio.

Dobra’s offerings include Pop Goli Soda (marble soda), artisanal cotton candy, Nata de Coco beverages, and tapioca crisps—blending familiar flavours with global influences. In August 2025, the brand raised ₹1.5 crore in a seed funding round led by D2C Insider Super Angels Fund to accelerate its expansion across D2C, quick commerce, and retail channels.

Over the next two years, the focus is to position Dobra as a trusted and widely recognised brand within its category. Growth will be driven by expanding into alternative key account channels such as corporate sales, vending, airports, railways, and HORECA, alongside strengthening its export footprint.

Enhancing brand visibility remains a key priority. Through strategic collaborations, impactful marketing initiatives, and a stronger in-store presence, the company aims to deepen consumer engagement and reinforce brand recall.

In parallel, Oxbow Brands is focused on optimising its distribution network to ensure seamless product availability and improved operational efficiency across geographies. With a structured approach to scaling, the company is well-positioned to unlock growth across multiple consumption channels.

With a clear roadmap in place, the broader objective is to significantly expand market reach, drive revenue growth, and build long-term brand equity—while continuing to deliver on the pillars of quality, reliability, and innovation.

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“This landmark event, besides providing opportunities for professional growth and development of Procurement Professionals and senior Managers, introduced several new initiatives that underline HPMF’s growth and its commitment to social responsibility,” said Nitin Shankar Nagrale, one of the founders and Secretary General, HPMF.

Key highlights included the unveiling of the “100 Milestones in 1000 Days” initiative, HPMF Gurukul program, plans to develop a cutting-edge tech platform, and an expansion strategy aimed at adding international chapters, government departments, and major industry partners. The emphasis on sustainability, green technology, women’s equity, participation in DEI initiative and social causes further sets HPMF apart as a fast-growing, family-like organization with a deep sense of purpose.

Attended by 525+ delegates, partners, media and well known personalities from the industry , the convention provided delegates, sponsors, professionals, partners, and awardees with a profound sense of belonging and achievement. Attendees praised the holistic nature of the event, which fostered connections and enriched professional discussions in a congenial, development-oriented yet comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere.

One of the highlights of the event was the brilliant speeches delivered by Chief Guest Surendra Jaiswal, President of HRANI and the UP Hotel & Restaurant Association. His keynote address emphasized resilience, innovation, and sustainability as crucial elements for driving the future of the hospitality sector. The Guest of Honour, Gaurav Prakash, renowned entrepreneur and hotelier, shared visionary insights into the evolving landscape of hospitality in India, with a focus on strategic partnerships and technological advancements.

The support of the Tourism Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh was instrumental in making the event a grand success. Their commitment to promoting Uttar Pradesh as a tourism and hospitality hub was acknowledged as a key element that elevated the convention’s significance, reinforcing the importance of public-private collaboration for growth.

The spiritual journey to the holy Shri Ram Lalla Temple and the cultural festivities at Ram Katha Park, which included a unique laser show, immersed attendees in the rich spiritual heritage of Uttar Pradesh. Traditional dress codes, local music, dance, qawwali performances, and a vast spread of authentic regional cuisines added to the vibrant cultural experience. The inclusion of GI-certified local arts and crafts with artisans in attendance further promoted the state’s ancient art and crafts legacy.

In addition to the cultural and spiritual dimensions, the convention achieved significant business outcomes, with more than a hundred deals and several MoUs signed during the B2B meetings valued at about 1200 crores. The value and impact of the event far exceeded expectations, delivering outcomes comparable to government-run events at a fraction of the cost.

Motivational talks, industry discussions, and presentations by top industry leaders and government officials provided invaluable insights. The exhibitions were meticulously curated, showcasing the latest products, services, and new technologies for the hospitality sector, further elevating the HORECA industry’s knowledge base.

One of the standout moments of the convention was the HPMF Procurement Excellence Awards, which recognized excellence through a rigorous and merit-based selection process. Notable honors included the Thakur Giriraj Singh Ji Lotwara Memorial Award (Winner Padmashree Dr Rajnikant), and the HPMF Lifetime Achievement Award ( Winner Mr N Srinivasan) with this year’s focus on Women Achievers of India.

Delegates and participants at HPMF 14^th Convention and Awards were particularly effusive about the excellent arrangements made by Nitin Nagrale and the HPMF team. As one participant remarked, “I have been a lifelong achiever, yet there is so much more to learn from Nitin and his remarkable team.”

The HPMF Convention has once again demonstrated the power of collaboration, vision, and execution, setting a new benchmark for industry events and earning real accolades for its substantial achievements.

Officials of the Government of Uttar Pradesh conveyed accolades to Team HPMF for a visionary, impactful event.

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With more than 25 years of experience in the beverage industry, Mandrea brings his expertise and strategic vision to the new role.

S N Ladhani, Chairman and Managing Director, of Coca-Cola SLMG, expressed his delight over Mandrea’s appointment. Ladhani believes that Mandrea’s leadership and strategic insight will help the company into its next phase of expansion and success.

Mandrea has previously held key leadership positions at the Coca-Cola Bottling System in Western and Central Europe, Russia, and Japan. He has been instrumental in driving business growth through company-wide transformation, sales force operations, customer engagement, and route-to-market strategies.

Commenting on his appointment, Costin Mandrea stated, ‘‘I am honored and excited to join Coca-Cola SLMG as its Chief Executive Officer. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team and leveraging my experience to drive innovation and growth for the company.’’

Mandrea has a degree from the University of Bucharest and has participated in many leadership development programs throughout his career. His tenure at Coca-Cola has been marked by successful transformation initiatives and strategic leadership roles, contributing significantly to the company’s profitability and market presence.

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