Zepto’s Meat Business CEO Chandan Rungta Quits Amid String of Senior-Level Exits
In yet another leadership shake-up at quick commerce unicorn Zepto, Chandan Rungta, CEO of the company’s meat business, has stepped down less than a year into his role. Rungta had joined the Mumbai-based firm in December 2024 and was spearheading the expansion of Zepto’s meat delivery vertical.
The exit marks the latest in a growing list of senior-level departures from the fast-growing startup, which has recently undergone significant leadership and operational changes as it sharpens focus on profitability and expansion.
Rungta’s Exit Comes as Zepto Realigns Its Meat Business Strategy
Sources close to the matter confirmed that Rungta resigned recently, and Zepto acknowledged his exit. His departure comes at a critical juncture when Zepto’s meat division has been aggressively scaling operations to maintain growth momentum in the competitive quick commerce space.
The company initially pushed its private label Relish as the primary driver of its meat business. However, to cater to a broader consumer base, Zepto has now reintroduced Licious, the popular premium meat brand, back into its assortment.
“Zepto got feedback that premium users preferred Licious for quality assurance, while mass-premium customers enjoyed Zepto’s in-house brand Relish. Hence, the company decided to re-list Licious and offer both options,” said a person familiar with the strategy.
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Relish Clocking ₹40–50 Crore in Monthly Sales
Zepto’s private label Relish has been performing strongly, with monthly sales estimated between ₹40 crore and ₹50 crore, translating into an annualised revenue run rate of ₹480–600 crore, according to people aware of the matter.
The strong performance highlights Zepto’s ability to leverage private labels for profitability in categories like groceries, bakery, and now, meats. However, maintaining consistent quality and scaling across geographies has proven to be challenging, especially with increased competition from well-established players like Licious and FreshToHome.
Multiple Senior Executives Exit Zepto in Recent Months
Rungta’s exit follows a series of senior-level resignations that have raised questions about internal restructuring and leadership transitions at Zepto.
Among the key departures are Apoorv Pandey, Senior Vice President, Strategy, and Chandresh Dedhia, Vice President and Head of Information Technology. Both joined the company less than a year ago — Pandey came from rival Eternal (formerly Zomato), while Dedhia joined in December 2024.
Pandey, who played a key role in strategic planning and market expansion, left shortly after Shashank Shekhar Sharma, Chief Experience Officer of Zepto Cafe, stepped down. Sharma, who was with Zepto for over three years and earlier worked with Chai Point, was instrumental in scaling the company’s café vertical alongside Pandey.
Zepto Cafe Leadership Sees Reshuffle
Following Sharma’s exit, Yash Heda, Senior Director, has taken on the responsibility of overseeing Zepto Cafe operations along with Vinay Dhanani, President of Zepto. Together, they are expected to continue building the vertical as Zepto diversifies its product portfolio beyond grocery delivery.
Zepto Cafe, launched as an in-app extension to deliver coffee, snacks, and quick bites, has been a growing focus area for the startup. However, leadership churn and the ongoing cost optimization drive have reportedly slowed expansion plans in recent months.
Early Employees and Mid-Level Leaders Also Depart
Beyond top leadership exits, several early and mid-level employees have also moved on from Zepto in recent months, many of whom joined during the company’s early growth phase.
Among them are Anant Rastogi (Senior Director), Suraj Sipani (Business Head), Vijay Bandhiya (Director of Strategy), and Roshan Shaikh (Chief Expansion Officer) — all of whom played key roles in Zepto’s early operations and expansion efforts.
Sources say that Rastogi, Sipani, and Shaikh had each spent over four years with the firm, while Bandhiya joined in 2022, around the time Zepto began scaling rapidly to become one of the top three quick commerce players in India.
Interestingly, many of these exits align with the company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) vesting cycle, a common trend in fast-growing startups after achieving valuation milestones.
Zepto’s Leadership Transitions Come Amid Efficiency Drive
The leadership churn comes amid Zepto’s broader cost efficiency and restructuring initiative, which recently impacted around 300 employees across departments. The company, which achieved unicorn status in 2023, has since been prioritizing operational sustainability and margin improvement to prepare for a potential IPO in the coming years.
Founded by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto has grown rapidly, carving a niche in India’s ultra-fast delivery space with its 10-minute delivery model. However, as competition intensifies with players like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket’s BB Now, the company faces growing pressure to sustain its growth while managing costs.
Balancing Growth and Stability Remains Zepto’s Next Challenge
While Zepto continues to expand categories such as meat, café, and bakery under its private labels, the recent string of departures indicates possible internal realignments as the startup moves from a growth-at-any-cost phase to a profitability-driven model.
Industry observers note that such churn is not uncommon in high-growth startups but warn that consistent leadership exits could impact long-term strategic focus. “Zepto’s challenge now is to maintain operational discipline while retaining its talent bench and ensuring seamless leadership continuity,” said a startup analyst.
