Karishma Gupta appointed as Licious’ new CFO 

INDIA – Delightful Gourmet, the parent company of the premium direct-to-consumer meat and seafood brand Licious, has announced the appointment of Karishma Gupta as their new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). 

Headquartered in Bengaluru, Licious plans to launch over 500 stores across 20 cities within the next five years, aiming to achieve operating profit by the end of the current fiscal year. 

Gupta, who will be instrumental in steering the company towards sustainable growth and profitability, is tasked with establishing governance frameworks and key standard operating procedures (SOPs) as Licious prepares for an initial public offering (IPO).

Prior to joining Licious, Gupta was pivotal in driving expansion and turnaround strategies for multiple brands under Jubilant Foodworks.

At 39, Gupta brings an extensive background in finance, boasting over 18 years of experience. 

A chartered accountant by profession, her expertise covers business partnering, supply chain finance, governance, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), audit, and controllership. 

She has excelled in leadership roles across multinational and Indian corporations, demonstrating a strong track record in turning around business performance, financial management, and mergers and acquisitions. 

Licious co-founders Vivek Gupta and Abhay Hanjura expressed confidence in the company’s solid financial footing, having closed the previous year with an almost 20% annual recurring revenue increase, reaching US$100 million. 

They highlighted the improvement from a loss margin to a gross margin nearing 30%, and a significant reduction in burn rate by nearly 80%. 

As the company progresses into its next growth phase, maintaining financial health, fostering innovation, and building robust financial frameworks remain top priorities. 

The co-founders believe Gupta’s extensive experience in retail finance and her work with top-listed companies will be a substantial asset.

Gupta is enthusiastic about joining Licious at such a pivotal juncture. 

“Licious is at an exciting inflection point, poised for rapid expansion. While the company already excels in finance structures and governance, we are set to embark on a transformative journey towards innovation-led business growth over the next two years. I am thrilled to lead this journey from a finance perspective,” she remarked.

Gupta’s career includes significant roles at Diageo, GSK Consumer Healthcare, and ITC Ltd. 

Notably, she is one of the youngest female CFOs in India, where only 50 out of 2,328 NSE-listed companies have women in this critical position.