Chatha Foods Limited shareholders approved the regularization of Divya Babel as a Non-Executive Independent Director at the company's 29th Annual General Meeting held on September 28, 2026. The appointment secures her position for a fixed term of five years, extending through March 10, 2031.

Appointment details and tenure

Babel was initially appointed as an Additional Director by the Board of Directors with effect from March 11, 2026. The recent shareholder approval converts this interim appointment into a permanent role, ensuring continuity in board oversight. The regularization aligns with SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, specifically Regulation 30 read with Para A Part A of Schedule III.

The director will not be liable to retire by rotation during her tenure. This structural stability allows for consistent governance practices over the next five fiscal cycles.

Professional background and expertise

Divya Babel brings over 10 years of experience in financial operations, taxation, compliance, and business consulting. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant with a Postgraduate Certification from IIM Indore. Her expertise spans financial reporting under IFRS, Ind AS, and US GAAP, alongside treasury management and budgeting.

Key areas of professional competence include:

• Financial reporting and MIS for strategic decision-making
• Fundraising, investor reporting, and project finance
• Implementation of SOPs, ESOP structures, and business automation
• Statutory compliance including GST, TDS, PF, ESIC, and ROC filings
• International accounting, transfer pricing, and transaction advisory

Babel is currently pursuing Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification to further strengthen her expertise in international accounting and audit services.

Governance implications

The disclosure confirms that Babel is not related to any other directors of the company, reinforcing the independence of her role. Her background in financial controls and compliance suggests a focus on strengthening internal governance frameworks.

What the numbers show

While no financial results were disclosed in this specific filing, the appointment of a Chartered Accountant with IIM Indore credentials highlights a strategic emphasis on financial rigor. The five-year fixed term provides a stable window for implementing long-term compliance and operational efficiency initiatives, such as the business automation projects noted in her profile.

Chatha Foods Limited commenced commercial production at its new dedicated vegetarian manufacturing facility in Dera Bassi, Punjab. The unit adds 16,000 metric tonnes of annual capacity to the company's integrated food manufacturing network.

Located at Village Toffanpur in SAS Nagar district, the facility spans 3.5 acres and marks the company's first vegetarian-specific plant. It supports the Unifayre brand and serves quick-service restaurant chains, hotels, restaurants, cafés, and institutional clients across domestic and international markets.

Multi-category production capabilities

The fully automated plant consolidates multiple product lines under one roof to enhance sourcing efficiency and quality control. Key manufacturing capabilities include:

• Breads: Tortillas, Roti Canai, Roti, Kathi Roll Wraps, and Malabari Parathas.
• Cooking Bases: Retorted gravies, pastes, and non-mayo sauces for professional kitchens.
• Snacks and Sides: Vegetarian and paneer patties, nuggets, kebabs, samosas, and handmade spring rolls.

The facility features dedicated lines for cold-pressed breads, retort cooking, forming and coating, and IQF/blast freezing. Integrated R&D, automated packaging, and cold-chain dispatch systems ensure end-to-end traceability and consistent output quality.

Expanded manufacturing footprint

With the addition of the Dera Bassi unit, Chatha Foods now operates three specialised facilities across India. The combined annual capacity reaches 30,800 metric tonnes, supporting over 5,000 food outlets and restaurant brands.

Paramjit Singh Chatha, Managing Director, stated that the investment extends the company's nearly three-decade manufacturing expertise into a broader vegetarian portfolio. He noted that the facility is designed to serve diverse kitchen requirements, from national QSR chains to single cloud kitchens.

What the numbers show

The launch significantly rebalances Chatha Foods' production mix toward vegetarian categories. Previously, the company's disclosed non-vegetarian capacity (Mohali and Aurangabad units) totaled 14,800 MT. The new 16,000 MT vegetarian unit now exceeds this figure, making vegetarian products the majority of the company's installed base by volume. This shift aligns with the strategic focus on multi-category solutions for HoReCa and private-label customers.