Westlife Foodworld Limited has appointed Dr. Deepa Vidyadhar Bhajekar as an Additional Director (Non-Executive Independent Director) to its Board. The Westlife Foodworld Board of Directors approved the appointment during a meeting held on July 30, 2026. The move strengthens the company’s governance structure by adding a director with deep expertise in food safety, microbiology, and technology commercialization. This appointment is not liable to retire by rotation and requires shareholder ratification in the ensuing general meeting.

The appointment is effective from July 31, 2026, and covers a first term of five consecutive years, concluding at the close of business hours on July 30, 2031. The company disclosed the appointment in compliance with Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, read with Schedule III Part-A. The filing also references SEBI Circular No. SEBI/HO/CFD/CFD-PoD-1/P/CIR/2023/123 dated July 13, 2023, and SEBI Circular No. SEBI/HO/CFD/CFD-PoD-2/CIR/P/2024/185 dated December 31, 2024. The company confirmed that Dr. Bhajekar is not debarred from holding office by any SEBI order or other authority.

Dr. Bhajekar’s professional background aligns closely with Westlife Foodworld’s core operations in the food retail and supply chain sector. She is the Founder and Managing Director of ‘d technology’, which focuses on developing and commercializing cutting-edge technologies with global partners. Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2000 with the establishment of MicroChem Silliker India, a premier food testing lab known for its integrity. The lab’s success led to a joint venture with Merieux Nutrisciences, a global leader in food testing based in France, for its India entry. Merieux Nutrisciences subsequently acquired the company in 2015.

In addition to her corporate roles, Dr. Bhajekar has played a significant part in shaping India’s food safety ecosystem. She served on the Central Advisory Committee of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and its Scientific Panel. She was instrumental in establishing the India chapter of the Association of Official Analytical Collaboration (AOAC) International and served as its Founding President in 2013. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of Hardcastle Restaurants Private Limited, which operates McDonald’s outlets in West and South India. She holds a Ph.D. in Food Microbiology from the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, and completed the Senior Executive Leadership Program India (SELPI) at Harvard Business School in 2021.

Appointment Details

The Board meeting that approved this appointment commenced at 12:00 noon and concluded at 1:00 pm on July 30, 2026. Dr. Shatadru Sengupta, Company Secretary, certified the compliance with regulatory disclosure requirements. The detailed disclosures are available on the company’s website for stakeholder review.

Westlife Foodworld reported a 12% year-on-year revenue increase to ₹7.36 billion for Q1FY27, driven by robust guest count expansion and resilient profitability despite input cost pressures. The quick service restaurant operator delivered its strongest quarterly business growth in recent periods, with Same Store Sales Growth (SSSG) improving to 4.3%. This performance underscores the effectiveness of its value-led strategy and digital platform, offering shareholders confidence in sustained operational leverage and market leadership in India’s competitive QSR sector.

The results were announced on July 30, 2026, following a Board meeting that commenced at 12:00 noon and concluded at 1:00 p.m. In compliance with Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, Westlife Foodworld submitted the earnings presentation to both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE). The financial data reflects operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.

Financial Performance Overview

Key financial metrics for Q1FY27 highlight consistent top-line growth alongside stable margins:

Same Store Sales Growth (SSSG) improved significantly to 4.3%, marking the strongest momentum in recent past periods. May and June recorded particularly strong performances with mid-single-digit SSSG levels. On-premise sales, comprising dine-in and takeaway, contributed 59% of system sales, while off-premise channels continued to grow, with McDelivery reinforcing its position as a key growth engine.

What the Numbers Show

The divergence between the 12% revenue growth and the 10.7% Operating EBITDA growth indicates that while top-line expansion is robust, operating leverage is being carefully managed rather than aggressively expanded. With Cash PAT standing at ₹516.8 million (7.0% of sales), the company demonstrates efficient cash conversion. The maintenance of an 18.6% Restaurant Operating Margin suggests that input cost inflation has been largely passed on to consumers or offset by operational efficiencies, preserving bottom-line health despite volume-driven revenue increases. Adjusted gross margin remained flat at 67.6% compared to Q1FY26, impacted by higher food and packaging costs, though management expects inflationary headwinds to ease.

Strategic Initiatives and Network Expansion

Westlife Foodworld added 5 restaurants during the quarter, expanding its footprint to 482 restaurants across 79 cities, while closing one location. The company remains on track to achieve its target of 580-630 restaurants by December 2027. Digital adoption deepened significantly, with digital channels contributing approximately 74% of sales, an increase of 150 basis points year-on-year. The McDonald's app ecosystem crossed 55 million cumulative downloads, and monthly active users rose above 3.7 million, highlighting the strength of its omni-channel platform.

The Everyday Value platform at ₹99 remained the primary catalyst for guest count growth. Additionally, the company launched the "Let's Family at McD" brand campaign to commemorate 30 years of McDonald's in India, aiming to enhance consumer relevance and top-of-mind recall. Amit Jatia, Chairperson, noted that the strong start to FY27 reflects the strength of the value platform and disciplined execution, positioning the company well for sustainable growth.

Source: https://lodr-files.dhan.co/lodr-inputs/Company/INE274F01020/e5eafd88-c529-48b3-9b84-cdabfcb7ba99.pdf