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. This move strengthens the company’s governance structure by adding a director with deep expertise in food safety, microbiology, and technology commercialization, which aligns closely with the retailer’s core operations.

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 position is not liable to retire by rotation and requires shareholder ratification in the ensuing general meeting. 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.

Dr. Bhajekar’s professional background includes significant contributions to India’s food safety ecosystem. 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. 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 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 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.

Westlife Foodworld will host analysts and institutional investors at the Emkay Confluence 2026 event on August 13, 2026. The in-person group meeting provides a platform for management to discuss the company’s operational updates and strategic direction with market participants, ensuring transparency ahead of potential investment decisions.

The disclosure was made in compliance with Regulation 30 read with Part A of Schedule III of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. Westlife Foodworld submitted the intimation to both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) on July 31, 2026.

Meeting Details

The event, titled "Emkay Confluence 2026 - India: Full Throttle Ahead," is scheduled for a single day. Company officials will present insights during the session, with the presentation materials subsequently hosted on the Investors page of the company’s website.

Dr. Shatadru Sengupta, Company Secretary of Westlife Foodworld Limited, signed the disclosure. The schedule and mode of the meeting remain subject to change due to exigencies, as noted in the filing.

What This Means for Investors

Participation in major investor conferences like Emkay Confluence signals active engagement with the financial community. For shareholders, these events offer direct access to management commentary on market conditions, competitive positioning, and future growth drivers. The presentation shared post-event will serve as a key reference for analysts updating their models and for investors assessing the retailer’s trajectory in the evolving FMCG landscape.