Ritwik Mathur
In the competitive ecosystem of Indian startups, Deepanshu Manchanda, co-founder and CEO of ZappFresh, stands out as a pioneer who has redefined the meat and seafood delivery segment. With a focus on quality, hygiene, and technological innovation, Manchanda has addressed key challenges in India’s largely unorganized meat market, setting new benchmarks for consumer trust and industry standards.
From Sales Roles to Startup Leadership: Early Journey
Deepanshu Manchanda’s entrepreneurial journey reflects resilience and adaptability. His career began during his MBA internship at Frito-Lay, where he sold corporate packs of Kurkure for Diwali gifting. Despite demonstrating strong performance, he did not receive a pre-placement offer—a setback that would eventually fuel his entrepreneurial ambition.
Undeterred, Manchanda joined American Express in sales and later worked as Strategic Lead at MobiKwik, where he honed his expertise in business development and market research. These foundational experiences became critical in shaping his approach to building consumer-focused businesses.
Launching ZappFresh: A Disruptive Idea for a Traditional Market
In 2013, driven by a passion for the FMCG sector, Manchanda ventured into his first entrepreneurial project, Choc’o’leaf, an online bakery based in Delhi. However, realizing the limitations of the bakery segment in terms of scale and disruption, he shifted focus after eight months of research.
This exploration led to the founding of ZappFresh in early 2015, alongside Shruti Gochhwal, an ex-colleague from MobiKwik. The idea was clear—bring hygiene, transparency, and technological integration to India’s unorganized meat delivery sector.
Redefining Meat Delivery with Technology and Quality Control
ZappFresh was conceptualized to address long-standing gaps in the Indian meat industry, where lack of standardization and quality assurance were common issues. The company’s model focuses on farm-to-fork delivery, ensuring chemical-free meat and seafood reach customers directly from trusted sources.
Key elements of ZappFresh’s operations include:
- Fully equipped meat processing units.
- Temperature-controlled distribution centers.
- A wide range of products, including raw meats, seafood, marinades, cold cuts, and ready-to-eat items.
- Stringent quality checks and hygiene practices at every stage of the supply chain.
These operational strengths have helped ZappFresh build a loyal customer base across Delhi NCR, including Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad.
Funding, Expansion, and Market Presence
What began as a bootstrapped venture with ₹30 lakh grew rapidly, catching the attention of notable investors. ZappFresh secured ₹20 crore in funding from SIDBI and Amit Burman, Vice-chairman of Dabur India. The funding enabled the company to scale operations, improve technology integration, and enhance customer experience.
Manchanda’s strategy of combining affordability with premium quality positioned ZappFresh as a preferred choice for urban consumers seeking reliable meat delivery options.
Global Aspirations: Looking Beyond Indian Shores
Deepanshu Manchanda’s ambitions extend beyond the Indian market. In a recent statement on LinkedIn, he hinted at ZappFresh’s plans for international expansion, mentioning the company’s intent to enter Russia. “Here is to new milestones and aspirations to expand into new horizons. Watch this space for more action,” he wrote, signaling ZappFresh’s intent to replicate its success globally.
Leadership Vision: Resilience, Innovation, and Customer-Centricity
Manchanda’s leadership is characterized by his resilient mindset and a deep understanding of consumer needs. His ability to identify market gaps and leverage technology for solving real-world problems has not only helped ZappFresh scale rapidly but also positioned it as an industry leader.
The startup’s success story underscores the importance of customer-centric innovation, with hygiene and convenience at its core.
Conclusion
Deepanshu Manchanda’s journey—from selling FMCG products door-to-door to transforming India’s meat delivery landscape—illustrates the power of vision, perseverance, and adaptability. Through ZappFresh, he has set new benchmarks in a traditionally fragmented sector, ensuring that quality meat products are just a click away for Indian households. With plans for global expansion, Manchanda is poised to take the brand to new heights, further solidifying his role as a changemaker in the Indian startup ecosystem.
Myadam Varshini
