In today’s era of on-demand services and doorstep deliveries, startups are reshaping the way we shop for daily essentials. One such success story is Country Delight, a brand that brings fresh milk, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products to your doorstep. Behind this rapidly growing venture are two IIM-Indore graduates, Chakradhar Gade and Nitin Kaushal, who left their high-paying corporate jobs to embark on an entrepreneurial journey that transformed into a business worth crores.
The Journey from IIM to Entrepreneurship
Chakradhar Gade, an IIM-Indore graduate and CFA, began his corporate career with Infosys as a Software Engineer. After a year, he moved on to join Indxx Capital Management as Vice President, gaining valuable experience in the financial sector.
Nitin Kaushal, also an IIM-Indore alumnus, started his career at HSBC, rising to Vice President in Corporate Banking within just two years. However, both professionals felt an entrepreneurial calling. In 2014, Nitin left his banking job to join Chakradhar, who had already taken the leap to establish Country Delight.
The Beginnings of Country Delight
The idea for Country Delight was born in 2013 when the duo identified a gap in the milk industry. With milk being a staple in every household and consumption soaring to 70 lakh liters per day in Delhi alone (as per a Forbes report), Gade realized the potential for a business catering to this demand.
Their startup began humbly, with around 100 cattle supplying fresh milk to their customers. However, managing livestock proved to be a steep learning curve. “We couldn’t understand how to manage the cattle,” Gade admits, recalling their initial struggles. Despite the challenges, the duo remained determined, bootstrapping their way through the early years.
By focusing on quality, trust, and freshness, Country Delight gradually built a loyal customer base. Over time, it transformed from a small milk business into a full-fledged brand offering a wide range of natural food products.
The Rise of a Multi-Crore Brand
After six years of hard work and securing multiple rounds of funding, Country Delight achieved its breakthrough. The company’s operating revenue grew exponentially, from ₹19 crore in FY18 to ₹175 crore in FY20, and further surged to an impressive ₹600 crore in FY22, even amid the pandemic.
Operating on a subscription-based model, the brand’s delivery network includes 6,000 personnel, fulfilling over 5 million orders monthly and reaching more than 3 lakh households.
While milk remains a core product, Country Delight has diversified its offerings to include ghee, paneer, yogurt, smoothies, bread, and pastries. The company has also begun supplying fresh fruits and vegetables in the Delhi-NCR market and plans to expand into new categories like jams, pickles, rice, wheat, legumes, and grains.
A Vision for the Future
Today, Country Delight operates in 15 cities, including Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Its rapid growth highlights the duo’s ability to combine innovation with consumer trust and quality.
Reflecting on their journey, Chakradhar and Nitin exemplify the courage to step away from corporate stability to pursue a vision. Their story is not just about building a successful brand but also about creating value for millions of consumers by delivering freshness and quality to their doorsteps.
Summing Up
From struggling with cattle management to running a business worth crores, Chakradhar Gade and Nitin Kaushal have shown how determination, a strong vision, and adaptability can lead to extraordinary success. Country Delight stands as a testament to their entrepreneurial spirit and the power of innovation in meeting everyday needs.
Their story is an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of leaving behind the comfort of corporate life to build something impactful and lasting.