Umesh Kumar Agarwal

Managing Director

About

I am an entrepreneur and business leader focused on building enduring brands while carrying forward the Haldiram legacy with responsibility and ambition.For over 19 years, I have led strategy, retail expansion, and operational excellence at Haldiram’s, scaling the retail footprint across Delhi NCR to 28+ outlets and contributing to a network approaching 200 outlets, with active expansion underway in Punjab and West India. My approach has always been simple: protect quality, obsess over customer experience, and anticipate shifts in consumer behavior before they become obvious.Alongside strengthening an iconic brand, I believe in creating new ones.I founded MISREE, a premium gourmet sweets brand reimagining India’s gifting culture through curated flavors, elevated presentation, and modern retail positioning. The vision is to make Indian mithai aspirational on a global stage.I also lead Khaulata Bakes, focused on delivering high-quality confectionery products such as wafer rolls and chocolate bars to Indian households through strong distribution and product consistency.Beyond operating businesses, I am deeply committed to entrepreneurship and capital allocation. I actively invest in and mentor founders building meaningful brands in food, consumer, and lifestyle sectors. I evaluate opportunities through two lenses: the founder’s mindset and the scalability of the problem being solved.I am also a founding partner at Synergy Labs, a venture capital platform built with trusted partners to back ambitious entrepreneurs with capital, strategy, and long-term alignment.What drives me is the balance between legacy and reinvention. Respecting tradition while constantly testing new formats, categories, and growth models. Building institutions, not just companies.Outside business, I am a cricket enthusiast, marathon finisher, fitness-focused individual, and an avid traveler who enjoys trekking and new cultures. These pursuits keep me disciplined, curious, and grounded.

Country

India

City

South Delhi

Industry

Retail

Skill

Mentoring, Director level, Management Professional

Experience

Managing Director

Haldiram Pvt Ltd

2006-4 - Present · 20 yrs 6 mos

Delhi, India

General management operations. Setting strategic and direction for the company’s financial decision Dealing in real estate deals with skilful knowledge of lease agreements. Modelling outlets from the very start. Identifying opportunities for new product as per market demand. Vendor management, as per regulations for purchase and quality standards of the board. Analysing new areas of expansion for outlet opening. In the past 13 years, the company opened 28 restaurants in West and North Delhi. We now wishing to expand in Punjab and other areas in West India. We hope to open a number of outlets in the near future.

Director

Haldiram Marketing Pvt. ltd.

2006-9 - Present · 20 yrs 1 mo

Delhi, India

• Directed general management operations, setting strategic financial directions for Haldiram Products Pvt. Ltd. • Successfully expanded the company by opening 28 restaurants in West and North Delhi over 13 years. • Negotiated real estate deals and managed vendor relationships to ensure compliance with quality standards.

Member

EO_Noida

2022-8 - Present · 4 yrs 2 mos

Delhi, India

Managing Director

MISREE Crafted By Haldirams

2021-1 - Present · 5 yrs 9 mos

Delhi, India

With a knack for disruptive entrepreneurship, I identified the gap in the Indian gifting space, in terms of premium, high- quality, gourmet sweets and introduced a new brand called "MISREE" into the Indian market. Giving the sweets a revamped look and feel and more importantly taste. Introducing fresh and innovative packaging keeping our premium market in mind. I envision the brand to bring in more sweets every month, expand in multiple cities and open physical stores.

Operational and Planning Head

Khaulata Bakes Pvt Ltd

2020-6 - Present · 6 yrs 4 mos

Delhi, India

Conceptualised the idea of the product after seeing seeing a scope of growth in the market. Involved in business critical aspects such as planning, financing and major management decisions. Designed the look and feel of the product and packaging. The taste and quality of the product are personally approved. Distribution is under Haldiram Products Pvt Ltd.

Education

SPJIMR SP Jain Institute of Management & Research

Family Managed Businesses

2001-8 - 2004-4 · 2 yrs 9 mos

The program worked on the principal of combining theoretical learnings with practical Study in Mumbai for a week every month and apply theories into real world in my place of work, Delhi. experiences. It gave me a vision to truly understand the practical aspect of family managed businesses and how one can make a diﬀerence in the functioning and growth of the same.