ANSHUL ASAWA TO LEAD AVENUE SUPERMARTS AS CEO

Avenue Supermarts, the parent of D-Mart, has named Anshul Asawa as its new CEO effective February 1. Asawa brings global experience across marketing, sales, digital commerce and general management. His appointment comes as India’s retail sector undergoes rapid digital and competitive shifts, positioning the company for its next phase of growth.  

D-Mart’s parent company Avenue Supermarts has announced that Anshul Asawa will take over as chief executive officer from February 1, marking a leadership transition at one of India’s most closely watched retail groups. The appointment places Asawa at the helm of a business that helped redefine modern grocery retail through everyday low pricing, operational efficiency and a lean expansion strategy that has kept the company consistently profitable since listing in 2017.

Asawa joins the top job with a track record that spans marketing, sales, digital commerce and broader P&L roles across multiple countries and consumer categories. Industry watchers note that this breadth of experience is increasingly valuable as India’s food and grocery market becomes more competitive, with traditional retailers, e-commerce platforms and quick-commerce players all vying for share. The company did not disclose additional details of the selection process or the exact roles Asawa most recently held, but the leadership move suggests Avenue Supermarts is preparing for the next phase of growth amid a rapidly evolving retail environment.

D-Mart’s performance in recent years has been shaped by its methodical store roll-out strategy, tightly managed cost structures and a category mix skewed toward high-frequency essentials—factors that helped shield the brand during economic volatility and competitive discounting. Analysts say the central question for the new CEO will be how to sustain this model while adapting to structural changes in consumption, logistics and digital behaviour. While the company has expanded its e-commerce play through DMart Ready, the online arm remains relatively modest compared with dedicated digital-first and quick-delivery rivals.

The leadership change also comes at a time when the Indian retail sector is undergoing significant shifts in consumer expectations, especially in metros and tier-II cities, where convenience and omnichannel accessibility are gaining importance. Asawa’s international and cross-functional experience could support a more aggressive approach to digital integration, data-driven retailing and category innovation—areas seen as critical levers for long-term competitiveness.

For now, stakeholders are watching whether Avenue Supermarts will retain its characteristic discipline or pursue a more experimental pivot under Asawa. Regardless of the strategy chosen, his appointment signals the beginning of a new chapter for a company that built a formidable brick-and-mortar franchise by keeping things simple at a time when much of the market was doing the opposite.