Chakradhar Gade

Chakradhar Gade is an Indian entrepreneur and the co-founder of Country Delight, a direct-to-consumer brand delivering farm-fresh dairy and groceries across India. His innovative farm-to-home model has disrupted traditional supply chains by ensuring high-quality, unadulterated milk and produce reach customers within hours of production. Gade’s mission is rooted in sustainability, food purity, and technological transparency.

Chakradhar Gade
Born	India
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	IIT Delhi
Occupation	Entrepreneur, Co-founder of Country Delight
Known for	Revolutionizing India’s dairy and fresh food sector

Early Life and Education

Chakradhar Gade graduated in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. He began his career in the corporate world, working in finance and consulting at Indus Valley Partners. His time in the finance sector sharpened his understanding of business strategy and operational inefficiencies—experiences that laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial leap.

Founding Country Delight

In 2015, Gade, along with Nitin Kaushal, co-founded Country Delight. The startup began as a response to widespread adulteration and inefficiencies in the Indian dairy sector. The founders aimed to deliver milk and groceries that were fresh, natural, and free from middlemen.

Country Delight’s model:

• Sourced directly from farmers
• Delivered to consumers within 24–36 hours
• Offered strict quality assurance through 26+ milk tests per batch
• Operated on an app-based subscription model for daily essentials

Tech-Driven Innovation

Gade’s approach integrates technology at every stage of the supply chain:

• AI & Data Analytics for demand forecasting and logistics optimization
• IoT-enabled cold chain infrastructure for freshness and traceability
• Mobile App for seamless subscription and customer engagement

This model not only ensures consumer convenience but also provides transparency and fairness for farmers.

Challenges and Resilience

Building a fresh food brand in India came with hurdles:

• Convincing consumers to move from local vendors to app-based delivery
• Establishing a reliable cold chain network for perishable goods
• Training farmers to meet stringent quality and hygiene standards

Gade overcame these challenges through education programs for farmers, a customer-first philosophy, and relentless focus on operations and logistics.

Growth and Expansion

Country Delight has:

• Raised over $100 million from leading VC firms including Matrix Partners, Elevation Capital, and Venturi Partners
• Expanded into fresh produce, dairy products, and essentials like bread, eggs, and pulses
• Served over one million households across major Indian cities

Consumer and Farmer Impact

• Consumers: Receive pure, chemical-free milk and groceries at their doorstep
• Farmers: Gain better income by eliminating middlemen and receiving fair prices
• Food Safety: 26+ quality tests ensure strict adherence to health standards

Future Vision

Gade envisions Country Delight as India’s go-to brand for unprocessed, high-quality food. Future plans include:

• Expanding into tier-2 and tier-3 cities
• Launching new categories like high-protein dairy, cold-pressed juices, and organic produce
• Leveraging blockchain and AI for real-time supply chain visibility

Conclusion

Chakradhar Gade’s entrepreneurial journey with Country Delight is a story of innovation, sustainability, and customer trust. By creating a tech-first, farm-to-home supply chain, he has reimagined how Indians consume dairy and fresh food. His work stands as a benchmark for purpose-driven entrepreneurship in India's food and agriculture ecosystem.