The Patiala born entrepreneur brings innovation and speed to Eternal Group’s fast growing businesses
In a landmark leadership transition that marks a new chapter for India’s food-tech ecosystem, Albinder Dhindsa has officially taken charge as the Group CEO of Eternal, the parent company of Zomato, Blinkit, and Hyperpure. The announcement, made by outgoing CEO and Zomato co-founder Deepinder Goyal, signals a generational shift in leadership, putting one of India’s most dynamic startup minds at the forefront of the country’s rapidly evolving quick-commerce and food delivery market.
Born in Patiala, Punjab, Albinder Dhindsa’s journey from a transportation analyst in the United States to the head of one of India’s largest food-tech conglomerates is nothing short of inspirational. Known affectionately as Albi within the company circles, Dhindsa represents the new Indian entrepreneurial spirit—steeped in technical excellence, global exposure, and a deep understanding of India’s hyper-local markets.
Early Life and Educational Background
Albinder Dhindsa hails from a humble background in Punjab, a region known for its entrepreneurial energy and resilience. A bright student since childhood, he completed his engineering degree before heading overseas to pursue higher studies. Dhindsa earned his MBA from Columbia Business School, one of the world’s leading institutions that shaped many successful global entrepreneurs.
His academic training gave him a strong foundation in logistics, operations, and business strategy—skills that would later define his success in managing complex delivery networks and startup operations.
Professional Beginnings: The Global Exposure
Before entering India’s startup ecosystem, Dhindsa began his professional career in the US. He started as a Transportation Analyst at URS Corporation, a global engineering, design, and government contracting firm that was later acquired by AECOM. His early work involved solving large-scale transportation and logistics challenges—experience that would later prove invaluable in optimizing last-mile delivery systems in India’s food and grocery sectors.
After URS, Dhindsa continued to sharpen his skills at Cambridge Systematics and UBS Investment Bank, gaining insights into both the technical and financial aspects of business operations. These experiences gave him a unique edge—combining engineering precision with financial acumen.
The Zomato Chapter: Building Global Reach
In 2011, Albinder Dhindsa decided to return to India at a time when the country’s startup ecosystem was just beginning to catch fire. He joined Zomato, then freshly rebranded from “Foodiebay,” as the Head of International Operations.
Under his leadership, Zomato expanded aggressively into major Indian cities including Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, while also setting its sights on international markets. His role was pivotal in shaping Zomato’s overseas expansion strategy, establishing the brand’s global footprint.
It was during his time at Zomato that Dhindsa crossed paths with Saurabh Kumar, an entrepreneur exploring hyper-local delivery models. The meeting would soon change the direction of Dhindsa’s career—and the Indian hyperlocal delivery space forever.
Founding Grofers: The Pivot to Quick Commerce
Around 2014, Dhindsa saw a massive opportunity in India’s fragmented local commerce market. He joined Saurabh Kumar to build Grofers, a Gurugram-based hyper-local delivery startup with a mission to simplify how customers shop for everyday essentials. What started with just four delivery partners soon scaled into a full-fledged logistics and tech operation.
By 2015, Grofers had expanded its operations to multiple Indian cities, backed by investors like Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global, and SoftBank. Dhindsa’s leadership saw Grofers transform from a niche service to a national player, simplifying online grocery shopping and setting the stage for what would later become the quick-commerce revolution.
In the following years, Grofers achieved significant milestones—building strong supply chains, partnering with thousands of local vendors, and introducing innovations in delivery logistics and user experience.
From Grofers to Blinkit: Reinventing Speed
The turning point came in 2021 when Zomato acquired a 9.3% stake in Grofers, investing $100 million and reuniting Dhindsa with his former employer, Deepinder Goyal. Shortly after, Grofers underwent a transformative rebranding—emerging as Blinkit, a platform focused entirely on ultra-fast deliveries within just 10 minutes.
Blinkit’s pivot marked a decisive shift from traditional grocery delivery to the quick-commerce model, catering to evolving urban lifestyles where convenience, speed, and reliability define consumer expectations. Under Dhindsa’s leadership, Blinkit built an extensive network of micro-fulfilment centres or dark stores, enabling rapid deliveries across metros and tier-2 cities.
By 2025, Blinkit had expanded its dark-store count from 383 to over 1,800, with plans to surpass 3,000 centres by early 2027. It also diversified its catalogue—now delivering groceries, electronics, apparel, beauty products, home appliances, and even emergency services like ambulances, making it one of India’s most comprehensive quick-commerce platforms.
Industry reports indicate that Blinkit now commands 45–50% market share in India’s quick commerce sector, outpacing rivals like Swiggy Instamart and Zepto.
Return to Zomato: Leading the Ecosystem
Following Zomato’s full acquisition of Blinkit in 2022 for nearly Rs 4,447 crore, Albinder Dhindsa became the driving force behind Zomato’s quick commerce strategy. He rejoined the parent company — now part of the Eternal group — to oversee operations across all food and commerce verticals.
Under his leadership, Blinkit not only turned EBITDA positive but also became one of Eternal’s fastest-growing business arms. Deepinder Goyal himself credited Dhindsa for achieving Blinkit’s impressive turnaround—from a struggling grocery delivery startup to a profitable, fast-scaling enterprise.
The New Chapter: Albinder Dhindsa as Eternal’s Group CEO
In a significant corporate development announced on Wednesday, Deepinder Goyal stepped down as Eternal’s Group CEO, naming Albinder Dhindsa as his successor.
In a heartfelt message to shareholders, Goyal described Dhindsa as “a battle-hardened founder” whose “ability to execute far exceeds mine.” He emphasized that the centre of gravity for operating decisions now moves to Albi, entrusting him with day-to-day execution, operating priorities, and business decisions for Eternal’s entire ecosystem—spanning Zomato, Blinkit, and Hyperpure.
As Dhindsa takes the helm, his top priority will be expanding Blinkit to new markets and categories while strengthening Zomato’s overall value chain—from farm-to-table procurement via Hyperpure to the end-consumer experience through Zomato’s delivery and app services.
A Vision for the Future
Albinder Dhindsa’s story is more than a CEO appointment—it’s a testament to the evolving fabric of India’s startup ecosystem. From a small-town boy in Patiala to the leader of a billion-dollar enterprise, his career embodies the spirit of modern Indian entrepreneurship: innovation, adaptability, and relentless execution.
