BS People: Sanjay Coutinho

Ex-Barista COO picked to lead Om Pizza

He’s seen as the man behind many expansion initiatives in the food industry. Sanjay Coutinho, after two years as the Barista COO, has moved to Om Pizzas and Eats, the franchisee for Papa John’s Pizza, Chili’s Grill & Bar Restaurants and The Great Kabab Factory, as its CEO.

Bringing with him 20 years of experience in the food and retail industry, Coutinho is expected to play a key role in Om Pizzas’ expansion strategy, people in the know say. He was instrumental in Barista’s expansion strategy. He was roped in when Barista was to grow the business in the country and had planned to open nearly 300 outlets in three years, including 12 to 15 highway stores.

Similarly, now, when he’s joined Om Pizzas as the CEO, the company plan is to rapidly scale up the business of Papa John’s Pizza and Chili’s Grill & Bar Restaurants over the next two years. During these two years, the restaurant aims to increase the number of outlets to 100, from 35 at present, across Tier-I and -II cities in India.

Before joining Barista Coffee Company Limited, Coutinho had worked as the COO for Gravis Foods Private Limited, earlier known as Baskin Robbins Franchise Co Pvt Ltd.

He joined Baskin Robbins in 2001 as a zonal manager (west), and rose to the level of COO over a span of five-and-a-half years. He has also worked with other groups like Pantaloon Retail India Ltd, Domino’s Pizza India Ltd, Jet Airways and the Ambassador’s Sky Chef.

A commerce graduate from Mithibai College, Mumbai University, Coutinho also has a professional degree in Hotel Administration and Restaurant Management from Sophia Polytechnic, Mumbai. He also went on to pursue his MBA in marketing at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.