Building the next generation of entrepreneurs: iD Fresh launches a new Entrepreneurship Policy

The new initiative draws on iD Fresh’s entrepreneurial culture to give employees the mentorship, ecosystem and freedom to turn ideas into businesses

iD Fresh Food, India’s most loved fresh food brand, has announced the launch of a unique Entrepreneurship Policy aimed at identifying and nurturing entrepreneurial talent within its workforce and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. Rooted in iD Fresh’s longstanding entrepreneurial spirit and its belief in giving people the freedom to dream, build and create, the policy provides a structured pathway for employees with the ambition and potential to build businesses of their own.

Under the policy, eligible employees will have the opportunity to explore ventures both within the iD Fresh ecosystem and independently. Selected employees will have access to mentorship from internal leaders, business enablement opportunities, industry and investor networks, and selective infrastructure and brand support. These resources will enable them to develop their ideas, understand the fundamentals of building a business and take their first steps towards entrepreneurship.

Every venture proposal, whether within or outside the iD Fresh ecosystem, will go through a structured assessment involving senior leaders and mentors. The process will examine the customer problem being addressed, the proposed business model, potential risks and the employee’s readiness to pursue the venture. Designed as a guided discussion rather than a gatekeeping exercise, the assessment will help employees evaluate their ideas, strengthen their approach and understand what it takes to build a viable business. The nature and extent of support offered will depend on the idea, the commitment required and the individual employee’s requirements.

A key feature of the policy is the part-paid sabbatical for ethical entrepreneurs, which allows eligible employees to step away from their roles and pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions while retaining a degree of financial support. Depending on their level, employees can take a sabbatical of up to 18 months to work on their venture. The policy also provides a defined pathway for employees to return to iD Fresh after their entrepreneurial journey, giving them the freedom to explore entrepreneurship without having to permanently close the door on their career with the organisation.

Speaking on the new policy, P.C. Musthafa, Global CEO and Chairman, iD Fresh Food, said, “Entrepreneurship has always been a part of iD Fresh’s DNA. We have seen people who started their journeys with us go on to build businesses of their own, and that has reinforced our belief that talent should not be defined by a job description. There are people within every organisation who have the potential to build, create and lead something of their own. With this policy, we want to identify that talent early and give it the opportunity to flourish. It is a difficult decision to part ways with the best members of my team, but I hope they go on to build ethical businesses that become even larger than iD Fresh. Our objective is not just to support a few businesses, but to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs by giving our people the confidence, mentorship and ecosystem to turn their ideas into something meaningful.”

iD Fresh’s commitment under the policy is focused on investing in the people behind these ventures rather than directly funding the businesses. The company does not propose to establish a dedicated venture fund or a fixed funding limit for individual ventures. Instead, its support will centre on partially paid sabbaticals, mentorship and guidance from leaders who have built and scaled a business, and introductions to relevant investors who may choose to back ventures based on the merit of the idea and their own investment interests. This approach is intended to give aspiring entrepreneurs the time, guidance and connections needed to take their ideas forward and explore avenues for raising capital.

The policy is designed to remain flexible based on individual circumstances and entrepreneurial journeys. iD Fresh will take a flexible approach to its HR policy to encourage and enable employees to pursue entrepreneurship, both within and outside the iD Fresh ecosystem.

In fact, the new policy is an extension of an entrepreneurial culture that has already existed within iD Fresh. Over the years, several former employees have gone on to build businesses of their own, demonstrating the potential that can emerge from within the organisation. These include Daily Fresh Foods in Assam, I Made in Mangalore, A1 Snacks in Bengaluru and Jasper Prince, who have established a chapati manufacturing business in Bengaluru.

The initiative also reflects iD Fresh’s broader philosophy that professional success need not always mean climbing the organisational ladder. For some, it may mean building something of their own. By creating space for employees to pursue that ambition, iD Fresh seeks to contribute not only to the growth of its people, but also to the creation of new businesses, ideas and employment.

(No ET Now Journalists are involved in creation of this article.)