Patanjali Foods Closes FY25 With ₹1,301 Cr Profit, 74% Q4 Jump—Ruchi Gold, Nutrela, and Dant Kanti Drive Growth Beyond Edible Oils
Patanjali Foods had a strong close to the financial year, posting a hefty 74% rise in standalone net profit for the January–March 2025 quarter. The company reported ₹358.53 crore in profit, up from ₹206.31 crore in the same quarter last year.
Revenue also saw a healthy uptick, reaching ₹9,744.73 crore in Q4, compared to ₹8,348.02 crore in the year-ago period, as per the company’s filing with the stock exchanges.
Zooming out to the full financial year, the company clocked ₹1,301.34 crore in net profit, up from ₹765.15 crore in FY24. Its total income also rose to ₹34,289.40 crore, up from ₹31,961.62 crore the previous year.
Though best known for its edible oil business, Patanjali Foods—founded back in 1986—has steadily broadened its footprint. Today, its portfolio includes FMCG staples, personal care items, packaged food products, and even wind energy.
The company’s offerings span a range of popular labels, including Patanjali, Ruchi Gold, Nutrela, and Dant Kanti—many of which have become household names in India.
Myntra Doubles Down on D2C With Rising Stars Home Edit—SleepyCat, Haus & Kinder, and 160+ Brands Join the ₹Cr Home Revolution
After seeing strong momentum with its fashion and beauty initiatives, Myntra is now taking a bold step into the home space. The platform has rolled out the Myntra Rising Stars (MRS) Home Edit, designed to spotlight innovative, design-forward home decor and furnishing brands that have emerged from the D2C world.
This new initiative is part of Myntra’s broader Rising Stars program, and it aims to give digitally native homegrown brands a powerful stage to scale. To join the curated list, brands must meet a set of criteria—ranging from their current size and digital footprint to the originality of their products and strategic market relevance.
In its debut run, the MRS Home Edit has already brought over 165 D2C brands on board, covering categories like furniture, decor, kitchenware, bedding, and even smart cookware. The lineup spans everything from Warli-inspired prints and ceramic bathroom accessories to handcrafted wall art and modern furnishings.
Notable names in the mix include Sleepyhead, Story@Home, Kuber Industries, Haus & Kinder, Chumbak, SleepyCat, and Nestasia—each offering a unique blend of aesthetic appeal and utility.
What’s in it for these brands? Beyond just shelf space, they gain access to Myntra’s full-stack D2C playbook—a mix of brand-building tools, lower customer acquisition costs, and premium app and off-app visibility. Dedicated account support and targeted marketing will help these brands tap into Myntra’s massive millennial and Gen Z user base, giving them a direct path to growth.
“Our homes have become an extension of who we are,” said Maneesh Kumar Dubey, VP of Category Management at Myntra. “Today’s consumers want decor that resonates with their identity—whether that means a sustainable aesthetic, ergonomic furniture, or culturally rich themes. Through the MRS Home Edit, we’re bringing the best of India’s emerging homegrown brands to one place.”
Myntra has seen the home category pick up serious traction in recent years, especially from tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Interestingly, design tastes differ by region—the South favors earthy and wooden tones, the North and East lean towards vibrant prints, while the West embraces minimalism.
As part of the Flipkart Group, Myntra continues to blend tech, scale, and style, supporting over 9,700 brands across categories. With the Home Edit, it’s opening new doors for design-first D2C labels and giving consumers across the country access to fresh, exciting home solutions.
JP Shukla’s 1-India Family Mart Raises ₹100 Crore in Series D to Target 100 Stores and ₹600 Cr Revenue in Bharat’s Heartland by 2029
Homegrown value retail chain 1-India Family Mart has secured $12 million (approx. ₹100 crore) in fresh Series D funding, bringing in a mix of returning supporters and fresh backers. The round was led by Gulf Islamic Investments, Foundation Private Equity, Carpediem Capital Partners, Capri Global Holdings, a network of high-net-worth individuals, and co-founder JP Shukla himself.
This round of funding comes as the company gears up for a new chapter of expansion, eyeing growth in India’s smaller cities and towns. Currently operating 65 stores across 10 states, the company is targeting 100 stores by 2029—with plans to penetrate deeper into Tier II, III, and IV markets. The goal: hit ₹600 crore in revenue, by building on its stronghold in North and East India, especially in underserved regions like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
JP Shukla, who also serves as CEO, called the latest raise a signal of investor trust and long-term commitment. “We’re not just adding more stores—we’re investing in aspirations,” he said. “Our aim has always been to bridge the retail gap in small-town India with smart pricing, decent quality, and local relevance. This capital helps us take that mission further, faster.”
Started in 2012 by Shukla and co-founder Ravinder Singh, 1-India Family Mart—under parent company Nysaa Retail Pvt Ltd—caters to the everyday Indian who wants more for less. The stores blend local accessibility with organized retail practices, offering affordable fashion, lifestyle products, and household essentials through mid-sized outlets set up in rural and semi-urban markets.
This isn’t the first time investors have bet on the brand. Gulf Islamic Investments previously led a $6 million Series B round, and Suumaya Industries has also picked up a stake in the company’s parent entity. With close to five million square feet of retail space and a logistics setup anchored by a central warehouse in Gurugram, the brand has managed to keep things lean and agile. Its no-return policy on inventory—everything shipped gets sold—has allowed it to stay efficient and limit wastage.
With a market segment that’s growing but still largely underserved, 1-India Family Mart is positioning itself as the go-to choice for value-conscious shoppers in Bharat’s heartland.
Naptapgo Raises ₹2 Crore from Inflection Point Ventures After $500K Round with T9L Qube, Sets Sights on 20 Hotels by FY27
Naptapgo, a startup shaking up the budget hotel space with its pod-style accommodations, has raised ₹2 crore in a pre-seed round backed by Gurugram-based Inflection Point Ventures. This follows an earlier $500,000 investment secured in March from T9L Qube, a well-known name in India’s startup ecosystem.
The new funds will help Naptapgo strengthen its franchise network, scale up marketing efforts, enhance its tech backbone, and explore creative ways to improve guest experiences. The investment will also support the brand’s plans to expand into high-traffic urban areas and key religious destinations.
Launched by Nitin Malhotra (Founder & CEO) and Himanshu Shukla (Co-Founder & VP of Operations), Naptapgo provides no-frills, well-designed spaces tailored to the needs of today’s traveler. Clean rooms, flexible check-ins, hourly booking options, and a focus on sustainability form the core of their offering. Currently present in the NCR business zone, the brand is preparing to roll out properties in spiritual hubs like Katra and Amritsar during FY26, with an overall goal of hitting 20 properties by FY27.
With its mix of affordability and comfort, Naptapgo is carving out a niche in India’s hospitality market. The team is now eyeing new locations—Gurgaon, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Katra, and Amritsar are all on the roadmap.
“We’re building more than just places to stay—we’re reimagining how people experience affordable hospitality in India,” said Malhotra and Shukla in a joint statement. “Our tech-first model, compact formats, and location-first approach give us an edge. We’re not just thinking about rooms; we’re thinking about the future of travel.”
The founders say their long-term vision includes becoming a major player in the global hotel industry, starting with India’s fast-evolving domestic market. For them, customer experience isn’t just a feature—it’s the brand’s backbone.
Chobani Expands Beyond Yogurt with Daily Harvest Acquisition: A Strategic Move into the $10B Plant-Based Frozen Meal Market
Chobani, best known for its yogurt empire, is branching out by snapping up Daily Harvest, a brand that’s made waves in the plant-based frozen meal space.
The financial details of the acquisition remain under wraps.
Since launching in 2015, Daily Harvest has been at the forefront of delivering convenient, healthy frozen meals packed with organic fruits and veggies—directly to customers’ doors. At its height, the company soared to a valuation of $1.1 billion and broadened its lineup to include smoothies, harvest bowls, and even flatbreads available in grocery stores.
The road hasn’t always been smooth. A product recall in 2022 slowed things down, but Daily Harvest bounced back, securing shelf space in major retailers like Kroger and Target while reshaping how people think about frozen food.
Meanwhile, Chobani is no longer just a yogurt brand. It has expanded its portfolio with oat milk, creamers, and bold acquisitions, such as the $900 million purchase of La Colombe coffee.
By bringing Daily Harvest under its wing, Chobani is stepping deeper into the booming frozen food market, capitalizing on the growing demand for plant-based, ready-to-eat options.
Nobel Hygiene Raises ₹170 Crore from Neo Asset Management to Boost Adult Diaper Market, Backed by Quadria Capital & Sixth Sense Ventures Ahead of IPO
Mumbai-based disposable hygiene company Nobel Hygiene has bagged ₹170 crore (approx. $20 million) in fresh funding from Neo Asset Management, part of the Neo Group, as it gears up for a public listing in the near future.
The deal includes a mix of primary and secondary investment, giving the company fresh capital to push forward while also offering partial exits or liquidity to earlier stakeholders. This new partnership marks Neo’s entry as the third institutional investor, joining the ranks of Quadria Capital and Sixth Sense Ventures—both early believers in Nobel’s long-term play.
A market leader in adult and baby disposable diapers, Nobel Hygiene now plans to double down on the adult diaper segment, a category still in its early growth phase in India. The company aims to deepen its national distribution, invest further in brand building, and take its flagship labels—Friends (adult diapers) and Teddyy (baby diapers)—to the next level in visibility and reach.
“This isn’t just fresh capital—it’s validation,” said Kamal Johari, Managing Director and Promoter of Nobel Hygiene. “Neo’s backing gives us the ammunition to sharpen our focus on expanding access to adult hygiene products, scale our supply chain, and cement the leadership of our core brands. The timing couldn’t be better as we move closer to our IPO roadmap.”
Founded over two decades ago, Nobel Hygiene has grown into one of the country’s most trusted names in the hygiene space, particularly known for bringing dignity and convenience to an underserved adult incontinence segment. The company sees its next phase of growth coming not just from increased market penetration, but also from shaping cultural conversations around adult hygiene—an area long seen as taboo.
Biryani Blues Cooks Up $5M from Yugadi Capital to Launch 100+ Outlets, Cross ₹100 Cr ARR, and Spice Up North India’s QSR Market
Biryani Blues, the dum biryani-focused QSR chain born out of a couple’s shared love for authentic flavours, has secured $5 million in fresh capital ahead of its Series C. The round was led by Yugadi Capital, a new investment arm launched by Carpediem Capital, with support from other unnamed backers.
The fresh funds will help the brand fire on multiple fronts—from adding new outlets and hiring talent to beefing up logistics and backend systems. Co-founder Raymond Andrews said the brand is planning to roll out 100+ new stores over the next three years, with a focus on high-footfall locations like popular markets and malls across North India.
Launched in 2013 by Raymond and Aparna Andrews, Biryani Blues currently operates under Thea Kitchen Pvt. Ltd. and runs 68 outlets, with a growing presence in North India and Bengaluru. With an omni-channel approach—serving customers via dine-in, takeaway, and delivery—the brand clocks over two lakh orders per month and recently hit an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of ₹100 crore.
Hiring is a key piece of the puzzle, too. As expansion accelerates, the company is actively building out teams across store operations, logistics, and corporate roles to keep pace with growth without compromising execution.
“We spent the last year tightening operations and turning profitable. That’s helped us stand out in a crowded space,” Raymond Andrews shared. “Right now, the priority is solidifying our leadership in North India. Once we’ve built depth here, we’ll look at going wider.”
The company ended FY25 with $10 million in revenue, and the latest round bumps its valuation up to $30 million.
Arvind Nair, Chairman of Carpediem Capital, backed the team’s long-term vision. “The Biryani Blues story has been built steadily over the last decade. This investment is a reaffirmation of our belief in their ability to scale with discipline and consistency.”
This isn’t the first time the brand has been backed by institutional capital. It previously raised $5 million in Series B from Rebel Foods in FY22, and $2 million in Series A from Carpediem’s first fund during FY17.
The company has made its ambitions clear: to dominate the biryani QSR space one outlet at a time. As its tagline boldly reminds everyone—“Think Biryani, Think Biryani Blues.”
Zomato Gold Loses Its Shine: Rain Surge Fee Returns for 3.8 Million Subscribers Starting May 16
Zomato is making yet another change to its Gold membership, and this time it’s not great news for subscribers. After recently pressing pause on its 50:50 refund policy with partner restaurants, the food delivery giant is now tweaking what Gold actually gets you.
Starting May 16, even Gold members will have to pay a rain surcharge. That’s right—one of the more appreciated perks of the membership, the rain fee waiver, is being scrapped. While the update wasn’t announced with much fanfare, users received a notification in the app informing them of the change.
“Surge fee waiver during rains will not be part of your Gold benefits,” the message read. Zomato added that the fee will go toward better pay for delivery partners who work in poor weather conditions.
The company’s reasoning is understandable—rainy days can be rough for delivery workers, and extra compensation is fair. But for users who pay for Gold expecting a little extra convenience, the news might sting.
The Gold plan, which has undergone several iterations over the years, was initially rolled out to offer free deliveries, discounts, and various small comforts that made ordering in more affordable. With benefits now being slowly peeled back, some subscribers may begin to question the value they’re getting.
Whether this is a one-off adjustment or the beginning of a broader shift in how Zomato structures its memberships remains to be seen. For now, though, Gold users should keep an umbrella handy—and a few extra rupees.
LUZO’s $550,000 Seed Funding Boost from Enrission India Capital and Swiggy Dineout Founders to Revolutionize India’s $20B Wellness Sector
Bengaluru-based Salonsurf Ventures, the company behind LUZO—a growing platform for high-end salon and spa bookings—has secured $550,000 (around Rs 4.6 crore) in seed funding. The round was led by Enrission India Capital, with backing from a clutch of strategic angels, including the founders of Swiggy Dineout and Orra Jewellery.
The fresh capital will go toward scaling LUZO’s tech infrastructure, onboarding more verified partners in major Indian cities, and building stronger brand visibility among younger urban consumers who aren’t just spending more on grooming—but also want their experience to feel seamless and top-tier.
Launched in 2021 by Anurav Dave, Nikhil Kalwani, and Maan Jetley, LUZO is trying to clean up the messy business of booking salon and wellness services online. The platform acts like a high-end concierge—listing only select, well-rated salons, spas, and clinics—so customers can book confidently without playing Russian roulette with their self-care routines.
“This is about bringing convenience and quality together in a segment that’s still largely disjointed,” said co-founder Anurav Dave. “We’re building LUZO to be the most trusted way to discover and book luxury grooming and wellness services—quickly, easily, and without surprises.”
The timing seems right. India’s beauty and wellness industry is worth more than $20 billion, and while demand is booming, much of the sector remains fragmented. LUZO wants to plug that gap with a digital-first approach that helps people find vetted providers, check reviews, and lock in appointments—without calling, waiting, or walking in blind.
More than a listing site, LUZO uses data to help users find what suits them best—whether it’s a skin clinic in Indiranagar or a massage therapist in Andheri. And by partnering only with trusted, quality-focused providers, the team believes LUZO can become the preferred option for India’s fast-growing tribe of self-care enthusiasts.
According to Harsh Deodhar, Principal at Enrission India Capital, that’s exactly what makes the startup interesting. “LUZO isn’t trying to serve everyone—it’s sharply focused on the quality-conscious user who values time, trust, and ease,” he said. “The team has shown strong execution, and we believe they’re building something that fills a very real need in the market.”
With a young population, growing disposable income, and rising awareness around personal care, India is set for a wellness revolution. LUZO’s founders are betting that when it comes to grooming, the next big thing won’t just be who cuts your hair—but how you found them, booked them, and rated the whole experience.
Japanese Lingerie Giant Wacoal Strengthens Grip on Mumbai with New Store in Borivali’s Sky City Mall
Japanese intimate wear brand Wacoal is adding another pin to its Mumbai map. The company has opened its newest store at Sky City Mall in Borivali, marking its sixth exclusive outlet in the city.
The 550-square-foot space brings Wacoal’s well-known blend of comfort and elegance to one of the city’s fastest-growing suburban neighborhoods. From lingerie and loungewear to sleepwear, the store houses a mix of daily essentials and more indulgent pieces aimed at modern Indian women who care about fit, fabric, and finish.
Pooja Merani, Chief Operating Officer at Wacoal India, says the Borivali launch reflects the brand’s growing focus on regional expansion within metro cities. “We’ve always believed in helping women discover lingerie that truly fits, both in size and lifestyle,” she said. “Borivali is full of working professionals and young families, and we see a growing demand here for quality intimate wear that’s both stylish and functional.”
This latest store joins Wacoal’s existing Mumbai locations in Lower Parel (Phoenix Palladium and Grand Galleria), Bandra, Kurla (Phoenix Market City), and Malad (Infinity Mall). Nationwide, the brand now operates 18 standalone stores and has its eyes set on more. Over the next 12 to 18 months, Wacoal plans to continue expanding into major metros and Tier-1 cities, while also investing in its digital presence and expanding its reach through multi-brand outlets.
Though Wacoal officially entered India in 2015, the company’s roots go back to post-war Japan, where it was founded in 1946. Over the decades, it has grown into a global lingerie powerhouse, with key milestones including its entry into Asia in the 1970s, the U.S. in 1985, and Europe in 1990.
Today in India, Wacoal’s retail footprint extends beyond its exclusive stores—its products are also available in over 80 multi-brand outlets across 20 cities, in addition to a growing online presence. With each new location, Wacoal aims to bring its signature blend of comfort, design, and craftsmanship to women across the country.
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