Nestlé India Q3 FY26 Profit Soars 45% to ₹998 Crore as Volumes Hit Five Year High

Growth

January 31, 2026

Nestlé India delivered its strongest quarterly performance in recent years, reporting a sharp jump in profitability for the December 2025 quarter, backed by high volume growth and steady momentum across core food and beverage categories.

The FMCG major posted a consolidated net profit of ₹998.42 crore in Q3 FY26, up 45.1 percent year on year. Revenue from sales climbed 18.5 percent to ₹5,643.5 crore, marking the highest quarterly turnover in the company’s history. Consolidated revenue from operations stood at ₹5,667 crore, reflecting broad based demand recovery across urban and rural markets.

Growth was driven by higher consumption across everyday food categories. In prepared foods, Maggi noodles recorded double digit volume growth. Confectionery also saw strong traction, with KitKat delivering high double digit volume growth, particularly in rural India, while Munch maintained its upward trend. In beverages, Nescafé Classic, Sunrise and Gold continued to post healthy growth. The milk and nutrition portfolio showed steady gains, with Milkmaid extending its momentum and Everyday recovering in key regions.

Domestic sales rose 18.3 percent to ₹5,402.6 crore, supported by deeper rural reach and faster decision making at the market level. Exports grew 22.9 percent to ₹240.9 crore, aided by strong demand for coffee and the addition of new SKUs in markets such as Thailand and Papua New Guinea. The B2B portfolio also expanded its customer base in instant tea.

Nestlé India increased advertising and media spends by 42 percent year on year to support new launches and festive activations. EBITDA margin stood at 21.3 percent for the quarter. Total expenses rose 20.9 percent to ₹4,667.6 crore, reflecting higher input costs and brand investments.

The company highlighted that e commerce and quick commerce channels continued to gain pace, while organised retail recorded broad based growth. The board has approved an interim dividend of ₹7 per equity share for FY26.

BRND.ME Targets IPO in 12 to 18 Months, Shifts Base to India and Bets Big on Europe Growth

Business

SnackTeam

January 31, 2026

BRND.ME, the brand house founded by Ananth Narayanan and formerly known as Mensa Brands, is moving closer to the public markets as it reshapes its structure, narrows its brand portfolio and steps up global expansion. The company is in the final stages of relocating its corporate base from Singapore to India and expects the transition to be completed by the end of March 2026. Management has indicated that preparations for a public listing are underway, with an IPO targeted within the next 12 to 18 months.

The company is now operating at cash flow positive levels and expects to close the current financial year with revenue of over ₹1,500 crore. For FY27, BRND.ME is targeting 20 to 25 percent revenue growth to about ₹1,800 crore, while aiming to lift profits by nearly 50 percent. The business has been EBITDA positive for the past several months and is working towards full year profitability with margins of around 5 percent.

Over the past two years, BRND.ME has reduced its portfolio from 20 brands to 10, concentrating scale on its strongest performers. Majestic Pure, Botanic Hearth, MyFitness and PartyPropz together account for a large share of revenue, with individual brand sales ranging from about ₹200 crore to ₹400 crore. The company has paused large acquisitions and will focus only on small, strategic additions that strengthen these core labels.

International markets now contribute more than half of overall revenue. Europe has emerged as a priority region, where the company is building teams on the ground and expanding distribution across the UK, Germany, France and Spain, with new markets in the pipeline. The business is also present in North America and the Middle East and plans to enter Southeast Asia through Singapore.

Offline retail is being scaled alongside digital channels. MyFitness already draws close to 40 percent of its sales from physical stores and plans to double its retail reach over the next three years. As it moves towards an IPO, BRND.ME is investing in brand marketing, global leadership teams and supply chain capacity to support its next phase of growth.

The House of Rare Appoints Nishant Poddar as CMO to Drive Brand and Consumer Strategy

Leadership

SnackTeam

January 30, 2026

The House of Rare has announced the appointment of Nishant Poddar as its Chief Marketing Officer, marking a key leadership addition as the fashion and lifestyle group sharpens its focus on brand-building and consumer engagement across its expanding portfolio.

In his new role, Poddar will oversee brand marketing, communication, digital strategy, content, community initiatives and overall consumer experience for the group’s brands, including Rare Rabbit, Rareism, Rare Ones and Rare’z. The appointment comes at a time when The House of Rare is scaling its presence across categories and channels, with an increasing emphasis on building distinct, culturally relevant fashion labels.

Poddar brings over 20 years of experience across fashion, retail and consumer brands. He joins from WROGN, where he served as Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Retail Experience. During his tenure, he played a central role in shaping the brand’s identity across physical retail, digital platforms and marketing campaigns, helping establish WROGN as a youth-focused fashion brand with strong cultural recall. His work at the brand was noted for combining emotional storytelling with sharp visual and retail execution.

Prior to WROGN, Poddar spent close to nine years at Café Coffee Day in senior marketing roles, where he worked on large-scale consumer engagement initiatives and brand-led growth strategies in a high-frequency retail environment. Earlier in his career, he also gained operational exposure at Sealand Container Services before moving fully into marketing and brand leadership.

An alumnus of IIM Calcutta, Poddar has further strengthened his leadership and marketing capabilities through executive programmes at Wharton Online and IIT Bombay. His approach blends design thinking, consumer insight and data-led decision-making, aligning with The House of Rare’s ambition to build brands that resonate beyond transactions.

With this leadership move, The House of Rare is signalling a stronger push towards cohesive brand narratives, deeper consumer connection and long-term brand equity as it continues to expand its footprint in India’s fashion market.

Gut Health Startup Good Bacteria Raises $3.2 Million Seed Round to Expand Microbiome Nutrition Platform

funding

SnackTeam

January 30, 2026

Good Bacteria, a Portland based gut health startup, has raised $3.2 million in seed funding as it looks to scale its science-led approach to restoring microbial diversity, according to a report by Beauty Independent. The funding round was backed by a group of consumer-focused investors including BrandProject, BAM Ventures, RiverPark Ventures, and Listen, highlighting growing investor confidence in the functional nutrition and gut wellness segment.

Founded by Anabel González, Good Bacteria positions itself at the intersection of microbiome science and daily nutrition. The company is built around the idea of “rewilding” the gut, a concept that focuses on rebuilding microbial diversity that has been reduced by modern diets, stress, and overuse of antibiotics. Rather than a one-size-fits-all supplement, the brand has developed a structured 28 day rotating system designed to support the gut through different microbial needs over the course of a month.

The system combines prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, delivered in varying formulations throughout the cycle. This rotation-based approach is intended to mirror the natural diversity found in traditional diets, while avoiding over-reliance on a single strain or ingredient. The company says this method is aimed at improving digestion, immunity, and overall metabolic health by supporting a broader range of beneficial bacteria.

Good Bacteria has already secured early retail traction, with products available at curated grocery formats such as Pop Up Grocer and Happier Grocery. Consumers can also purchase directly through the brand’s website, reflecting a hybrid distribution strategy that blends physical discovery with direct-to-consumer engagement.

The fresh capital will be used to deepen research and development, expand distribution, and strengthen consumer education around microbiome health. As awareness of gut health continues to rise globally, Good Bacteria’s focus on diversity, simplicity, and science-backed formulation places it well within a fast-growing wellness category that is attracting both consumers and investors at scale.

Dabur India Q3 FY25: Revenue Grows 6%, Profit Up 10% as Rural Demand and Overseas Markets Lead

Growth

SnackTeam

January 30, 2026

Dabur India Limited reported a stable and broad based performance in the third quarter ended December 31, 2025, supported by strong rural consumption, steady market share gains and a robust showing from international operations. The FMCG major delivered growth across categories despite continued pressure on input costs.

For the quarter, Dabur posted consolidated revenue of ₹3,559 crore, marking a 6.1 percent increase compared to ₹3,355 crore in the corresponding period last year. Profit before exceptional items rose 10.1 percent year on year to ₹575 crore, while operating profit grew 7.7 percent to ₹734 crore. The India FMCG business recorded 6 percent growth, reflecting consistent demand across mass and premium segments.

Mohit Malhotra, Chief Executive Officer, said the quarter was driven by volume led growth, sharper brand investments and stronger innovation execution, which helped the company gain share across multiple categories. He added that improving macro indicators, expected policy support and recent GST related changes could further support demand in the coming months.

Dabur continued to deepen its distribution reach during the quarter, adding 50,000 outlets to take its total footprint to over 8.5 million retail outlets nationwide. Rural markets outperformed urban demand for the eighth straight quarter, with a 330 basis point gap, supported by Dabur’s presence across more than 133,000 villages. In cities, e commerce and modern trade channels remained key growth drivers.

Category wise, Dabur reported notable market share gains. Its hair oils business added 193 basis points, taking overall share to nearly 20 percent, the highest so far. The air fresheners segment gained 131 basis points to reach a 44 percent share. Juices and nectars added 195 basis points, while the 100 percent juice segment saw a sharp 646 basis point increase. Hair oils grew 19.1 percent during the quarter, foods grew 14 percent and the toothpaste portfolio expanded close to 10 percent.

International operations delivered 11.1 percent growth, led by Turkey, MENA, the US and Bangladesh. With strong rural traction, expanding distribution and steady overseas momentum, Dabur remains positioned for sustained growth through FY25.

Bikaji Foods Q3 FY26: Profit Soars 122% on Strong Ethnic Snacks Demand and Export Growth

Business

SnackTeam

January 30, 2026

Bikaji Foods International Ltd reported a sharp improvement in profitability in the third quarter of FY26, backed by steady demand for ethnic snacks in India and rising traction across export markets. The company delivered double digit revenue growth alongside a significant expansion in margins, highlighting improved operating efficiency and scale benefits.

For the quarter, Bikaji recorded revenue growth of 10.7 percent year on year, supported by higher volumes across its core product portfolio and wider distribution reach. Despite inflationary pressures in the broader FMCG landscape, organised branded snacks continued to see strong consumer preference, aiding consistent topline performance.

Profitability emerged as the standout metric for the quarter. Profit after tax jumped more than 122 percent compared to the same period last year. The sharp rise was driven by operating leverage, better cost control and an improvement in EBITDA margins. Management indicated that easing raw material prices, tighter pricing discipline and supply chain efficiencies contributed to margin expansion.

Ethnic snacks remained the company’s largest and fastest growing segment. Products such as bhujia, namkeen and region specific snacks saw healthy demand across urban and semi urban markets. Western snacks and papad also posted solid growth, reflecting increasing acceptance of packaged snack formats among younger consumers. The packaged sweets business saw a temporary dip during the quarter due to changes in festive demand timing, though performance for the full year remains stable.

Exports played an important role in the quarter’s performance, registering strong year on year growth. International markets including North America and the Middle East continued to show rising demand for Indian ethnic foods. The export mix also supported profitability due to better realisations and scale efficiencies.

Alongside financial results, Bikaji announced a series of strategic moves. The board approved a ₹50 crore investment into its retail subsidiary to accelerate omni channel expansion and strengthen direct consumer engagement. The company also outlined plans to enter the frozen foods and bakery segments through a joint venture, marking its expansion into high growth convenience categories. Additional investments were approved to support partner manufacturing units and reinforce long term supply stability.

With strong fundamentals, expanding exports and a diversifying portfolio, Bikaji Foods remains well positioned to sustain growth while maintaining margin discipline in the coming quarters.

Edrington Names Paul Ross as India COO as Scotch Whisky Demand Accelerates

Leadership

SnackTeam

January 30, 2026

Premium spirits group Edrington has appointed industry veteran Paul Ross as Chief Operating Officer for its India business, underlining the company’s intent to deepen its presence in what has become the world’s largest Scotch whisky market by volume.

Ross will be based in India and will oversee operations, commercial execution and long-term growth plans for Edrington’s portfolio, including single malt brands such as The Macallan and Highland Park. His appointment comes at a time when India is witnessing sustained premiumisation in spirits consumption, supported by rising disposable incomes, a younger legal-drinking-age population and evolving preferences toward high-end international labels.

India’s importance to global Scotch producers has grown steadily in recent years. According to industry data, the country now leads global Scotch whisky volumes, aided by easing trade barriers following the UK–India trade agreement, which provides a phased reduction in import duties on Scotch whisky. These changes are expected to improve accessibility and pricing over the medium term, creating headroom for premium and ultra-premium segments.

Ross brings more than 30 years of experience within the Edrington group. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Edrington Americas, where he played a key role in expanding The Macallan’s footprint in the United States, the company’s largest value market. Over the years, he has held senior leadership positions across Asia Pacific, the United Kingdom and the Americas, giving him broad exposure to both developed and emerging spirits markets.

In his new role, Ross will focus on building local organisational capabilities, strengthening distributor partnerships and creating a scalable operating model tailored to India’s complex regulatory and state-level market structure. The mandate also includes sharpening brand building efforts in the luxury and ultra-luxury whisky segments, where Edrington sees long-term potential.

Commenting on the appointment, Edrington said Ross’s global experience and deep understanding of premium spirits would support the company’s ambition to build a sustainable, locally anchored business in India. With consumption patterns shifting toward quality over quantity, the company believes the market is entering a new phase of growth that favours established single malt portfolios.

Ross’s appointment signals Edrington’s confidence in India as a strategic growth engine for its global Scotch whisky business.

Vintage Coffee Reports 71% Jump in Q3 FY26 Revenue as Profits Rise on Capacity Expansion

Growth

SnackTeam

January 30, 2026

Vintage Coffee and Beverages Ltd delivered a strong financial performance in the third quarter of FY26, posting sharp growth across revenue and profitability as higher volumes and better plant utilisation lifted operating leverage.

According to its regulatory filing, the Hyderabad based coffee manufacturer reported revenue of ₹150.52 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, marking a 71 percent year on year increase. Operating profit rose even faster, climbing 83 percent to ₹27.64 crore, reflecting improved margins and efficiency. Profit after tax for the quarter stood at ₹19.11 crore, up 53 percent compared to the same period last year.

The momentum extended beyond the quarter. For the nine months ended December 31, 2025, Vintage Coffee recorded revenue of ₹387.74 crore, a 91 percent increase over the corresponding period in the previous year. Operating profit more than doubled to ₹66.25 crore, while profit after tax surged 109 percent to ₹51.18 crore, underscoring the scale benefits from rising demand and tighter cost control.

Balakrishna Tati, Chairman and Managing Director, attributed the performance to strong order inflows, disciplined execution and sustained focus on profitability across product categories. He said the company remains confident of maintaining growth in the final quarter of FY26, supported by ongoing capacity additions.

As part of its medium term expansion strategy, Vintage Coffee plans to commission an additional 4,500 metric tonnes per annum of spray dried and agglomerated coffee capacity by the end of FY26. This will take the company’s total installed capacity to 11,000 MTPA.

In parallel, the company is making a significant long term bet on premium coffee formats. Vintage Coffee has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Telangana to invest ₹1,100 crore in a greenfield project to be developed in phases. The first phase, a freeze dried coffee facility with a planned capacity of 5,500 MTPA, is currently under execution, with key plant and machinery orders already placed with European suppliers.

The new facility is expected to strengthen Vintage Coffee’s premium portfolio and support volume growth through FY28, positioning the company for the next phase of expansion in domestic and export markets.

CHACHA’S Pickle Debuts in India With Goal to Reach 10 Million Consumers Through Traditional Punjabi Recipes

Growth

SnackTeam

January 29, 2026

Punjab-based heritage food brand CHACHA’S has officially entered the Indian packaged foods market, bringing traditional Punjabi pickles made using slow-cooked, chulha-style methods to a wider audience. Founded in Mohali, the brand has set an ambitious target of serving 10 million consumers across the country while staying rooted in homestyle preparation and family-led operations.

Unlike most commercial pickle brands, CHACHA’S follows a fully in-house production model. Every stage, from sourcing raw ingredients and whole spices to cooking, ageing and final packaging, is handled at the founders’ family residence. The process relies on slow cooking over a traditional flame and natural maturation, a method that allows flavours to develop gradually and preserves the character of regional Punjabi recipes.

The brand’s operations are overseen entirely by the founding family, with no outsourced labour involved. According to the company, this structure allows for tighter control over hygiene, consistency and quality. The same products sold to consumers are consumed by the family themselves, a practice that has translated into strong repeat demand. The company reports that nearly two-thirds of its customers return for multiple purchases, indicating early consumer trust and loyalty.

CHACHA’S is led by Manpreet Singh and Ravinder Singh, a chacha-bhatija duo who drew inspiration from pickling techniques once common in rural Punjabi households. Their approach focuses on preserving flavour authenticity at a time when mass production has largely replaced traditional methods.

Even before its commercial launch, the brand demonstrated its long-term intent by successfully defending its trademark during a challenge in 2018–19. This early milestone helped shape its emphasis on building a sustainable and defensible brand.

Beyond being a condiment, CHACHA’S is positioning pickles as a standalone snacking option for modern consumers. As it scales distribution, the brand aims to balance growth with its core promise of ethical practices, homestyle quality and uncompromised flavour, bringing a taste of traditional Punjabi kitchens to urban India.

Ranveer Singh’s SuperYou Launches Mega Protein Wafer With 20g Protein, Targets India’s High-Protein Snacking Market

Business

SnackTeam

January 29, 2026

Protein-first snacking brand SuperYou, co-founded by actor Ranveer Singh and entrepreneur Nikunj Biyani, has expanded its portfolio with the launch of the Mega Protein Wafer, a product positioned to raise the bar for high-protein indulgent snacks in India. Each wafer delivers 20 grams of protein, making it one of the most protein-dense wafer formats currently available in the market.

The launch comes as protein continues to move from a niche fitness requirement to a mainstream dietary priority. Urban Indian consumers are increasingly seeking convenient food options that offer both taste and functional nutrition. SuperYou’s latest product aims to meet this demand by combining a familiar chocolate wafer format with a protein content typically associated with shakes or bars.

Priced at ₹120, the Mega Protein Wafer will debut exclusively on Swiggy Instamart and the SuperYou website, reflecting the brand’s focus on quick commerce and direct-to-consumer channels. Additional delivery platforms are expected to follow. The strategy aligns with growing consumer reliance on instant delivery platforms for daily nutrition and impulse snacking.

The product is designed for multiple use occasions, including pre- and post-workout consumption, mid-day hunger management and evening snacking. According to the company, the goal was to create a snack that fits easily into everyday routines rather than being restricted to fitness-only moments.

Available initially in a Nutty Chocolate flavour, the wafer features layered chocolate wafers topped with salted peanuts. It is made using atta and jowar, contains no added sugar and excludes palm oil, responding to increasing scrutiny around ingredient quality and sourcing.

SuperYou has positioned the Mega Protein Wafer as a core innovation within its growing portfolio, aimed at consumers who want indulgence without compromising on protein intake. With this launch, the brand continues to strengthen its presence in India’s rapidly evolving functional snacking segment, where taste, convenience and nutrition are increasingly expected to coexist.

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