Punjab-based beverage start-up Lahori bags $15 Mn from Verlinvest

Beverage start-up Lahori that sells ‘desi’ packaged aerated drinks has raised $15 Mn in funding from Belgium-based Verlinvest.

With this round, Verlinvest has also acquired an undisclosed minor stake in the Punjab based brand.

“We are delighted to partner with Verlinvest in our journey to become a widely loved beverage brand in the country. We want to give Indian consumers beverage options that resonate with their taste palette,” shared Saurabh Munjal, cofounder and CEO of Lahori by adding that the ethnic beverages market in India is underserved, and they have the vision to become a prominent force in this space.

Lahori sells ‘desi’ (local or indigenous) packaged aerated drinks including nimboo (lemon )soda, kacha aam (raw mango) soda, and shikanji (Indian lemonade), mostly in Punjab.

It plans to use the freshly raised capital to expand production capacity and its presence across the country, while also investing in branding and marketing.

“Given the legacy of our Belgian family shareholders, beverages are a core focus area for us. Lahori has become a dominant player in the space in a very short time, creating a product loved by the masses. Among all the beverage companies we have seen so far in India, Lahori stood out for its taste, product innovation and customer pull. We are excited to work with them on their next leg of growth,” added Shagun Tiwary Shah, an investor at Verlinvest.

Verlinvest is a family-owned investment group that is part of AB InBev that has over 400 beer brands under its management. It has also invested in other Indian startups including Veeba, Epigamia to name a few.