Pareto Capital is proud to announce the closure of its recent deal wherein we advised Punjab-based beverage startup Lahori in raising $15 million funding from Belgium-based consumer focused investor Verlinvest for an undisclosed minority stake.

Lahori is a start up with a vision to introduce better-tasting, category-defining ‘Desi’ drinks in India, targeting people in Indian cities and villages alike. They are bringing their products to every individual who likes to enjoy "ghar ki desi drink". The business plans to expand its presence across India in the next 3 years. Lahori will use the funds to double down on its brand’s growth through offline & online expansion and will also enhance the national presence of the brand in retail chains. The fresh fund will also be utilized for the development and launch of new category-creating products alongwith expanding production capacity.

We, at Pareto Capital, are very excited to get this growth capital to a much deserved, home grown, ethnic brand which was started from concept by three young entrepreneurs who are trying to fill the gap in the non-alcoholic beverage category. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic environment, the deal was concluded within 7 months from preparation of the deal material to investor engagement, conclusion of due diligence and credit of funds.

We are delighted to work with the global consumer focused investor, Verlinvest for this transaction. They bring in much-required expertise to the table, having supported multiple brands and making them a household name, namely Sula and Epigamia, among others.

The non-alcoholic beverage industry in India is growing at a phenomenal rate and is expected to exceed $18+ billion by 2026. In India, given majority of the population resides in Tier II and III cities, price points have been a critical aspect in penetrating the markets and building a brand with customer loyalty. We expect Lahori will continue to grow rapidly in this expansive market and continue reaching new milestones.

We are proud and thankful to our agile team members to have work relentlessly to make it a smooth and cordial transactional experience for all stakeholders.
 

For further reading on the fundraise: Link