Founded in 2021, Bombay Banta, a fast-growing homegrown beverage brand, has recently raised Rs 8 Crore in a funding round, making its valuation 80 Crore. At BW Businessworld, we got in touch with Akkshita Malhotra and Meet Singh Malhotra, Co-Founders at Bombay Banta, to understand their vision for the brand.
What has been the inspiration behind Bombay Banta?
The market is flooded with jeera drinks, but somewhere along the way, taste has taken a backseat. It felt like the category had stopped asking questions. And that bothered us.
India is one of the most flavour-rich countries in the world; every region, every street corner has something unique to offer. So we asked ourselves, why are we limiting ourselves to just jeera? There's so much more to celebrate.
That curiosity became Bombay Banta. We set out to build a new-age beverage brand that puts taste back at the centre. No shortcuts, no compromise on quality. We want every sip to feel like it belongs to this country — bold, layered, and unapologetically Indian.
What sets it apart in a highly competitive beverage market?
In a market crowded with products, we made a deliberate choice to go deep into Indian flavours rather than chasing trends. Every flavour we have created is rooted in something real, something people have grown up with. Masala Soda, Kaala Khatta, Masala Cola. These aren't invented flavours, they are memories. We have just given them the quality and packaging they always deserved. Beyond flavour, our commitment to quality is non-negotiable. We don't cut corners on ingredients. That combination of authenticity, quality, and accessibility is what truly sets us apart.
Which has been the most popular flavour so far? And, how is it priced?
All our flavours have found their audience, which is something we are really proud of. It validates our belief that India's palate is far more diverse than the market had given it credit for. That said, Masala Soda, Kaala Khatta, and Masala Cola have clearly taken the lead and built a strong, loyal following. Our carbonated drinks are priced at Rs 20, and our non-carbonated range is at Rs 30, a price point we have been very intentional about. Great taste should be accessible to everyone.
Given the move towards health and well-being for F&B consumers in India, do you see low-sugar drinks as the next growth phase? What's your position on it?
Absolutely, and we saw this coming early. Health consciousness is no longer a niche — it's becoming a baseline expectation, especially among younger consumers. Our response has been practical rather than just reactive.
Our three non-carbonated flavours, Masala Shikanji, Nimbu Shikanji, and Jamun Shikanji, already carry 45 per cent less sugar, without compromising on taste. That's a meaningful reduction, and consumers have noticed. Our broader position is simple: better-for-you doesn't have to mean boring. You can have both the goodness and the flavour, and that's the space Bombay Banta is building in.
Since you started the brand in 2021, what have been some of the key challenges?
Two things stand out. First, the GST burden - at 40 per cent, it takes a significant hit on margins, especially for a young brand still scaling. It's a structural challenge that affects the entire industry, but it hits emerging brands harder because you don't yet have the volume to absorb it as efficiently.
Second, logistics. Building a reliable, cost-effective distribution network across India is something you simply cannot learn from a playbook; you figure it out on the ground, make mistakes, adapt, and keep going. We are still navigating it, but we have come a long way, and each quarter we get sharper at it.
What challenges do you see when going up against established soft drink brands?
The way we see it, we are not really going up against anyone. We are opening up a new conversation. Established brands have built their categories, and they have done it well. But there's a whole world of Indian flavours that hasn't been fully explored or celebrated yet, and that's the space we are excited about.
Consumers today, especially younger ones, are curious. They want more variety, more authenticity, more connection to where they come from. Bombay Banta is built for exactly that consumer. Our focus is on creating something new, not competing with what already exists.
You have recently raised Rs 8 Crore in a funding round. What will be your focus for the next two years?
This raise is really about laying a stronger foundation for the next phase of growth. Three things are top of mind for us.
First, building the right team, we are at a stage where the people we bring in over the next two years will define what Bombay Banta becomes. Second, new launches, we have some exciting products in the pipeline that we believe will further expand the brand's footprint and appeal. And third, capex investment in our production infrastructure, so we can scale supply to match the demand we are seeing on the ground.
How has the growth been in terms of revenue in the last year?
We have grown 500 per cent in the last year, which is something the entire team is incredibly proud of. It's a validation of the product, the positioning, and the hard work that's gone into it since 2021. The momentum feels strong, and the raise gives us the runway to build on it in a more structured way going forward.
Please tell us about the expansion - are you looking at Tier 2 cities? What is the focus?
Our focus is pan-India, and quick commerce is at the heart of how we are getting there. It's given us the ability to reach consumers across cities, including Tier 2 markets, faster and more efficiently than traditional distribution models would allow. The beauty of quick commerce is that it democratises access; a consumer in Indore or Jaipur can discover and order Bombay Banta just as easily as someone in Mumbai or Delhi.
Tier 2 is absolutely part of the vision. These are markets with strong cultural food identities and consumers who deeply connect with flavours like the ones we are building. The appetite is there; we are just making sure our supply and operations can keep pace with it. |
