Clean-label food startup Khetika has secured USD 18 million (approximately Rs. 154 crore) in a funding round backed by prominent investors including the Narotam Sekhsaria Family Office, Anicut Capital, and existing stakeholders like Incofin India Progress Fund, Rajasthan Gum, and Shree Ram India Gums. The Mumbai-based company, known for its preservative-free offerings sourced directly from farmers, plans to utilize the capital for scaling operations, brand development, and strategic expansion across new markets. The funding will also facilitate secondary exits for early investors. Khetika aims to grow tenfold in the next three years amid rising demand for transparent, chemical-free food options in India.
A Strategic Infusion to Fuel Sustainable Food Innovation
Khetika’s latest funding round marks a critical milestone in India’s fast-evolving food industry, where consumer preferences are shifting decisively toward health-conscious and unadulterated products. The Rs. 154 crore capital infusion will be channelled into strengthening supply chains, expanding distribution networks, investing in innovation, and scaling the brand’s footprint across India’s metro and emerging cities.
In addition to operational expansion, part of the funds will provide a secondary exit to early-stage investors, signaling the company's growing financial maturity and investor confidence in its long-term vision.
Investor Confidence in Clean-Label Disruption
The funding round drew support from both strategic family offices and institutional capital, highlighting a broader investor interest in the clean food revolution. Narotam Sekhsaria Family Office, a name associated with legacy industrial and philanthropic investment, joined Anicut Capital and long-standing backers such as Incofin India Progress Fund in endorsing Khetika’s farmer-first, chemical-free food business model.
Narayanan Venkitraman, head of private investments at the Sekhsaria Family Office, commented on the trend, stating, “We believe the Indian food space is set for transformation with more consumers preferring healthy and clean food.”
Direct-from-Farm, Chemical-Free Approach
At the heart of Khetika’s proposition is a differentiated supply chain, built on direct procurement from farmers and zero reliance on harmful preservatives. This vertically integrated model not only ensures purity and transparency but also supports rural agrarian communities through fair sourcing practices.
Prithwi Singh, co-founder and CEO, emphasized the urgent need for such models in an environment where the Indian food sector continues to battle rampant adulteration and chemical contamination. “We have grown significantly in the past and now aim to scale by 10X over the next three years,” Singh said, indicating aggressive growth plans backed by strong demand fundamentals.
Expansion Strategy and Market Outlook
Khetika currently retails via leading e-commerce platforms and select large-format retail outlets, but has ambitious plans to deepen its footprint across urban and Tier-II markets. The company will invest in talent acquisition across innovation, marketing, and operations, signaling a focus on long-term brand equity and organizational depth.
This comes at a time when Indian consumers, especially post-pandemic, are increasingly discerning about what they consume—prioritizing origin, ingredients, and ethical sourcing. Khetika is well-positioned to tap into this growing market, especially among millennial and Gen Z cohorts who are driving the clean-label trend.
Conclusion
Khetika’s capital raise not only underscores investor confidence in the future of clean, preservative-free food in India, but also highlights the growing convergence of social impact, sustainability, and business scalability in the country’s agri-food landscape. By staying rooted in farmer partnerships and data-driven supply chain innovation, Khetika appears set to play a defining role in shaping India’s next-generation food ecosystem—one that is as much about transparency and wellness as it is about taste and convenience.
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