Surfs up! Mid-sized companies catch the PE/VC wave
consumer brands — from packaged foods and liquor to personal care — are turning top draws for investors, with a dozen raising funds from large private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) firms in the past three to four months.
More such deals are in the works, signalling that these companies could be serious competition for larger players amid the post-Covid resurgence, executives said.
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Offering CollegeCourseWebsiteIIM LucknowIIML Chief Operations Officer ProgrammeVisitIndian School of BusinessISB Chief Digital OfficerVisitIndian School of BusinessISB Leadership in AIVisitThe list includes Dairy Classic and NIC ice creams, SkinQ dermo-cosmetics, Grameen Kulfi, Fresh Press juices, Woodsmen Mountain Whiskey, Yu instant foods and Natch snacks, among others.
«There was a reduction in investments from PE/VC firms during the second half of 2022,» said VS Kannan Sitaram, partner and cofounder at early stage-focused Fireside Ventures. «But in recent months, Indian and overseas investors are clearly seeing strong economic growth, leading to a greater willingness to invest at different stages.»
Fireside recently invested in consumer brands Good Bug, Happi Planet and Sole Threads.
Funds for companies likely to rival large players
Executives said the fresh round of investments is playing out for brands that are either occupying niches or already taking market share from established brands.
«Breaking away from age-old India-made foreign liquor (IMFL) codes, we're
