Coimbatore-based TABP Snacks and Beverages, a leading beverage manufacturer catering to Bharat's needs, has raised $3 million (around Rs 26 crore) in a funding round led by LC Nueva. The recent funding round also included participation from Entrust Family Office and investors Arun Mukherjee and Soumya Malani. This investment comes as the FMCG challenger brand focuses on tapping into India's rapidly growing mass-market beverage sector.

Founded in 2018 by Prabhu Gandhikumar and Brindha Vijayakumar, a husband-and-wife engineer duo, TABP has carved out a unique niche in the value beverage market. The company transforms popular local street drinks into hygienic, standardized, and affordable packaged formats aimed at bottom-of-the-pyramid consumers.

The startup is part of the emerging wave of Bharat-focused FMCG companies leveraging regional taste profiles, price sensitivity, and trust-building through hygiene and safety promises.

TABP will use the capital to expand distribution across southern and eastern states, introduce new beverage formats, and scale manufacturing capacity.

The company recorded ₹212 crore in sales in FY24-25, up from ₹ four crore in FY19, and aims to cross ₹800 crore in sales over the next three years before expanding to pan India and exploring a public listing.

“India’s beverage revolution won’t be defined by metros alone but by consumers of Bharat. For millions of consumers in tier-2 towns, industrial belts, and rural markets, there is still a gap between taste, hygiene, and affordability. Our goal is to deliver quality beverages that feel aspirational yet remain accessible,” said Prabhu Gandhikumar, co-founder and CEO of TABP.

The company’s proposition taps into a large and fast-growing addressable market. India’s non-alcoholic beverage sector, currently valued at ₹1.38 lakh crore, is projected to expand to ₹2.1 lakh crore by 2029, backed by affordability-led consumption growth, increasing organized penetration, and rising hygiene consciousness among lower-income consumers.

While multinational beverage majors dominate the premium and mainstream urban categories, a significant chunk of beverages consumed in small towns and villages remains unorganized, often sold by roadside stalls without standardization or safety controls.

TABP aims to formalize this segment by identifying beverage formats with strong regional affinity, often hyper-local flavors sold in loose, unhygienic environments, and delivering them as packaged, consistent products with a value-for-money proposition.

The founders believe this creates a scalable path similar to how organized snack, dairy, and packaged water players formalized unbranded consumption in the last two decades.

LC Nueva’s spokesperson said, “We have been early believers in TABP’s vision and are proud to see their focused execution translating into tangible growth. Our conviction in brands catering to BHARAT remains strong, and TABP exemplifies this opportunity. TABP’s growth signals a new wave of aspirational yet value-conscious consumption.”

While climate-linked raw material volatility and distribution execution in rural markets remain structural challenges in the beverage supply chain, TABP’s founders maintain that regional familiarity, operational frugality, and a ground-up network approach will be key differentiators.

Also Read: Snapmint Bags $125 Million in Funding Led by General Atlantic

“Under Prabhu’s leadership, TABP has found a niche segment of aspirational and value-conscious customers. Its focus on differentiated flavor offerings proves that companies can innovate at scale while continuing to serve customer needs. We look forward to the next few years as the company grows profitability and becomes a major player in the category,” said a Partner at Entrust Family Office.