Punjab-based beverage startup Lahori has raised $15 million funding from Belgium-based consumer-focussed investor Verlinvest for an undisclosed minority stake. Lahori will use the funds to double down on its brand’s growth through offline and online expansion and will also enhance the national presence of the brand in retail chains. The fresh fund will also be utilised for the development and launch of new category-creating products.

The business plans to expand its presence across India in the next three years. The capital raised in this round will be used to expand production capacity and towards accelerating branding and marketing efforts.

Verlinvest is a leading global, family-owned evergreen investment group with multi-billion dollar assets under management backed by families who have together built one of the world’s largest consumer beverage businesses. Verlinvest has invested in several beverage firms globally, backing multiple billion-dollar brands such as Oatly, Vita Coco, Hint water, among others. It also counts brands such Sula, Veeba, Epigamia, Byju’s, Purplle and Wakefit among its portfolio in India.

Pareto Capital, a Mumbai-based investment banking firm, was the sole advisor to the Company for this transaction and worked closely with the management team to bring the deal to fruition.