The Deal
Gourmet retail startup Foodstories has successfully closed a Rs 50 crore funding round. The round was led by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, with participation from the existing investor, Narotam Sekhsaria Family Office. This infusion of capital is earmarked for scaling digital operations, strengthening delivery logistics, and expanding the company’s physical store footprint in major urban markets.
Company Background
Founded in 2021 by Avni Biyani and Ashni Biyani—daughters of Future Group founder Kishore Biyani—Foodstories operates a premium, experiential retail platform. The company integrates high-end grocery, global ingredients, and wellness cafes with a robust digital backend. The co-founders are also behind the brand co-creation platform Think9, which manages several D2C labels including Good Bug and BiE.
Market Context and Growth
Foodstories currently maintains a presence in Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, with a recent expansion into Mumbai via a flagship Bandra location. The business model relies on a hybrid strategy, allowing customers to shop through physical experiential stores, an e-commerce platform, and personalized channels like WhatsApp and direct phone orders. This omnichannel approach facilitates efficient local fulfillment in premium urban pockets.
Takeaways for Founders
- Omnichannel Resilience: Combining physical experiential retail with digital fulfillment remains a high-conviction thesis for premium retail investors.
- Leveraging Synergies: The founders’ background in the Think9 ecosystem provides a significant advantage in brand development, supply chain management, and scaling diverse D2C portfolios.
- Investor Alignment: Securing backing from high-profile retail-focused investors like Nikhil Kamath signals strong market belief in the future of the ‘premium lifestyle’ retail segment in India.