Brands
Mansionz by Living Liquidz wins Greatest Retailers global title
Experiential alco-bev concept earns top honour at Icons of Drinks 2026
MUMBAI: Mansionz by Living Liquidz has been named “The Greatest Retailers of the World” at the Icons of Drinks 2026, a prestigious global platform held under the World Whisky Awards.
The recognition places Living Liquidz firmly on the global map, spotlighting its premium, experience-led approach to alco-bev retail. Designed as more than a conventional store, Mansionz blends curated selections, guided tastings and storytelling-led displays to create an immersive consumer journey.
Widely regarded as one of the industry’s top honours, the World Whisky Awards celebrate excellence across retail, innovation and brand-building. Mansionz’s win highlights its role as a category-defining concept that moves beyond transactional retail into a discovery-driven destination.
A key differentiator is its strong focus on consumer engagement. The brand’s “try before you buy” format allows shoppers to sample products before purchase, while sommelier-assisted experiences help decode flavour profiles, origins and pairings. Complementing this is a tech-enabled layer, including an in-store app that simplifies wine discovery for both enthusiasts and first-time buyers.
Mansionz also offers access to exclusive and rare labels through preview ranges and pre-order options, expanding the traditional retail experience into a more personalised and aspirational space.
At the centre of this evolution is Mokksh Sani, founder of Living Liquidz and co-founder of Cartel Bros, whose vision has driven the brand’s transformation into a design-led, experiential retail chain.
Living Liquidz founder and co-founder of Cartel Bros Mokksh Sani said, “This recognition goes beyond Living Liquidz; it reflects the larger evolution of India’s alco-bev industry on the global stage. With Mansionz, we aimed to create a space where consumers don’t just shop, but truly experience and discover.”
Looking ahead, the brand plans to expand its footprint with at least seven new Mansionz outlets in 2026–27, signalling continued momentum in scaling its experiential retail format.
The global win marks a broader coming-of-age moment for India’s alco-bev sector, with Mansionz showcasing how local innovation can compete with, and even outshine, international benchmarks.
Brands
Hocco crosses Rs 530cr revenue in two years
Sauce.vc-led Rs 100cr raise values ice cream brand at Rs 2,500cr pre-money as quick commerce hits 20 per cent of sales.
MUMBAI: Hocco has just scooped a seriously sweet milestone crossing the Rs 530 crore revenue mark in just two full years of operations. The fast-growing Indian ice cream and indulgence brand announced it has raised Rs 100 crore in fresh capital led by Sauce.vc. The round values the company at Rs 2,500 crore pre-money and underscores investor confidence in its rapid scale and distinctive India-first approach.
Founder Ankit Chona said the brand’s success stems from solving real Indian challenges extreme summer heat, fragmented cold chains and culturally rooted tastes. “In India, product development doesn’t end in the lab. It only ends when it survives the street,” he noted. This philosophy has produced viral hits such as Aamchi mango ice cream, BIX cake-sponge sandwiches, the Oh cone and culturally relevant collaborations like Haldiram’s Barfi and festive Modak specials.
Hocco currently operates manufacturing facilities in Ahmedabad and Panipat with a production capacity of approximately 3 lakh litres per day, running near full capacity in peak season. The fresh capital will help expand this to around 4.5 lakh litres per day.
Quick commerce has emerged as a major growth engine, now contributing ~20 per cent of overall business and growing nearly 2x year-on-year. The channel has boosted product discovery, increased consumption frequency and helped extend ice cream beyond its traditional seasonal limits.
Sauce.vc founder Manu Chandra said, “At Sauce, we believe that when you chance upon an outlier business, you double down with stronger conviction. We see Hocco as just that.”
With a strong innovation pipeline, deeper distribution and continued focus on cultural relevance, Hocco is entering its third year aiming to capture even more mind space and market share. In a category long dominated by legacy players, this young brand is proving that the coolest way to win is to build for India’s realities, one scoop, one street and one satisfied craving at a time.
