MAM
Nat Habit secures $10.2M in Series B, targets four times growth with Bertelsmann India investments
Mumbai: Nat Habit, a pioneering D2C natural beauty and wellness brand has raised $10.2Mn in series B funding led by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII). The round also saw participation from existing investor Fireside Ventures and other investors including Amazon India Fund, Mirabilis Investment Trust, and Sharrp Ventures. Born out of the founder’s (Swagatika Das) personal commitment towards holistic wellness Nat Habit remains steadfastly committed to its ‘100 per cent Natural Care’ mission. The company is currently clocking an ARR of 82Cr. It plans to allocate the funds strategically to propel growth and expansion (new categories, retail, R&D, and talent). With this strategy, Nat Habit sees a four times growth in the $30Bn beauty and personal care market to land at 350Cr ARR in the next 24 months.
Commenting on the announcement, Founder Swagatika Das said, ‘’Nat Habit was founded with a vision to make true & wholesome natural care available to all. We have been doing that with Fresh products from our Ayurvedic Kitchen. Over the years, we have witnessed great support from our investors who have helped us deliver high-quality, sustainable, and truly natural personal care products. Natural or ayurvedic care is not merely a trend for us; it is a lifestyle or habit we would like consumers to adopt for a safer, longer and happier life. With the recent Series B funding, we aim to double down on our efforts in terms of building a stronger community and making larger strides towards making Nat Habit the go-to brand for every Indian’s daily personal care needs.’’
Commenting on the fundraise Bertelsmann partner Pankaj Makkar, said, “Nat Habit has taken personal care to a new level by offering fresh products using proprietary techniques and natural ingredients. We are excited by their unique products that have led to immense customer love and strong retention. This investment is a sign of our confidence in Nat Habit’s potential and our relationship with its founders. We’re excited about a future filled with mutual success and ongoing teamwork.”
Speaking on the investment Fireside Ventures partner, Dipanjan Basu said, “India’s beauty & personal care market is on a steep growth trajectory with multiple emerging needs and gaps of consumers. We are extremely impressed with what Nat Habit is trying to achieve in this market, with its disruptive products & strong commitment to goodness. This certainly is a brand that’s here to win. Fireside will continue to support such visionary purposes & entrepreneurship – it also strongly aligns with our fund’s purpose of building responsible brands that do good for the environment and people.”
The Industry and Business Model:
Over the last five to five years the BPC industry in India has seen a significant shift towards clean and natural ingredients owing to the increasing consumer awareness and demand. According to Statista, India’s Natural Cosmetics market is projected to generate a revenue of Rs US $0.90bn by 2023 and is anticipated to experience an annual growth rate of 3.52 per cent (CAGR 2023-2028). This, in turn, has given rise to homegrown clean ingredients-led brands like Nat Habit that are committed to making fresh, 100 per cent natural personal care products more accessible to consumers across the country.
Since its inception in 2019, Nat Habit has been committed to making true natural personal care accessible to every Indian household. With a strong R&D backing, NatHabit creates proprietary formulations out of fresh ingredients such as raw milk, fruits & herbs. The products are made and shipped fresh daily, straight from its Ayurvedic kitchen. Nat Habit beats all levels of natural. It is one of the rarest brands to serve NOT just natural but 100 per cent natural personal care. Strong founder commitment, own R&D & own manufacturing allow for such high-quality servings. This in return breaks the clutter of BPC and brings immense brand love and cheer from users. Nat Habit today serves nearly 14 lakh customers, ships 15,000 units per day, and has 35 product lines. More than 70 per cent of its users hail from tier one and tier two cities while the brand sees a good 30 per cent demand from tier three cities and beyond.
Next Steps:
Over the next 24 months, Nat Habit envisions expanding its product portfolio which currently includes Malais (moisturisers), Hair Oils, Facewash, Ubtans and more. There will be channel expansion into offline and a substantial focus on creating more brand awareness. Additionally, approximately two mn USD will be used to give exit to angels and very early-stage investors – nearly 4.5 to five times returns over four years.
Past Funding:
In 2022, Nat Habit secured $4 million in its Series A round, spearheaded by Fireside Ventures, renowned for its focus on consumer brands. It also has Peak XV Partners as an investor. Past funding has helped the brand grow more than four times in revenue, improve its reach in marketplaces, invest in R&D and expand its portfolio of products in the last two years.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
