Brands
Sbooch launches in India
Mumbai: Can you think of a beverage that’s completely preservative-free, contains no artificial flavours or additives, and still boasts an impressive shelf life? Sbooch, a new-age kombucha brand, announced its official launch at an event with Suniel Shetty in Mumbai entering the Indian beverage market, aiming to fill this exact gap. Founded by Niraj Manek and Kajall N Manek, Sbooch is set to disrupt the industry with its line of all-natural, preservative-free kombucha drinks.
Key features of Sbooch Kombucha:
● Made with all real farm-produced fruits, vegetables and raw ingredients
● No artificial flavours or preservatives
● Sugar content is less than four grammes of natural sugar per 100 ml serving, which is used for fermentation
● Up to an 18-month shelf life without preservatives
● Flavours inspired by the palate of India’s rich culinary landscape
“We’re not just launching a drink; we’re introducing a new KULTURE,” said Sbooch founder Niraj Manek. “Our kombucha is real in every sense—made with raw fruits, vegetables, and ingredients, no artificial additives, and less than four grammes of natural sugar that’s produced during fermentation. We’re excited to offer Indian consumers pure, unadulterated goodness with no marketing jargon or lies, with any gray filled with clutter.”
Kombucha is one of the oldest drinks in the history of mankind, dating back up to 5000 years and originated in the eastern part of Japan. Now, Sbooch is bringing this ancient fermented tea to modern India, with a twist that sets it apart from anything else on the market. The brand offers a range of flavours that take consumers on a journey across India, touching KULTURE with every sip.
Chef Niyati, the culinary mastermind and founder at Ekaa, behind Sbooch, has crafted an array of unique flavours that capture the essence of the Indian palate and diverse culinary traditions, from North to South and East to West. Among them are Koshimbir from Maharashtra, Gor Keri from Gujarat, and Tulsi Lemon from Uttar Pradesh, among others.
Sbooch has associated with Bollywood actor and fitness icon Suniel Shetty as a partner in this gut-health revolution. At 62, Shetty’s endorsement of Sbooch speaks volumes about the brand’s appeal to health-conscious individuals across all age groups, from toddlers to grandparents, and to coming generations.
“As a health-conscious individual, I realized the need for a ‘Wholesome and Guilt-free drink that our Gut loves’, ‘for all age groups’, ‘Made in India,’ all-natural drink,” in this current beverage landscape, said Shetty. “Sbooch is a world of real flavours and ingredients. It’s refreshing to find a homegrown brand that offers a delicious, all-natural beverage option.”
While kombucha is known for its potential gut-friendly and immunity-boosting properties, Sbooch isn’t positioning itself solely as a health brand. Instead, it’s marketing itself as a clean, real, unadulterated alternative in India’s beverage landscape—one that happens to be good for you and aids your well-being.
Sbooch has adopted a unique drop-marketing strategy through the unique web interface of their website (sbooch.com). The dates of drop-offs will be featured soon on their web and social media pages for all the potential and valued customers across India to pre-book their Sbooch. There are plans for rapid expansion through other e-commerce and retail platforms in the coming months.
Brands
Nestlé India posts Rs 45,641 crore profit before tax in FY26
Strong cash flow of Rs 50,475 crore offsets higher costs, payouts.
MUMBAI: If there’s one thing brewing stronger than coffee this year, it’s Nestlé India’s balance sheet. The FMCG major closed FY26 with a solid financial performance, serving up steady growth even as costs and cash outflows kept the pressure simmering. For the year ended March 31, 2026, the company reported a profit before tax of Rs 45,641 crore, up from Rs 43,161 crore in the previous year. The numbers reflect resilience in core operations, supported by a strong consumption backbone across domestic and export markets.
Cash, meanwhile, was anything but idle. Nestlé India generated Rs 50,475 crore in net cash from operating activities, a sharp jump from Rs 29,345 crore last year highlighting robust underlying demand and improved working capital efficiency. Inventory reductions alone contributed Rs 2,809 crore, while trade payables rose by Rs 5,878 crore, adding further liquidity support.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. On the investing side, the company deployed Rs 8,297 crore towards property, plant and equipment, even as overall investing cash outflow stood at Rs 6,236 crore. Financing activities saw a significant drain, with Rs 31,794 crore flowing out driven largely by dividend payouts of Rs 23,139 crore and repayment of short-term borrowings.
The balance sheet tells a story of expansion with caution. Total assets rose to Rs 1,31,824 crore from Rs 1,21,933 crore, while equity climbed to Rs 51,569 crore, reflecting improved reserves and retained earnings. Cash and cash equivalents surged to Rs 13,205 crore, a sharp rise from Rs 761 crore a year ago, underscoring stronger liquidity despite heavy outflows.
Operationally, depreciation and amortisation expenses increased to Rs 6,992 crore, while finance costs and provisions continued to shape the cost structure. At the same time, working capital movements especially in inventories and receivables played a key role in boosting cash generation.
The broader takeaway? Nestlé India’s FY26 performance is less about headline growth and more about financial muscle. With strong cash flows cushioning rising investments and payouts, the company appears to be balancing expansion with discipline keeping its books as carefully measured as its recipes.
