D2C snacks brand Sweet Karam Coffee raises $8 million from Peak XV Partners, Fireside Ventures

Founders of Sweet Karam Coffee

Sweet Karam Coffee (SKC), a direct-to-consumer (D2C) South Indian food brand, has raised $8 million (around Rs 68 crore) in its Series A round led by Peak XV Partners, with existing backer Fireside Ventures also participating in fundraise, the company said in a statement on April 3.

The round comes at a time when quick commerce is booming and helping D2C firms expand their reach and solve for discoverability.

“Quick commerce is bridging distribution like never before, and we’re seeing a beautiful cross-pollination of cultures — our products are now loved not just in the South, but across the country… This is an incredibly exciting time to build,” Sweet Karam Coffee CEO and co-founder Nalini Parthiban said.

Founded in 2015, Chennai-based Sweet Karam Coffee is delivers to over 32 countries and claims to make its products without palm oil, preservatives and maida (refined flour), giving the company an edge over its rivals.

The South Indian snacks and sweets market is worth over Rs 25,000 crore and is undergoing a significant transformation, Abhishek Mohan, principal at Peak XV Partners, said.

“The shift from unorganised to organised players, rising demand for 'better-for-you' products, and the rapid expansion of modern distribution channels present a powerful opportunity for brands like Sweet Karam Coffee,” Mohan said.

To expand its operations, SKC has also roped in former Unilever supply chain veteran Nandhitha Indermohan as its chief operating officer (COO). Indermohan spent nearly 13 years at Unilever before joining SKC.