D2C snacks brand Adukale secures investment from Force Ventures and other backers to expand its presence in offline retail channels.

D2C snacks brand Adukale secures INR 11 crore (approximately $1.3 million) in its pre-Series A funding, with Force Ventures leading the investment round. Aanya Ventures and angel investors including Subrata Mitra and Radhika Pandit also participated. The funds will primarily be allocated towards manufacturing, research and development, as well as expanding physical outlets, distribution networks, and enhancing brand visibility. Founded in 2009 by Nagaratna Ravindra, Malathi Sharma, and MS Ravindra, Adukale offers a wide range of namkeens, blended spices, and instant food items through its omnichannel approach, including more than 75 products and over 20 'Adukale Experience Stores' in Bengaluru and Mysore. In addition to its website, the brand sells products through various retail outlets and ecommerce platforms. According to Vinay Gopinath, Adukale's chief growth officer, this investment underscores the brand's growth potential and aims to strengthen its presence across channels. Karthik Bhat, founder of Force Ventures, highlights a shared vision of leading the traditional snacks category by 2025 and showcasing Karnataka's culinary heritage globally. The funding arrives amid heightened competition in the D2C snacking space, with emerging startups like TagZ Foods, Beyond Snacks, and Gladful targeting a rapidly growing Indian snacking market projected to reach INR 95,521 crore by 2032. This has attracted considerable interest from investors, with recent investments in players like Farmley and PatilKaki reflecting the sector's momentum.