Bengaluru-based all-natural pet food firm Khanal Foods, which owns the Dogsee Chew and Himalayan Natives brands, has raised a ₹50-crore Series A funding round led by Mankind Pharma. Existing investor Sixth Sense Ventures also participated in the round.
This is Mankind Pharma’s first investment in the pet food category. In November, Sixth Sense Ventures had backed Khanal Foods with $7 million in a pre-Series A round.
Founded in 2015 by Bhupendra Khanal and Sneh Sharma, it makes vegetarian dog treats which parallel rawhide bones. “The treats are human-grade, and protein-rich, which have made them a success with pet parents,” said Khanal.
It is India’s fourth largest pet food exporter serving 30 countries, he added. “Mankind has an established history of creating highly successful consumer products. Having the backing of such a giant is a huge vote of confidence for us and we look forward to learning from their expertise.”
The investment will primarily be used for research, brand building, and to establish a strong distribution network, Khanal said.
“The trust that people have shown in the brand strengthened our confidence to invest in it. We have always believed in innovation and, with brands like ours that are innovative and young, we see the future of India,” said Arjun Juneja, chief operations officer, Mankind.
“With 100% natural and vegetarian offerings, Dogsee Chew is uniquely positioned to make the most of global trends in the pet care industry,” said Nikhil Vora, founder and chief executive, Sixth Sense Ventures
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