Marmalade Secures Rs 6 Crore Funding to Expand Alcohol Beverage Distribution

Marmalade, the beverage startup behind Brightside Craft Whiskey, has raised Rs 6 crore in an early-stage funding round as it prepares to expand distribution and strengthen its operations in Maharashtra.

The round includes investors from the alcoholic beverages and consumer sectors, including Ashok Chokalingam, COO of Amrut Distilleries; Robert Sellares from the founding family of Don Q Rum; Ishank Gupta, former AB InBev Director and Founder of Humyn Labs; the founders of Malt Society Arabia; and HomeLane founders Srikanth Iyer and Tanuj Choudhry.

The company plans to deploy the capital towards distribution expansion, brand development, sales and operational capabilities, with Mumbai and the wider Maharashtra market identified as key areas for growth.

Marmalade began operations in Pune in January 2026 and has since entered Mumbai. The company said it is on track to reach an annualised revenue run rate of Rs 5 crore in September 2026 and is targeting Rs 15 crore ARR by December 2026.

Founded by Udit Mediratta and Surojit Bhattacharya, Marmalade develops alcoholic beverage brands targeting younger legal-drinking-age consumers. Its first product, Brightside Craft Whiskey, was launched in Pune earlier this year.

“Gen Z is expected to account for nearly 40 percent of India’s drinking population by 2030. Yet, much of the category still speaks to an earlier generation, with products and brands that have not kept pace with changing tastes. We created Marmalade to close this gap, with Brightside as our first expression of what a new-gen Indian spirits brand can be. This funding will help us take that vision to more consumers and build some of India’s most loved drinks brands,” said Udit Mediratta and Surojit Bhattacharya, Co-Founders of Marmalade.

Brightside Craft Whiskey was developed in partnership with Amrut Distilleries and Master Blender Ashok Chokalingam. The product combines malt and grain spirits with botanicals and features packaging elements including a built-in pour meter and a peel-to-reveal label.

“The most compelling consumer brands bring together a strong team, a product that solves a real problem and a brand that people remember. Marmalade has that combination. Brightside makes whiskey more approachable for a new generation, while its distinctive brand and thoughtful packaging allow it to break through a crowded market. Udit and Surojit have the experience and ambition to build enduring alco-bev brands and we are excited to support their journey,” said Sujeet Mitra and Ganesh Iyer, Founding Partners at H5 Investments and Malt Society of Arabia.

Priced at Rs 1,750 for a 750ml bottle in Maharashtra, Brightside operates in the mass-premium whiskey segment. The company is now focused on expanding distribution in the state while building its broader alcoholic beverage portfolio.