Lahori Zeera (by Archian Foods), founded in 2017 by cousins Saurabh Munjal, Saurabh Bhutna, and Nikhil Doda, has become one of India’s rising stars in the ethnic non-alcoholic beverage market. Its core product “Zeera” soda, infused with cumin (jeera), lemon, black pepper, sendha namak etc. taps into nostalgia, local flavour and affordability.

Key metrics show Lahori’s momentum: revenues of ~₹535 crore in FY25, plans to hit ₹800-crore this year, and success in raising funds from strong backers like Verlinvest and Motilal Oswal Wealth. Production and distribution have grown via multiple manufacturing plants (Punjab, Gujarat, Lucknow soon) and co-bottling partnerships, helping bridge supply gaps.

However, challenges loom. Maintaining quality with scale, controlling costs (especially natural flavour vs synthetic), navigating competition from both local start-ups and big multinationals who are entering this flavour/jeera category, and preserving the authenticity that is core to Lahori’s brand. But its early mover advantage, strong cultural resonance, and pricing strategy (notably the ₹10 “entry-price” 160ml bottle) give it a fighting chance.