Manam Chocolate Scoops Up $9 Mn in Omnivore-led Series A Funding
Manam Chocolate is founded by Hyderabad-based entrepreneur Chaitanya Muppala, India’s first Level 3 Certified Chocolate Taster accredited by the International Institute of Chocolate and Cacao Tasting (IICCT, USA).
Photo credit Nishant Ratnakar
Chaitanya Muppala, the Founder at Manam Chocolate &CEO at Distinct Origins. Photo credit Nishant Ratnakar
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Manam Chocolate, a craft chocolate company, has raised USD 9 million in a new funding round led by Omnivore. The round also saw participation from the Turner Morrison consortium.
Founded in 2021 by Chaitanya Muppala, Manam Chocolate aims to differentiate itself by manufacturing craft chocolates using Indian cocoa. The company says it takes ownership of the entire value chain, from cacao farming and fermentation to chocolate making and the creation of confection collections.
It sources cocoa from its parent company, Distinct Origins Pvt. Ltd., which partners with a network of over 250 member farmers cultivating more than 3,000 acres of cacao farms in the West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, India’s largest cacao-growing region.
The company sells its products via D2C model as well as direct retail stores. So far, it has set up three retail outlets (New Delhi and Hyderabad).
The latest capital infusion will be utilized to accelerate the company’s aggressive expansion plans with the launch of new retail spaces in the Delhi NCR region in the course of the next 12 months.
“This investment marks an important milestone in our journey to build a globally respected Indian craft chocolate company rooted deeply in origin. Over the last few years, we have focused on strengthening every part of the value chain- from cacao cultivation and fermentation to chocolate making and developed multiple retail models. We are now excited to partner with Omnivore and our existing investors from the Turner Morrison consortium, whose early belief in our long-term vision and commitment to building a differentiated Indian brand and strong enterprise with global aspirations creates significant confidence for us. Their support will help us scale with intent, strengthen our presence in key markets, and continue showcasing the extraordinary potential of Indian cacao to audiences in India and globally,” Muppala, Founder Manam Chocolate & CEO Distinct Origins Pvt Ltd. said in a statement.
Reihem Roy, Partner, Omnivore, notes “Premium consumer brands like Manam Chocolate, anchored with a strong farmer-partnered supply chain, demonstrate how origin-led value addition can improve livelihoods at the farm level while reducing the commodity-price volatility. As climate pressures reshape global cacao supply, investment in alternative, high-quality origins such as India represents both a commercial opportunity and contribution to a more resilient global food system.”
Manam Chocolate, a craft chocolate company, has raised USD 9 million in a new funding round led by Omnivore. The round also saw participation from the Turner Morrison consortium.
Founded in 2021 by Chaitanya Muppala, Manam Chocolate aims to differentiate itself by manufacturing craft chocolates using Indian cocoa. The company says it takes ownership of the entire value chain, from cacao farming and fermentation to chocolate making and the creation of confection collections.
It sources cocoa from its parent company, Distinct Origins Pvt. Ltd., which partners with a network of over 250 member farmers cultivating more than 3,000 acres of cacao farms in the West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, India’s largest cacao-growing region.
