Premium craft chocolate brand Manam Chocolate has secured $9 million in a Series A funding round led by Omnivore, with participation from the Turner Morrison Consortium, as the company looks to expand its retail presence and strengthen its farm-to-bar chocolate ecosystem.
The fresh capital will be used to fuel the company’s growth strategy, including the launch of new experiential retail outlets in the Delhi-NCR region over the next 12 months.
Founded in 2021 by Chaitanya Muppala, Manam Chocolate operates under Distinct Origins Pvt. Ltd. and has built its business around a vertically integrated model that manages the entire cacao value chain—from cultivation and fermentation to chocolate production and retail.
The Hyderabad-based company works with more than 250 farmers cultivating over 3,000 acres of cacao in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district, one of India’s largest cacao-growing regions. Through its farmer-linked sourcing network, the company aims to enhance quality while creating greater value for cacao growers.
At the core of its operations is the Distinct Origins Cacao Fermentery in Tadikalapudi, West Godavari. The facility, which the company describes as one of the world’s largest cacao fermentation centres, employs proprietary fermentation techniques designed to improve flavour consistency and elevate the quality of Indian-grown cacao.
Manam Chocolate currently operates experiential retail locations in Hyderabad and New Delhi, including its flagship Manam Chocolate Karkhana in Hyderabad’s Banjara Hills. The company also serves consumers across India through its direct-to-consumer channels.
Commenting on the fundraise, Muppala said the investment would support expansion across key markets while strengthening capabilities throughout the cacao value chain.
“Over the last few years, we have focused on building capabilities across cacao cultivation, fermentation, chocolate making and retail. The new investment will help us expand with greater intent while continuing to showcase the potential of Indian cacao globally,” he said.
According to investors, Manam’s integrated sourcing model highlights the growing potential of value-added cacao production in India. With climate-related disruptions affecting global cacao supply chains, industry observers believe emerging origins such as India could play an increasingly important role in the international chocolate market.
The funding comes amid rising consumer demand for premium, artisanal and origin-focused chocolate products, creating new opportunities for Indian craft chocolate makers to scale both domestically and internationally.