In 2017, three cousins – Saurabh Munjal, Saurabh Bhutna, and Nikhil Doda – bottled nostalgia. Their idea was simple but bold: turn the tangy, cumin-spiced jeera drink from India’s kitchens into a mass-market sensation. From a small plant in Punjab, Lahori Zeera was born.
Priced at just ₹10, Lahori became the underdog that outsmarted big cola players by going hyperlocal. The cousins relied on kirana stores and small distributors, skipped celebrity endorsements, and let taste do the talking. By 2022, Lahori was producing 96,000 bottles a day. By 2025, that number had skyrocketed to 5 million bottles daily, quenching thirst across Tier-2 and Tier-3 India.
The numbers tell the story. FY24 revenue hit ₹312 crore, up 47% year-on-year, with profits tripling to ₹22.5 crore. FY25 revenue is projected at ₹525 crore, with a bold target of ₹1,000 crore in FY26.
Lahori has since added variants like Nimboo, Shikanji, and Masala Cola – but Zeera remains its star, contributing nearly 90% of sales. Strategic moves like co-bottling partnerships and low-cost marketing (think Delhi Metro train wraps) keep the brand agile and profitable.
Challenges remain — scaling production, navigating steep GST rates, and fighting deep-pocketed rivals – but Lahori Zeera has shown that a proudly desi brand can disrupt India’s ₹1.5 lakh crore beverage industry with flavor, grit, and clever execution.
