Let’s be honest, buying fresh fruits and veggies can feel like Russian roulette. Sometimes, you get plump, juicy tomatoes. The other times, it’s a potato masquerading as a stone. 🥔Enter Pluckk, a fresh produce startup that’s making waves, and not just in your kitchen sink. This Mumbai-based D2C brand is giving fruits and veggies the glow-up they deserve while building a ₹100 crore empire. 💸
Starting With a Pluckk of Genius
It all kicked off in 2021 when Pratik Gupta, a veteran in the digital and grocery space, thought, “Why not make the fruits and veggies game strong?”
Pluckk wasn’t just about selling cucumbers; it was about selling fresh, safe, and clean produce that came straight from the farms to your doorstep.
Fast forward to today, and this startup isn’t just thriving, it’s flexing! With over 400 products, Pluckk is feeding major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru while partnering with big shots like Amazon, Swiggy, and Zepto. Oh, and did we mention that in 2023, Kareena Kapoor Khan, aka Bebo herself, hopped on board as an investor? Yes, Bollywood approved!
Fruits, Funds, and Fame
Recently, Pluckk snagged ₹85 crore ($10 million) in Series A funding from Euro Gulf Investment. And what’s the plan for this cash infusion? Think growth steroids (figuratively, of course) and clearing those short-term loans.
With a booming $44 billion fruits-and-veggies market in India, Pluckk is eyeing that sweet spot where supply chain inefficiencies and food waste (a whopping 18%!) are ripe for disruption. It’s not alone in this race, competitors like Fresh From Farm and MyMandi are also digitizing farm-to-consumer sales. But Pluckk’s on-ground strategy? A whole mood.
Farmer First—Always
Pluckk’s secret isn’t just in its produce but in its partnerships. They’ve teamed up with over 1,000 farmers from fields like Nasik, Manchar, and Mallur. From sowing to harvesting, these partnerships aren’t just business deals, they’re vibes.
Here’s how they’re helping farmers thrive:
- Promoting sustainable farming methods
- Cutting out middlemen so farmers get fair prices
- Introducing tech like IoT devices for smarter farming
- Launching a Farmer App for crop advice (hello, digital age!)
It’s like giving the agricultural world a massive tech upgrade, and honestly, we’re here for it. 🙌
From Farm to Door: No Cap
Pluckk’s promise of “Farm to Door” isn’t just marketing fluff. It’s backed by serious science and processes that’ll make your head spin faster than a salad spinner.
Here’s what goes down:
- Harvesting: Every day, farmers handpick fresh produce for Pluckk.
- Ozone-Washed: Veggies are treated with ozone (FDA-approved, don’t worry) to remove 90% of germs. It’s like a fruit spa day!
- Quality Checks: HACCP-certified checks ensure zero physical, chemical, or biological hazards. Safety first!
- Temperature-Controlled Delivery: Your veggies stay chill (literally) from the farm to your fridge.
And guess what? Everything gets packed in eco-friendly brown paper bags because, you know, save the planet. 🌎💚
Gen Z Shopping Meets Gourmet Goals
For all you trend-loving foodies out there, Pluckk has a curated selection that’s too good to resist. From meal kits and ready-to-cook dishes to guilt-free snacks, it’s like having a Pinterest board IRL. Think red cabbages, avocados, kiwis—you name it.
Here’s the kicker: They also partnered with Spencer’s Retail to stock their premium, ozone-washed, GMO-free produce in stores across select cities. If your fridge isn’t already PluckkedOut, what are you waiting for?
Upnourish Acquisition Healthy Food FTW
In 2024, Pluckk acquired the nutrition brand Upnourish for $1.4 million, and boom, it has levelled up its health game. Now, its range isn’t just fresh; it’s fresh and functional. Need protein-packed smoothies? Check. Superfood salads? Check. They are killing the healthy-eating scene, one beetroot at a time.
What Makes Pluckk So Juicy?
If you’re still not convinced that Pluckk is the Beyoncé of fresh produce startups, here’s a recap of their glow-up points:
Farm Partnerships: Over 1,000 farmers on speed dial.
Ozone Washing: Germs? Nope. Eco-friendly? Yep.
Digital Vibes: IoT devices and apps make farming smarter and cooler.
Exotic Goodies: From dragon fruits to broccoli, they’ve got all your fancy needs covered.
Fresh, Fierce, and Future-Ready
As India’s fresh grocery D2C sector booms, Pluckk isn’t just riding the wave, it’s making its own. Whether it’s reducing food waste, supporting farmers, or bringing Kareena-level glam to your dining table, Pluckk is doing the most and then some.
So, the next time you’re assembling a fruit salad or stocking up on greens, give Pluckk a try. Not just because it’s fresh and safe, but because it’s the future of how we eat, and honestly, that’s a flex worth sharing.
Pluckk: Fresh. Clean. And totally serving looks, one tomato at a time. 🍅
Shop now: Pluckk
