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Paper Boat posts Rs 585 Cr revenue in FY24; cuts losses by 48%

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Hector Beverages owned Paper Boat, which manufactures soft drinks and beverages, saw its operating scale grow by a modest 16% year-on-year growth in the fiscal year ending March 2024. However, the A91 Partners-backed firm improved its bottom line by cutting its losses by 48% in the same period. Paper Boat’s revenue from operations increased to Rs 585 crore in FY24 from Rs 504 crore in FY23, its financial statement sourced from the Registrar of Companies (RoC) shows. In the previous fiscal year, it recorded more than 50% jump in its scale. Launched by former Coca-Cola executives Neeraj Kakkar and Niraj Biyani, Paper Boat sells packaged juices, coconut water, traditional Indian snacks, and dry fruits. Trade (manufactured by third-parties) of these products formed 52% of the operating revenue which increased by 16% to Rs 304.3 crore in FY24 from Rs 261.8 crore in FY23. Its own manufactured products accounted for the remaining 48% of operating revenue. This income also grew 15.7% to Rs 278 crore in FY24. The 11-year-old company earned additional Rs 10 crore from interest income which took its total revenue to Rs 595 crore in FY24. On the expense side, cost of materials dominated by accounting for 63% of the expense. This cost increased by 6.4% to Rs 404 crore in the last fiscal year from Rs 380 crore in FY23. Employee benefit expenses grew by 22% to Rs 66.70 crore in FY24. Advertising, finance and other expenses added another Rs 171 crore. Overall, Paper Boat’s total expense increased 7.2% to Rs 642 crore in the last fiscal year. In the end, Paper Boat managed to decrease its losses by 48% to Rs 47 crore in FY24 from Rs 90.5 crore in FY23. Its ROCE and EBITDA margin stood at -15.45% and -5.63%, respectively. On a unit basis, it spent Rs 1.1 to earn a rupee of operating revenue in FY24. The Bengaluru-based company reported cash and bank balances of Rs 168 crore along with current assets of Rs 305 crore in FY24. According to TheKredible, Paper Boat has raised Rs 1,030 crore ($143 million) in funding so far, with key investors including GIC (Lathe), Peak XV, Sofina Ventures, and A91 Partners. GIC holds over 25% of the company’s stake, while Sofina and Peak XV each control more than 18%. Paper Boat, which entered the market with a fresh approach and offerings, has struggled to convert that initial promise into results. Even as it has continued to innovate and adapt, the search for profitability even 11 years after it started operations is a reason to worry, even as it has come close now. The other worrying aspect of the business is the complete change in market dynamics in the form of quick commerce, modern trade, e-commerce and more, which should affect margins at Paper Boat much more. The firm has done well to survive even as many other startups in the space struggled and folded up or were acquired. Could Paper Boat surprise skeptics once again? One has to wonder, consider the unbelievably high clutter in the market today, and the much more demanding valuations from the category per se.