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Cosmix by the numbers: What Marico gets in its latest D2C acquisition

EntrackrEntrackr · 2d ago
Cosmix by the numbers: What Marico gets in its latest D2C acquisition
Medial

Continuing its acquisition spree, Mumbai-based multinational consumer goods company Marico has announced the purchase of a 60% majority stake in plant-based protein supplements brand Cosmix, shortly after acquiring snacking brand 4700BC. Cosmix more than doubled its operating scale in the fiscal year ended March 2025 while its profit nearly tripled and has remained profitable since its inception. With this acquisition, Marico has added another brand to its growing D2C portfolio, which includes plant-based nutrition brand Plix, True Elements, Just Herbs, and men’s grooming brand Beardo. To understand the financial drivers behind the acquisition, Entrackr analysed Cosmix’s numbers based on its regulatory filings, along with market signals that appear to have reinforced Marico’s conviction. Cosmix’s revenue from operations more than doubled to Rs 50.93 crore in FY25 from Rs 24.2 crore in FY24. Founded in 2019, Cosmix operates as a digital-first nutrition brand focused on plant-based protein and wellness products, including protein bars, protein pancakes, multivitamins, and immunity boosters. The startup sells its products through its own website and third-party online marketplaces. Sales of these products were the sole source of Cosmix’s operating revenue in FY25. In addition, the company earned Rs 25 lakh as interest on deposits in the last fiscal, which pushed its total income to Rs 51.18 crore. Cosmix is a bootstrapped company and claims to have scaled to an ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) of Rs 100 crore. Advertising was the largest expense for the D2C firm, accounting for 34% of total expenditure, and doubled year-on-year to Rs 13.52 crore in FY25. The cost of materials was another major expense at Rs 11.2 crore and also doubled during the year, in line with revenue growth. Importantly, the firm’s employee benefits expenses stood at Rs 3.45 crore in the last fiscal which formed only 8.72% of its total costs. Other overheads including marketplace management, transport and courier charges, service retention fees, and software maintenance pushed total expenses to Rs 39.52 crore in FY25. The Bengaluru-based company’s revenue growth outpaced its expenses and led its profit to nearly triple to Rs 8.21 crore in FY25 from Rs 2.83 crore in FY24. The seven-year-old firm has remained profitable since inception, unlike most D2C companies. Its ROCE and EBITDA margin stood at 99.395 and 22.48%, respectively. On a unit level, Cosmix spent Rs 0.78 to earn a rupee. Its current assets were recorded at Rs 16.45 crore, with cash and bank balances of Rs 4.69 crore at the end of FY25. Like Marico, several legacy fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are increasingly acquiring digital-first (D2C) startups to expand into high-growth categories such as health supplements, grooming, and personal care. Hindustan Unilever (HUL) acquired skincare brand Minimalist, ITC has bought healthy snacking company Yoga Bar, VLCC has picked up men’s grooming brand Ustraa, and Emami has acquired The Man Company, which highlights a broader shift by established FMCG players towards premium, online-native brands. A buy like Cosmix indicates strong conviction at a promoter level or high up in Marico (FY25 revenues of Rs 10,800 crores, PAT of Rs 1,593 crore), considering the relatively small size of the business. It’s not exactly the kind of purchase that will move the stock price either way. Cosmix founders would be expected to leverage Marico’s scale and resources to scale up faster than they would have, besides use their appreciated skills to support other businesses perhaps. One can only hope that Marico will be able to offer the flexibility and space for the Cosmix team to spread out without feeling the constrictions of large firm processes and bureaucracy, an affliction that has laid low expectations from many an acquisition over the years, when it is a large firm acquiring a startup.

Oziva records flat growth under Hindustan Unilever in FY24

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Oziva records flat growth under Hindustan Unilever in FY24
Medial

D2C nutrition brand Oziva, which was acquired by FMCG giant Hindustan Unilever (HUL) in 2022, posted a flat scale during the fiscal year ending March 2024. Following a 20% decline in sales during FY23, the D2C nutrition brand posted a flat scale with a modest 4% increase to Rs 104 crore in FY24, the annual report of its parent company HUL shows. HUL said that Oziva recorded Rs 44 crore loss in the last fiscal year. In FY23, the firm registered a net profit of Rs 58.8 crore due to one-time gain of Rs 95.5 crore. However, if we exclude that other income, its losses stood at Rs 45.8 crore in FY23. This implies, Oziva’s scale and loss remained flat in the last financial year (FY24). It’s worth noting that it is the first full fiscal year for Oziva under Hindustan Unilever. The six-year-old D2C firm sells plant-based nutrition products for health, skin, hair, and general wellness. The sale of health and nutrition products was the sole revenue driver for the company. The company has raised around $17 million to date with the backing of Matrix Partners, Eight Road Ventures, and Stride Ventures. In December 2022, HUL acquired 51% stake in Oziva with the first tranche at a cash consideration of Rs 264.28 crore ($32 million). As per the annual report, Oziva was valued at Rs 361 crore ($43.5 million) using the multi-period excess earnings method. At the same time, HUL also acquired 19.8% of the stake in Wellbeing Nutrition for a cash consideration of Rs 70 crore. Founded by Avnish Chhabria, Wellbeing Nutrition is a whole-food nutrition company that uses plant-based ingredients to deliver wellness to individuals. The company is yet to disclose its FY24 results.

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