Business Remedies | Rajshree Upadhyaya | Sibling duo Parul and Manu Sharma from Jaipur made their mark by launching Gladful, a brand that is revolutionizing child nutrition in India. Their journey began when they realized, through their own experiences of feeding children, that there was a much larger problem at hand. In urban India, protein deficiency is a serious issue. Many food products available in the market are either loaded with sugar, heavily adulterated, or simply unappealing to children.
Parul, with a background in FMCG marketing, and Manu, a trained Chartered Accountant, decided in 2022 to create food products that families could trust. They started offering breakfast mixes like chilla, dosa, and pancakes, along with protein cookies and sweets – all made from plant-based ingredients like millets, legumes, and sprouted grains. These products are free from refined sugar and palm oil and follow clean-label principles.
Their vision with Gladful was to make protein a part of daily nutrition, rather than something associated only with gym-goers. They highlighted that nearly 73% of urban Indians suffer from protein deficiency. Their product formulations ensured 4-8 grams of protein per serving. Before fully launching the brand, they tested their products with a community of mothers and managed to sell about 60,000 units in just nine months, generating approximately Rs. 1 crore in net sales. Most of their revenue came from online channels, with Amazon being a significant contributor. While their gross margins were attractive, they initially faced monthly losses due to marketing and logistics costs.
Spike in Monthly Sales
When they appeared on Shark Tank India Season 2, they pitched an investment of Rs. 50 lakhs for 2% equity – valuing their company at Rs. 25 crores. The Sharks negotiated on the equity, with various offers made. Eventually, three Sharks – Amit Jain, Aman Gupta, and Namita Thapar – came together to invest Rs. 50 lakhs for a 3.5% stake in Gladful. This deal not only gave them capital but also credibility and media exposure.
Following the show’s telecast, Gladful saw a significant boost in business. They received many new orders, monthly sales spiked, and the increased attention helped with manufacturing, distribution, and visibility. They capitalized on this momentum to raise more funding.
In 2023, Gladful completed a seed round of approximately Rs. 7 crores with support from their Shark Tank investors and others. By 2025, they raised an additional Rs. 8 crores in a new round led by Eternal Capital, along with Antler India, Venture Catalysts, and several angel investors.
Expansion of Breakfast Mixes
Alongside funding, Gladful continued to launch new products. They expanded their breakfast mix range and entered the healthy drink/milk mix segment with Nutramilk – a clean-label alternative to existing mixes. Nutramilk is rich in nutrients and made from natural ingredients like nuts, jaggery, and dates.
With the new capital, they’re investing in research and development, ramping up marketing efforts, expanding digital and quick commerce channels, and strengthening their presence in Tier I and Tier II cities.
Making Nutrition a Daily Habit for Families
Despite early losses post-launch, the co-founders have remained focused on repeat purchases, building consumer trust, and scaling. Their ambitious goal is to grow Gladful into a Rs. 500 crore functional food brand. It’s clear that the Shark Tank deal was less of an endpoint and more of a launchpad – giving Gladful visibility, investor confidence, and the reach needed to expand.
Since then, their journey has been all about maintaining quality, expanding product categories, and ensuring that nutrition becomes a habitual choice for families – not just an empty promise.
Written & Edited By:
Rajshree Upadhyaya
