Local All Natural Soda on Shark Tank India Season 5 Episode 27 — A Farm-to-Bottle Beverage Making Waves

Local All Natural Soda, a farm-to-bottle craft beverage company that introduced the rich flavors of Northeast India to the Shark Tank, made one of the most refreshing pitches in Shark Tank India Season 5, Episode 27. The founders’ audacious plan was to empower nearby farming communities, celebrate genuine regional flavor, and turn native fruits into all-natural, artisanal sodas.

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Local All Natural Soda is a craft soda company rooted in Mizoram, India, that makes fizzy beverages using real fruit juices and locally sourced ingredients — without artificial flavors or preservatives. The company was started by Zomawii Khiangte and Felipe Rodriguez, who left their international jobs to create a beverage that honors the Northeast’s distinctive fruit types and rich agricultural history.

The core philosophy of Local All Natural Soda revolves around:

• Supporting indigenous farmers by sourcing fruits directly from smallholder growers.
• Reducing waste in local agriculture by putting lesser-used fruit varieties to high-quality commercial use.
• Crafting naturally flavored beverages that appeal to health-conscious consumers seeking alternatives to sugar-heavy soft drinks.

Official Website – Local All Natural Soda

Local All Natural Soda presents itself as a craft beverage movement based on sustainability, community benefit, and genuine regional flavors, in contrast to traditional carbonated drinks.

What Sets It Apart

Farm-to-Bottle Philosophy: By eliminating intermediaries and guaranteeing traceability, each bottle serves as a direct conduit between growers and consumers.

Low Sugar, High Integrity: The brand continues to emphasize authentic fruit juice flavor profiles and low sugar levels.

Cultural Storytelling: The sodas highlight the botanical richness of Northeast India, which is frequently disregarded in popular beverage markets.

Calories per 100ml: 35-36 kcal

Price of one Bottle: Rs 120

Sales:

FY 23-24 – Rs 19 Lakhs

EBITDA – Rs -13 Lakhs

FY 24-25 – Rs 44 Lakhs

EBITDA – Rs -40 Lakhs

YTD – Rs 50 Lakhs

EBITDA – Rs 5 Lakhs

FY 25-26 Projected – Rs 1.2 Crores

Amount Raised – Rs 50 Lakhs

Channel Split:

Online – 28%

HORECA – 26%

Retail – 14%

Events – 20%

Corporates – 6%

Distributors – 6%

When Local All Natural Soda’s founders entered the Shark Tank, their pitch stood out right away because it began with an engaging story rather than a series of figures. They presented their journey as a deliberate choice to compete with India’s traditional soft drink business rather than as just another beverage company. In order to create a brand based on authenticity, health, and local pride, the founders discussed quitting organized professional professions. The company was positioned as a mission-driven enterprise rather than a transactional business thanks to this narrative technique, which had a strategic benefit.

The founders identified a glaring void in the market by citing growing customer apprehensions about artificial additives, excessive sugar, and unhealthy beverage options. They linked their brand to more general trends like the rise in demand for high-end, artisanal goods and health-conscious consumerism. As a result, the topic of conversation changed from “another soda brand” to a reaction to changing consumer habits.

Differentiation was highlighted in the product presentation. Craft sodas prepared with fresh fruit juice, locally sourced ingredients, and no artificial additives were on display by the founders. The brand’s premium branding, which places it closer to lifestyle beverages than mass-market soft drinks, was supported by tastings.

In the pitch, the farm-to-bottle model was a key component. The founders discussed the usage of local fruits and their direct collaborations with small farmers in Northeast India. This gave the brand more dimension by tying consumer value to sustainability, ethical sourcing, and community impact.

The Ask

Founders of Local All Natural Soda Ask in Shark Tank India sought an investment of 50 Lakhs For 2% Equity.

Sharks’ Likely Questions & Concerns

The Sharks, predictably, resorted to business basics. Unit economics, margins, scalability, and supply chain issues were the main topics of discussion. Because beverage companies require a lot of cash and logistics, investors are primarily concerned with profitability and growth.

Shark Anupam appreciated the quality of product, called it ‘great’ however, showed concerns about their multiple distribution channels. He suggested quick commerce platforms due to the brand’s high pricing. Thus, he backed out.

Shark Aman Gupta raised doubts on pricing and also didn’t think the ‘investor-founder fit’ would be sustainable in his case, so he opted out as well.

Shark Kanika wasn’t impressed with the founder’s drive to expand their amazing product, thus she didn’t offer anything.

Shark Kunal Bahl pointed out the importance of distribution in scaling, he advised founders to bring more energy to it, therefore he was also out.

Shark Mohit Yadav, on the other hand, articulated his journey of growing a brand from small numbers. He made an offer showing interest to become the third partner to the founders, Rs 1 Crore for 33% Equity at the valuation of Rs 3.03 Crores.

After some founders discussion, Mohit made counteroffer of Rs 1 Crore for 25%, at the valuation of Rs 4 Crores.

The founders eventually turned down the offer because the shares Mohit asked were too much and they weren’t ready for such a big decision at the moment.

The founders of Local All Natural Soda declined an investment offer in favor of putting their long-term goals ahead of short-term capital. Investor interest was evident in Mohit’s counteroffer of ₹1 Crore for 25% ownership at a ₹4 Crore value, but there was a substantial dilution needed. Following a thorough internal debate, the founders concluded that making such a significant financial commitment at that point was not in line with their strategic goals.

Local All Natural Soda is in a strong position to take advantage of the publicity generated by the exhibition going forward. The immediate priorities are probably going to continue to be increasing market penetration in important urban areas, bolstering distribution networks, and growing production. For sustained expansion, enhancing operational efficiencies, optimizing unit economics, and forming retail alliances will be essential.