Backed by Tetra Pak & Startup India, the health-first brand brings clean-label indulgence to dairy shelves
National, September 23, 2025 —
ZUMI Foods, a Hyderabad-based dairy startup, has introduced a game-changing range of lactose-free, no-refined-sugar milkshakes, targeted at India’s growing community of health-conscious consumers and individuals with digestive sensitivities.
Crafted under the brand name ZUMI, the products offer a naturally sweetened, gut-friendly alternative to traditional milkshakes and calorie-dense desserts. The product range is now available in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai via www.zumifoods.com, Amazon, and will soon expand to quick commerce platforms.
🏆 From Startup Challenge to Supermarket Shelf
ZUMI’s journey began as one of the winners of the Tetra Pak Startups Challenge 2024, an initiative in collaboration with Startup India aimed at accelerating food innovation in India. Through the program, ZUMI received hands-on mentorship, access to product development labs, and packaging support from Tetra Pak’s Product Development Centre in Chakan.
“We are excited to serve the ever-conscious Indian consumer with our clean, lactose-free, no refined sugar milkshakes and redefine how India snacks and indulges,” said Thapasya Vijayaraghavan, Founder, Zumi Foods.
“At ZUMI, our vision is to make better-for-you indulgence a joyful, guilt-free choice for everyone, combining nutrition with exceptional taste.”
🍨 Indian Dessert-Inspired Flavours in Clean-Label Format
ZUMI’s milkshakes come in three indulgent yet clean-label variants:
- Rose Kulfi
- Rasmalai
- Chocolate
Each 200 ml Tetra Pak contains 6–7 grams of protein, made using lactose-free milk, monk fruit, and jaggery — with no refined sugar, no preservatives, and no additives.
“Lactose-free milk retains all the nutrition of regular milk while being gentler on the gut and naturally sweeter, making it a healthier choice for everyone—not just those with lactose intolerance,” Vijayaraghavan added.
🧬 Why Lactose-Free Dairy? The Market Rationale
With an estimated 30% of Indian consumers identifying as lactose-intolerant—and actual numbers likely much higher—ZUMI’s products aim to solve a critical consumer pain point in a country where milk is both a staple and a potential irritant.
ZUMI’s formulation uses lactase enzyme to break down lactose into glucose and galactose, making the milk easier to digest and naturally sweeter, eliminating the need for added sugar. These properties make ZUMI’s milkshakes suitable for:
- Fitness-conscious adults
- School-going children
- Working professionals
- Individuals with digestive sensitivities
- Dessert lovers seeking smarter choices
“With the extraordinary support and mentorship of Tetra Pak and Startup India, we’ve transformed our vision into reality—redefining indulgence in India—where taste meets health, without compromise,” Vijayaraghavan emphasized.
🧪 Tetra Pak’s Commitment to Food Innovation
“Zumi brings a refreshing perspective to India’s beverage space, combining functionality and flavour,” said Cassio Simoes, Managing Director, Tetra Pak South Asia.
“We are delighted to have supported their journey from concept to shelf through our Startup Challenge—providing access to our global expertise, infrastructure, and mentorship.”
Tetra Pak continues to work closely with F&B startups, enabling faster product development through aseptic packaging technology and clean-label innovation.
“As we continue to collaborate with promising entrepreneurs, our goal is to build a stronger, more sustainable F&B ecosystem that benefits consumers, startups, and the industry,” Simoes added.
🏢 Startup India: Empowering Grassroots Innovation
“India’s startup ecosystem has become one of the most dynamic in the world, with over 180,000+ recognised startups across 770+ districts (as of August 2025). Nearly 52% of them are from tier-2 and 3 cities,” said Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Startup India.
“We are proud to support initiatives like Tetra Pak’s Start-Up Challenge and remain committed to fostering an ecosystem where these startups can scale, generate meaningful employment, and help India capture even greater value from its innovation landscape.”
🛒 What’s Next for ZUMI?
ZUMI plans to:
- Expand to more Indian cities via D2C and quick commerce
- Launch new flavours in culturally inspired formats
- Adopt paper-based Tetra Pak packaging
- Scale production and build partnerships with nutrition brands and health-tech platforms
With its debut, ZUMI sets a new benchmark for functional indulgence, reimagining what dairy can look like for modern Indian consumers — cleaner, smarter, and guilt-free.
