Exclusive: The Gourmet Jar raises seed funding from Chandigarh Angels Network

New Delhi-based Apeksha Gourmet Jar Pvt. Ltd., which operates The Gourmet Jar, has raised an undisclosed amount in seed funding from Chandigarh Angels Network (CAN).

The funding will be utilised by the startup to build team, scale operations and add global customers. It will also be used for marketing and brand building, Apeksha Jain, founder, The Gourmet Jar, told Techcircle.in.

"The investors of CAN are enthusiastic to commit support to the rising entrepreneurial ecosystem of India not just by investing in passionate startups like The Gourmet Jar but also by nurturing, mentoring and providing the right platform for  young startups to thrive," said Karam Naresh Singh, a participating investor.

The Gourmet Jar was founded in 2012 by Jain, who is an economics graduate from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, and also a French teacher.

The Gourmet Jar offers a range of premium artisanal jams, mustards, relishes, preserves and condiments that are handmade in small batches, using natural ingredients with no preservatives or additives.

The company currently sells its products through most modern trade outlets and premium general stores across India.

Besides, the products are sold online through its website as well as on Amazon and online grocery store BigBasket.com. Currently operating out of Noida, it has produced over 200,000 jars over the last two years.

"Going forward, the team is looking to launch new products, to increase percentage of sales from the e-commerce channel and gifting space, and to enter the global market," Jain said.

The Gourmet Jar currently has 16 employees and plans to hire 10 more across various functions by April 2017.

This is CAN's fourth investment in the last one year. In January 2016, Gurgaon-based Invexgo Solutions Pvt. Ltd, which runs on-demand concierge services Qlivery, had raised an undisclosed amount of funding from CAN.

In December 2015, CAN invested an undisclosed amount in a seed funding in Chandigarh-based JumboBasket Pvt. Ltd, which runs e-commerce returns platform JumboBasket.

New Delhi-based Eckovation Solutions Pvt Ltd, which runs a social learning platform for students, had raised an undisclosed amount in angel funding from CAN in 2015.