Marico has taken a significant step to expand its presence in India’s premium snacking space by acquiring a 93.27% stake in Zea Maize, the parent company of gourmet snack brand 4700BC, from PVR INOX for Rs 227 crore.
The deal signals Marico’s continued focus on fast-growing food categories, while founder Chirag Gupta retains equity and will continue to steer the brand.
Founded in 2013 by Gupta, 4700BC has carved a niche in India’s premium snack market with its popcorn range, along with offerings like popped chips, makhana, crunchy corn, and nachos. The brand has established a presence across offline retail, e-commerce, and institutional channels such as airlines and cinema chains, catering to urban consumers seeking contemporary, high-quality snacks.
Under the agreement, PVR INOX has exited entirely from Zea Maize, monetizing a non-core asset after nurturing the brand in its early years. Marico plans to leverage its FMCG expertise to accelerate 4700BC’s growth through expanded product innovation, deeper multi-channel distribution, and a stronger premium brand strategy.
Speaking about the acquisition, Saugata Gupta, MD & CEO of Marico, said, “The investment in 4700BC aligns well with Marico’s ambition to participate in fast-growing food categories through distinctive, future-ready brands. We see immense potential in 4700BC as a premium snacking brand with deep consumer connect and proven execution. Together, we will tap the opportunity to leverage our existing scale in foods to broaden the brand’s presence across channels, while staying true to its consumer-first ethos and harnessing its top-notch innovation capabilities.”
Chirag Gupta, founder of 4700BC, added, “We are delighted to partner with Marico. This marks a defining moment in the brand’s journey. While PVR INOX has played a pivotal role in building scale and credibility, Marico’s FMCG expertise will be instrumental as 4700BC enters its next chapter. With the strong backing and exciting new launches ahead, the focus for us remains on building one of India’s most loved premium snacking brands.”
Ajay Bijli, MD of PVR INOX, commented, “We recognised the potential in 4700BC at a very early stage and supported the brand through its formative years. From a niche gourmet popcorn offering, it has grown into a nationally recognized premium snacking brand. As it looks to scale further and broaden its ambition, the brand is well positioned under the stewardship of a scaled FMCG leader like Marico. For PVR INOX, this transaction represents a natural culmination of our strategic role and enables us to monetize a non-core asset”
