Starting as a small eatery in Juhu in 1984, Naturals soon blossomed into a treasured ice cream parlor known for its commitment to authentic, fruit-based flavors.

Naturals has now marked 40 years as a legacy brand, with over 170 successful outlets across 15 Indian states. The brand is celebrated for its pioneering flavors like Sitaphal, Tender Coconut, Jackfruit, Muskmelon, and Kala Jamun.

An Ode to Late Mr. Raghunandan Kamath

Mr. Raghunandan Kamath, the man behind the brand, grew up in the bustling streets of Mangalore. It was his father, a mango seller, who taught him how to select the perfect fruit, understand its ripeness, and preserve its flavors.

Later, while working at his brother’s restaurant, Mr. Raghunandan Kamath noticed something curious: while ice creams were packed with fruity flavors, they rarely ever had real fruits themselves. And just like that, the idea behind Naturals Ice Cream was born. Combining learnings about fruits from his father and knowledge of restaurants from his brother, he envisioned something that would change the way we enjoy ice creams forever.

Carving a Niche

Following in his father’s footsteps, Siddhant Kamath, present Director of Naturals Ice Cream, joined the business in 2013.

He says “In 2015, soon after I joined, we gave our brand a makeover. We were entering the capital city at the time and wanted to build a brand that everybody could feel a part of, no matter where they were from or how old they were. So we revamped our story to create wholesome experiences that bring people together.”

It was at this stage that the famous tagline “Taste the Original” was created, one that showcases the uniqueness of the brand, while capturing its true essence.

As an artisanal brand, Naturals uses a simple approach in crafting its ice creams. It brings together three key ingredients—milk, fruits, and sugar—to create a variety of mouthwatering flavors. Unlike commercial ice cream brands, Naturals’ products are free from preservatives, emulsifiers, and artificial flavoring.

Siddhant adds, “Our ice creams are made with about 70% milk, and not just any milk—we use buffalo milk, sourced straight from a farm run by a close associate of my father. To this, we add real fruits that are carefully processed at our factories.”

The ice creams are so rich and creamy that every scoop bursts with fruit-filled deliciousness.

Celebrating a Glorious Journey

The brand has now earned global recognition, with Tender Coconut being rated among the Top 100 most iconic ice creams by Taste Atlas. The immensely popular flavor originated in 1992-93, when Mr. Raghunandan Kamath realized that he wanted to create a unique and special experience for his customers.

That’s when it struck him, the thought of making an ice cream with the very same ingredients that go into a panchamrit offering. If milk, sugar and coconut could be offered to the Gods during auspicious occasions, they could certainly be turned into a memorable ice cream experience.

Naturals was listed among the top 10 most trusted brands in India in a KPMG survey conducted in 2018. They have also won the Gold Medal for Innovation for their Cucumber flavor and the Bronze Medal for their Vanilla flavor in The Great Indian Ice Creams Contest. This goes a long way in showing how customers and corporations alike, value Natural’s as an iconic ice cream brand.

Moving beyond a Retail-First Approach 

As a retail-first brand, Naturals focuses on providing an exceptional in-store experience. However, they also realize the importance of online delivery in the food and beverage industry today. In fact, they were one of the first movers in the ice cream category to leverage online delivery to reach customers.

Siddhant Kamath, says, “Our partnership with Zomato began in 2015, making us one of the first ice cream parlors to offer food ordering and delivery online. This collaboration has driven a 30% annual growth in our online delivery business, enabling Naturals to adapt to India’s evolving food delivery landscape while maintaining our legacy of offering authentic ice creams in retail stores.”

The partnership with Zomato was particularly useful during the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly hurt the restaurant industry. Here’s where Zomato’s extensive reach and delivery network came in handy.

Siddhant says,“Strengthening our collaboration with Zomato for ordering and delivery was a strategic move that allowed us to keep serving our existing customers and even expand our reach during the lockdown.”

Partnering with Zomato ensured that Naturals ice creams could reach customers, despite their short shelf life. Now, customers could enjoy their favorite ice cream flavors, right from the comfort of their homes.

Siddhant adds, “We are actively working on product development and exploring new segments within the ice cream space. We wish to double up our stores in the next 3-5 years and go international very soon. Our goal is to continuously innovate while growing sustainably, so we can keep up with changing consumer preferences.”

Naturals seamlessly blends the rich legacy of Late Mr. Raghunandan Kamath with Siddhant Kamath’s bold and forward-thinking approach. This powerful combination ensures that the brand turns every scoop into a joyful celebration of genuine flavors for customers around the globe.