Hector Beverages is taking Indian drinks into Global Cuisines

Paper Boat is a traditional Indian beverage and food brand manufactured and marketed by Hector Beverages, headquartered in Bangalore, India. Hector Beverages was founded in 2009 by Neeraj Kakkar, Neeraj Biyani, Suhas Misra, and James Nuttall.

Hector Beverages launched Paper Boat in August 2013. The product consists of traditional Indian drinks such as Aam Panna, Jaljeera, and Aam Ras. Drinks were initially served in flexible portion bags. The company has since expanded to its 1-liter Tetra Pak cartons.
The company aims to use innovation to bring Indian beverages to the urban market while maintaining traditional recipes. Paper Boat does not use any synthetic colors or preservatives in its products.

The company’s first product was his protein drink, Frissia, followed by his Tzinga, an energy drink brand launched in 2011.
In March 2013, they shifted their focus to the ethnic beverage segment with the launch of their pulp-based beverage brand Paper Boat. Paper Boat offers a range of fruit-based ethnic drinks such as Jal Jeera, Aam Panna, Aam Ras, Alphonso Aam, Jamun Kala Khatta, Chilli Guava, Nimbu Pani, Kokum, Neer More, Kanji, Sugarcane juice, Lychee Ras, Apple, and Orange. It also has a range of milk-based beverages including Neer More, Butter Milk, Badam Milk, and Thandai. The brand also launched Coconut Water in 2018.

Apart from these, Paper Boat produces two seasonal drinks associated with Indian festivals, Panakam (available during Ram Navami) and Sherbet-e-Khas (available during Eid).

Hector Beverages now has two manufacturing facilities, one in Mysuru and one in Manesar, Gurgaon, with a capacity of up to 10 million bags per month.

The idea for the brand is said to have taken birth during one of the office lunches that the co-founders would have together in the early years. Mishra’s mother would pack him a flask of Aam Panna every day and once while reaching out for the drink, as they were mulling over business ideas, a brain wave to commercially produce ethnic Indian drinks that were hitherto unavailable in the market struck. And the idea for Paper Boat was born.