Uday Kotak’s USK Capital picks majority stake in US seed-snack brand Go Raw

USK Capital, the family office of billionaire banker Uday Kotak, has acquired the majority stake in Freeland Foods LLC, owner of the US-based seed snack brand Go Raw.

Sellers include Juggernaut Capital Partners, a mid-market private equity firm, and other early-stage investors. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This acquisition is important for USK Capital in many ways. This represents the family office’s first investment outside India, its first foray into the consumer sector and a strategic step towards building a diversified global portfolio for the long term.

“Healthy eating is a growing global trend, and the U.S. consumer is increasingly embracing it,” Venkat Subramanian, chief investment officer at USK Capital, said in a statement.

“Go Raw has experienced strong growth over the years and has steadily expanded its retail footprint across the United States.”

Strategic outlook

Seeds such as pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and flaxseeds are known to be nutrient-dense and are increasingly embraced by health-conscious consumers around the world.

Headquartered in the Chicago area, Go Raw positions itself as a “better for you” snack brand focused on seed-based products. Its portfolio includes sprouted seeds, granola, salad ingredients and bunch snacks. Mint had previously reported that healthy snack options are becoming increasingly popular among consumers, and food delivery platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy are capitalizing on this shift.

For USK Capital, this deal underlines a calibrated push into global consumer businesses with strong brand equity and scalability. The family office manages the personal fortune of Uday Kotak, founder and former chief executive of Kotak Mahindra Bank, India’s third-largest private sector lender by market capitalization. The Kotak family currently owns about 26% of the bank.

The acquisition of Go Raw signals USK Capital’s intention to look beyond domestic opportunities as it builds a long-term, globally diversified investment platform based on scalable, consumer-focused businesses.