ELVN-ELVN Bets on Clean-Label Ice Cream as Health-Conscious Consumers Seek Better Choices.
As consumers become increasingly mindful of what goes into their food, a Bengaluru-based startup is challenging conventional ice cream recipes by eliminating artificial additives. Founded in 2024, ELVN-ELVN has introduced a clean-label ice cream range made without E-number additives, refined sugar, synthetic sweeteners, or industrial stabilisers, positioning itself as a healthier alternative in India’s rapidly growing frozen dessert market.
The company believes ice cream should be made from real ingredients rather than chemicals commonly used to improve texture and extend shelf life.
A Personal Health Challenge Sparked the Business
ELVN-ELVN was founded by Barath Akkihebbal and Akash Narain Mittal, who combined their expertise in supply chain management and distribution to enter the premium food segment.
For Akkihebbal, the idea was deeply personal. Living with gluten intolerance and lactose sensitivity, he found very few desserts that met his dietary needs without compromising taste. That experience inspired the founders to develop ice cream made entirely from clean ingredients.
After nearly a year of experimentation and dozens of recipe trials, the company succeeded in creating products that rely on natural ingredients rather than artificial food additives.
Two Product Lines for Different Consumers
ELVN-ELVN currently offers two premium ice cream collections.
MILLET Range
The MILLET range is completely dairy-free and gluten-free. Instead of conventional dairy, it uses a blend of Indian millets such as ragi, jowar, foxtail millet and pearl millet along with coconut milk. The products are naturally sweetened using whole dates, monk fruit and allulose.
Popular flavours include:
- Mango Tango
- Lush Litchi
- Berry Me Up
- Coffee Scenes
- Cosmic Coconut
- Blackout Fudge
SELECT Range
The SELECT collection is aimed at consumers who prefer traditional dairy ice cream. It is prepared using A2 Desi cow milk and fresh cream and is available in flavours including:
- Royal Alphonso
- Strawberry
- Pink Guava
- Choco Velvet
According to the founders, the use of A2 milk makes the product easier to digest for many consumers.
No Artificial Ingredients
One of ELVN-ELVN’s biggest selling points is its commitment to avoiding ingredients commonly found in commercial ice cream.
The company states that its products contain:
- No E-number additives
- No refined sugar
- No artificial sweeteners
- No industrial emulsifiers
- No synthetic stabilisers
- No artificial colours
Instead, sweetness comes from naturally derived ingredients while texture is achieved through carefully developed formulations.
Built After Nearly 50 Recipe Trials
Developing a commercially viable clean-label ice cream proved challenging.
Between early 2024 and early 2025, the founders conducted around 50 formulation trials before achieving the desired taste and texture. Since sugar and industrial stabilisers play a major role in maintaining the structure of conventional ice cream, replacing them with natural alternatives required extensive experimentation.
The startup collaborated with the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM-T) to develop its proprietary millet-based production process and continues to work with the institute on product innovation.
Manufactured in Bengaluru
Production takes place at the company’s own manufacturing facility in South Bengaluru, where raw materials are sourced primarily from Karnataka.
Millets are procured from local farmers, while A2 milk and fresh cream are supplied by indigenous cattle farms in the state. The facility currently has the capacity to manufacture more than 5,000 ice cream cups every day.
AI Also Plays a Role
Beyond manufacturing, artificial intelligence has become an important business tool for the startup.
The founders use AI platforms to support product research, website development, branding, content creation and marketing. While human expertise continues to guide recipe development, AI has helped speed up innovation and improve operational efficiency.
Funding and Business Growth
ELVN-ELVN has financed its growth primarily through government support and founder investment.
The startup secured financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) Scheme, receiving a soft loan of approximately ₹2 crore along with a subsidy of ₹15 lakh. The founders have also invested between ₹70 lakh and ₹80 lakh of their own capital.
The company has not raised funding from private investors so far.
Expansion Plans
Currently available through select retail outlets and cafés in Bengaluru, ELVN-ELVN plans to significantly expand its presence across the city before entering other major Indian markets.
The startup aims to reach nearly 300 supermarkets using an innovative micro-franchise freezer model. Under this approach, individuals purchase freezers on behalf of the company and earn rental income along with commissions on sales.
Expansion into Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Pune is already on the roadmap. The company is also working toward availability on major food delivery platforms and strengthening its direct-to-consumer online sales channel.
A Growing Opportunity
India’s ice cream market continues to witness strong growth as consumers increasingly seek healthier dessert alternatives.
While several brands have introduced sugar-free or low-calorie options, ELVN-ELVN is differentiating itself by focusing on ingredient transparency rather than simply reducing calories. Its clean-label philosophy reflects a broader trend among consumers who are paying closer attention to food labels and demanding products made with simpler, more natural ingredients.
As awareness around clean eating grows, ELVN-ELVN hopes its “no E-number” approach will help redefine what premium ice cream can look like in India.
