New Delhi: Bartronics India Ltd has received board approval to acquire a 51% stake in AYOU, a Bengaluru-based fresh produce aggregation and processing company, as part of its push into structured agri-commerce under Project Avio Agritech.
In a regulatory filing on Monday, the company said the proposed investment marks its formal entry into organised agri trade, expanding its footprint beyond financial inclusion and rural fintech into the fast-growing fresh produce value chain. AYOU operates as a farm-to-commerce platform, aggregating fruits and vegetables directly from farmers, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), mandis and collection centres, and supplying them to organised retail and quick commerce platforms.
AYOU currently supplies to leading players such as Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket, Ninjacart and More Retail, positioning it as a key backend partner in India’s rapidly scaling quick commerce ecosystem. The company operates a 6,000 sq ft processing and grading facility in Bengaluru with a capacity of up to 900 tonnes per month, supported by sourcing hubs across multiple agricultural belts.
While demand from organised buyers has remained strong, AYOU’s growth has been constrained by working capital and scale limitations. Bartronics said its investment would help unlock expansion in aggregation volumes, processing capacity and trade cycles, enabling the addition of new stock-keeping units (SKUs) and higher-margin, processing-led categories.
The two companies are also evaluating export-led opportunities, with Dubai being assessed as a strategic base for agri exports, particularly premium fruits and vegetables. In addition, they are exploring selective imports of dry fruits and exotic produce into India, potentially creating a two-way agri trade corridor, with Singapore and other global markets under consideration over the longer term.
“This investment in AYOU is a practical, execution-led step in our agritech journey,” said N. Vidhya Sagar Reddy, managing director of Bartronics India, adding that the partnership allows the company to scale alongside an existing demand base while building long-term capabilities in aggregation, value addition and agri-commerce.
AYOU is led by co-founders K. Ramagopal and Anand Kumar, who bring experience in agri supply chains and producer engagement. With this acquisition, Bartronics said it has moved from strategy articulation to on-ground execution for Project Avio Agritech, laying the foundation for a scalable agritech and agri-commerce platform.