Ferns N Petals crosses Rs 700 Cr revenue in FY24; losses drop by 78%

After a flat FY23, Ferns N Petals managed 16% growth in its operating revenue in the fiscal year ending March 2024. At the same time, the firm also narrowed losses by 77% in the same period.

Ferns N Petals’ operating revenue increased to Rs 705.4 crore in FY24 from Rs 607.3 crore in FY23, its consolidated financial statement sourced from the Registrar of Companies (RoC) shows.

Ferns N Petals makes money through the sale of cakes, flowers, and customized gifting solutions via its website, third-party e-commerce platforms, company-owned stores, and franchises. It also earns from delivery, convenience, and packing charges, as well as franchise-related income, including one-time onboarding fees and monthly royalties.

The company claims to serve in more than 100 countries and has over 400 stores in India.

Sales of products such as cakes, flowers, gifts, were the primary contributor, accounting for 91% of the operating revenue, which increased by 15% to Rs 640.75 crore in FY24 from Rs 556.18 crore in FY23. Delivery charges grew by 40% to Rs 45.12 crore in FY24.

Income from other sources such as franchise fees and convenience charges added Rs 19.51 crore in FY24. The company also made Rs 7 crore from interest income which took its total revenue to Rs 712 crore in FY24.

Geographically, India remained the largest market for Ferns N Petals as 63% of the revenue came from the local operations. It generated Rs 443.58 crore from India in the last fiscal year while collections from UAE and Singapore stood at Rs 176.52 crore and Rs 65.1 crore, respectively.

On the expense side, the cost of materials dominated by accounting for 42.3% of the expenses. This cost increased by 12.4% to Rs 312 crore in FY24 from Rs 277.6 crore in FY23 whereas employee benefit expenses rose slightly by 2.8% to Rs 124.49 crore in FY24.

Advertising expenses shrank by 12.30% to Rs 156.65 crore in FY24. Transportation and other expenses added another Rs 143 crore in the last fiscal year. The company’s total expenses for FY24 increased by mere 1.9% to Rs 736.67 crore in FY24 from Rs 723 crore in FY23.

In the end, Ferns N Petals’ loss declined by 77.8% to Rs 24.26 crore in FY24 from Rs 109.50 crore in FY23. Its EBITDA was recorded at a negative 8.62 crore in FY24 while the ROCE and EBITDA margin stood at -21.57% and -1.21%, respectively, during the last fiscal.

On a unit basis, FnP spent Rs 1.04 to earn a rupee of operating revenue in FY24. The Gurugram based company reported Rs 84 crore in cash and bank balances and had a current asset of Rs 130.25 crore as of FY24.

According to TheKredible, Ferns N Petals has secured a total funding of Rs 206.5 crore (approximately $27 million) to date, with Lighthouse being one of its leading investors. Ferns N Petals also runs hospitality and wedding businesses through Udman Hotels and FNP Weddings and Events.

Whatever the firm did in FY23 in terms of consolidation, it seems to have worked as we see in the FY24 numbers. Which begs the question – will it sustain in FY25? If it does, then the firm would have justified a lot of the diversifications it has tried over the years to build a larger balance sheet. If the losses continue with low growth, then one would have to assume that the hack from FY23 was just a one trick (or year) pony.  But if it does deliver, then Ferns N Petals might yet see the glory days it has been seeking yet again.