In February 2023, the direct-to-consumer and retail meat brand Fipola ceased all operations, entering a liquidation process to clear outstanding dues. The company, which had previously announced aggressive expansion plans aiming for 250 outlets across India by 2023-24 and had appointed actor Nayanthara as brand ambassador in August 2022, was forced to shut down. Founder and Managing Director Sushil Kanugolu cited an inability to raise necessary funds due to unfavorable market conditions as the primary reason. This followed months of speculation and complaints from unpaid vendors and some staff in late 2022. The closure affected its 48 stores across several South Indian cities and its online services, marking a significant shutdown in the D2C retail meat industry.
